Amethyst Properties and Examples

 

Amethyst brilliant purple color is as magical as it is seductive. In fact, this gemstone of all gemstones is said to be one of the most powerful protector stones.


Amethyst is extravagance in purple crystal form. Royal, luscious, rich, seductive, vibrant, alluring, are just some of the words people use to describe amethyst. In fact, people across the world spend more on specacular amethyst specimens than any other type of mineral specimen.

According to Robert Simmons, Amethyst was used by the people in Neolithic Europe some 25,000 years ago. In ancient Egypt, it was used to makde beads and amulets for royalty and important members of their society. The early Greek and Roman socieities also placed a great value on Amethyst.

This is one stone that, much like clear Crystal Quartz, is most every lightworkers toolbox of crystals. Though powerful as single stones, these crystals are quite powerful in cluster form as well.

Introduction to Amethyst: The Crystal of Protection and Spiritual Transformation


Amethyst Throughout History

Amethyst has been a jewel coveted by spiritual leaders and royalty for thousands of years. This is why the color purple has been associated with royal society throughout the ages.

It has been said that Moses said that amethyst was a symbol of the Spirit of God and it was listed as one of the twelve gemstones in the High Priest’s breastplate where it representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Sumerians and Babylonians as well as the Egyptians were said to wear amethyst amulets for protection. Some are in museums today. Throughout many Christian sects, amethyst rings were traditionally worn as a sign of rank and many of the clergy believed that amethyst helped to bring the faithful to God. Many also thought that only the very highly spiritual and moral were worthy of wearing amethyst. The ancient Chinese often stored spices, balms and healing ointments in carved amethyst bottles.

The Russian Empress Catherine the Great sent thousands of miners into the Urals to look for it. Napoleon captured the Amethyst best of Roman Emperor Trajan in Berlin during his conquest.

So whether is was 3000 years ago or today, people around the world though Amethyst was a very special stone.

Amethyst has quite a long history with many religious practices. In the Egyptian Book of the Dead, there are instructions given for placing heart shaped Amethyst on the body of the deceased; the specific shape said to help transition with peace to the next realm. Within the Christian church, especially the Roman Catholic church, it was known as a gem of purity and associated with Bishops who traditionally wear them set in rings. It is also the stone of Buddha and is quite popular to use for Buddhist prayer beads, more prominently in Tibet.

The Chaldean Magi believed that Amethyst was a powerful stone that protected against evil sorcery as well as bringing success and good luck to the bearer. It has long been believed to grant a deeper understanding of the hidden knowledge of the universe.

At one time in China, pieces of Amethyst were often rented to those involved in legal lawsuits. The stone was said to attract a favorable outcome and a positive outlook. Amethyst became extremely popular in the mid fifteenth centuries as an amulet often worn by soldiers. It was thought to protect against not only injury or death, but also to repel or control evil spirits.



General & Scientific Amethyst Gemstone Properties

Amethyst: Stone of Spiritual Transformation
Mohs Hardness of 7 with a trigonal crystal structure.

Pronounced: ˈa-mə-thist

What is Amethyst?

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz mined at many locations throughout the world. As Amethyst it ranges in color from pink lilac to deep purple. The deeper colors are generally more valuable, and at one time were more valuable than diamonds. The actual crystal hold the properties for Citrine well. When heated by nature the crystal that is a portion Citrine and a portion amethyst is known as Ametrine. This is a natural and authentic nature made stone found only a few locations. There have been gem dealers known to artificially heat the Amethyst causing it to turn yellow in full or in part then selling the altered stone as Ametrine or Citrine . It is also possible to heat the stone to a lovely shade of green, which is called “green amethyst”. This practice is frowned upon, yet happens still.

Amethyst is mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina, as well as in several African countries. Generally, larger sizes are to be found in South America although Africa is reputed to have the more sought after deeper color in smaller sizes. The darker Amethyst, more often in smaller sizes is also found in Australia.

The world’s largest amethyst deposits are usually found in the fractures and cavities of igneous rocks. In Brazil and Uruguay large amounts of amethyst are found in the cavities of basalt flows. Large cavities often contain hundreds of pounds to several tons of amethyst crystals.

Smaller cavities, known as geodes, are often opened in a way that displays the crystals inside and then fitted with a base that allows them to be used as home or office decor. They are collectors items from in homes, commercial spaces, and civic centers such as museums and events centers throughout the world.

Amethyst Color and Hues
Amethyst gets its color from iron and aluminum impurities inside the underlying quartz structure. The colors range from light purple to deep violet to pale red-violet (pink amethyst). The deep colors are the most valuable, particularly a rich purple with rose flashes. "Siberian" deep purple amethyst with red and blue flashes commands the highest prices. There is even a form of green amethyst that occurs in rare conditions unusally involving heat or vulcanism.

How to Clean and Care for Amethyst?
Amethyst is a durable gemstone, but some care is needed to maintain its polish and natural color. It has a Mohrs hardness of 7, so it can be scratched by common sharp objects. You should avoid the use of abrasives when cleaning Amethyst. Accidental scrapes on hard objects or abrasion with other gems of equal or greater hardness in a jewelry box can cause damage. It is best to keep out of long-term exposure to direct sunlight. The color of amethyst can fade by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or bright display lights.

When storing Amethyst, wrap in a cotton or velvet cloth and store separately. This keeps it free from dust and from being scratched by other items.


Amethyst Metaphysical Gemstone Properties

This is one stone that, much like clear Crystal Quartz, was indispensable to healers. Amethyst is a spiritual stone, a stone of peace, with absolutely no known negative effects. Though powerful as single stones, they are quite beneficial in clusters. The larger cluster (especially unpolished) is powerful enough to cleanse other stones of their negative energies as well as recharging them. It is an especially excellent stone for absent healing.

If you are drawn to Amethyst it may indicate that you are feeling exhausted, stressed, or are experiencing recent difficulties and will need to use the stone to grant yourself gentle love until your energy flows free once more.

Placed under a pillow or worn during sleep it will help prevent nightmares and ward off insomnia. It will bring peaceful yet more psychically charged sleep. If placed on the temples or the point of pain from a headache or migraine, it will soothe, relax and reduce the pain. Regular headache sufferers are generally afflicted by anxiety or nerves; these will often subside if an Amethyst geode or slice/cross section is placed in the room that much time is spent. Amethyst is a natural soother of the mind and emotions, it helps to relieve the “scattered” feeling, helping to focus and keep control of the faculties. It is also used to help improve concentration by assisting to develop the creative/right side of the brain. Known to calm emotional disorders.

Amethyst was thought to tune the endocrine system by helping to boost the production of hormones and balancing the body’s metabolism. Told to strengthen the entire immune system by cleansing the blood which in turn helps to strengthen the cleansing of the organs of the body. This cleansing in turn assists with cellular disorders as well as disease of the digestive tract; including regulating the flora of the intestines and encouraging the reabsorption of water. With the purification of the blood comes reduced bruising, injuries and swelling.

Additionally, the ancient stories say those who wear an Amethyst necklace are told to fascinate others with their pleasing personality and wonderful charisma. Heart shaped Amethysts are sometimes exchanged between couples to enhance the depth and longevity of their love and happiness; strengthening their connection.


Amethyst Magical Gemstone Properties


Energy: Receptive
Element: Water
Planet: Jupiter/Neptune
Deities:
Bacchus, Dionysus, Diana
Powers: Dreams, Psychism, Peace,Love, Courage, Happiness
Candle Color: Purple/Dark Blue

Amethyst is said to attract justice and protect against burglars and thieves. It also wards off danger and violent death. It is told that by transmuting evil energy into love, it guards against psychic attack. It is one of the few stones used specifically for males to assist in attracting females.

Amethyst increases the activity in the right brain, cuts through illusion, and helps to develop the psychic abilities. It strengthens and develops intuition, inspiration, healing, and channeling as well as raising thoughts and aspirations to a higher spiritual level. With meditation is strengthens/develops intuition, inspiration, spiritual healing and channeling as well as raising thoughts to a higher spiritual level developing a deeper connection for clairvoyance and clairaudience. If used on the center of the brow during meditation if will bring you to a higher spiritual level to bring forth memories of past lives and world connections. Wearing Amethyst on the left wrist will heighten spiritual levels and assist in enabling one to foresee.

Store a small piece of amethyst with your divination tools (tarot cards, runes, etc.) to keep the power of the divination tools high as well as strengthening your intuitive powers while using your tools. Using an Amethyst pendulum will aid in personal decision making when using a yes/no table or response method.

Recharge Amethyst under the light of the moon rather than sunlight, as sunlight may fade the color of your stone. A large unpolished piece of Amethyst (or geode, or a grouping of smaller pieces) will cleanse and restore energies to any other crystal you have used for healing, divination or protection.



Amethyst Astrological- Zodiac Gemstone Properties


Zodiac Stone of: Pisces, Scorpio and Sagittarius
Associations: Jupiter & Neptune/Water
Birthstone: Traditional Birthstone for the Month of February.
Amethyst is ruled by Jupiter; in ancient writings on astrology Jupiter is associated with Amethyst and connected with the ninth house, or Sagittarius. But often in more current writings it is associated with Neptune which is also associated Pisces. The American National Association of Jewelers adopted Amethyst as the modern birthstone for February in 1912. It is also a Talismanic stone for the sign of Scorpio



Amethyst Chakra Healing Properties


Placed on the 7th, or Crown Chakra during meditation, amethyst increases concentration and confidence in life.

Amethyst is considered the 7th, or Crown Chakra healing stone, as it cleanses the aura it also balances the subtle physical, mental and emotional bodies by linking them to the spiritual body.

Amethyst is a good touchstone, a stone to keep in your pocket and rub several times a day for it’s uplifting energy, or you can wear it on a chain around your neck, against your skin to stimulate the throat chakra as well.


Properties of Amethyst Clusters


Clusters are crystals grouped on a common matrix. Where there is no matrix the crystals bridge together. Crystal Clusters encourage a sense of community, creating harmony and removing negativity from its environment, whether that is on a body or in a room.

The intrinsic group energy of clusters easily removes blockages and strengthens the all the chakras. The same properties make them the first choice for cleansing and activating other healing stones. Clusters sometimes contain many metaphysical formations, their properties all working together harmoniously.

Clusters can be used in your home or office to keep the metaphysical energy moving. If you do regular space clearings, place them in corners, where energy easily becomes trapped, while you work.