Metaphysical Properties of Gemstones K - Z
-Labradorite is a soft grey/blue stone with lustrous blues and greens flashing inside it. Also called spectrolite, it is especially helpful for people who tend to overwork. It helps us regain our energy and aids our bodies and spirits in healing themselves. If you practice meditation (or would like to), focusing on labradorite can help you enter and maintain the meditative state. Like the sound and glistening beauty of a gentle rain, this gemstone quiets us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
-Lapis lazuli since the earliest of times has been associated with strength and courage. The Sumerians believed that the spirit of their gods lived within the stone. From antiquity, lapis lazuli has been worn in the belief that it will ward off evil. Today, it is considered by some to be an aid to balancing the brow chakra, which influences vision and hearing. Until the Middle Ages, it was referred to by the name sapphire (from the Greek for the color blue). The beautiful mixture of textures of white calcite and pyrite gives lapis lazuli its characteristic look. The stone has other ingredients: lazurite, sodalite and hauyne.
-Red Malachite is actually a banded jasper with gorgeous creamy coloring and pale red banding. The "marriage" of jasper's lovely colors with malachite's fine banding makes red malachite unusually beautiful. Red is the color of energy and courage. When it's "wedded" to jasper (a gemstone that celebrates life), the spiritual values of color and stone complement each other. Red malachite brightens our lives, reminding us to celebrate being alive, regardless of the situation or season. And it gives us the stamina to actually do it.
-Malachite's startling beauty, with its concentric, eye-like rings of green, has come to represent sensuality and beauty. Malachite is the essence of joy and is known as the "stone of transformation" because it helps reveal and heal emotional pain by absorbing the pain into itself. It is especially helpful in bringing ease during times of change and gives the insight needed for personal growth. It has been traditionally used to ward off danger and fight illness. Malachite tends to draw negative energy and disharmony into itself. Overall, malachite is said to bring harmony into one's life.
-Moldavite is a rare green tektite, a meteoric glass, from Czechoslovakia. It is a stone of communication. It stimulates cooperation and transfer of energies between those of extra-terrestrial origins and those of earth. Works well with Third eye, throat and crown chakras.
-Moonstone is a medley of shimmering peach, cream and silver. The scientific term for the kind of shimmer that gives this stone its magical look is schiller or adularescence. It comes from two types of feldspar intergrown. In silver moonstone, it shows up as a "moon glow" that flows across it. Moonstone helps with stress by calming the mind and soothing the spirit. Moonstone was once called the traveler's stone because it was believed to protect traders and merchants from perils at sea. On our "journey" through life, silver-grey moonstone gives a sense of calm, assured strength.
-Rainbow moonstone has an immediate and constant beauty. But its unexpected blue flash is what's thrilling. It soothes and restores and deepens our sense of safety, no matter where or how far our journey takes us. Moonstone is often called the visionary's stone. It helps us see things more clearly. Rainbow moonstone, in particular, offers us visions of things that aren't immediately obvious. Because it helps us avoid tunnel vision, we are able to see other possibilities.
-Morganite is a pink beryl that attracts love and maintains it. It encourages loving thoughts & actions, creating space to enjoy life and living. It activates and cleanses the heart chakra, calms a stressed life, and aids in recognizing unfulfilled emotional needs and unexpressed feelings. Morganite helps us to recognize the closed-mindedness and egotism that block spiritual advancement. It assists in becoming aware of the disregarded needs of the soul.
-Mother-of-pearl's pearly luster, called "orient," comes from an overlap of aragonite platelets and the skin of conchiolin (an organic substance). Its beauty is gentle and delicate. It calls up feelings of tenderness. Mother-of-pearl has tremendous spiritual value for those whose high goals and attitudes keep them feeling stressed. It reminds us to take one task and one day at a time.
-Mahogany Obsidian is volcanic glass that cooled before it crystallized. Obsidian is a powerful stone that reminds us that birth and death are simultaneously and constantly present, one within the other. It has always been associated with guardian spirits that watch over us. Earlier peoples drew on that protective power in weapons they made from obsidian. Today people who wear it often speak of a sense of protection. Mahogany obsidian, in particular, is said to increase sexuality and sensuality-- the sense of touch, especially. It's as if the memory of the volcano's eruption, connected with its birth, is at the core of this gemstone's tremendous power.
-Snowflake Obsidian's snowflake appearance is produced by internal crystallites. Also referred to as flowering obsidian, snowflake obsidian is found primarily in Utah. It is a wonderful stone of protection, reminding us we are safe. Its beauty helps us to shut off the outside world's demands and distractions. Like a sky full of beautiful snowflakes, it restores something: a deep, abiding sense of protection and reverence.
-Onyx's name comes from the Greek for "fingernail," referring to the translucence of the white-colored layer of the multi-layered stone. Black has been associated with regeneration and new beginnings. Black onyx is thought to have protective qualities, making it advantageous to carry when one is traveling. It is useful in fighting basic fears and in helping to create the opportunity to move beyond bad relationships--and to heal old emotional wounds. The Romans associated it with courage and useful when one is defending him/herself against unfair criticism. Onyx is a form of chalcedony. It is formed in the gas cavities of lava. When the stone has a black base and a white upper layer, it's called onyx. (Black onyx is uniformly black chalcedony.) When the base is brown, it is called Sard-onyx. And carnelian-onyx has a red base. Much of what is referred to as "black onyx" is gray chalcedony that has been chemically treated to turn it into a rich black.
-Opal‘s name comes from the Sanskrit word for "upala," meaning precious stone. It is said that precious opal, with its display of fire, can spark creativity, and that the "dance" of its fire can help people enjoy their lives. The light-colored stones have long been associated with helping people become less visible to others and also in improving eyesight. Some believe that opal can help moderate and harmonize sexual desires.
-Pearls were probably one of the earliest gems found by prehistoric man, being naturally-perfect objects which required no additional craftsmanship. Because of their natural beauty, they are associated with the matrix of life and some say that the pearl helps balance one's bodily rhythms and hormonal levels with lunar cycles. They are said to harmonize one's life with the rhythms of the natural world. Having what appears to be an inward glow, some claim that pearls can be used to help tap inner wisdom and to nurture the growth of love. Pearls can be white, pinkish, brown or even black.
-Peridot is a shimmering, pale green. The popularity of this most beloved gemstone of the olivine group reaches back to the Middle Ages when it was brought to Europe by the crusaders. During the Italian Renaissance and the baroque period, the most creative periods in history, it appeared everywhere in jewelry and religious objects all over Europe. This stone is associated with humor, especially in dark situations. Peridot has been used traditionally to heal bruised egos, lessen anger, and prevent jealousy
-Pietersite is a Namibian gemstone also called Tempest Stone. It carries the energy of the "storm" element, and can purify one's body and energies. It is said to be tremendously energizing to the wearer, enhancing strength, courage, will power, & awareness of the higher planes.
-Prasiolite helps to link the physical and spiritual aspects of life, activating the heart as one's center of consciousness. It is said to strengthen one's mind, emotions and will, and to attract prosperity.
-Pyrite is believed to possess a defensive quality, shielding its possessor from negative energies. Pyrite also assists one in seeing behind facades, promoting understanding of that which lies beneath words and actions. It also is supposed to encourage good health, intellect and emotional well-being.
-Quartz Crystal from earliest times this form of quartz has attracted attention wherever it appeared. The Greeks thought it was ice that was eternally frozen and called it krystallos. Ancient Japanese believed quartz formed from the breath of a white dragon, and regarded it as representing perfection. Australian Aborigines used quartz in rain rituals. Crystal skulls were reportedly made by Atlanteans and are believed by some to be living entities. Clear quartz formed into spheres have been used as crystal balls to predict the future at least since the middle ages. Clear quartz crystal is a universal stone. It's what many people envision when they think of crystals, even though there are many types of crystals. Quartz can be icy clear or have inclusions, veils, bubbles, etc. Quartz enhances energy by absorbing, storing, amplifying, balancing, focusing and transmitting. It channels universal energy. Quartz also enhances thoughts, as they are a form of energy. It is extremely beneficial for manifesting, healing, meditation, protection, and channeling. It is also beneficial for storing and retrieving information of all types. Due to its ability to balance, quartz is excellent for harmonizing and balancing one's environment. Quartz is also good for energizing other crystals. Quartz is a stone of clarity which dispels negativity and clears away negative energy. It can be used to purify and clarify on the spiritual, mental, and physical planes. It is also powerfully protective. Quartz enhances spiritual growth, spirituality and wisdom. Because it clarifies though processes and emotions it increases inspiration and creativity. It can also help particularly with concentration, studying, and retaining what one learns. Quartz is very useful on the third eye chakra for clarity of psychic vision, and can be used to communicate with spirits and other worlds. Quartz is a stone that can access ancient wisdom and bring it into the present. It is a very good stone for astral travel, manifestation, scrying, channeling, dream recall and dream work. It also improves mental and physical energy, stamina, and physical strength. Clear quartz is associated with the crown chakra, but also works effectively to balance and energize all chakras.
-Rose quartz is typically a cloudy translucent pink or slightly peach color and is a macrocrystalline form of quartz, as are amethyst, aventurine and citrine. It is found mainly in large clumps. Only rarely is it found in single crystal form. It is believed that the pink color is due to a small amount of titanium. Rose quartz came to be known as the stone of love and reconciliation from the Greek myth where Aphrodite was cut by a thorn bush while saving Adonis from an attack by Ares (disguised as a wild boar). Their blood commingled and stained white quartz to make it a rose-pink color. Later, it became customary for the Romans to use the stone as a gift of love. Rose quartz is associated with love, the heart and beauty, has calming effects, helps to develop strong friendships, and is thought to be a healing aid for the heart chakra.
-Smoky quartz, named for its smoky color, is formed when rock crystal is irradiated. That usually occurs at high altitudes which is why its most notable sources are Brazil, Colorado and the Swiss Alps. (Its frequent inclusions of rutile needles, by the way, do not affect its quality.) Smoky quartz is like a dream that shows us things we don't always see when we're awake. It helps us "go to" those places in us that make us uncomfortable and to look at those things we'd like to deny. Wonderful stone for protection and balance.
-Snow quartz is just that: quartz that looks pure and fresh as snow. Its cloudy, opaque look comes from microscopic inclusions that were incased in the crystal when it first began growing. Quartz is the most common mineral on earth, and white is its second most common color. Snow quartz and innocence are nearly synonymous. It helps us look at things from a child-like perspective, without preconceived and cynical notions.
-Tourmalinated quartz with its rich black inclusions against its clear-white base is abundant because it is quartz, but no quartz is more tasteful and distinctive. It is filled with energy that flashes through it and connects us with other fields of energy. It's the sort of thing that happens spontaneously and often unexpectedly. It makes us feel at home and comfortable wherever we are and with all kinds of people.
-Rhodochrosite is formed as stalagmites in Inca silver mines abandoned in the 13th century and is sometimes called Inca rose. Today, the world's main deposits are still found in Argentina-the exotic home of an exotic stone. Rhodochrosite welcomes all change. It urges us to pay attention to our hearts and those things we hunger for. It brings out the adventuresome qualities in us.
-Rhodonite is a rosy pink with dark inclusions. It is excellent for activating love energies in oneself and others. It is said to clear and activate the heart chakra, to dispel tension & anxiety, and to help establish inner balance. Rhodonite softens our needs. It helps us put petty things behind us. It reminds us that leisure is important and that there's a bigger picture we often lose sight of.
-Ruby is the rarest and most valuable of gemstones. Most Ruby deposits are still worked in the primitive way they've been worked for centuries, panned from rivers and picked out by hand from the other minerals around them. In their natural rough form, they are dull greasy-looking stones. But cut and polished, their high luster is dazzling (comparable to diamonds), and their rich red color is pleochroic (color that varies when you view it from different directions.) Ruby's great spiritual value is like her beauty. It runs deep. It sits at the core of her being. It encourages us to embrace life confidently-accepting each day and everything that comes with it.
-Sapphire has been associated with the majesty and tranquility of the heavens since medieval times. It was thought to dispel evil thoughts and to bring peace and amiability to its wearer. The name sapphire comes from the Greek (for blue), and as late as the Middle Ages, the word applied to lapis lazuli. Sapphire is said to enhance creativity and to focus purity of thought. It is known as the stone of new love and commitment and is claimed to be useful in encouraging faithfulness and loyalty. Because of its blue color, it is associated with the throat and brow chakras - where energy imbalances are said to cause sore throats, headaches and nightmares. Sapphires and rubies are closely related, having corundum as their base mineral. The iron pigment in the corundum makes sapphire blue, while the chrome element in rubies makes them red. Corundum gemstones are the second hardest of the most precious of gemstones (diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald). Sapphire actually has a range of colors, from blue to yellow to green to orange-pink.
-Serpentine gets its name from the resemblance of its color and markings to the skin of a snake. Intuitive sources say Serpentine emits a profound healing vibration and facilitates the energetic activation of cellular regeneration. It is said to assist in opening the heart chakra. It is also believed to help activate the kundalini, or ‘serpent fire' energies.
-Sodalite is often referred to as Princess Blue, in Canada, because it was found there during a Royal visit. The name sodalite refers to the sodium content of this stone. Sodalite is the gemstone guardian for heroes and heroines. When our backs are against the wall, when we need the courage to speak and act out of our convictions, that's when sodalite has "her" greatest power. It is good for fellowship, adding a sense of commonality in groups, and helps to eliminate confusion.
-Sunstone is an orange and red-brown form of aventurine (aventurine feldspar).The metallic (golden) glitter in this feldspar is caused by light reflecting on tiny mica or iron oxide crystals imbedded in it. It's a no nonsense stone that encourages celebration. Celebrate your achievements, celebrate who you are now and who you are becoming. It is also said to lend extra physical energy in times of stress or ill health.
-Tanzanite is an exquisite form of zoisite, named by New York's Tiffany jewelers because it's found in east African Tanzania. Glass imitations of this gorgeous pale purple-blue stone appear all over the place and it's sometimes confused with sapphire. It reminds us that we create our lives according to our own wishes and encourages us to embrace our own individual truths.
-Tektite is a type of natural glass, chemically and structurally unique, of meteoric origin. Tektites usually have a heavily pitted surface. They appear black, but when held up to the light, you can sometimes see a golden tint in translucent areas around the edges. Tektites assist one in attaining knowledge and learning lessons throughout the travels of life. It balances the feminine/masculine, provides insight, and strengthens one's energy field.
-Tiger Eye is actually silicified crocidolite in quartz. Often it is a golden-yellow, deeply banded gemstone, but can also be found as a deep grey/black form, a heat-treated, deep red tigereye, and even a blue variety. Tigereye promotes clear-eyed vision. It helps us see ourselves and the world around us more perceptively. It is used for increasing one's physical energy, stamina, mental clarity, will power, strength and decisiveness. It is said to activate the third chakra, and to increase one's personal power and ability to manifest one's desires.
-Tiger Iron, also called tigereye matrix, is a quartz-lignite aggregate of rich chocolate and dark brown tones highlighted with vibrant golden-yellow from Australia. Wonderful for creating harmony and balance through color. Its balance comes from the combination of yellow (earth colors) and black/dark brown (water colors). Yellow is also associated with communication and dark colors with independence and strong self-discipline. Tiger Iron is remarkably grounded as a stone - holding energy clearly in the moment and fully focused. It helps us to recognize what needs to be done, particularly in practical matters and then just get it done. A wonderful stone of protection.
-Blue topaz is the color of a waterfall cascading down a mountainside. Though most natural topaz is colorless, in early times all yellow and brown gemstones were called topaz. Its name probably comes from an island in the Red Sea, formerly called Topazos. Blue topaz (a treated form) is tremendously popular and is a wonderful substitute for the rare and expensive aquamarine, with which it is often confused. Because topaz has always been associated with compassion and communication, it's a wonderful stone to wear when you need to "build bridges" between yourself and other people. Blue topaz, in particular, helps you have more control in touchy situations. It develops curiosity and humor and heightens your competence without making you seem dominating.
-Tourmaline was called the "stone of light" due to its more varied color range than any other crystal. Watermelon tourmaline, with its contrasting pink and green banding, represents opposites. It is said to have a calming effect during emotional upheavals or when there are conflicts between people of different temperaments. It is associated with the heart chakra and healing powers. Rubellite, or pink tourmaline, is claimed to have similar healing powers and to help people become more compassionate. Tourmaline occurs in a variety of colors and is named accordingly: Rubellite (pink, red); Indicolite (aquamarine, blue); Dravite (brown), Achroite (colorless); Watermelon (pink center and a green rim); Schorl (black), Verdelite (green) and Yellow. Uni-color examples are rare. Most tourmalines have different shades within the stone, and some have distinctly different colors within the crystal, like the dramatic mix of hues of watermelon tourmaline.
-Turquoise, a stone ranging in color from blue to green to yellow, is filled with wonderful patterns of brown and black matrix that are composed mainly of copper deposits. Although turquoise has captivated man's imagination for centuries, no one is sure exactly when it was discovered. Whether you study ancient Egyptians, Chinese Dynasties, Aztec Mythology or Native American people, it seems clear that turquoise has always been and always will be considered a stone of life, beauty, and good fortune. It encourages communication & enthusiasm, thus inspiring new projects and bringing to light undiscovered artistic abilities. Turquoise also provides understanding and encourages attention to detail while attracting prosperity and success. The sprawling lines of coppery matrix provide a large amount of energy to its wearer. Turquoise has a waxy luster. Some turquoise is dyed to give it an evenly vivid color. Most turquoise is stabilized to improve overall strength and polish. It is mined across the globe, and each location yields specific stone colors and characteristics ranging from the bright sky blue-matrix free Sleeping Beauty turquoise from Arizona to the rough, organic yellow colors and heavy matrix mined from Africa. Chalk turquoise is a natural form of turquoise that has a white chalk-like consistency with the same chemical composition as turquoise, only without the copper (the copper causes the blue). Turquoise is a hydrous compound of copper and aluminum, so it loses color when it loses water. To keep it from becoming dehydrated, water it, as you would your houseplants, with pure saline water periodically to revive or maintain color. (If salty ocean mist makes the copper statue of liberty turn green, it will do the same for your turquoise.) Turquoise is porous, so chemicals can damage it. Use only pure water and a soft cloth to wipe it clean, and you can clean your turquoise frequently without causing damage. The natural oil of your skin is good for turquoise, and it will naturally polish it when you wear it. If it is set in silver, wearing if often will also keep the silver from tarnishing. Silver polish will damage the surface of turquoise. Don't store turquoise with harder gemstones or other materials that might rub against it and cause damage. Turquoise can fade in sunlight, excessive sweat, chlorine bleach and dishwater.
-Unakite corresponds to the Heart chakra. It is for emotional balance, spirituality, and facilitating the rebirthing process. Unakite is good for healthy reproductive systems and pregnancy. It brings ones consciousness to the present.
-Zoisite was first found in 1805 in Austria's Sau-Alp mountains. This green zoisite with inclusions of hornblende and occasional ruby crystals is excellent for focused, creative empowerment, gently calling you back to what you really want to be doing.