Semi-Precious Stones
The meaning of semi precious stones goes back to the days of the hunter. It is thought that the first stone used for ornamental purposes was a smooth colored river rock. The hunter would spot the stone whilst hunting for food, then carried it with him as his lucky hunting stone. Stones of all kinds have played a very important part of the history of humans. From little river stones to huge stones, such as at Stonehenge, stones of all sizes and types have been called "the bones of Mother Earth". Stones have been used as talismans and amulets since recorded history and likely before that. It is from then that various types of energy have been found in different stones giving them different meanings and strengths.
Aventurine (Green)
Aventurine originated in India. It is a form of Quartz, characterised by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a glistening effect termed aventurscence. Aventurine is known as the stone of luck or chance. If you gamble or play the lotto, keep this stone in your left pocket. Aventurine is said to increase perception and creative insight. In Chakra it is a heart Chakra stone.
Blue Goldstone
Blue Goldstone is less common than red goldstone. The stone itself came about when early monks were practising alchemy at a glass factory near Venice when molten copper accidentally tipped into a molten glass container . This crystalized into thousands of tiny crystals and formed a melt with light golden sparkles. This stone is not a gemstone however is classed as a semi-precious stone. Goldstone is said to be the stone of ambition. It builds energy, courage and positive attitude. Increases drive and confidence. A gently uplifting stone, Goldstone promotes vitality. In Chakra, Blue Goldstone is a throat Chakra stone.
Blue Onyx
Onyx has served as a worry stone and material for rosary beads for centuries. Crystal healers believe that it has the ability to soothe fears and worries, to control overwhelming emotions. They say it can help a person maintain a positive outlook while awaiting the result of a source of anxiety. They also recommend it for improving concentration and devotion, calming sexual tension and ending marital disputes. Blue Onyx is a throat Chakra Stone.
Botswana Agate
Agate's most noticable properties overall are balancing yin/yang energy, courage, protection, healing, and calming. Historically it was placed in water for cooking or drinking to dispel sickness. The Metaphysical and Healing Properties Lore of any specific type of agate depend to some extent on the color of the agate, but all agates have certain things in common. Agate is a stone of strength. It was used by the Ancients on the breastplates of armor to give warriors strength and make them victorious in battle. Agate enhances creativity and strengthens the intellect, making it a beneficial stone for both students and artists. It is also known as a good luck stone. Emotionally, agate gives courage, emotional strength, self-confidence, and dispels fears. It can also lessen feelings of envy by grounding the emotions. In the same way, it assists with acceptance of all things. It can be very beneficial for self-examination as well as examination of the circumstances one finds oneself in. These qualities make agate superior for easing anxiety and stress.
Carnelian
Carnelian
Carnelian (also sometimes referred to as cornelian) is found primarily in India, as well as various sites in South America. It is a variety of chalcedony. The most favorable pieces are a deep red to red-orange hue. Carnelian has a long and storied past, and was once considered strictly the property of the noble class. People holding a high social status were often buried with this gem stone.
Keep a carnelian with you and feel the energy flow to you. Carnelian is used for these benefits - it gives energy, protects from bad vibrations, guards against poverty, helps give a sense of humour and calms tempers.
Carnelian is an energy booster. It helps the insecure person to find strength within them so they can come into their own.
Chinese Amazonite
Chinese Amazonite is light blue in colour and every now and then possesses specs of light green or soft stripes and is sometimes a little translucent. It is the stone of curiosity and is often said to answer questions in your dreams. If you have an unanswered question and are unable to work it out, when you go to bed, place the Chinese Amazonite under your pillow and the answer will be revealed whilst you are sleeping. You will have to write it down then so you don’t forget it by the morning! For best effects, place the stone somewhere warm before putting it under your pillow (e.g. sunny window sill).Chinese Amazonite possesses healing powers for headaches and migraines. If the stone is placed on your head the pain will subside quickly. Called the "Stone of Courage" named after the Amazon Women Warriors.
Coral
Coral has been called the 'garden of the sea'. It was once believed to be a plant, but is now known to actually contain living animals called polyps. Coral is the result of accumulated skeletal masses from these polyps. Coral symbolizes life and blood force energy. Records dating back thousands of years confirm that coral was used in decorative art objects. It was believed to prevent ill fortune and offer protection from skin disease when worn as a necklace. Dreams about coral are believed to foretell recovery from a long illness. Ancients believed that Mars was composed of red coral. Dark red coral is used for heating and stimulating the bloodstream. Pink shades restore harmony to the heart. It is used as an aid to depression, lethargy or deficient nutrition.
Garnet
Garnet
The Garnet is known as the stone for a successful business. If your business is not as good as it should be, just put 3 or more garnets on your desk. It is believed that if a garnet is put under a pillow it will cure depression. Garnets can be used to make a person popular and have self-esteem when worn as jewellery. It helps protect one on trips. Garnets bring constancy to friendships. Garnets are also known for stimulating success in business.
The Garnet is a stone of purity and truth as well as a symbol of love and compassion. The information released in a search may be painful, but it will always be what the searcher needs. The Garnet will help everyone's security level and spiritual awareness. It can help increase the sex drive.
Currently, the world's largest supply of garnets is the continent of Africa. In December 1996, a student in Central Australia discovered what is thought to be the largest single garnet ever found - measuring nearly one hundred feet across! Other sources of garnet include India, Soviet Union, Brazil and the United States.
Goldstone
The Goldstone to your right is the most common goldstone. Reddish-brown in colour with tiny glittery bits. Goldstone is a man-made gemstone( as mentioned above - see Blue Goldstone). It has been around since the European Renaissance, and is said to be one of the most popular gemstones in the world.
Goldstones Emotional and Spiritual qualities are - it is great for positive energy, it renews strength, it can induce happy thoughts and activates root and sacral chakras.
Goldstones Healing, Medical and Physical qualities are - it is said to protect the center of the body, it stimulates you physically it can be a great mood stabiliser and can help to reduce stomach tension.
Green Agate
This beautiful, translucent deep green stone goes back to the Egyptians. At least 3000 years ago, they were using agate for seals, rings, and decorating vessels. The art of dyeing it into vibrant colors began with the Romans. Today, not only does it continue to be popular for art objects and jewellery, industry also "loves" agate because of its hardness and resistance to chemicals. Like a truly beautiful woman, green agate beads and cabochons have a history that adds to and intensifies their beauty. Even before we knew about Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement and color, most of us knew we felt better when we had green plants and trees around us. According to Feng Shui, that's because green is a benevolent, humanistic color. Like all color, it affects us even when we don't know it. In this stone, the spiritual power of green is combined with that of agate. According to modern healers who use stones in healing, green agate corresponds to someone who is compassionate, generous, has good fortune and a keen sense of justice. It also encourages those traits in others. We'd all be happier if a lot more people started wearing green agate.
Green Jasper
There are many types of jasper; it is one of the oldest known gemstones. It is mentioned in the Bible several times. All jaspers are strong securing, stability stones. It is a powerful protection against things that are not good for you and it eases emotional stresses, making it a wonderful gemstone to have in your home.
Jasper comes in many colors. All colors of Jasper will help balance the vibrations of the body. Jasper is slow to show a change to the person, but is such a basic "good" stone that one should always have it on hand. Leopard skin jasper is said to assist in self-healing.
Freshwater Pearls
Pearls are one of the earliest gemstones found by prehistoric man, most likely along the coastline of India. They've been used for personal adornment and coveted by peoples throughout the globe for thousands of years. Ancient myths tell of pearls being formed when oysters opened their shells, rose to the water's surface and were seeded by the early morning rays of sunlight and drops of dew.
Some healers use pearls to help balance body rhythms and hormone levels with lunar cycles, and to harmonize human beings with the natural world. The inner glow (orient) of pearls is thought to tap inner-wisdom and nurture love. Pearls are also believed to signify innocence and faith.
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a gemstone of the kind that might have come straight out of the Arabian Nights: a deep blue with golden inclusions of pyrites which shimmer like little stars. This opaque, deep blue gemstone has a grand past. It was among the first gemstones to be worn as jewellery and worked on.
The most expensive blue stone of all time....Lapis lazuli is the stone of friendship and truth. Lapis lazuli is regarded by many people around the world as the stone of friendship and truth. The blue stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly.Lapis lazuli is an opaque rock that mainly consists of diopside and lazurite. It came into being millions of years ago during the metamorphosis of lime to marble. Uncut, lapis lazuli is matt and of a deep, dark blue colour, often with golden inclusions and whitish marble veins. The small inclusions with their golden shimmer, which give the stone the magic of a starry sky, are not of gold as people used to think, but of pyrites. Their cause is iron. The blue colour comes from the sulphur content of the lazurite and may range from pure ultramarine to a lighter blue.
New Jade
"New jade" serpentine is said to have the same spiritual values as green jade. Because it produces a tranquil mood, it helps us when we're depressed, especially when we feel stuck in a situation. Wear it when you can't stand the person you're living with another minute longer, or your job is driving you crazy. Wear it whenever what you'd really like to do is run away, but you think it's wiser not to. Like green jade, "new jade" serpentine can help you get grounded, so you can live with the situation and feel more tranquil while you're doing it.
Peridot
One of the joy stones, Peridot brings the energies from in the aura to the physical body. Helps in understanding the changes in one's life and provides a protective shield around the body. Can be used to cleanse and stimulate the Heart and Solar Plexus chakras. Attracts occult powers to the user. Also used in treating emotional states such as anger or jealousy. Inspires healing, renewal, purification, rebirth and growth. Heals hurt feelings, helps mend damaged relationships. Peridot, as well as being recommended as a cure for insomnia, is said to aid the digestion, placate the nervous system, reduce temperature, improve bruised eye, and alleviate anger, jealousy and irritation. It is associated with stress reduction, relaxation, health vigor, recuperative abilities, comfort and intuition. Especially good for healing the healers.
Rhodonite
Rhodonite soothes the nervous system. This gemstone vibrates with love. Just holding this gemstone promotes relaxation and brings a sense of well-being. This is a balance gemstone and is used to clear the psychic centres.Rhodonite raises self worth and helps ward off negativity. It has been known as a "rescue stone".
Smokey Quartz
Smokey quartz is nature's stone of endurance. If you need a extra boost, carry a smokey quartz gemstone with you. It promotes personal pride and joy in living, creativity in business, opens the path for perception and learning. Smokey Quartz is a protection stone that cleanses and clears negative energy. Smokey Quartz is a grounding stone that transmutes negative energies and facilitates your ability to get things done in the practical world. It enhances organizational skills and is good to have around in the workplace or home office. Smokey Quartz is connected with the sounds of the universe. It makes you more aware of sounds including telepathic sounds. Smokey Quartz helps relieve depression.
Snowflake Obsidian
Snowflake Obsidian is a stone of purity. It balances mind, body and spirit. Placed on the sacral hara chakra, snowflake obsidian will calm and soothe and allow you to view unhealthy patterns in your own behaviour, thus opening the door to change. Obsidian draws hidden imbalances to the surface and releases them. The blackness of this stone enhances the ability to reach your inner self. It is one of the earliest known stones to be used for scrying (seeing into the future). Snowflake obsidian relieves muscle cramps, and is a detoxification stone.
Tiger Eye
Tiger's eye lets you see everything. Use the tiger's eye for insight and you can be a very lucky person. When used in jewellery the tiger's eye may bring good luck and protection from the evil eye to the wearer. It also known to bring clear thinking and insight. Tiger's-Eye is a stone for the mind, not the body. This is a powerful stone and must be used carefully. Tiger's-eye has the power to focus the mind. It will cause the mind to have feeling of oneness and feel more direct in all thoughts. It makes one aware of one's own needs related to the needs of others. This is a very deep process and not all are capable of using the energy of the Tiger's-eye correctly.
Turquoise
Turquoise is one of the official birthstones for the month of December, and is heralded as the stone of communication. It encourages 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. This may be one reason why the stone has long been prized as a powerful talisman with healing properties. It is believed that turquoise can help balance the blue throat chakra, enhancing the ability to communicate while increasing resistance to viruses, helping to relieve sore throats and allergies.