Amethyst stone: magical properties and who is suitable for it

Hello! Today we will talk about the wonderful amethyst stone and its magical and healing properties. You will also find out which zodiac signs it suits.

Amethyst is a stone of devotion, purity and chastity.

Amethyst is a type of clear quartz. Its color varies from almost colorless, pale violet or bluish violet to violet or dark violet.

When immersed in water, natural amethyst becomes colorless on the surface. This is a way to distinguish natural stone from lab-grown stone.

Amethyst is one of the most popular gemstones for spiritual jewelry, not only because of its mystical deep purple color, but also because of its ability to calm and heal.

Today it is considered a semi-precious stone and is not particularly rare, but at one time it was worth more than a diamond.

History and origin of the mineral

The most beautiful and valuable variety of quartz is often called stone violet. What significance amethyst has for a person is explained by historical facts.

1. The first description of the stone is associated with magic. The properties of the mystical crystal were reported by the priests of the Sumerian civilization in the 4th century BC.
2. Egyptian warriors took the magical talisman amethyst into battle to protect themselves from enemies and not lose fortitude. When burying the pharaohs, amulets and talismans were placed in the sarcophagi of the rulers to ensure protection in the other world. It was believed that the rare green amethyst stone could revive its owner.
3. In the Bible, the special robe of the High Priest (the breastplate) is decorated with 12 jewels arranged in four rows of three each. In the third line there is an amethyst stone, attached to threads of gold. A set of precious stones is present in the description of the walls of Heavenly Jerusalem. The twelfth step is made of amethyst, which absorbs the negative energies of people.
4. Bishops of the Lutheran Church have worn an amethyst ring on the ring finger of their right hand since the 7th century. The tradition was started by the Apostle Paul, who kept the crystal as a symbol of fidelity to the Holy Church. Catholic priests call the stone episcopal or pastoral. Orthodox - bishops.
5. In ancient times, amethyst stood on a par with diamonds and sapphires. Favorite lilac crystals adorned the crown of Queen Charlotte of England and the Russian Tsarina Godunova. The amethyst bracelet was worn by the Bavarian Queen Theresa, Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, and the Duchess of Bedford.

The ancient Greeks called the stone amethyst, which translated means “not to be drunk.” The origin of the term is associated with the myths about the god of viticulture and winemaking, Bacchus.

Quartz researcher, professor of mineralogy G.G. Laemmlein believes that long before the Hellenic civilization, people knew about the power of natural stone. In Greek, the word is a translation of an older foreign name of unknown origin.

Legends about the stone

Many peoples have created beliefs about the origin of the mineral. There are no religions that do not use a piece of rock in their sacraments and rituals.

• In China, the mineral is considered the frozen saliva of the purple dragon (the ancestor of the emperors) and is called “lilac nobility.”
• In India, they believe that a semi-precious stone contains a power that restrains emotions.
• In Rus', the widow's stone, amethyst or alexandrite, is a symbol of sadness and fidelity. After the death of a spouse, women put on an amethyst ring to relive the pain of loss.
• The Old Testament tells about the gift of King Solomon. According to biblical legend, the ancient Jewish sage gave Sulamith Libyan amethysts, similar to stone violets.

“Demon” (“Svyatogor”, 2013) is a stone-cutting work of Ural craftsmen from the collection of the Shmotyev family.”
Amethyst, smoky quartz and topaz were used to make this jewelry sculpture. Photo: Vladimir Martyanov from the site www.oblgazeta.ru The most popular legend was invented in Greece. People began to poorly cultivate the vineyards, which angered the god of wine and fun, Dionysus. In a fit of anger, he vowed to punish the sloths by ordering the tigers to tear to pieces the first person they came across. The young nymph Amethyst was heading to the temple to the goddess of the Hunt. Seeing the angry animals, the frightened girl made a plea for salvation. Diana turned the deity of nature into a white column.

Dionysus was horrified by what happened and decided to correct the fatal mistake. He poured grape wine, purple as blood, onto the stone in the hope of reviving the beautiful girl. But she did not wake up from her eternal sleep, and the statue turned from snow-white to purple. Since then, the beautiful crystal began to be called the “amethyst stone of loneliness,” which acquired special fame as a protective talisman against drunkenness.

Legends and beliefs about the magical properties of the amethyst stone

The ancient Greeks created a myth about the origin of the mineral. The story tells of the love of the god of fun and wine for the nymph Ametis, whose heart belonged to a young shepherd. Dionysus sought the girl’s favor for a long time, until Artemis intervened in the situation. The goddess turned the nymph into a crystal of extraordinary beauty. As a sign of the unrequited love of the patron of winemaking, the stone became an amulet - protection against drunkenness. By the way, the name is translated from Greek as “sober.”

In addition, since ancient times it has been believed that the gem helps preserve feelings for many years, but provided that the love is mutual and the object of adoration is not in another relationship.

The Roman interpretation is somewhat different from the Greek. The god of fun, Bacchus, in order to take revenge on people for their neglect, ordered the death of a girl named Amethyst. The goddess Diana saved her by turning her into a statue of transparent stone. When Bacchus splashed wine on the statue, the crystal turned purple.

Mining locations

For several centuries, Ceylon was the main producer of the mineral. At the beginning of the 18th century, amethysts extracted from placers replaced stones from Germany. The Urals became the place where the most exquisite crystals were mined. After 100 years, tens of tons of a dark purple mineral were brought to European countries from Brazil. Since the 20th century, developments have been carried out in Siberia and Crimea. Large deposits are located in the USA, Italy, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar.

Each deposit contains amethysts that are unique in quality and color.

• Ural gems (Russia) are considered expensive jewelry stones. The purest and darkest crystals are extremely rare on the market.
• Brazil (Maraba) - large, lightly colored stones with chips grow deep into a matrix of blue agate.
• Mexico (Vera Cruz) - dark purple crystals grow directly from the center of the white rock, have a prismatic shape, surrounded by transparent laces of quartz.
• Uruguay - Fully colored stones form crystals together with red, orange agate.
• USA (Colorado) - small dark green druses are located in limestone.

Three-headed amethyst geode from Brazil, height 93 cm, weight 164 kg. Mineralogical Museum named after. A.E. Fersman RAS (Moscow)

Physicochemical characteristics

In nature, natural stones of a natural purple color are considered very rare. In addition to color, amethyst has individual characteristics.

• The crystals are shaped like an oblong diamond or an expanding scepter.
• When heated, the gem becomes colorless; when cooled, it returns to its natural color.
• The thickness of the crystals is 5−10 mm. Some specimens grow up to 2 m in height, have 1 m in width and weigh 500 kg.
• The different shades of the mineral are associated with the content of manganese, cobalt, and nickel in the chemical composition. Iron and aluminum give the stone a purple-violet color.
• A transparent or translucent mineral is distinguished by its luster, lack of cleavage, fragility, and has a Mohs scale of 7. Every 30 years, the color intensity decreases by 10 - 20%.

Varieties and colors

Amethyst has a variety of types. Rarely found in drusen (growth of crystals in different directions). 90% of the mineral is found in geodes (spherical cavities covered inside with crystals) or in individual segments - brushes. Geodes are similar in appearance to ordinary boulders, which, after splitting, reveal a magnificent “filling” hidden from human eyes for thousands of years. For this property, the inhabitants of ancient Rus' called the stone “varenik”.

Rare and expensive varieties of amethyst include:

1. Chevron - combines layers of purple crystal and white quartz. A stone with patterns is valued in magic as a protector against negativity.
2. Ametrine is formed from a combination with lemon-colored citrine. The unique mineral is colored blue with gold veins.
3. Rutile amethyst is the rarest variety, interspersed with goethite crystals, and has the ability to create optical illusions and make wishes come true.
4. Brandberg - a mineral containing segments of smoky quartz, used for medicinal purposes.
5. Crimean stone is found only in the collections of mineralogy specialists.

Each crystal color is individual. Shades range from colorless to deep purple.

Main types:

• black amethyst is considered the most magical gem, the second name is the black king;
• blue and blue - stands second in a row of exceptionally beautiful and rare crystals;
• green - mined in the USA and Brazil, characterized by needle-like inclusions, shades from lemon to emerald; in magic it is used to establish business relationships;
• pink amethyst - a prestigious jewelry stone framed in the best gold frame;
• Lavender is a rare precious stone obtained after processing rose quartz.

Crystal color range

The main color of a transparent amethyst stone with magical properties for women and the stronger sex is purple. Additional shades:

• blue;
• purple;
• lilac;
• pinkish.

An unusual representative of amethysts is a green mineral, which is also called praseolite. It is mined in Brazil and used for unusual, original jewelry in the most interesting combinations.

The most expensive and rare is black amethyst with a glossy, oily surface. It is mined only in Uruguay. Black growths are located only in the upper layer of the rock. Psychics consider it the most powerful stone, capable of opening the “third eye.”

Application area

• Unusual for quartz, the beautiful purple gem was originally perceived as a magical love stone and a remedy against drunkenness.
• Since the 18th century, the mineral has become a symbol of purity and good luck, a favorite stone of crowned heads. For Catherine the Great, an unknown court craftsman framed the first amethysts found in the Urals in gold and silver.
• Queen Maria Theresa of Bohemia was presented with a brooch-bouquet. An amethyst product made for a woman is considered a masterpiece of world art.
• The Swedish royal family's jewelry box contains a rare amethyst set that once belonged to Josephine.
• Queen Elizabeth II of England always wears a brooch with a hexagonal amethyst surrounded by diamonds.

Amethyst is an essential element of sacred objects, present on icon frames, pectoral crosses, communion cups, and the attire of high ranks of clergy. Even the priests' vestments are purple.

Amethyst in art

The semi-precious stone was used by ancient craftsmen. A bronze sculpture found in Rome, made in the 4th century BC, appears alive thanks to inlay with ivory plates and a purple stone inserted into the pupils. Contemporary sculpture is adorned with a fascinating fusion of jewelry craftsmanship and art.

Italian artist Vezzoli and the jewelry house Bvlgari created the “Evening Turtle”. The brass shell is decorated with amethysts, topaz, citrines and other precious stones.

Artist Francesco Vezzoli in the Bvlgari design studio in Rome with the art object “Evening Turtle” photo from the site kp.vedomosti.ru

Medicinal properties

Medical mineralogy has revealed the healing properties and possibilities of using amethyst as a medicine. The raw mineral has stable energy, which has a positive effect on the affected organs.

1. Has antiseptic properties.
2. Used as a stabilizer for protective creams and ointments.
3. In dentistry it is used as quartz ceramics for prosthetics.
4. Destroys traces of burst blood vessels.
5. Frees the body from toxins, treats alcoholism.
6. Normalizes metabolism.
7. Saturates the blood with oxygen.
8. Relieves swelling, eliminates wrinkles.
9. Helps with insomnia.
10. Used in the treatment of mental illness.

The easiest way to use healing amethysts is to wear amulets, bracelets, earrings, and rings.

The meaning of amethyst stone

Amethyst is called a stone of harmony and relaxation, considering that it is of great importance for those wishing to resolve conflicts. Amethyst is also credited with the ability to free people from negative thoughts and generate omniscience. This is primarily due to the color purple, which is a symbol of the “third eye.”

Whose birthstone is amethyst by zodiac sign?

Various lists of gemstone zodiac signs differ slightly in opinion, but most of them believe that amethyst is ideal for Aquarius, and also favors all Air signs. Some horoscopes suggest that those Leos, Pisces, Taurus and Capricorns whose characters have strongly expressed traits related to their signs should beware of wearing items with amethyst. But some lists compiled in ancient times by European astrologers, on the contrary, suggest that Capricorns should wear this stone.

Healing properties of amethyst

Lithotherapists (those who heal with stones) claim that one of the most valuable properties of amethyst is the regulation of metabolism in the body. It is also believed that, in addition to its ability to calm, this mineral alleviates the manifestation of diseases caused by nervousness and relieves migraine attacks.

Magical properties of amethyst

In cases where a combination of knowledge and intuition is important, the magical properties of amethyst will come in handy. It helps people of high position to go beyond standard patterns of thinking and promotes the manifestation of breadth of thought in situations that go beyond the ordinary. The energy and purple color of the stone are also believed to be able to cleanse space of accumulated negativity. It is worth considering that amethyst is one of those stones that cannot be worn constantly; it must be removed for a while.

Magical properties of the mineral

30 centuries ago, Sumerian priests carved a description of an unusual magical amethyst on clay platinum. The English archaeologist Bredis deciphered the mysterious inscriptions.

• The amethyst stone opens hearts to unexpected love, making you forget the previous feeling.
• Amulets save you from the evil eye, poisoning and drunkenness.
• The stone protects against bad thoughts, insomnia, and mental disorders.
• Helps warriors in battles, gives confidence and courage.
• It brings good luck, great finances, and safety of property to businessmen.
• Creative people can count on inspiration and bright ideas.
• The crystal protects fields from insects and natural disasters.
• It brings mutual understanding and fidelity to married couples.
• Products made from pink amethyst expel unrequited love from a woman’s heart, opening the way to new encounters.
• The stone of knowledge cleanses space from negative energy, increases intuition, and brings balance to the mind and feelings.

Therapeutic effect

The property of a stone to prevent a person from getting drunk is well known. However, stone treatment specialists - lithotherapists - recognize the importance of amethyst for solving many health problems.

The water in which the amethyst lay all night, drunk before breakfast, helps:

• cleanse blood vessels, liver, kidneys, defeat colds;
• debug the functioning of the endocrine system;
• relieve swelling, remove bruises, reduce joint pain, normalize blood pressure;
• strengthen the nervous system, reducing tension and stress; it helps cure mental disorders (except paranoia or schizophrenia);
• for diseases of the stomach, intestines, heart;
• for gout;
• to saturate the blood with oxygen.

We recommend reading: Bull's Eye - a stone of good health for Roman soldiers.
Sometimes an amethyst crystal is used directly:

1. Effective for skin diseases. By massaging your face, you can improve its color, smooth out wrinkles, remove freckles, age spots, and other skin rashes.
2. To relieve insomnia and headaches, you need to hold the amethyst between your palms and then apply it to your forehead or temples.
3. A stone under the pillow will make you sleep soundly and calmly.

For amethyst to exhibit its healing properties to the maximum, the crystal must come into contact with the skin. If it is framed, then it is silver.

Compatibility with other stones

The mineral is associated not only with the energy of the planets. The element of air determines the characteristics of amethyst. When purchasing jewelry, you need to consider the compatibility of crystals so as not to distort each other’s magical effect.

Harmonic combination of amethyst:

• agate;
• turquoise;
• White pearls;
• opal;
• cornelian;
• sapphire.

In expensive jewelry, violet-red and lilac amethysts are combined with diamonds and emeralds.

How to spot a fake

To determine the natural origin of a mineral, there are 2 methods: amateur and professional.

A simple way to identify an ornamental stone:

1. The ornamental product is characterized by a large size (15 cm or more in length, 7 cm or more in width).
2. Does not have gas-liquid inclusions or moire patterns. Natural amethyst always has inclusions in the form of microtubules and bubbles of various shapes.
3. It is evenly colored, changes color under light, and has no natural cracks.
4. When lowered into water, the edges of the ornamental stone do not become discolored.
5. The girdle (the end of the crystal where the upper and lower parts meet) is always polished in an ornamental stone, but not in a natural one.
6. Transparent amethyst is a semi-precious stone, opaque is an ornamental product.

Professionals identify an ornamental stone using a jewelry microscope, spectral analysis, X-rays and other methods.

Artificial amethyst

Natural stone is difficult to distinguish from synthetic fakes due to the similarity of many characteristics.

• Artificial amethyst is grown on the basis of quartz in special laboratories. The mineral grows very quickly. After a month, small crystals are obtained, which are produced by hydrothermal or synthetic methods.
• The artificial analogue is impeccable and is not inferior in characteristics to natural stone. The preserved color, structure, and density allow the product to be used in jewelry.

Artificially grown Amethyst

What is the price

The price of amethyst 100 years ago was equivalent to the cost of ruby ​​and emerald. After the discovery of the Brazilian deposit and the appearance of a large number of stones on the market, the price of crystals fell sharply.

The cost depends on the size, color, and origin of the mineral. The qualitative characteristics of an amethyst are determined by whether it is a precious or semi-precious stone. Crystals over 100 carats are mixed brilliant or step cut and are considered rare gemstones.

Average prices:

• 3 carats (32x15 mm) - 3 thousand rubles
• 14 carats (19x12 mm) - up to 4 thousand rubles
• 50 carats (38x33 mm) - 6 - 7 thousand rubles

The collection material is worth thousands of dollars.

How to use?

1. Just wear it as any piece of jewelry. This method is suitable for obtaining most of its beneficial properties from amethyst.
2. If you put a pebble in a glass of alcoholic drink, the intoxication from drinking will be less.
3. To reduce painful cravings for alcohol, food and sex, the mineral should be placed on the navel area.
4. To normalize sleep, the stone is kept under the pillow. And at night they wipe the center of the forehead with it, describing a circle counterclockwise.
5. To strengthen the immune system, drink water “infused” with a crystal (simply place the stone in a container of water).
6. Amethyst is the best mineral for meditation. Including for calming meditation before bed. During the process, the crystal is taken in the left hand (several small pebbles are often used). The practice is performed in the north-eastern part of the room.

Application according to Feng Shui

Amethyst is placed in:

• the northeastern part to enhance the spiritual growth of the inhabitants of the house and their desire for self-improvement;
• southeast - to attract money to the family;
• in the south - to improve the family’s reputation in society and raise its social status.

The stone is also often kept in a car. This helps to calm the driver and suppress his tendency to be too fast on the roads.

If you feel that your home needs energetic cleaning, you can place pebbles in all corners for a while.

How to wear and care properly

Rules of care:

1. Jewelry should not be worn constantly. The stone needs rest and cleansing of negative energy.
2. Store the product in a closed box.
3. Do not wear in summer to prevent the stone from fading under the bright sun.
4. Avoid contact with chemicals (washing powder, dishwashing detergents).
5. Use soap solution or toothpaste to remove dirt.
6. Periodically rinse the stone under running water.

• Amethyst is often framed in silver. In gold, the stone should be combined with diamond, emerald and other precious minerals. The most common jewelry are earrings, rings, rings.
• Women are advised to wear a ring on the ring finger of their left hand. Products for men are worn on the finger of the right hand. To obtain additional energy, the talisman is placed on the middle finger.
• A ring with a mineral and beads are worn to remove anxiety and make the right decision.
• The pink gem attracts true love. The “Widow’s” stone gives strength to cope with grief from the loss of a loved one. Heart-shaped crystal pendants help a girl get married.

Men's silver bracelet with amethyst

Amethyst cannot be called an exclusively feminine stone. Some brave men choose an organic bracelet, believing it to be protective and powerful.

Amethyst is especially relevant for men as an option for summer, for example, with loose linen items. In that case, it is perceived as a symbol of strength, a kind of amulet.

Amethyst is beautiful, complements the image, makes it relevant and interesting. It is chosen by completely different women and girls. Sometimes a bracelet with amethysts in silver becomes a bright accent itself, attracting glances, and sometimes an elegant thin bracelet emphasizes the delicate taste of the owner. Choose to your taste, wear it with pleasure, let the bracelet become your beautiful companion and a real amulet.