AMETHYST

A variety of quartz (silicon dioxide). Its purple colouring is caused by impurities of iron or manganese compounds. Hardness: 7. Other characteristics an unusual pale amethyst twinned scepter crystal from New Mexico. It also is said to have hopper faces - but I have no idea what that is! Stone of "spiritualality and contentment". Protects against psychic attacks. Encourages flexibilty in decisions by controlling temperament. Excellent for one who is attempting to mind freedom from addictive personality, (oneself or another). Drives off nightmares, induces sleep. Local interest: amethyst from St Just, Cornwall A beautiful pewter elk atop a cluster from Canada A very shiny, facetted one!

A stone popular among the Ancient Greeks, who believed that drinking from amethyst cups and plates would prevent drunkenness and overeating. Also used by Roman wives to keep husbands faithful. - Traditionally, amethysts are supposed to guard England's rulers against contagious diseases. - Amethyst has been used to symbolize deep love, happiness, humility, sincerity, and wealth. - The earliest known reference to amethyst is in a fourth century B.C. book On Stones. - Long, ago, farmers believed that wearing amethyst would protect their crops from hailstones and locusts. - The Hebrew word for amethyst is "ahlamah" which means dream. If you dream of amethyst, you will be free from harm. In the Middle Ages, soldiers wore amethyst to protect them in battle. - At different times, amethyst has symbolized power for Germans, and sanctity for Roman Catholics and Tibetan Buddhists. - Amethyst was the emblem for Mathew, one of the twelve apostles. - Leonardo da Vinci believed that amethyst had the power to control evil thoughts, to quicken intelligence, and to make men shrewd in business matters. - Amethyst was used to adorn the twelfth foundation of the wall of Jerusalem (Revelations 21:20). Healing: insomnia, addictions, neuralgia.

From the Aberdeen Bestiary Project The twelfth foundation is amethyst. Isidorus says of it: Among purple stones, the Indian amethyst holds first position; it is, indeed, purple but of mixed coloration, giving forth violet and rose-coloured lights; it is easy to engrave. For this reason the humility of the saints is signified by it; associated with humility is obedience, as Ambrose says: 'Humility is small, like the violet, beautiful like the rose, easy to apply to all things'; or: 'They are like burning flames, looking at love'. For humility is acceptable to everyone, even to our enemies; as pride, in contrast, is viewed by everyone with detestation, as it says in Ecclesiasticus, 15: 'Pride is hateful before God and men' (see 10: 7). For this reason the amethyst is placed in the final position, as if watching over all, and as if humility always reckons itself the least and always takes the last place. In this context, Gregory: 'He who assembles in himself the other virtues without humility is like one who carries dust in the wind. Also Paul: 'He who is modest, that is to be understood as humble, deserves to possess the tenth place.' The amethyst brings an omen of wood and water; it is better given than desired.

Ametrine, part amethyst/part citrine

"dispels negativity, aids decision making, meditation, relieves stress"