Hello and welcome to crystals and gemstones, metaphysically speaking. Through this and future articles, I hope to share the various energies associated the stones, cleansing techniques, as well as thoughts on their metaphysical connections (astrology, runes, numerology, tarot, chakras, etc). As always, accept that which resonates with you positively and hold the balance for consideration. I have found nothing is ever “set in stone”.

Personally, I love stones in their natural form. Uncut, straight from the earth, neither tumbled nor irradiated (color enhancer), simple and brimming with their natural energies. Clusters, specters, and geodes are personal favorites as well.

The first group of stones I would like to introduce is the Quartz; the most common mineral provided by mother earth as well as the most abundant. 

There are three types of quartz; crystalline (large well formed crystals), cryptocrystalline (microscopic crystals or chalcedony) and hydrous noncrystalline (opals). 

Included in this group is a dear favorite of mine; the amethyst. 

Amethyst - Greek for precious stone 

Hardness: 7

Specific gravity (relative density): 6.5

Crystal system: Tetrahedral (solid with 4 faces)

Index of refraction: 1.5-1.6

Energies associated with the Amethyst are spirituality, healing, peace, intuition, dreams, protection, meditation, assisting to balance the body on all levels, and aiding one to overcome alcoholism. Others could be included but let’s keep these in mind for now.

Consider the color and energies associated with the amethyst. Keep those in mind and see how the amethyst associates with:

Astrological signs: Aquarius, Pisces, Virgo Planets: Neptune, Jupiter Tarot: Temperance Runes: Jera Numerology: 3 Chakra: Crown and Third Eye Feng Shui: Best used in the 8th house or room to the left of the entering doorway.

Where does one find a stone? If you’re not up to rock hunting or can’t stand caves, museums normally have an abundant of small stones for sale in their gift shop. A metaphysical store is a good source but may be pricy. Ok, a stone caught your eye. Now what? Hold it gently. Meditate with it. Most likely you will intuitively know where to place it in your home or even on the dash board of your car! I know several who have stone clusters on their dash boards for protection. Not an amethyst though. Direct sunlight will fade the manganese enhanced purple from the stone. One may cleanse the amethyst in a small desk top fountain. Cleansing by the moon light works quite nicely as well. True enough, cleansing by moon light may scatter the energies of water related stones (opal, moonstone, and pearl to name a few). I have not found this to be the case with the amethyst.

Ever wonder how a stone receives their common name? This is a story of the origin of the Amethyst from Greek mythology. Picture a setting of lucid ponds surrounded by beautiful lush gardens with colors so vivid and bright they sparkle with the suns rays and twinkle in the moon light. Strolling through these gardens was the Greek god Dionysus (the god of wine) in search of a mortal female companion (oh how he loved for one to feed his ego). One such maiden crossed his path on the way to meet her own lover. Dionysus’ advances were rejected by this mere mortal and he became outraged. In his curse to all mortals he swore he would seek revenge on the next maiden to cross his path. As he turned, his eyes, filled with drunken fury, fell upon a lovely virgin entering the garden. His ears beheld her praises to the goddess Diana for the beauty around her. Dionysus immediately called forth his fierce twin tigers and unleashed them on the young virgin. She cried out to the goddess Diana just as the tigers leaped towards her. When Diana saw what was to occur, she quickly transformed the virgin into a pure white crystal stone to protect her from Dionysus’ wrath. Initially, he was outraged beyond his thoughts then his vision cleared and he found himself looking at the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Realizing what he had almost destroyed, he became overwhelmed and began to weep. As his tears of wine fell upon the crystal stone it was transformed from a soft white to a shimmering purple. The virgin’s name? Amethyst.

A beautiful and closely related stone to the amethyst is ametrine. As human beings, we are honed and shaped by others around us, our surroundings; that which is introduced to us throughout our lives. Stones and their energies are created by a similar process. Consider another naturally occurring process or element being introduced to a stone creating a similar yet different stone. Ametrine occurs naturally by introducing a higher degree of heat and the mineral iron to a portion of an amethyst stone or cluster. This is amethyst and citrine, each their own unique energies combined to further enhance those energies. I have known individuals to stay clear of citrine as it did not vibrate well with their own energies. Ametrine, however, was well received. Quite possibly we will touch on ametrine in greater detail at a later date.

May the energies of the stones resonate within and around you for the highest good.