Month: July 2021

Astrophyllite Meaning
The meaning of this stones name comes in two parts with the first part astro coming from the Greek word “astron” that means star.
The second part of its name “phyllite”, comes from the Greek word “phyllom” meaning leaf and brilliant.
So together we see the meaning as “star leaf”, as the first people who found it noticed the way it exhibited this type of display within the stone.
astrophyllite typically forms as bladed, radiating stellate aggregates. It is this crystal habit that gives astrophyllite its name, from the Greek words astron meaning “star” and phyllon meaning “leaf”. Its great submetallic gleam and darkness contrast sharply with the light (felsic) matrix the mineral is regularly found within. Astrophyllite is usually opaque to translucent but may be transparent in thin specimens.
Metaphysical properties
This stone is a stone of moving forward quickly on your life journey, and it may assist you to find your true path.
Its vibration may illuminate your true self, the inner you, and make you aware of those things within yourself that you need to take action on.
These are storm element stones, which means they have a strong element of transformation within them.
This stone works within all chakras, as it will connect the eighth chakra, commonly called the soul star chakra with the earth star chakra.

This connection between these two chakras, will activate, stimulate and align the entire chakra system, as white light flows from one end to the other.

This beautiful pale blue-green stone is said by ancient lore to be the treasure of the mermaids! The name Aquamarine is derived from the Latin words: aqua (water) and marina (of the sea).

The Sumerians, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Greeks all admired aquamarine gemstones. Beads were discovered with Egyptian mummies. It was believed that the Hebrew High Priest of the Second Temple wore aquamarine stones engraved with the six tribes of Israel. Two thousand years ago, people in Greece engraved designs into aquamarine stones, turning them into intaglios.

Roman fishermen called the gemstone “water of the sea” and used it as protection whilst at sea and for luck in catching fish. Aquamarine was linked to the apostle St. Thomas, because it “imitated the sea and the air” and the Saint “made long journeys by sea, even to India, to preach salvation.” Identifying a certain jewel with one of the twelve apostles was a common practice at that time who frequently travelled by boat.

The Romans believed that if the figure of a frog were carved on an aquamarine, it served to reconcile enemies and make them friends. Another Roman legend stated that the stone absorbs the atmosphere of young love: “When blessed and worn, it joins in love, and does great things.” Aquamarine was also considered the most appropriate morning gift to give to a bride by her groom following the consummation of their marriage. Roman physicians also used it to treat overeating and bloating.

In Medieval times, the stone was thought to reawaken the love of married couples. It was also believed to render soldiers invincible.

William Langland’s “The Vision Concerning Piers and the Plowman,” from 1377, mentions the aquamarine as an antidote for poison. This antidote was widely known throughout Europe because poisonings amongst royalty was quite frequent. It was not necessary to pulverise the stone, as it was with other gemstones. Simply wearing the stone as a pendant or in a ring was just as effective.

Apatite is a calcium phosphate and quite a rare tourmaline variety. It is named for the Greek word ‘apatao’, which means to deceive. This is because it is chemical composition almost imitates the chemical composition of many other stones. It comes in many colours and forms, and it is often confused with many other minerals, such as Aquamarine and Fluorite.

The most beautiful Apatite stones are usually teal, yellow, or green in colour. Apatite in teal colour resembles the colour of the sea, which is the most popular among buyers and collectors. It is usually found in Russia, Mexico, Canada, the United States and Brazil.

Angelite, also known as anhydrite or angel stone, is a glacier blue- or lilac blue-colored soft stone that has a white center and snow-white flecks with occasional brown or rusty inclusions.

A relatively recent discovery in the mineral and gem world, angelite was discovered in 1987 in Peru. The name ahnydrite comes from the Greek anhydras–meaning “without water”–a reference to angelite being a gypsum that has completely lost all hydration, becoming a stone that is “without water.”

Amethyst is one of the most famous and prominent quartz crystals because of its beautiful coloration as well as its spiritual and literal meaning.

The name comes from the Greek amethystos a-, “not” methysko “intoxicate”, a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication.

In Ancient Egypt, Amethyst was known as “Hemag.” It was carved into hearts and worn as amulets by travellers to keep them safe from being taken advantage of or attack and during burial ceremonies with pieces dating as far back as 3000 BCE. An Amethyst Scarab beetle shaped was found in Tutankhamun’s tomb.

The Hebrews called Amethyst “Ahlamah,” which was derived from the Hebrew word, “halam,” which means “to dream.” Still knowns as the “Dream Stone” it is believed that it can help deter nightmares while giving more positive, vivid dreams.

Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England. Medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle in the belief that amethysts heal people and keep them cool-headed.

Anglican bishops wear an episcopal ring often set with an amethyst. In the Catholic religion, Amethyst was used in prayer beads and rosaries. It was known as the Bishop’s Stone because it symbolized ecclesiastical dignity. Today, Bishops still wear it on the second finger of their right hand as it gives clergymen the power of restraint so that they could uphold their vows.

For the Chinese practitioners of Feng Shui, Amethyst can be used to transform lower vibrations into positive ones.

Buddhists believe amethysts to be a sacred stone to Buddha and use prayer beads of amethysts. In ancient times, Amethyst was known as a “Gem of Fire,” because it was thought to hold the energy of fire, which is passionate, creative, and spiritual in nature. In the Eastern world, Amethyst was used in the tree of life, in the gem cities, and in temples of worship. It was also used in offerings and for spiritual practices and meditation.

The colour purple has historically been associated with royalty due to the costly process and expensive nature of making purple dye. As a stone of royalty, it was used in crowns, sceptres, and jewellery by the royal house because it helped leaders with decision-making. One of the oldest surviving crowns with amethyst jewels is the “Iron Crown of Lombardy” from Italy and dates to the early Middle Ages. It is alleged that the crown contains a band of iron from the crucifixion nails of Christ. The golden crown is decorated with 22 gemstones, 7 red garnets, 7 blue sapphires, 4 violet amethysts and 4 gems made of glass.

In 1660, upon the restoration of the monarchy by Charles II of England, Amethyst was used as the centrepiece for the recreated crown jewels.

The Cursed Amethyst also known as the “Blasted Amethyst” is legend of a jewel looted from the Temple of Indra in Kanpur during the Rebellion of 1857. Brought to England by cavalryman Colonel W. Ferris. Soon after returning to England Ferris lost his life’s savings and passed away.  His son inherited the jewel and began having misfortune.   The Colonel’s son gave the jewel to a friend who had admired the gem. Shortly after receiving the jewel this friend committed suicide, willing it back to the previous owner.

In 1890 the Blasted Amethyst fell into the possession of Edward Heron-Allen, a 19th-century author and musician. Yet he soon found himself rattled by a series of disasters. Smitten by the voice of a Lady friend, unaware of its past Edward gave her the jewel. The Lady soon fell ill and lost her voice never to sing again. After learning the gems history, Edward reclaimed the Jewel, vowing to get rid of the Blasted Amethyst for good and tossed the jewel into the Regent’s Canal. However, three months later the stone was returned to him after dredgers found the stone in the canal.

Edward finally decided to lock the jewel away in a bank vault. Encased within seven locked boxes. Instructing the bank to donate the Jewel to the Natural History Museum of London three years after his death and to never let his daughter touch the Blasted Amethyst.

Amber is fossilised tree resin that has been appreciated for its colour and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Much valued from antiquity to the present as a gemstone, amber is made into a variety of decorative objects. Amber is used in jewellery. It has also been used as a healing agent in folk medicine.

The English word amber derives from Arabic and Middle Persian ambar. The word was adopted in Middle English in the 14th century as referring to what is now known as ambergris (ambre gris or “grey amber”), a solid waxy substance derived from the sperm whale.  The two substances (“yellow amber” and “grey amber”) conceivably became associated or confused because they both were found washed up on beaches. Ambergris is less dense than water and floats, whereas amber is too dense to float, though less dense than stone.

The classical names for amber, Latin electrum and Ancient Greek elektron, are connected to a term elektor) meaning “beaming Sun”. The word elektron gave rise to the words electric, electricity, and because of amber’s ability to bear a charge of static electricity.

Amber has long been used in folk medicine for its alleged healing properties. Amber and its extracts have been used for a wide variety of treatments from the time of Hippocrates in ancient Greece through to the Middle Ages and to the early twentieth century. Traditional Chinese medicine still uses amber to “tranquilise the mind”.

The Roman historian, Pliny notes in his Natural History that some people believed amber could help with problems specifically connected to the tonsils, mouth, and throat, as well as mental disorders and bladder problems. Amber was even ground and mixed with rose oil and honey to treat eye and ear infections. Amber contains succinic acid a mild antibiotic which was used in medicines prior to the use of antibiotics.

In ancient China, it was customary to burn amber during large festivities. If amber is heated under the right conditions, oil of amber is produced. Previously this was combined carefully with nitric acid to create “artificial musk”.  When burned, amber does give off a characteristic “pinewood” fragrance.

Stone Age (8,000 BCE) gravesites have contained amulets with spiral patterns, beads, and pendants carved from amber. Amber ornaments have been found in Mycenaean tombs and elsewhere across

Amber’s bright, sunshine colours also enhanced this connection. The Ancient Greek historian Nicias believed amber to be congealed droplets of sweat formed on the Earth as The Sun set beneath the waves. Other ancient writers depicted these “droplets” of fossilized sap as the tears of gods or heroes on various quests.

The Vikings carved amber pieces into animal shapes. They believed the amber inherited the strengths of the animals. In Ancient Greek and Roman times, women wore amber fish, frog, and rabbit figurines to ensure fertility. The early Chinese believed the souls of tigers became amber upon their release from this plane.

Ovid, the Roman writer describes the old belief that amber was nothing less than the crystallised tears of Clymene and her daughters whom following the tragic death of her young son had been transformed in their grief to poplar trees. had foolishly lost control of his father’s Helios (the sun god) the sun chariot. To prevent the earth from being scorched by the falling sun, Zeus had felt compelled to strike Phaethon down with one of his thunderbolts. Hence the Greeks called amber ‘electrum’ after their name for the sun (elector)

There is Lithuanian tale about Perkunas (God of Thunder) whom had a beautiful daughter named Jurate.  Jurate lived in an underwater palace completely built of amber in the Baltic Sea. Kastytis a fisherman, used to cast his fishing nets within the forbidden underwater kingdom. Jurate sent her many handmaids to ban Kastytis and stop him from fishing in her kingdom. The fisherman ignored the maids’ warnings and kept on poaching. Jurate was forced to warn him in person. But as soon as she saw him, she fell in love and took the fisherman back to the amber palace with her.

However, Jurate’s father (Perkunas) had already betrothed his daughter to Patrimpas, the God of Water. He was incensed that his daughter had chosen a mortal and destroyed the amber palace with a lightning bolt. Kastytis was killed and Jurate was imprisoned within its ruins for eternity.

Legends say that the amber found on the Baltic Sea coast are fragments of the underwater palace. Many of these small pieces and fragments are tear-shaped and are said to be the tears of grieving Jurate who still cries for her lost lover.

Amazonite is a bright green and white striped variety of microcline feldspar. Two sources exist for the name; the Amazon River from which green stones were obtained or the fabled female warriors from Greek mythology, the Amazons.

It is doubtful whether green feldspar occurs in the Amazon area. Amazonite is sometimes cut and polished for use in jewellery. Greeks would link this stone to the famous Amazon women warriors which stone was decorating their shields.

In Mesopotamia, amazonite was offered to Tiamat, goddess of the brine and of the oceans where you could find chaos. According to the Babylonian mythology, Tiamat is the origin of everything as well as the first gods.

Egyptians would use amazonite for its healing properties. Part of the book of the dead was as part was engraved in this stone as was Tutankhamen’s scarab ring.

For the Navajo Indians, the stone was associated to the goddess who made humans, Estsanatlehi.

Amazonite is a silicate that’s usually pale green in colour, but there are also Amazonite stones that are opaque green, blue-green colour, yellow-green or turquoise blue. Because of its resemblance to Jade, Amazonite is also sometimes called Pikes Peak or Colorado Jade.

Amazonite Associations

Chakras – Heart Chakra, Throat Chakra

Zodiac – Virgo

Planet – Uranus

Element – Earth, Water

Vibration – Number 5

Typical colours – Green with cream veins.

Amazonite is a soothing stone.  It calms the brain and nervous system and helps maintain optimum health.  Balances the masculine and feminine energies.  Amazonite helps you to see both sides of a problem or different points of view.  It soothes emotional trauma, alleviating worry and fear.  Dispels negative energy, aggravation and blockages within the nervous system and assists in manifesting universal love.  It protects against electromagnetic pollution and absorbs microwaves.