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This stone is a variety of chalcedony formed from layers of quartz usually showing varicolored bands, found all over the world, in every color of the rainbow. Blue and Green Agate stones are considered the most rare. It is a birthstone for the month of September, and also the sign of Gemini, and makes good gifts for the 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries. Agate’s lore is very extensive. It is said it helps the bearer to discern the truth and accept circumstances, increasing honesty. It is also a channel to connect the rational and relational sides of the brain, thus merging inspiration, intuition and logic; balancing also the yin and yang. Agate can reconnect the bearer to the Earth, and improve connections to the higher self. A very useful stone to transform negative energy into positive action and aid courage, love, strength and protection. Some varieties of Agate: Blue Lace Agate: Carries the energy of the elements of air and water, and it is very useful to bring peace and relaxation and help to relieve stress. Promotes inspiration and it is used to aid communication for the spirit. Moss Agate: Carries the energy of the Earth element, thus aiding in the growth of plants, and to the bearer, the growth of wealth and prosperity. It is often called “gardener’s stone”. It balances emotions, heals the heart and enhances a positive outlook on endeavors.
This gem is a variety of microcline feldspar, and displays an iridescence of light caused by its inclusions. It is usually found in light green to blue-green colors, in many parts of the world, such as the US, Brazil, and Russia. The name Amazonite has two particular legends concerning its origins. The first says it was named after the Amazon women warriors, especially because it is also called the stone of courage. The second says it simply got its name for have been first found at the margins of the Amazon River. It is said Egyptians extensively used this stone, and today it can be used to enhance creativity and clarity of thought, and provide unity with all life. One of the best uses of this stone is to provide self expression, promoting the release of worries, so we may speak from the heart especially to our loved ones. Use this stone in tough times, when you need to withdraw to a harmonious inner place. One curiosity I found on this stone – it is said to be able to activate lazy teenagers!
Amber comes from the resin of ancient pine trees, where little insects, feathers, plant material or other small objects might have been trapped. The resin fossilized after many years of passing through a heat and pressure process to become Amber. The natural color of Amber ranges from a dark brown to a light lemon-yellow color. Amber carries the energy of the Sun, and it is a good stone to bring the bearer vitality, success, joy, strength, love, physical healing, luck, abundance and protection. It is also used to calm hyperactivity and stressed nerves. Amber carries a negative electric charge, and therefore can be used to draw power and energy to the bearer. Combined with Jet, another resin, it makes the traditional necklace of modern priestesses, also said to have been worn by the clergy of the Wise Ones in pre-Christian Europe. This combination on amber and jet represents the polarities of power: the Sun and the Moon, day and night, masculine and feminine, kinetic and active, magnetic and receptive… Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, and although it must be purple to be amethyst, its shades include lilac and mauve as well. It is the official birthstone of the month of February, and the sign of Pisces. Amethyst used to be known as the stone of royalty, more than likely because the color purple itself was reserved for robes of kings and emperors, since the dye was so rare. But up until today, it is still the most valuable of the quartz family. The myths involving amethyst say it is a stone used to rid oneself of poisons. It carries a negative ion, which attacks poisonous positive ions, making the air around it more “breathable”. It also aids in overcoming addiction, and it’s been used since ancient times to guard oneself against drunkenness. This powerful stone is connected with the third-eye chakra, and as such it is used on anything that relates to spiritual awarness, from aiding with meditation and tranquility, to attuning the bearer with the higher self and strengthening intuition and psychic power. It is also used to aid with prophetic dreams and divination. Other uses of Amethyst include: healing, peace, love, courage, happiness, and protection against thieves. Also said to help control one’s evil thoughts. Ametrine is a natural variety of quartz that contains both amethyst and citrine in the same section. Therefore, ametrine carries the properties of both stones, and a balancing of those properties. Use it to attain balance between the spiritual and material worlds, and for the realization that all is one. Use it to attain balance between the spiritual and material worlds, enhance cooperation, balancing, connecting and clearing.
This fossilized shell is the ancient equivalent to the modern-day chambered Nautilus. Created by sea faring squids that lived over 400 million years ago, the chambers of this shell could be pumped with air to allow the squid to float to different levels of the ocean in search of food. This concept inspired Jules Verne on his “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. Ammonite is used as an aid in difficult projects, helping us find a starting point and visualize the result throughout. Also used to attain stability, structure, and protection; and to transform negativity into calming energy. It aids our survival instinct and help us create a world that will survive beyond ourselves. This is actually 3 different minerals, depending on the predominance of either fluorine (Fluorapatite), chlorine (Chloroapatite) or the hydroxyl group (Hydroxylapatite). The 3 are usually considered one because of the difficulty in distinguishing them without laboratory equipment. The word Apatite comes from the Greek, meaning “to deceive”, in allusion to its similarities to more valuable minerals, such as peridot, olivine and beryl. Its colors varies from the usual green to yellow, blue, reddish brown and purple. Use this stone to stimulate the balance of mind and heart, and help enhancing mental clarity and creativity. It also can be used to aid in social situations and ease communication. This stone was created through a mix of alchemy and science, by infusing natural quartz crystal with pure gold. This makes for an immensely powerful combination which fuses white, gold and blue rays into an iridescent display of light. Has similar color to the Aquamarine, but with enhanced opalescence that flashes etheric rays of violet. Its metaphysical properties include a connection to the element of water, therefore aiding to show the truth of one’s emotions, soothing anger and releasing stress. It works on the Throat Chakra, and it has a strong Aquarian energy, properties that make this stone excellent in aiding communication, especially of the inner truth, and response to chaos in inventive ways, while achieving humanitarian goals. This is a blue-green (aqua) variety of beryl, mostly found in Brazil, Pakistan and some US states. It is symbolic of water and the ocean, both in name and in properties. The ancients believed that this stone would protect them in sea voyages, and allow them to return home safe and prosperous. It is also used for courage, purification, peace, self expression, compassion and tolerance. Also aiding in meditation, psychic and spiritual awareness, and the communication with the deeper self. This stone is a polymorph of calcite, which means they have the same chemistry, but different structure. It’s colors are usually white or colorless with unusual subdued shades of red, yellow, orange, brown, green and even blue. Use Aragonite as a relief for stress and anger. It provides a warm, cheerful feeling, and freedom of spirit. Another member of the quartz family, it occurs naturally in many colors, ranging from green to blue, peach and red. Aventurine is said to be an al purpose healer, with a high concentrated ability to dissolve blockages. It is used in both physical and emotional healing, very effectively balancing emotions and to relive stress, since it emanates a joyful and calming energy. Traditionally, Aventurine is the stone of Leadership, allowing one to act decisively. It also promotes confidence and independence, and it is said to bring good luck to the bearer! Azurite has an unusual deep blue color called “azure”, from which it gets its name. The color is so unusual, this gemstone has long been used to dye paint and fabric. It is connected to the third-eye chakra, promoting psychic awareness, psychic energy, and intuition. It awakens the higher self, and helps us communicate verbally the messages of the spirit. It also aids in meditation, divination, and dreams. Azurite is also used as a calming stone, releasing stress, worries and indecisions, while increasing concentration, creativity and problem solving abilities. It also emanates a loving energy, and is used for healing, self-confidence, and compassion. Since these two stones have very similar formulae, they often occur naturally together. Azurite-Malachite helps the wearer to renew and remember their connection to the All. It freshens the outlook and allows us to touch our core self without fear, letting us connect to the child within and be “reborn into the light”. Soothing to the soul, it releases stress and helps the wearer to make new beginnings. |
