Amethyst is one of our most popular gemstones, featuring beautiful purple hues. A birthstone for February, Amethyst has endured the ages as one of man’s most prized possessions. This mineral quartz is rarely a constant, one stone can hold a whole host of varying shades and for this reason, it is considered one of the most beautiful crystal quartzes in the world.

Amethyst comes from many different other locations around Mother Earth. The most popular locals for Amethyst are different parts of the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and Uruguay. The main Canadian source of Amethyst is near Thunder Bay, Ontario where mining has taken place intermittently over the last one hundred years. Scientists believe the Amethyst found near Thunder Bay to be over one billion years old. There are also huge amounts of Amethyst in Brazil and Uruguay in the basalt flow cavities or voids. There are these weird cavities in the rock… maybe like a pocket of air was there and Amethyst grew in it and in the fissures.  There are also huge deposits in South America, and in Africa.  The abundance of Amethyst around the world is what makes it more of an affordable crystal and one that’s less likely to be faked because it’s so widely available.

HEALING PROPERTIES

Amethyst has calming and protective qualities and can increase inspiration and intuition.  It is a powerful and protective stone.  It guards against psychic attack, transmuting the energy into love and protecting the wearer from all types of harm, including geopathic or electromagnetic stress and ill wishes from others. Amethyst works to counteract the negative energies of external environments. Called the “all-healer”, Amethyst is one of the most effective crystals for healing people, plants, and animals. Natural unpolished Amethysts or geodes are particularly helpful when placed where plants will not grow or animals refuse to sit.

It has strong healing and cleansing powers. It calms and stimulates the mind, helping you become more focused, enhancing memory and improving motivation. Amethysts assist in remembering and understanding dreams.  It can relieve physical, emotional and psychological pain or stress.

Called “the soul stone,” Amethyst assists in understanding and connecting to the eternal existence of the soul and initiates one’s own deep soul experiences. Amethyst promotes meditation, concentration and spiritual elevation. It activates spiritual awareness, opens intuition and enhances psychic abilities. It encourages spiritual wisdom. On the spiritual level it helps protect the mind against black magic and emotional manipulation. Wear or hold an Amethyst stone to bring in spiritual insights coupled with intellectual reasoning. Amethyst encourages spiritual advancement, instinct, and heightened awareness.

Amethyst works wonderfully for those who tend to be quick to anger as it effectively dissipates the growth of rage and replaces it with a halo of serenity that can be hard to cut through. Amethyst helps in identifying the root causes behind one’s negative behaviors, habits, and emotional patterns that create imbalance in our lives. It is a natural tranquilizer, relieves stress and strain, soothes irritability, balances mood swings, dispels anger, rage, fear and anxiety. It also helps one understand the reality of cause and effect in behavior and assists in better decision-making. While Amethyst works to sweep negativity away from clouding the mind, it also seems to trigger a spark that unveils our deepest wells of inspiration. When our mind is calm and focused, we are able to tap into our creative mind and unveil all those ideas and interests that were stashed behind the wall of inner chaos.

Amethyst purifies the physical body but also the aura. Amethyst accepts and perfectly integrates new developments and changes. Amethyst is renowned for bringing a sense of calm and clarity to our chaotic world. It will aid you in feeling comforted, grounded and soothed in a truly uplifting way. If you struggle with decision making Amethyst can help to harness the inner power needed to make choices that work for you. Amethyst gently reminds the wearer that all is not lost and they have the inner sight, knowledge and wisdom they need to pick a path to walk down.

Amethyst also has the property in lithotherapy of being a stone of passage which understands separation. Because Amethyst initiates wisdom and greater understanding, it is a comforting crystal for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Its presence communicates that there is no death, only transitioning and changing forms. It encourages the release of sorrow and rejoicing in a loved one’s spirit being freed from the confinement of the physical body. It can be used in the event of the loss of a loved one, both for the one who leaves and for the one who stays. A great property of Amethyst is to purify places and objects. Because Amethyst centers the emotions it alleviates sadness and grief, and dissolves negativity.  It can be a beautiful aide in recovery for those suffering from the overwhelming emotions that come with grief, loss and all shades of sadness. Amethyst reminds us that there is balance in spirituality, It isn’t all about bypassing the negative and thinking that spiritual awakening leads to only positive thinking but also recognizing the darkness and honoring it without holding it forever in the heart.

Amethyst is excellent for developing understanding and trust in relationships. It heals past emotional wounds, clearing the path for a stronger, healthier love. It can help in emotional healing, strengthening bonds and promoting a more profound emotional connection. Amethyst encourages open and honest communication, helping individuals express their needs and feelings more confidently. While the stone promotes deep love, its calming properties also balance passionate impulses and help individuals understand their own desires and needs in a relationship, It’s a great stone for aiding in family and relationship dynamics as it supports a level head that comes from a place of love.. The stone’s tranquil and peaceful energy is believed to attract genuine love and foster deeper, more meaningful connections

HISTORY

Amethyst gets its name from the Greek word Amethystos, meaning “not intoxicated.” Ancient civilizations believed this gem could protect against drunkenness and keep the mind clear and alert. Archaeologists have found jewels, in the form of a bracelet, made from amethyst beads in Egypt dating back to around 3000 BCE.  It is likely that humanity’s love of amethyst stretches even further back than this, but so far we haven’t found any evidence of it.

In Greek lore it is said that one day, a drunken Dionysus, offended by a mortal, swore revenge on the next human he came across. The first person he met was Amethyst, a young virgin who was traveling to worship at the Temple of Artemi. An angry Dionysus threw two hungry tigers at her, ready to tear her to pieces, and filled his cup with wine so he could enjoy the spectacle. Artemi, who escaped nothing, intervened and transformed Amethyst into a quartz statue, of a purity as great as her virtue. Seeing Amethyst encapsulated in this gleaming crystal, Dionysus denounced his actions and poured his glass of wine over Amethyst, coating the clear quartz crystal with a purple glow.

Tracing the lineage of this luminous stone, ancient civilizations have been celebrating the Amethyst crystal since 25,000 BC. From the Greeks to the Romans and even the Egyptians, everyone was drawn to the deep healing powers of Amethyst stones and crystals. Initially used as an ornamental stone, Amethyst stone was first exploited for decorative purposes by the Etruscans and Egyptians. Roman matrons believed that wearing Amethyst would help to guarantee fidelity. Cleopatra is said to have worn a ring made of Amethyst engraved with the image of Mithras, a Persian god, who was considered a source of enlightenment and love.

In the Biblical register, the stone carries all its importance. It is also not rare to find it on the ornaments of the clergy in the Middle Ages. It was frequently encountered on relics, on bishops’ rings and on priestly vestments. The place of this stone is equally sacred in the Buddhist religion and appears regularly in the design of rosaries. Amethyst is considered sacred to the Buddha in Tibetan Buddhist traditions

Amethyst is believed to have countless supernatural powers. Leonardo da Vinci attributed to Amethyst the power to dispel bad thoughts and refine intelligence. While Pliny the Elder, author of the world’s first encyclopedia, reports that when one engraves the name of the sun or moon on an Amethyst and hangs the stone around one’s neck, it becomes an amulet protecting one’s carrier.

Today, the stone is still considered a precious stone. In the past, this has earned it its prominence over numerous precious goods (British Crown, Egyptian Crown, Russian Crown, etc.). Due to its color and the beauty of its shine, it is still among the most sought-after stones.

CHAKRAS

For those who are looking to leap higher into their spiritual awakening, Amethyst is one of the most important stones in the healing pack.  Amethyst carries a high energy, particularly stimulating to the Third Eye and Crown, Chakras. Meditation with Amethyst can work wonders to clear any blockages and balance both the Third Eye and Crown Chakras. It is said to bridge the gap between the physical and the spiritual realms. By opening the Third Eye and Crown chakra,

The Third Eye Chakra is the center of our perception and command. It directs our sight and everyday awareness of the world. It is known for being one of the most powerful intuitive tools. Everyone has the gift of intuition, it’s all about how they harness it. When the Third Eye chakra is blocked, people may struggle with feelings of depression and anxiety and may feel the weight of cynicism heavy on their soul. By awakening the Third Eye, you can awaken intuition, let inner wisdom flow, and invite the sparkle back to your imagination. As Amethyst prompts the Third Eye to awaken, it grants the sixth sense to bloom into being. When the Third Eye Chakra is in balance our thoughts and internal communications within ourselves are healthy and vibrant. Amethyst can be held in the left hand or positioned over the Third Eye to help calm the mind and deepen spiritual connections. The color associated with the Third Eye chakra is indigo which also links to the color of Amethyst.

The Crown Chakra is located at the top of the head and is our gateway to the expanded universe beyond our bodies. It is the sacred energy center and also intricately connected with the Amethyst stone. It’s where the cosmic consciousness sits and is where people receive those much-needed messages from the universe and the connection to the cosmos. When the Crown chakras power is untapped or there is a block, people may feel alienated or disconnected from the world around them. They may feel their ego gets in the way too much. Imbalances of the Crown Chakra are treated with Light Violet crystals such as Amethyst. Amethyst’s violet rays have the universal life force of magic, dreams, inspiration, and destiny. When the Crown chakra is in open and in balance, our energies are in balance. We achieve balance, wellbeing, a deeper connection and a working confidence in our own wisdom.

CLEANSING AND CHARGING

As beautiful absorbing sponges, healing crystals can change their tune to vibrate with the frequency it has picked up when held close and used in meditation or healing or after someone else has handled it.  When knocked off its own frequency, this means that it doesn’t oscillate properly and will, therefore, be less effective.

You can charge your Amethyst by holding it under running water or immersing it in sea salt water.  You can also hold it underwater in a river, ocean or the sea. Other methods for cleansing Amethyst include smudging it with sage, using sound baths and gongs, or leaving it in the presence of other cleansing and charging crystals such as Selenite and Clear Quartz.

The jury is out whether Amethyst needs to be charged but charging your Amethyst can assist in maintaining its vibrancy and healing properties. Charging your Amethyst will do no harm as it is beautifully aligned with the universe. Placing your Amethyst outside at night in the light of the full or new moon for a few hours once in a while will help boost it’s potency. The light of the moon will gift the Amethyst stone the lunar energy it needs. The cold can also work wonders for charging your Amethyst so a simple method is to place it in the refrigerator or chilled space overnight.  Combining the moons powers of restoration and the cooler nights of springtime of fall work wonders.  Avoid charging your Amethyst in sunlight, which could end up fading or altering its color. When storing your Amethyst, keep it in a dark natural cloth bag or jewelry box to protect it from sunlight and sudden changes in temperature, which may cause deterioration.

Amethyst geodes are such powerful gemstones that they themselves can be used to purify and recharge other stones.