Gemstone Meanings and Healing Powers

I have been studying the meanings and powers behind Gemstones, and have been very intrigued about the mysteries behind these powers. Most of them I use in the jewelry I create. I wanted to share what I've learned with you, as you may find gemstones that might help you in your various activities.

It is often said that crystals and stones choose us, rather then us choosing them. This may well be, although I tend to think it's a mutual choosing process, and the same holds true for crystals and gemstones jewelry.

Either way, the key to choosing crystals and stones is to use your intuition. Do what feels right to you. This holds true when purchasing stones online as well as in a shop or at a fair locally.

Purple has long been considered a royal color so it is not surprising that amethyst has been so much in demand during history. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

Amethyst Gemstone Meaning:
Crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac, or mauve is called amethyst, a stone traditionally worn to guard against drunkenness and to instill a sober mind. The word amethyst comes from the Greek meaning "without drunkenness" and amethyst is believed to protect one from poison. This explains why wine goblets were often carved from Amethyst.

The legend of the origin of amethyst comes from Greek Myths. Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered one day by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a stature of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse of his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.

Blue Quartz crystal is a soothing, stress-relief stone. Like all quartz, it can be used as a power amplifier during magic. Blue quartz is especially fine as a peace or tranquility stone.

Alternate names and name spellings include Dumortierite Quartz, sometimes called just Dumortierite. Blue quartz is a stone of order that can enhance organizational abilities, self-discipline, and orderliness. The enhancement is believed to be due to the effect it can have of balancing the throat chakra and enhancing communication between the lower chakras (physical) and higher chakras (mental/spiritual). Blue quartz brings the sense of order to all things, and releases fear, bringing courage into one's life. It is also a boost for creativity and expression. Emotionally, blue quartz greatly reduces problems with scattered mind and disorganization, and brings mental clarity. It also helps one to see and accept reality, and react to it intelligently in one's behalf. It can lift depression and replace it with peace and happiness. It also can help reduce stubbornness, particularly stubbornness that ultimately is bad for one.

Physically, blue quartz can help with cooling the body, throat, thyroid, and parathyroid, detoxification, over-stimulation, hyperactivity, spleen, endocrine system, and blood.

Chalcedony, also spelled Calcedony, is a very fine-grained (cryptocrystalline) variety of the silica mineral quartz. It has a waxy luster and appears in a great variety of colors including blue, white, buff, light tan, gray, yellow, pink, red, or brown. If chalcedony is conspicuously color-banded, it may be called agate and with minerals it has various other names including carnelian, mocha stone, onyx, and bloodstone to name a few.

In the petrified forests of the Desert Southwest, many of the original tree tissues have been replaced by chalcedony in the formation of petrified wood. What remains is a mineral replica of the original tree in various fantastic colors. The brilliant reds and greens are caused primarily by traces of iron oxides

Considered a sacred stone by the Native American Indians, chalcedony nurtures and promotes brotherhood and good will as well as many other uses:

Used to assist telepathy
Absorbs negative energy and dissipates it
Harmonizes mind, body, and spirit
Instills generosity
Vitality
Stamina
Endurance
Kindness
Emotional balance
Friendliness
It supposedly alleviates hostilities, irritability and melancholy