What is Amethyst? Amethyst is a transparent semi precious quartz gem. Amethyst's purple hue can range from a light lavender to a deep purple. It is believed that the purple color is caused by the iron oxide content, which is higher than in any other variety of quartz. Heating an Amethyst can cause it to lose the purple color and the stone can in turn transition to a yellow making it citrine. Amethyst Correspondences Energy: Receptive Birthstone: February Chakra: Crown & Third Eye Elements: Water Deities: Artemis, Dionysus, Bacchus, Christ, Diana Historical Uses of Amethyst The name Amethyst is taken from the Greek word amethustos which means ‘not intoxicated’. Ancient Greeks believed that the stone would protect them from becoming intoxicated. They would often craft cups out of Amethyst for this purpose. Amethyst was mentioned as one of the 12 stones found in the High Priest's breastplate. The Hebrew word achlamah (dream stone) is used to describe the stone and most scholars recognize the stone as an Amethyst. In the middle ages, Amethyst was considered one of the cardinal gemstones and was thought to be as precious as diamonds or rubies. As with any stone, use your intuition. We believe that a stone will work if you believe it will work. If you’ve been told that a stone works for one thing and you believe it, don't stress if you find out you were told wrong. Your belief is what gives the stones and your magical workings power. Amethyst’s Healing & Metaphysical Properties Insomnia and Bad Dreams Place a stone under your pillow to ward off insomnia and bad dreams. It is also associated with increased psychic power so using it in this way could lead to dreams that awaken your psychic mind. Stress Relief Amethyst is known to reduce stress and encourage peace for those who wear or carry the stone. It can help ease anxiety and promote positive thoughts. Try using Amethyst while meditating to aid in reaching a tranquil state. Sobriety Since Ancient times Amethyst has been thought of as a stone that promotes sobriety for its wearer. Some say the reason for this is because the stone brings about a sense of relaxation which is something that people seek from alcohol. Spirituality Amethyst is a stone that can be used to heighten your spiritual awareness. It is known to increase your psychic powers which will give a boost to your intuition. Associated with the crown and third eye chakras, Amethyst can be used to awaken your third eye which is said to be a person’s spiritual center. Use Amethyst to protect against physical attacks and manipulation. Cleansing & Charging Amethyst There are many methods for cleansing crystals. Amethyst is water safe but should not be left in the sunlight. Water Water is a neutralizing force and can be used to rid crystals of negative energies (be sure your crystals are water safe before cleansing with water). Try using running tap water, salt water or moon water to cleanse your Amethyst stones. Selenite Place your smaller Amethyst stones atop a larger piece of Selenite to clear unwanted energies. Sound Use sound to clear your Amethyst. Sound can be used to turn negative or unbalanced energy into balanced, positive energy. This is also a great way to cleanse many stones at once! Try using: singing bowls, tuning forks or chanting. Incense Burn a cleansing herb such as sage, lavender, cedar or rosemary on a charcoal disc and waft the smoke over your Amethyst to rid it of negative energies. You could also use incense sticks if they are more readily available - but we recommend choosing one in a scent that you associated with cleansing. Moonlight Moonlight is a great way to charge and cleanse your Amethyst. Place your Amethyst outside (weather permitting) or in a windowsill with the blinds pulled up enough to expose the stones to the moonlight. Allow the stone to sit, undisturbed throughout the night. If you are using a light sensitive stone, be sure to collect them before the sun rises to avoid discoloration. Blessed Be the Witches