Amathyst properties and meaning

So far, I have talked about green amethyst, as well as about its genuine purple original (in the last post). Today I will concentrate on the properties, historical facts and meaning of amethyst. It is known that amethyst has been used in the time of Cleopatra (51 - 60 b.c.), and Cleopatra herself used to wear it in form of amethyst ring, with engraved portrait of Mithra, Persian deity known in Rome as deus sol invictus (the unconquerable sun god).

Royal scarlet amethyst

The quality amethyst crystal was often considered to have a royal scarlet color, and as such, it was highly esteemed member of the royal courts, sometimes as even more valuable possession than diamonds. The love relationship between the British royal house and the amethyst has been known for almost 1000 years. The oldest known stone amongst the crown jewels of the royal family is amethyst (XI century, King Edward The Confessor, (1042-1066)). Some 500 years afterward, an amethyst necklace in the possession of the first queen Elisabeth (1558-1603) was highly esteemed.

The European markets first encountered amethyst jewelry in 1772, when the Brazilian specimens appeared. The next 70 years, the amethyst became very popular and therefore precious. Not long after that, was reported of vast amounts of raw amethyst stones in the Ural Mountains, Russia, which resulted in substantial price reduction. It is known that Ekaterina the Great, soon after the discovery, had sent thousands of people in search for her own jewels, so that she no longer need to buy expensive Brazilian amethysts.

Amethyst, stone of the bishops

Amethyst has been used to adorn more than just member of royal families. Pala D' Oro, the high altar on the Basilica di San Marco in Venice is one of the most magnificent examples of masterpiece in jewelry. The alter depicts Christ, angels, saints and prophets. Among more than 4000 jewels, there used to be 1300 large pearls, 400 garnets, 90 amethysts, 300 sapphires, 300 emeralds, 80 rubies, and 4 topaz stones, most of them cut and polished.

Depicting the "Kingdom of Christ", amethyst has a long community with the roman catholic bishops, and therefore the origin of its second name, the stone of the bishops. At the beginning, it was an official part of the bishops' symbols of authority and power. The amethyst ring was worn on the third finger of the right hand, while in the medieval times it used to be a symbol of the high priest who was never in distress, never shaken, and never enchanted by the outer influences of the world. In the earlier version of the church canon law, it was forbidden to the clerics other than bishops. Later on, the amethyst stone was taken as a token of the bishops' marital relationship with the church.

Amethyst, protective talisman

Starting from the middle ages, through the time of renaissance, and up to contemporary times, amethyst with its powers has been used in a vast variety of personal applications.

Medieval soldiers have been using it in form and shape of amulets, as a protective symbol during the battles. In the renaissance times, it has been shaped in form of bear and used as protective talisman. There can be found other uses: alertness, as a shield from wounds in battles, against diseases, and as an antidote.

Even Leonardo Da Vinci, scientist, inventor, and artist, believed in the powers of this semi precious stone. He believed it has powers to disperse all evil thoughts and encourage intelligence.

Jewel of spirituality and pleasure

Amethyst is known as a powerful crystal whose healing abilities can be described as: purification, calm, and transition and transformation. It transforms the lower energies into higher healing powers that can touch up to all levels of the mind, body and spirit. Amethyst possesses calming qualities and because of that it is often linked with peace and calm, especially on the intellect, on the awareness and on the mind. It calms those conditions of extensive mind tension when we get ourselves involved in activities that are too exhausting.

Amethyst is able to relieve worries and anxiety and to enhance mental strength, stability and energy. It protects the mind from psychosis and psychic attacks, and helps in transforming the negative thinking into positive.

Amethyst works especially beneficial on the sixth and seventh chakras, it increases awareness, perspective, introspection... It brings increase in intuition, and psychic development. I find that amethysts helps in meditation and visualization, as well and in recalling past lives when held on the seventh chakra(on top of the head).

It is an excellent gemstone to be used for fighting alcoholism, drugs or other types of addictions. In any of those cases, it is said to be useful to put a small piece of polished amethyst under the tongue, because there is the location of certain glands that are able to enhance the inter-communication of the whole biochemical system.

In our society, people are constantly under pressure to fulfill some certain patterns of behavior, stereotypes, and to be "ideal" in the sense society ask them to be. Therefore, we are not really able to express what we really are, to see our own potential. We are unable to withstand the pressure and often channel our energy in a wrong way, that is, we gamble, smoke, drink, and engage ourselves in activities that undermine our physical and spiritual vitality. Amethyst is an excellent stone to be used in order to restore our own rhythm and to withstand the pressure of life. All types of addictions are illnesses of the soul, and can be reverted with help of this stone and more importantly, with increased spiritual program and interest.

Is amethyst expensive?

The direct answer is no. Amethyst is not an expensive stone, but again its price depends on so many factors, that it is difficult to say. I have seen some miraculously beautiful colors of raw amethyst stones, which of course increase the price of such stones and crystals. If faceted and embedded in amethyst jewelry, of course, the price can go up.

This is especially true for green amethyst jewelry. This is why green amethyst is sometimes so expensive, it can be surrounded with diamonds, it can be set in white gold or platinum, it can come together with blue topaz, sapphire or emerald stones. Otherwise, since it is derived from ordinary amethyst, prasiolite should not be costly. So, yes, unfortunately green amethyst jewelry can be quite costly, although the stone itself is probably not. This is why you can find loose green amethyst stones at very acceptable prices.