Semi-Precious Stones
Agate
This natural stone, which is found by splitting open masses of rock or volcanic lavas, is found around the world but most is collected in Germany, Uruguay and Brazil. It comes in a huge variety of colors and patterns.
Amethyst
Amethyst is crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac, or mauve. Most quartz is clear while amethyst derives its color from small amounts of iron impurities in the crystal lattice. Amethyst is found in geodes. Some of the largest geodes containing amethyst have been found in Brazil. Russian amethyst has a reddish tinge while amethyst in Canada is violet. It is also found in Sri Lanka, India, Uruguay, Madagascar, the USA, Germany, Australia, Russia, South America, Namibia, and Zambia. Amethyst was considered to preserve sobriety in ancient Greece and Amethyst adorned wine goblets to prevent drunkenness. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that Amethyst dissipated evil thoughts and quickened intelligence. It is a stone of divine love and was a popular ornamentation for religious purposes in the Middle Ages. Amethyst is used for meditation because it guides the awareness away from self-centered thought patterns as it lures the mind towards a deeper understanding. It brings you a peaceful balance of mental and emotional energies. It is said to bring you mental peace and harmony. Because of its calming mental effect, amethyst is a stone that has been used for over- worked, over -stressed, or overwhelmed mental states, and is thought to give protection to those who wear it. It has also been used for tension, migraine headaches, for people who tend to be easily angered or suffer from recurrent nightmares and insomnia.
Carnelian
This translucent, reddish orange variety of chalcedony derives it's various shades orange from the presence of iron oxide. Stones may be uniformly colored or banded and vary from translucent to opaque. The best carnelian is from India. In ancient times it found its way around the world as ballast in ships. Carnelian is used for clear thinking. It is said to balance creativity and mental processing. It is also thought to bring luck, protection and comfort. In the 1800s it was thought to help those who needed courage to speak and so was worn by Mohammed, Napoleon I & III.
Garnet
Health, removing negativity, awareness, commitment, regeneration order, insight.
Kyanite
Good for aligning all of the energy centers, especially good for the 5th chakra or throat chakra.
Lapis
Helps organize and quiet the mind, brings self expressions. Helps with dream insights, writing and creativity.
Tourmaline
Attracts inspiration, energizing, soulsearching, releasing.
