Gem Meanings A to M

A general guide to the geographical & physical makeup, plus the folklore of the metaphysical & healing properties
of a series of Gemstones.

 

AMBER
Physically - GOLDEN YELLOW. It is a fossilized tree resin (not sap)

Amber is globally distributed. Historically, the coast around Königsberg in Prussia was the world's leading source of amber. About 90% of the world's extractable amber is still located around the Baltic Sea area.

The English word amber derives from the Arabic 'anbar, via Medieval Latin ambar and Old French ambre. 

Metaphysically - regarded as a stone used to attract health, wealth. It can balance & align the chakras & assist with their clearing. Like ‘Citrine’ it also stimulates both mental focus & endurance. It emits an elevated energy which delivers enhanced initiative with emotional balance, stimulates intuition & contact with the forces of higher intelligence, but keeps one more grounded through this.

It raises optimism & reduces fear promoting a radiance from within, laughter, self confidence & a ‘richer’ more dynamic personality. 

 

AMETHYST
Physically -  PURPLE. Is a violet variety of quartz, its chemical formula is SiO2.
The color in amethyst is due to irradiation, which caused the iron ions present as impurities in quartz to rearrange themselves in the crystal lattice affecting the color.  

Geographically Amethyst is found in numerous locations around the world. Brazil is known to have the darkest and most sought after stones.

The name comes from the Ancient Greek "not" "intoxicated", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness.

Metaphysically - regarded as one of the most powerful healing crystals, it affects the physical, emotional, mental & spiritual levels, it is a stone for peace of mind, enhancing mental ability during day but also assisting with sound, restful sleep at night, helping one to recall dreams.

Excellent for deep meditation & spiritual awakening. Clears the aura & protects against psychic attack. Is said to protect against effects of alcohol. Enhances communication with the spiritual world, improves channelling & mediumship abilities.

 

AVENTURINE
Physically - GREEN. Is a form of quartz, characterised by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence.

The majority of green and blue-green aventurine originates in India.

The name aventurine derives from the Italian "a ventura" meaning "by chance". This is an allusion to the lucky discovery of aventurine.

Metaphysically - regarded as a stone for the 'heart' to both activate & clear. It is also an excellent protector of the heart chakra, providing a shield to block those who sap your energy.

Provides balancing of the male & female energies enhancing creativity & motivation. Amplifies leadership qualities, reinforces decisiveness & instinctive action. It facilitates balancing & alignment of the intellectual, physical, emotional & auric bodies. It is used in rituals of the medicine wheel where participants feel a 'wash of love' fall around them.

 

BLACK ONYX
Physically - BLACK. A banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color 

Onyx is found worldwide.

The name Onyx comes through Latin: onyx, from the Greek ὄνυξ, meaning 'claw' or 'fingernail'.

Metaphysically - regarded as a 'stone of self mastery'. It helps in difficult times. It enhances the ability to release the negative past or more current challenging issues, increasing determination & personal strength. Absorbing whatever energy we need from the Universe to accomplish this.

It provides a repelling effect on negative energy, increasing protection & thus reducing stress. It also can be used for calm focus & alignment to a higher power, helping you channel and clarify intuitive wisdom leading to greater levels of happiness and good fortune. 

CARNELIAN
Physically - ORANGE/BROWN. A variety of the mineral chalcedony.

Carnelian is found worldwide. The best quality Carnelian is often sourced from India.

The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word caro, carnis meaning flesh, in reference to the flesh color sometimes exhibited.

Metaphysically - regarded as a stone for helping discover latent talents & abilities & to draw inspiration from the higher realms. It protects against fear envy & rage, it also helps to banish sorrow from the emotional body & brings awareness of the emotional healing needed to heal the whole self.

It is a stone of great benefit to women who need to regain their personal power, it increases motivation & assertiveness while it decreases agressiveness, it brings out the very best of the female aspects. (Goddess qualities). 

 

CHAROITE
Physically - PURPLE/LAVENDER. Is a rare mineral, first described in 1978. Translucent lavender to purple in color with a pearly luster. 

Found in numerous locations, Murun Massif, Chara River, Davan, Torgo River Basin, Aldan Shield, Saha (Sakha) Republic (Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia.

The name is derived from the Chara River, Russia.

Metaphysically - regarded as a stone that links the heart and mind, assisting to 'ground' the spiritual self. 

It opens the heart charka bringing wisdom and awareness removing fear and compulsions. Known to help the wearer to see old patterns as new possibilities for healing and cleansing, teaching unconditonal love, acceptance through hnest realisations.

It also is believed to reduce mental stress, increasing levels of peace & calmness. Excellent for headaches and general stress related issues. 

CITRINE
Physically - YELLOW. A variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown

Citrine is found worldwide. 

The name is derived from Latin citrina which means "yellow" and is also the origin of the word "citron."

Metaphysically - regarded as a stone used to attract health, wealth & transmute negativity. It also can increase personal power, positivity, creativity & intelligent decisiveness. It stimulates both mental focus & endurance.

It emits an elevated energy which delivers enhanced initiative, stimulates intuition & contact with the forces of higher intelligence. It raises optimism & reduces fear promoting a radiance from within, laughter, self confidence & a joyful personality.

 

CLEAR QUARTZ
Physically - CLEAR. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4

Clear Quartz is found worldwide. 

The word "quartz" is derived from the German word "quarz" and its Middle High German ancestor "twarc", which probably originated in Slavic.

Metaphysically - A stone for connecting to higher guidance and wisdom. Able to centre, align & strengthen all aspects of the body & its Auric field, which provides energy and stamina. Assists with decision making and seeing the bigger picture of life’s experiences, & so brings in clarity.

Motivates through the dissipation of negativity from ones thoughts. Reduces fear and confusion. Is able to amplify & enhance any thoughts feelings & physical aspects, ideal for increasing & strengthening an individual’s personal will power, in readiness for success with a challenging task.

 

FLUORITE
Physically - MULTI-COLOURS. Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. 

Fluorite comes in a wide range of colors and has subsequently been dubbed "the most colorful mineral in the world". The most common colors are purple, blue, green, yellow, or colorless. Less common are pink, red, white, brown, black, and nearly every shade in between. 

Fluorite is a widely occurring mineral which is found in large deposits in many areas. Notable deposits occur in China, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Norway and Mexico.

Fluorite derives from the Latin noun fluo, meaning a stream or flow of water

Metaphysically - regarded as a 'stone for discernment and aptitude'. It represents high mental achievement, enhancing the exploration of thought, it can bring order to chaos, assisting the wearer to act apon information objectively and overall calming a persons demeanor, and so also emotionally affecting the wearer in a very positive way.

Green Fluorite can bring renewal and a cleansing, that can reduce any mild traumas to the emotional body, regarded as useful for the stomach and the intestinal tract

Blue Fluorite helps with ordering, settling thoughts and ideas, also known to assist with communication skills.

Purple Fluorite brings intuitive clarity, enhancing psychic and spirital growth. Believed to assist a wearer in the preparation of healing on many levels.

Yellow Fluorite is associated with creativity and joy. Expanding ones ability to express artistically on various levels. Also regarded as an excellent stone for assisting with group energy, it can imbue a room of people with clarity when working towards a common goal.

Clear Fluorite is used to activate and stimulate the upper chakras, especially the crown. It is also used to clear and energise a persons aura, bringing the wearers energy field into alignment.

 

GARNET
Physically - RED/BROWN. Garnets species are found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. Garnets are nesosilicates - SiO₄

The largest source of 'abrasive' garnet today is garnet rich beach sand in India and Australia. Rock garnet is found in America, China and western India

The name "garnet" may come from the Middle English word gernet meaning 'dark red'

Metaphysically - regarded as a stone of 'health & vitality' & positive action, assists one to 'get out & do it' helps you to change your world by producing an awareness of manifestation.

It fans your internal fire, bringing out your creative powers, it increases personal responsibility, magnetism, strength, motivation, patience, persistence & desire. It can help you remember past life information. It is known as a 'stone of commitment' - to purpose, to others, & to oneself. Its loving powers bring devotion, warmth & understanding.

 

HEMATITE
Physically - Black/Metallic Gray. Hematite, also spelled as haematite, is the mineral form of iron oxide (Fe2O3). It has a reddish center and can dispplay red lines or spots on its surface at times.

Hematite is present in the waste tailings of iron mines. Grey hematite is typically found in places where there has been standing water or mineral hot springs

The name hematite is derived from the Greek word for blood 'aima' because hematite can be red, as in rouge, a powdered form of hematite. 

Metaphysically - regarded as a 'stone for the mind'. It helps to 'sort out' things, used for mental attunement, memory, original thinking, & technical knowledge. It enhances personal magnetism, optimism, will & courage It assists in mathematics & in developing both mental & manual dexterity.

It provides a calming effect & encourages one to 'reach for the stars' it brings the realisation that the only limitations which exist are those self limiting beliefs within the mind. It assists in the focusing of energy & emotions for balancing body mind & spirit. 

 

IOLITE
Physically - BLUE. Iiolite (gemology) or Cordierite (mineralogy) is a magnesium iron aluminium cyclosilicate. 

Iolite is abundantly found in Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Australia's Northern Territory, Namibia, Brazil, Tanzania, Madagascar, Connecticut, and the Yellowknife area of the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Cordierite is named after the French geologist Louis Cordier (1777–1861). Discovered in 1813.
The name "iolite" comes from the Greek word for violet. 

It has also been called "water-sapphire" and "Vikings' Compass" because of its ability to determine the direction of the sun on overcast days, the Vikings having used it for this purpose

Metaphysically - regarded as a 'stone for meditation', used during healing and astral travel, the third eye and crown charka's are especially linked with this stone, enhancing 'vision'. 

It is believed to balance the male/female energies, bringing harmony and reducing disruption, especially towards relationships. This can also transfer to personal understanding, awakening inner knowledge and acceptance of responsibilty for life's decisions, helping to move through change and growth painlessly.

 

MALACHITE

This page is for reference & general information purposes only.
It is intended for education and allows for discussion & sharing.
See your doctor or other qualified practitioner for persistant or life threatening health related issues. This information presented here does not replace medical treatement or advice. 

 This information has been gleaned from a mix of printed materials and personal experience;  personally interpreted, created & written by Bead heaven.
Copyright 2011
Thanks to Wikipedia for chemical and geographical information.

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