Hello, this is Kasandora, and I am here to say ‘Welcome to June!‘ Today I’d like to share some information about moonstone, which is our semi-precious stone of the month here at The Silver Path. We gave this high honor to moonstone because it is the traditional semi-precious birthstone for the month of June (which just so happens to be my birth month). So let’s get started!
Moonstone gets its name from the unique way that light rays are refracted and scattered in the stone. The result is a beautiful and unique shimmer similar to the effect of a cat’s eye gem. When the gem is moved, the play of light causes many people to see within it the waxing and waning phases of the moon. The pearly blue luster of the stone is also very similar to the soft, pale glow of the full moon, and is further amplified when one holds the moonstone up to a source of light.
Moonstone, simply put, is gem-quality feldspar with an iridescent sheen. Because feldspar is fairly common, moonstone can be found all over the world, however, it is most commonly found in Sri Lanka and India. Of those found in Sri Lanka and India, the gem tends to range in color from pale grey to milky white to silvery white. There are some gems which contain varying red/peach and black/brown hues. The rarity and value of moonstone is determined by the quality of the blue sheen it possesses; the more shimmer to the stone, the more value it has. A moonstone that has a shimmer in a color other than blue is called a rainbow moonstone.
Moonstone can be found in history throughout various cultures. In some countries, such as India, moonstone is a magical and holy gemstone. Also in India, moonstones are regarded as ‘dream stones’ which are believed to bring the wearer beautiful dreams when placed under the pillow at night. In Arabic countries, as well as many others, the moonstone is a symbol of fertility. The Romans believed that moonstone was composed of rays of the moon, and they associated it with the goddess Diana; the Greeks associated it with the goddess Selene. In Asia, it is believed that the shimmering light of the moonstone is actually a benevolent spirit contained within the gem.
Because of moonstone’s strong association with the moon, it is generally viewed as a feminine stone. This by no means indicates that it is only beneficial to women. Rather, moonstone is associated with qualities that are stereotypically feminine, such as fertility, intuition, emotional balance and protection. A man who carries or wears moonstone will find that he is more balanced and calm, and he will be able to see and think more clearly. For women, carrying or wearing moonstone may help her during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as during menstrual cycles and menopause, because it will help to balance her hormones. The gem is often used as a good luck charm for travelers, especially those at sea, due to its protective aura. Moonstone is also a gem of love; a gift of moonstone to your lover is said to incite passion and promote harmony. It can also be beneficial for the start of a new relationship as it is said to bring the wearer success in love and relationships.
Ritually, moonstone is useful for cleansing and meditation. For cleansing, begin by placing the moonstone in a small bowl of spring water; place the bowl outdoors for one night during a full moon. The water can be used for healing rituals as well as cleansing other stones. The fully charged moonstone can be placed under your pillow at night to enhance restful sleep and dreams. During meditation, the moonstone can be placed over the third eye (its associated chakra) to increase spiritual awareness; when placed over the heart during meditation, the balancing effect of moonstone helps to alleviate emotional stresses.
And that concludes my little write-up! I hope you enjoyed it and maybe learned a few things you didn’t know. I may be a bit biased, but I think that moonstone is among the most beautiful semi-precious stones, and I encourage you to seek out a piece of moonstone of your own. I think everyone can use some emotional balance and protection in his/her life. With that being said, I just so happen to have made a delightful set of moonstone jewelry for this month that I would like to share! Below is a preview picture of the piece I’ve titled “Lacey.” It features lustrous moonstone, shimmery red Swarovski crystals, crystal clear faceted glass beads and firey red Jablonex crystals. <3
Lacey - necklace, bracelet and earrings
Stay tuned for more moonstone pieces!
p.s. I’m sure you thought I came up with all this great info all on my own, but alas it is not so. For that reason, I’d like to credit the following sources for their invaluable information: http://www.gemstone.org, http://www.minerals.net, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki.
