The moonstone stands out among the gemstones mainly because of its unique shimmer. Because of this, the gemstone was already sought after in antiquity and was mainly used as a talisman and gemstone.
More recently, the glamorous stone came to new fame, as it was increasingly used in the hippie culture of the 60’s for the production of jewelry.
In today’s article we are going to learn more about this beautiful stone and what effects it has on our body.
Symbolism and Meaning
The shimmering color of the moonstone has given him his name. The stone has the so-called adularescence, a bluish-white shimmer that runs over the surface of the stone at different incidence of light and is particularly enhanced by the curved cabochon cut. Decisive for the interesting appearance of the gemstone is the lamellar structure of the crystal. The place of origin of the moonstone decisively determines its color.
Traditionally, the moonstone is mined mainly in Sri Lanka. The specimens found here are characterized by a high transparency, which in some cases can also have a hint of milky white. Stones from India, however, are generally duller overall, may have different dark shades or include a slight orange nuance in their base hue. Other localities are located in Australia and Brazil, as well as in the USA, Madagascar, Tanzania and Myanmar. Within Europe, the moonstone can be found in Austria.
The origin of the moonstone occupied people already in antiquity. So the Hindus believed the shimmering gemstone would be hardened moonbeams, while the ancient Romans believed the stone would consist of drops of moonlight. For the Romans, as well as for many other cultures, the moonstone was a symbol of love. Legend has it that two people carrying a moonstone fall in love with each other at full moon.
Since the moon is in close contact with the tides of the sea, this proximity to the water was also attributed to the moonstone. It was customary to carry the gemstone as a talisman on sea voyages. In general, the moonstone was preferred as a lucky charm used on trips.
Already in ancient times, the formation of the moonstone interested people. In Hinduism, it was believed that it was hardened moonbeams. The ancient Romans assumed that the moonstone consisted of drops of moonlight. He was considered by the Romans and in many other cultures as a symbol of love. Legend has it that two people who carry a moonstone fall in love with each other at full moon.
The proximity to the water was also attributed to the Moonstone because of its close connection to the tides of the sea. So was the gemstone on sea travel as a talisman and was generally used as a lucky charm when traveling.
General properties
The color of the moonstone is white, bluish, orange, and brownish or rainbow colored. It is translucent to transparent. He also has a unique, white or bluish shimmer, which is reminiscent of the moonlight. If you move the stone, this mysterious shimmer seems to slide over its entire surface. This phenomenon is also called adularescence.
Therefore, the moonstone also has the name Adular. Selenite, Hecatolith, Wolfsye and Ceylon Opal are other synonyms for him.
The moonstone also has fluorescent properties. Under the influence of long-wave light it appears blue and under short-wave light also orange. Under the influence of X-rays he also shows in all gradations from purple to white. The main deposits for the moonstone are in Sri Lanka.
However, it is also found in the USA, Brazil, Australia, India, Brazil, Madagascar, Myanmar, Tanzania and even Austria.
Both in the Orient, in the Far East and in Europe, he served in ancient times as a lucky, emotional and love stone. According to legend, two people who carry the moonstone can fall in love with each other at full moon.
He has also been used since ancient times to promote fertility and for various matters of the heart. Just as the moon is associated with intuition, the moonstone should also enhance our intuitive powers. He is also considered a stone, which can support and develop femininity in a special way.
Love and Relationships
The moonstone was often considered to be the stone of love and romance. It is important to carry his stone close to you whenever you want to see improvement in your love life.
You can even gift this beautiful stone to your partner and therefore improve your relationship.
Health Benefits
The enchanting radiance of the moonstone can be compared to the silvery glow of moonlight reflected in the water of a lake. This unique shimmer makes the moonstone so special. As a healing stone, the moonstone is said to have many different effects. In the world, the appearance of the moon is considered one of the most fascinating phenomena of all.
The attraction of the moon provides for myths, the constant movement of the North Sea or the sleepwalking of people. These inexplicable qualities keep man spellbound. Therefore, it is not surprising that the moonstone, which owes its name to the shimmer similar to the moonlight, also has an attractive effect.
Recently the moonstone gained new fame in the hippie culture of the 60’s as a gemstone. In earlier times, the moonstone was also referred to as selenite. But these terms are just as wrong as the term water opal. The moonstone is a variety of orthoclase. In trade, the terms wolf eye or Ceylon opal are common. Stones with a particularly strong and striking light band are called cat’s eyes. If the moonstone has a high proportion of iron and is therefore darker in color, it is a so-called smoke moonstone.
The moonstone is formed primarily, i.e. directly from the magma or from the igneous rock. He belongs to the group of feldspar, which form mixed series. These occur after the cooling of the rock mass as well as by weathering of cryptopritite segregations. In Sri Lanka are the most important deposits for the moonstone. Other occurrences are found in Australia, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Myanmar, Austria, Tanzania and the USA.
The moonstone is milky white, washed out brown, gray-brown, gray, gray-blue, orange (usually light) or washed out blue. He often has very different shades in these colors. The bluish-white shimmering moonstone is considered the most famous modification of the mineral. The moonstone belongs to the monoclinic crystal system, is transparent to translucent and completely fissile. The so-called adularescence, so the bluish-white shimmer, distinguishes the moonstone. The moonstone is composed of a mixture of silicon, aluminum, potassium and oxygen.
The moonstone is used as a healing stone in the stone science like and has some positive effects on body and soul. He should develop his effect especially in the female gender. The moonstone can be used in a variety of ways in gemstone therapy. In stone science, the moonstone is a very popular healing stone. The shape it has, does not matter for the healing powers initially. However, tumbled stones are best suited because raw mineral usually has sharp break lines. Decisive in the application is the direct contact with the skin. The stone can be placed on top or worn in the shape of a flatterer or as a pendant or chain.
The moonstone is still very rare in meditation, but is especially suitable for beginners. Even in stone circles it is still rarely encountered, although it certainly fulfills the requirements for this application. The moonstone is also ideal for the production of gemstone water or essence. For this purpose, some 2 to 3 cm large tumbled stones are placed overnight in a glass pitcher filled with 1 liter of water. It is important that lime-free water is used for the production and the moonstone is neither colored nor reconstructed.
Charging is traditionally the best overnight in the moonlight. The charge in the light of the full moon should be the strongest. The moonstone is sensitive to pressure and heat. It should not be exposed to high temperatures, as otherwise the opalescent effect is lost and clear stones become cloudy. Also the contact with cleaning agents should be better avoided.
Due to its esoteric symbolism and its adularescence, the moonstone is a very popular gemstone. It is often found in the form of pendants, chains, finger rings and earrings. For jewelry, the cabochon cut is applied, which best brings out the typical shimmer of the gemstone. The coloring is a decisive feature for the quality of the moonstone. There is a difference between the body color and the color of adularescence. An almost colorless moonstone with blue shimmer is of very high quality.
Black Moonstone and Wealth
To improve your financial situation, carry this stone close to you when you are attending important meetings and luck should come to you.
Black Moonstone and Zodiac
For the zodiac signs Cancer and Pisces, the Moonstone is an important mainstay. He opens his eyes to reality and gives him insight. He makes fish susceptible to the outside world.
For Aquarians and Sagittarius, the Moonstone is considered an important secondary stone. In Aquarius, he strengthens the bond with nature and improves the contact with other people; he gives Sagittarius a balanced feeling, constancy and imagination.
Black Moonstone and Chakras
The effect of the moonstone is best achieved by applying it to the crown and throat chakras. The healing stone is also good on the sacral chakra.
How to Purify Black Moonstone
The moonstone is unloaded together with hematite. To recharge the shimmering gem, it is placed in the moonlight overnight. Moonstones, which are regularly worn on the skin, come naturally with contamination by skin fat, dirt particles and cream and cosmetic residues in touch. It should therefore be cleaned from time to time with lukewarm water and without additives such as soap and detergent. It is advisable to avoid lime scale deposits using lime-free water (e.g. very clean rainwater).
Once a month, the moonstone is unloaded in a dry bowl filled with hematite tumbled stones. If the healing stone is used for menstrual cramps, discharge should take place immediately after menstruation.
Summary
A moonstone that is virtually colorless is very popular. The stone is also available in the colors green, gray, brown, yellow and pink. In India, a variety was found in 1997 whose body color is parrot green. He has a light yellow pleochroism. The so-called peach moonstone, which has a yellow-orange to pink body color, is now also very popular and comes from Sri Lanka.
The luster of the moonstone can be blue, silvery or even white. Ideally, the shimmer can be seen from different angles and is typically located in the center of the stone. The so-called rainbow moonstone, which is actually not a moonstone, has a rainbow-colored surface.
However, it is a bright Labradorite from Madagascar. If a moonstone is free of inclusions, it is considered to be very high quality. This is mainly due to the fact that only with a translucent and transparent stone, the shimmer can impressively come into their own. Also moonstones with cat’s eye effect exist, and very rarely a star-shaped light phenomena occur.