You may recall that I’m fond of stones. I wrote a whole blog about Shiva Lingam, the sacred stone of India.
But think of the many important stones worldwide, for example:
- Blarney Stone in Ireland: kiss it for the Gift of Gab and good luck
- Stonehenge in England: stone circle of mysterious origins, potentially a celestial observatory
- Rosetta Stone, found in Egypt: key to translating Egyptian hieroglyphics
- Uluṟu (Ayers) Rock in Australia: sacred to the Aṉangu people
- Black Stone of Mecca: Muslim object of veneration, part of the Kaʿbah within the Great Mosque
Stones for Power and Beauty
If visiting stones is good for you, why not just wear them? Many people wear precious and semiprecious stones for more than just eye appeal.
Whenever I am in Corolla, NC, I always visit The Mystic Jewel. (They also have a store in Duck and sell online.) Each purchase has been accompanied by a card. Based on these cards and information in a stone “bible” by Simmons and Ahsian, I venture to assert that there are no bad stones!
Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian have written The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach, an interesting guide to crystals, minerals, gemstones, and the many ways people use them.
For example, one of my favorites (because it coordinates with my go-to black pants or jeans) is black onyx. (Fyi, onyx can be red, green, or several other colors.)
According to Ahsian, “Black Onyx teaches the appropriate use of power and the focusing of energy into positive force. It is excellent for those who are working to develop their telekinetic abilities.” And physically, “Black Onyx can be used to help stimulate the connection between the feet and the first chakra. This can be helpful for those suffering from weak legs, or who have difficulty grounding or eliminating bodily waste or excess energy.”
You can research virtually any stone for its purported spiritual, emotional, and physical qualities, and any astrological connections as well.
Chakras
Millions of people worldwide wear chakra jewelry for such reasons. Chakra means wheel in Sanskrit. The basic belief is that the body has seven main energy centers that look like spinning wheels or Chakras. They permit energy to flow from one part of the body to another. When these Chakras are aligned and functioning properly, we feel a sense of balance on all levels—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Gemstones are often used to strengthen and balance the Chakras.
The concept of the chakra arose in Hinduism. Beliefs differ between the Indian religions: Buddhist texts mention four or five chakras, while Hindu sources often have six or seven. The modern “Western chakra system” arose from multiple sources, starting in the 1880s.
Chakra Stones
Crown
- 7th chakra
- Center of wisdom and knowledge
- White stones (quartz, selenite, or moonstone)
Brow or Third Eye
- 6th chakra
- Center of insight and intuitive powers
- Purple stones (quartz, amethyst)
Throat
- 5th chakra
- Center for communication and creative expression
- Blue stones (turquoise, sodalite, or lapis)
Heart
- 4th chakra
- Energize love, compassion, and forgiveness
- Pink or green stones (rose quartz, aventurine)
Solar Plexus
- 3rd chakra
- Center of energy and emotion
- Yellow stones (citrine, tiger eye, calcite)
Spleen
- 2nd chakra
- Center of creativity and social interaction
- Orange stones (carnelian and amber)
Root or Base
- 1st chakra
- Center of safety, stability, and grounding
- Red or black stones (garnet, hematite, black tourmaline)
All sorts of jewelry—rings, bracelets, pendant, earrings—featuring stones for all seven chakras, in order, is readily available. If you search for chakra jewelry, for example on eBay or Etsy, the seven-gem option will come up as a “best match” although jewelry designs featuring a single stone are touted as well.
Bottom Line: Wear, touch, seek out, and treasure stones, whether for esthetic, fashion, or other reasons. Even if they don’t actually help, they won’t hurt!
