Gemstone Folklore, Legend, Healing Properties

Note:  This section is for inspiration, and entertainment purposes only

 “This is some interesting legend on some of the gemstones I use in my artistry.  Enjoy!”

Agate

Is said to balance emotions, assist in discerning the truth and accepting circumstances.

Is thought to be a powerful emotional healer.

Amethyst

Amethyst was thought to bring energies of stability, peace, calm, balance, courage and inner strength.

Legend says that it has also been used to help ease the pain of grief, and promote happiness.

Blackstone or Black Jasper

It is said that Black Jasper is a stone with both protective and healing energy.

Black Jasper is said to bring good luck to the bearer in a fight.

Carnelian

Folklore suggests that carnelian was used to protect the traveler after death and guard against evil.

Carnelian's healing properties are thought to help purify the blood, relieve menstrual cramps and back pain.

It is also thought to be beneficial in the treatment of infertility and is worn to enhance passion and desire.

Citrine

Citrine is believed to help the heart, kidney, digestive tract, liver and muscles.

It I said to promote creativity, personal clarity and eliminate self-destructive tendencies.

Copper

Copper is thought to be a mineral of energy and mental agility.

In legend, copper is said to be the metal of the God Hermes, who facilitated that mental agility and quick wit

Coral

Coral is said to attract love and prosperity.

Creativity and optimism are also qualities that coral is said to promote.

Emotionally, coral is believed to bring inner peace, strength, and understanding of purpose.

Crazy Lace Agate

Legend says this is a balancing and protecting stone thought to bring laughter and absorb emotional pain.

It was thought to be useful in decision-making by balancing the physical, emotional, and mental states of the body.

Garnet

Garnet's powers are said to include healing, strength, and protection and relief of inflammations of the skin.

Legend says it was used to regulate the heart and blood flow and aid in recurring depression.

In earlier times, garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they meet again.

Hematite

In ancient times, it was believed that large deposits of hematite formed on battlegrounds where soldiers were injured and lost blood from their battles.  The ancient Egyptians placed hematite objects inside their tombs.

Hematite is believed to be a healing and grounding stone, strengthening the body and lessening life's stresses.

It is thought to reduce stress and enhance one's personal magnetism. It is also thought to increase optimism and courage and helpful in transforming negativity.

Howlite

Howlite was thought to decrease an overly critical state of mind, selfishness, stress, pain, and rudeness.

It was said to increases subtlety and tact and help bones and teeth.

Iolite

Iolite is popularly known as water sapphire, although it is not a type of sapphire at all.

It was used in thin sheets by the ancient Vikings as a "lens" to see during their ocean voyages, as the world's first polarizing filter, and is often known as the Viking stone.

It was thus said that iolite could bring clear vision and enhance curiosity.

Jade

Legend says that jade was thought to protect the kidneys, liver, spleen, heart, larynx, thymus, and thyroid.

Ancient people thought that wearing jade would increase body strength and add longevity.

Jade is an ancient symbol of love and virtue.

Jasper

Legend says that Jasper would drive away evil spirits and protect against snake and spider bites.

In the fourth century, it was thought to bring about the rain.

Jasper is believed to be protective and align all the chakras and balance yin yang energies.  It is said to be stabilizing and healing.

Jasper, Leopard Skin

Leopard skin jasper is thought to promote aid in service to others.

Legend states that it makes it easier for one to take responsibility properly and helps with creative visualization.

Jasper, Picasso

Picasso marble (or Picasso stone) is sometimes called Picasso jasper. It is lored to have strong qualities of grounding and calming.

It was also thought to promote weight loss and assist in the development of creativity, as well as engendering strength and self-discipline.

Jasper, Picture

Legend says picture jasper helps create harmony, proportion, creative visualization, and positivism in business pursuits.

Jasper, Poppy

Poppy Jasper is lored as acting somewhat like adrenaline, waking up and energizing areas of the body that appear to be sleeping.

It is thought to encourage a deep connection with the life of the Earth. It inspires a positive, joyful attitude and gives the motivation and energy to take creative action.

Jasper, Red

Legend calls red jasper a stone of fairness and justice because mystical lore claims that it decreased unjustness and helped in unfair situations.

It is also said to enhance responsibility, choice, and compassion.

Labradorite

Is thought to bring forth each person's strengths and originality and boost ones ability to relate to others.

Malachite

Is said to promote protection, power, peace, love, and success in business.   It was worn by ancients to detect impending danger, and was assumed to break into pieces when danger was near.

It is thought of as the guardian stone of travelers and to promote inner peace and hope.

Marble

Said to improve self-control, clarity, and total recall of dreams.

Also thought to assist in meditation, protect, nurture and strengthen.

Mookite or Mook Jasper

Legend says it can help balance one’s internal and external self and promote acceptance of change.

Mother of Pearl

Mother of Pearl gets its name from the fact that it is the iridescent lining of shell, where pearls can grow.

Mother of Pearl has both traditional and New Age metaphysical and healing lore. It is said to attract prosperity.

It was used in lore to heighten intuition, psychic sensitivity, and imagination.

Nephrite

Legend states that nephrite jade is a stone of the heart.

As such, it was rumored to be considered good for emotional balance and stability in relationships.

Obsidian, Black

Legend says that obsidian is a very protective stone, and is excellent for removing negativity.

It is thought to sharpen and focus internal and external vision, and help one get in touch with internal turmoil.

Obsidian, Snowflake

Legend said this has the property of bringing issues of love, anger and secrets to the conscious surface.

With snowflake obsidian, these were believed to be brought to the surface more gently that they might be otherwise.

Onyx

Thought to increase regeneration, happiness, intuition and instincts. 

Also thought to decrease sexual desire and help to change bad habits.

Opal

Is said to aid inner beauty, boost faithfulness and eyesight and help to recall past lives.

Pearl

Cultured or freshwater pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection, and luck.

Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships.

Peridot

It is thought to bring the wearer good luck, peace, and success.

Its powers are believed to include promotion of health, protection, and sleep.

The advantages of peridot were thought to be in attracting love and calming anger while also soothing nerves and dispelling negative emotions.

Red Aventurine

Legend states that it was believed to enhance creativity and the ability to see “possibilities”.

It was thought to bring prosperity and lessen negativity.

Rhodonite

Rhodonite was believed to exemplify grace and elegance.

Also thought to decrease anxiety while increasing attention to detail.

Rose Quartz

Rose quartz is thought of as a reminder of unconditional love.

It is also thought to bring gentleness, forgiveness, and tolerance.

Rudraksha Seeds

Rudraksha (or Rudraksa) is the dried fruit of Elaeocarpus Ganitrus, which grows mostly in Indonesia.

Rudraksa literally translates to: Rudra=Shiva’s aksa=Eye, meaning that it is pleasing to the eye of Shiva. Sometimes it is referred to as "Tears of Shiva".

Hindu holy literature has it that Rudraksha beads, also known as Rudraksa, have many special powers, including curing ailments and absolving sins. The number of facets each bead has changes the number and types of sins that the seed may absolve.

Rutilated Quartz

Said to bring forth each person's strengths, originality, aids sleep, helps to relate to others.

Rutile is said to intensify the metaphysical properties of its host crystal and to enhance one's understanding of difficult situations.  It is also said to enhance creativity and to relieve depression and loneliness.

Rutilated quartz is said to slow down the aging process and is said to be a strong healer.

Smoky Quartz

Smoky quartz is thought to be grounding and stabilizing, bringing calm, lifting depression, enhancing practicality, and generally removing negative energies, ultimately bringing happiness.

Smoky quartz is also been believed to be a good luck stone.

Tiger’s Eye

Many legends about quartz say that wearing tiger's eye (which is a form of quartz) is beneficial for health and spiritual well being.

Legend also says it is a psychic protector, great for business, and an aid to achieving clarity.

Topaz

During the Middle Ages, topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death.

The Greeks believed it had power to increase strength and to make its wearer invisible while the Romans believed it had power to improve eyesight.

The Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect them from injury.

Turquoise

Turquoise is said to attract money, success and love.

Legend says Its powers include protection, healing, courage, friendship, and luck and it is believed to relax the mind, and ease mental tension.

Turquoise is sacred to many Native American's and was carved in the shape of animals and birds. These carvings were placed in their tombs to attract beneficial spirits and to guard the dead. Turquoise was also used by medicine men for healing and by warriors who fixed turquoise to the end of their bows to insure accurate shots.