Moonstone is best known for its pearly sheen, or schiller effect, where light reflects off of the two types of feldspar that make this stone, orthoclase and albite. These two minerals grow together in alternating layers, and a phenomena named adularescence happens whenever light hits this play of orthoclase and albite. No matter what term you use to describe this play of light across moonstone, it is certainly beautiful.
Moonstone has a rich history and abundant folklore. Its story begins in ancient Rome, where it was believed moonstone was formed from solidified beams of moonlight. They also held that the Roman goddess Diana, goddess of the moon, could be seen within the stone, and that it would bestow love, wisdom and good fortune upon those who possessed it. They believed it would help keep the mind clear, so that its owner could make the smartest and wisest choices in life, and even enhance the wearer?s ability for second-sight or prophecy. Moonstone was a most popular jewelry choice, being such a magical looking stone, and having such benefits for its wearer.
In India, Moonstone was a sacred stone. Its powers as a love stone made it useful as a traditional wedding gift, and was thought to be instrumental in reconciling estranged lovers. There was a belief in India and in Europe that two people wearing moonstone on the full moon would fall passionately in love. The moonstone?s history in India includes the belief that since the beginning of time, a moonstone had been set into the forehead of India?s moon god, Chandra. In fact, his full name was Chandra Shekara, which means ?Person who wears the moon.? The stone on Chandra?s forehead was said to grow dimmer or become more bright with the waning and waxing of the moon (and the waxing and waning of Chandra?s power), thus giving the gem the name ?moon stone.?
Moonstone also has a long history as a ?Traveler?s Stone.? When worn as an amulet, moonstone was said to protect travelers, especially at night, and especially when the moon is shining. Ancient mariners believed it would protect them when traveling over water. Some suggest keeping a moonstone in a pocket, or otherwise stashed in your car or aboard your usual mode of transport for extra protection when abroad at night.
In more recent history, during the Art Nouveau period (1890-1910), the moonstone gained a resurgence in popularity. The French master goldsmith Rene Lalique led the way creating stunning pieces of jewelry featuring the moonstone. Though now most of Lalique?s jewelry is in museums, plenty of jewelers all over the US and Europe were beginning to work with moonstone again. Such jeweled creations no doubt benefitted from beliefs such as giving your lover a moonstone necklace during the full moon would create endless passion for the loving couple.
Throughout the ages, moonstone has been synonymous with the moon, magic, love, good fortune, and protection. One myth says that blue moonstones are washed up by the ocean tides every twenty-one years, and another claims that moonstone will lose its pretty shine and sheen if the owner of the stone keeps a lot of anger pent up inside. Later, during the Middle Ages, moonstone was used for scrying the future.
Today, moonstone is the state gem for Florida.
Spiritual Attributes
Moonstone is said to have many intuitive and emotional properties. It helps tap into the more gentle qualities of love and peace, especially if the person has had to close up their emotions for survival (think police, active duty military, rescue workers, therapists, or those grieving). Moonstone helps bring out an empathic response, bringing feeling back to those who?ve been numb. Yet moonstone is protective as well, and will open a person up as far as they are able, but not so much that they are overwhelmed. It naturally helps compassion and tenderness unfold in a healthy way. This ability to increase empathy makes moonstone useful for people in leadership positions, management, and coaches also, to help them stay in touch with the people they need to direct and make decisions for. For people who already feel, moonstone can bring up old, old emotions that still need to be worked through. It will assist the calming of fears and the smoothing out of hormonal mood swings. Moonstone is a stone of that brings out the nurturing in feeling.
Along with moonstone?s ability to open the heart to compassionate love, it also opens the way for more romantic love. The moonstone has long been used as a gift for lovers, and for those wishing to secure the passions of their partner. One folk tale said that wearing a moonstone in a piece of jewelry during the full moon while making love would increase the chances of fertility.
Moonstone is said to increase one?s sensitivity to the Divine, to heighten intuition and open one up to their psychic gifts. There is a certain positivity to moonstone in that it encourages hope and inspiration, allowing you to wish and aspire and flow in harmony with your dreams (especially if you?ve already used moonstone to help work through any past emotional issues). Moonstone is said to help fulfill the things in life that one actually needs. It does not always attract what you want, but it will always attract what you need, and it will also help you to understand the difference between the two.
There is a long rich history of moonstone being used to help with women?s needs. It is a stone of protection for women and children, especially pregnant women and babies. It has been used for centuries to enhance fertility, such as the ancient practice (still around today) that some Middle Eastern women have of sewing moonstones into their clothing if they would like to have a child. Besides its role as a fertility stone, it is also believed to support women?s reproductive health all around?. from easing menstrual problems, to assisting a woman in childbirth. It is said to help soothe wild hormones, and as such is often recommended to teenagers and women going through various changes in their life (pregnancy, menopause). Considered a ?stone of the goddess? by some, the moonstone is associated with the moon and the tides, femininity and the subconscious. It helps sync up the rhythms of lunar energy to the rhythms of a woman?s body.
Moonstone also plays a role as a sleep stone. It is said to assist with lucid dreaming when tucked beneath one?s pillow. Some believe if you meditate with a moonstone right before going to bed, it will grant you a restful night of sleep.
White Moonstone
White moonstone is the most common moonstone. Everything written above applies to white moonstone.
Peach Moonstone
Peach moonstone has all the properties white moonstone, with an extra focus on the emotional aspects. It is considered extra soothing for women, and helps individuals heighten their sense of self-worth and value. By strengthening confidence and valuing themselves, women have been able to use peach moonstone as a focal point for their intentions in losing weight and keeping it off. It will help the individual determine when they are eating for physical nourishment and when they might be eating to fill emotional needs. Peach moonstone is all about wrapping the feminine is a soft and gentle wrap of Divine love.
Gray Moonstone
Gray moonstone has all of the properties of white moonstone, with extra focus on the mystical side of the stone?s attributes. Sometimes called the ?New Moon Stone,? this is the go-to stone for psychics and shamans and other spiritual practitioners.
Blue Moonstone
Blue moonstone has all the properties of white moonstone, with an extra focus on the expression and manifestation of the love, and peace and what might lie within our unconscious. Meditating with blue moonstone helps give one focus, bringing light to what was hidden.
Rainbow Moonstone
Rainbow Moonstone has all the properties of white moonstone, with an extra focus on protection, especially psychic protection and especially while asleep and most vulnerable. The rainbow moonstone reacts with a person?s own light body to help deflect any negativity and allow the person to sleep peacefully. Many believe that the rainbow moonstone is the most in alignment with Nature and extra-worldly consciousness.
Green Moonstone
Green moonstone has all of the properties of white moonstone, with an extra focus on balancing the emotions and fully opening up to the feminine within. Green moonstone has been called the stone of the Goddess, or Gaia, in other words, the stone of the feminine earth energy. It is a very calming stone, easing away stress and overwhelmed feelings and anxiety. Helps a person to just ?go with the flow.? This stone is especially healing for the emotions, and its connection to the earth and moon together makes it a great stone for gardeners and farmers.
Black Moonstone
Black moonstone has all of the properties of white moonstone, with an extra focus on New Moon energy, or the beginning of things. With every new baby, every new endeavor, every new project, there is a beginning. An idea. A space from which the new energy comes from. That is what is captured in the black moonstone. This is a great stone to bring out at the start of any new project, or even a new love, or the beginning of pregnancy for example. Also, black moonstone is very protective. It can help deflect negative energy and encourage inspiration. It helps take bad moods and bring them back into a more positive emotional state. Black moonstone is very calming and grounding.
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