Amethyst
Amethysts


Amethyst is a purple quartz crystal found in volcanic, extruding rocks. It is the most beautiful and valuable of the quartz family, its color coming from small traces of ferric iron. As much as one cubic foot of quartz can become amethyst by as little as the iron contained in the head of a pin.

From the Greeks, amethyst got its modern name meaning “without drunkness.” It is said the wine color of amethyst came from Bacchus. Feeling neglected, Bacchus was determined to kill with his tigers the first person he met. Unfortunately for the maiden Amethyst, she met Bacchus on her way to worship Diana at her temple. As the tigers sprang to attack, Amethyst pled to the goddess Diana for protection and was transformed into a pure, clear stone. Repenting his actions, Bacchus attempted to make amends by pouring wine over the stone, giving it its lovely purple hue. A later myth said that Amethyst was a nymph who loved the god of wine, but when he scorned her, she withered away to a small, hard stone which would always oppose the affects of wine.

Both the Greeks and Romans used it to prevent the effects of overindulgence in food and drink, and to cool love. Many goblets were inlaid with amethyst for this purpose. It was often placed under the pillow at night to cure insomnia, prevent nightmares, and to heal mental problems and control temper. It also had the power to control evil thoughts, increase the intelligence, and augment business savvy. For headaches, the stone was warmed and placed against the temples or forehead to reduce the throbbing. The Romans also used it protectively during travel, to tame or hunt wild animals, and to dispel fear and guilt. Egyptians, who called it hemag, also carried it for protection during travel and ambassadors used it to safeguard against treachery and ambushes. Even the Crusaders attached the stone to their rosaries for protection in their travels.

In nearly all societies, it was considered a sacred stone. Identified as a stone of royalty and the bishop’s stone, it is still worn on the second finger of the right hand by Catholic Bishops. The Semitic high priests used it as the center stone of the breastplate, and used it to symbolize spiritual power. According to legend, amethyst was the seventh stone Iacchus gave to Appolonius. It represents piety and dignity. The Rosicrucians saw the stone as an emblem of divine sacrifice because the color was representative of suffering, passion, and hope. Unfortunately, in antiquity the word amethyst was applied to all purple stones, including purple garnet and purple sapphire so it is impossible to say how accurate the religious uses are.

Many consider amethyst a powerful stone for psychic ability. It has been used to ward off psychic and magickal attack, and medieval writers stated that an amethyst engraved with the form of a bear would drive off demons. Some stones have been known to lose their color after protecting against an attack. Conversely, amethyst is said to increase psychic ability or open up blocked abilities, and it is said to cause dreams and visions This belief comes for the Hebrew name for the stone, Ahlamah from halom, “dream.”

Amethyst has an extensive history and is a marvelous healing crystal. The Egyptians made amethyst amulets in the form of animals as early as 2000B.C.E. The Hebrew believed that this stone could induce dreams and visions, while the Greeks thought it could prevent drunkenness.
Amethyst has the power to control all types of harmful behaviors, sharpen the mind, increase memory, and strengthen the immune system. It is able to calm an overly passionate nature. This stone may also protect soldiers from harm, and help hunters find food in the wild.
All physical, emotional and mental problems may be treated with amethyst. The deep purple variety is an excellent stone for hospice and hospital workers, as amethyst helps to alleviate the emotional sense of attachment to the body-earth for those about to cross over into the Otherworld.

Amethyst is a type of quartz that has taken on a violet or purple coloration due to trace impurities of aluminum and iron. The exact hue and depth depending on its source. It can be found in many parts of the world, although few sites produce stones of significant value; the best quality specimens tend to come from Uruguay, Brazil, or Southern Africa. It is often found lining the insides of geodes, especially those composed of agate; these are hollow, often spherical rock structures. Amethyst is often used for ornamentation, and has been used in jewelry and for commercial purposes since antiquity.

Chemical Composition:
Silicon Dioxide
SiO2
Color:
Purple or violet
Hardness:
7
Specific Gravity:
2.65
Cleavage:
None
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Crystal Structure:
Transparent to transluscent; trigonal
Luster:
Glassy to Vitreous
Streak:
White
Occurence:
Worldwide; Major producers are Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina and Mexico, Zambia, Namibia, and various other African countries. Also, Canada, Russia, Germany, Australia, Italy, and the United States.
Energy:
Receptive
Chakra:
Crown, Brow, Sacral
Zodiac:
Aquarius
Planet:
Jupiter, Neptune
Element:
Water
Deities:
Bacchus, Dionysus, Diana
Traceable Societies:
Babylonians, Mesopotamians, early Jews, Romans
Occupations and Purposes:
Actors: → stimulates intuitive abilities
Ministers: → increases spiritual clarity
Powers:
Dreams, overcoming alcoholism, healing, psychism, peace, love, happiness, protection against theft, courage, stimulates intuitive awareness
Occult Nature:
The energy of this stone has a general healing effect upon the physical and etheric bodies. When worn on a ring or necklace, the amethyst can charge the aura with the energy of spiritual love. Once its energy pattern is established within a person's aura, the stoneee serves as a protection against energies that are not harmonious to the bearer.
Early Romans beleived that drinking from a chalice containing an amethyst would not cause drunkeness. Italian witches once taught that an amethyst bearing the sigils of the sun and moon would repel another's Witchcraft.
A powerful energizer, both physically and etherically. Aids in ritual magick by manipulation of the forces raised. In other words, it transmits energy directed towards it. Here it is best utilized by placing it on the center of an altar, or set onto the head of a wand.
Magical Uses:
  • Drives off insomia and nightmares.
  • Produces healing, pleasant and prophetic dreams.
  • In ancient Rome it was worn as a ring to insure the favor of vegatative gods.
  • Soothes stressful situations and calms the nerves.
  • Helps overcome wrought emotional states.
  • Calms fears, raises hopes, lifts the spirit and promotes thought of spirituality.
  • Wards off guilt, deception, treachery, self-deception.
  • Helps you overcome addictive behaviors, curving over-indulgeance and bestowing good judgement.
  • Lends courage to it wearer and is a very powerful amulet to protect travelers.
  • Banishes negativity and protects against evil.
  • Sharpens the conscious mind and enhances the awareness.
  • Opens the Sixth Sense
Divinatory Meaning:
A life change and shift in consciousness. Faithfulness in love, freedom from jealousy.
Violet-Lavender Amethyst
Magickal Properties:
This amethyst has a particularly high vibration. Double terminated lilac crystals take you into beta brain waves. They also stimulate and calm the throat and heart chakras. Violet "flowers" bring light and love into the environment.
Chevron Amethyst
Magickal Properties:
This Amethyst is one of the best third~eye stimulators. It enhances inner, intuitive vision and outer, physical vision, and out~of~body journeys. It has powerfully focused energy that dissipates and repels negativity. This stone cleanses the aura and aids in auric diagnosis. It has a strong healing field, bringing harmony to the organs of the body and stimulating the immune system. It helps you to find and implement a positive answer to any problem.
Pineapple Amethyst
Magickal Properties:
This amethyst has small nodules covering the sides above which emerge the termination points. Looking like the turrets of a castle in a fairytale, it facilitates contact with the mythic and faerie realms and stimulates the imagination. It is a powerful archetypal healer for family and collective myths.