Aquamarine is of the Beryl family and is closely related to the Emerald.  It's light blue to bluish-green or "aqua" blue is very suggestive in color to sea water.  In fact, Aquamarine means Water of the Sea.   It is quite hard and rates a 7.5 on the Mohs Scale.  Unfortunately, nearly all Aquamarine has been heat treated to enhance the color.  Because of this, it is worth noting here that guarding your stones from excess heat would be wise so as to not end up with colorless stones from over-heating.  Scientists have never succeeded in synthesizing this stone. 

Ancient mariners carried this beautiful stone as a talisman to bring them home safely and prosperous.  In the East, Aquamarine is known as the stone of the Mystic.  It has been found in the gravesites with mummies in Egypt and Romans used it for illnesses as well. 

Aquamarine is a stone of peace.  It's energy is gentle and compassionate.  It is used in deep meditation where it can help to bring you in touch with your spiritual being.  It provides inspiration and can instill the truths of the universe.  This stone brings calm and helps ease the nerves and lessen panic attacks.  It also aids in reducing the dependence on drugs.  Using this stone in conjunction with Amethyst would be quite helpful in kicking the habit. 

Healers use this stone in support of the liver and kidneys as it helps to reduce fluid retention.  It also strengthens the spleen and thyroid, which aids in purification of the body.  It is used in the treatment of swollen glands and is said to be excellent for the eyes and improving vision.  At one time, some eyeglasses were made from Aquamarine because it was soothing to the eyes. 

The next stone I will write about is Apophyllite.  This stone is the pyramid form of crystal and has many uses.  Stay in touch and read about Apophyllite when I write next.  :D  Until then, Be Well!

Aventurine is a type of quartz known as microcrystaline.  It has inclusions of mica that give it that sparkly, shimmering effect known as "Aventuresence".  Goethite, pyrite, and hematite also can be included, especially in the other colors, which give a brownish, reddish, or golden shimmer.  Aventurine occurs in light and dark greens as well as peach, brown, yellow, red and even a gorgeous blue.  It is mostly opaque with a slight transluscence, usually, however it sometimes is more transluscent than opaque.  It grows in masses and layers rather than crystal form.  It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.  The name Aventurine comes from the same source as Goldstone.  An accident by Venetian glass workers, where a batch of copper filings fell into a batch of molten glass gave rise to the name, Aventurine, by "a ventura", which means by chance.  This also is how Goldstone originated.  Creating a synthetic Aventurine has been attempted for quite some time. 

Aventurine of any color is known as a lucky stone, though the green variety is considered to be the most powerful for luck.  It is kept in the left pocket of gamblers and those hoping for a lottery win.  Aventurine is considered to have a beneficial effect on the psyche, giving one a stronger sense of self and provides a shield to block "psychic vampires".  It balances the male/female energies and protects the heart.  It provides calm and eases stress, allowing one to think through on situations and find appropriate solutions. 

In physical healing, Aventurine targets the organs of the body, beginning with the organ that is the most imperiled and continuing on to the next.  It is also used in combination with Lavender for migraines.  It is recommended that Aventurine be worn as a necklace when using it to heal whether it be physical or emotional healing that is needed.  Although another method of utilizing the healing properties of Aventurine is in a foot soak.  The dark green variety is the most recommended. 

However, the other colors have uses.  Peach is good for opening up and enhancing creative visualizations.  This would be ideal for writers, artists, musicians, and any others in a creative field.  Red is also recommended for creativity, as well as being useful for most of what green is used for.  Additionally, red allows one to see possibilities.  It lessens negativity and brings prosperity.  It is good for entrepeneurs especially because of the ability to recognize potential in a situation.  Blue heals and balances the emotions, allowing for clearer communication.  It also stimulates creativity, but additionally it boosts independence.  It grants leadership qualities, allowing one to understand intuitively what is needed and the ability to act on it as well as a deeper understanding of cause and effect. 

Next I will be backing up a bit alphabetically because I missed a couple of stones that deserve to be talked about.  Aquamarine is one of them.  So, I will be writing about Aquamarine next.  It is a beautiful blue stone which works on the psychic abilities.  Until then, be well!  :D

Ametrine is a combination of Amethyst and Citrine.  The golden yellow of the Citrine with the glorious purple of the Amethyst makes for a very beautiful stone.  The Anahi Mine in Bolivia was the only area where this stone is mined, though a small amount of it has recently been found near Bahia, in Brazil and the Hyberadad Mine in India yields an Ametrine that is mostly Amethyst with small zones of Citrine within.  It rates a 7 on the Mohs Scale of hardness.

Ametrine is a very rare and powerful stone, combining Amethyst and Citrine's properties and adding in properties of it's own.  It is a stone of dualities.  It teaches the fearful how to find the warrior within, the rigid learn the value of flexibility, the procrastinator finds the ability to finish what was started.  But also, it teaches that to truly understand happiness, one must know sadness, to give, one must also be able to receive.  This stone teaches that we are all connected and rids the aura of negativity.  Both Amethyst and Citrine are beneficial for business and finances.  Combined, they are even more powerful.

Ametrine is a powerful healer and boosts creativity as well as psychic workings.  It allows greater insights when doing readings and assists in any work on the astral plane.  It also assists in communications with spirits, energies and guides, being protective as well as a positive energy booster.  It removes blockages from any chakra and allows release of emotional damage, replacing it with healing light.

Physically, Ametrine is beneficial for helping the body to better absorb oxygen.  This may be why it is also good for dementia and brain activity overall.  Ametrine elixir is said to help remove toxins from the body.  It also makes the symptoms of illness less severe.  Fevers, chills, nausea, etc may all be lessened when carrying an Ametrine. 

I would highly recommend having one of these stones to carry around.  If for no other reason than it's beauty, although there are many other reasons to keep one around.  Let me know if you have any questions.  I'll do my best to answer them.  :D 

Next time I will write about Aventurine.  It's a gentle, happy stone as well as being pretty.  Until then, be well.  :D

Amethyst is a crystal quartz stone that varies from pale lavender to deepest purple in color.  It is mined in Brazil and other South American countries, and in Africa.  It is also known in the US, with Oregon having the pale lavender variety and Colorado the deep purple.  It has a Mohs hardness of 7.

This beautiful stone has been used since ancient times to promote sobriety.  In fact, it's name comes from the Greek word amethystos, meaning "non-intoxicating".  It helps with all forms of addiction.  It balances the energies of the mind as well as the emotional and physical bodies.  It is said to stabilize mental disorders and soothe one during stressful times.

Amethyst is used to protect against psychic attacks, the energies of the attack being transmuted and then sent on to the Universe.  It helps one to realize which areas in one's self need restructuring and enables us to act on that realization.  It gives peace and serenity and allows meditation as well as giving restful sleep.  


Amethyst is said to be of benefit to anyone in a debate by allowing heightened insight and intellectual reasoning.  It gives one a calm demeanor and lessens any tendencies to lose the temper.  It balances and strengthens the energies.  It is also said to promote prosperity in business.  


Amethyst will alleviate the pain of a stress headache when a cluster or geode is placed in the room.  It is said to be very useful in the treatment of disorders of the nervous system as well as strengthening the skeletal system.  An elixir of Amethyst is recommended in the treatment of arthritis.  

An elixir is gotten by placing the appropriate stone in water in a glass jar or bowl that does not touch any metal.  It is then set in the sun/moon for 24 hours.  You must concentrate on what purpose the elixir will have while you are preparing it.  Please note that not all stones may be used in elixirs this way.  Some are toxic (such as lead and mercury) and must be placed in a sealed glass container before being placed in the water.  


Let me know if you have any questions.  I'll do my best to answer them.  :)


The next stone I will write about is Ametrine.  This is a natural combination of Amethyst and Citrine.  Quite lovely, and a very powerful combination.  Until then, be well.  :D

There are two main sources out of the half dozen places in the world where Amber occurs regularly, the Baltic and the Dominican Republic. Of the two, the Dominican Republic is the only place in the world that produces blue Amber. It has a beautiful blue glow when set against a dark background. Most amber will be a honey color and ranges from pale yellow (translucent or opaque), to deep orange and red, to nearly black as well as green. It was one of the first substances used as jewelry and amulets or decoration. It is very soft, having a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale.


There are many imitations, but only Amber and Copal give off the tell-tale scent when burned. Copal is basically young amber. It hasn't been in the ground long enough to be fully fossilized. In fact, Copal can be as young as 250-300 years, rather than the millions of years Amber has. It's scent when burned will be much stronger than Amber.

Amber is a stone of manifestation, helping to bring your dreams and desires into reality. It is said to heighten intellectual abilities, giving clarity of thought and wisdom. It purifies the environment, provides psychic shielding, and calms and energizes at the same time.  For physical healing, it draws out pain and soothes the nerves and spirit. It is also used for asthma and other allergic respiratory ailments.

Amber is considered excellent for use in inner child and past life work and is used to strengthen magic spells.

The photos I've included here show different pieces of Amber. The top photo shows an example of the range of colors, though it's not fully inclusive. The middle photo is of a very rare piece with the remains of a small tree frog trapped within. The bottom photo shows a gorgeous piece with an insect trapped inside. I also read that a piece of Dominican Amber was found with an intact lizard encased.

Next time I will be writing about Amethyst. Known as the Addict's Stone, it is a beautiful stone to keep with you at all times if you have problems with addiction in any form. It has many other uses as well, though. More on that when I write next. :D

I almost forgot that I must include this small bit of information for legal reasons. Disclaimers: The information about the metaphysical properties of stones in this Blog is intuitive and not scientifically verified. This field is speculative and explorative. Individuals need to use discrimination to determine what is true for them. I cannot guarantee any results with any stone or jewelry item. Nor do I advocate the use of stones as a substitute for medical or psychological care.

Some say Amazonite got it's name from the Amazon women warriors. Others say that it was named for the Amazon River where it was discovered. It could be that whoever named it thought they'd get 2 birds with one stone and named it for both. Whatever the reason for it's name, it is a beautiful stone with strong energy.

Although it appears (rarely) in white, yellow, pink, red, grey or green, the most common color is teal. It usually forms in masses. Amazonite was popular in Egypt 4000 years ago and also in pre-columbian Central and South America. Egyptians carried it as an amulet as well as using it for important carvings. In the Americas there were many carvings done in Amazonite. It has a Mohs hardness of 6.

Amazonite helps to lessen self-damaging behaviour. It does this by helping you to learn to walk your truth. It teaches self-respect, confidence and grace. It soothes worries and fears, lessening stress and aiding in meditation. It is said to heal emotional problems and trauma. It can balance the male/female energies and clear the spirit. As for physical ailments, Amazonite is used to rectify calcium deficiencies and to help resist osteoporosis. It is considered an excellent remedy for muscle spasms.

It is recommended to place Amazonite over the door to bring in new business. Amazonite is also used by gamblers for luck and by anyone taking a chance to gain success.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Or, if you have additional information, please don't hesitate to add it. I don't include all of the information at hand on the stones as there is usually a lot. Next I will post about Amber. If there is a stone you want to know about and I've passed it alphabetically, please ask. I'll include it.

Agate is a form of Chalcedony (pronounced Kal-sid'-nee).  It comes in nearly every color of the rainbow and shades between.  It is sometimes banded as well, forming concentric rings like a tree in varying thicknesses.  One form of agate is called "Heavenly Eye" because a solid color (usually brown or black) like an iris and pupil is surrounded by a ring or rings. 

Agate usually forms by filling a cavity inside a matrix (host) of other stone.  They are usually rounded and oblong, though some are perfectly round like marbles.  Often the larger nodules are hollow and will be lined with crystals.  These will also usually have the concentric bands alternating with the color.  Agate has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, so it is fairly sturdy, yet soft enough to carve without too much difficulty.


In ancient times, Agate was highly valued and carried as a talisman or good luck charm.  It also was used to avert storms.  It is one of the oldest recorded gemstones.  Many items were carved of agate, including bowls.  There was a collection of bowls totaling three thousand that was kept by King Mithradates.
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Metaphysically, Agate is a stone for relaxation.  It brings a sense of calm and balance.  It is an aid for meditation and grounding. Agate gives vitality, and balances the Yin and Yang energies. It stimulates analytical abilities, awakens hidden latent talents and stabilizes the aura.  Agate helps one learn forgiveness and allows releasing of the bitterness that accompanies such situations.  The physical healing properties include strengthening the sight, helping with stress, and alleviating stomach upset. It also helps to prevent insomnia and gives pleasant dreams.  It is said to help treat disorders of the pancreas and improve circulation.


Different types of agate have additional properties.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  I'll do my best to answer them.  Next time I will talk about Amazonite.  :D

There are many ways to healing in this day and age, where traditional medicine and alternative are beginning to join forces.  I can't emphasize enough though that this is only in the very beginning stages.  Some doctors are now embracing herbal medicine and incorporate it into their everyday practice.  Chinese traditional medicine is also gaining more acceptance in the Western world of medicine.  It will still be many years before we manage to change the way Western Medicine is practiced on a large scale.  If the Pharmaceutical world has it's way, this won't happen unless they figure out a way to profit from treating holistically.

What I want to talk about now, though is quite a ways from gaining mainstream acceptance.  Mother Earth has much to teach us about healing, and has much to give us.  The plants that heal have gained a fairly wide acceptance in the modern world.  What many don't know about is the healing effect of the stones that make up a large part of this world.  The metaphysical properties of the stones of the Earth are many and only talked about by a few.  There is Melodie's "Love is in the Earth", a wonderful and greatly detailed book that lists more stones than the average person is ever likely to meet.  Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian wrote "The Book of Stones", another wonderful book that includes photos.  Melodie's book has a companion book that is all photos of the stones she talks about in "Love is in the Earth".  There are a few other books on the metaphysical properties of stones, and many more that detail the physical properties of the stones only.

This entry is the beginning of what will be a daily blurb about some of the metaphysical properties of stones.  Some, I'm sure you will be familiar with, others are somewhat rare.  I will be going through the stones alphabetically.  Please don't hesitate to ask questions about any stone at any time, though I might wait to do an in-depth when that stone comes up alphabetically.  So, here goes!  I hope you find this blog interesting and enjoyable.  :D