Hannah’s Reflections ~ Amethyst
Hi, I am Hannah.
Each week I will be researching Gemstone Families, and writing my findings here, so you can learn with me.
Today, I will be writing about Amethyst which is in The Quartz Family.
Amethystos means "not drunk" in Ancient Greek. Amethyst symbolism, particularly its connection to alcohol and wounds, may be reinforced by the gemstone's purple color range. The Ancient Greeks believed you could drink all night and remain sober if you had an amethyst in your mouth or on your person. (Wow, I had never heard of this before researching. I’ll have to try it out now, see if it’s true that you can’t get drunk from a cup made of amethyst.)
Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems. Medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle in the belief that amethysts heal people and keep them cool-headed. Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England.
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz (SiO2) and owes its violet color to irradiation, impurities of iron (Fe3+) and in some cases other transition metals, and the presence of other trace elements, which result in complex crystal lattice substitutions
Amethyst symbolism is a busy field. Ruled by the planet Jupiter, it's the zodiacal gem for those born under the sign of Pisces. Both traditional and modern birthstone lists include amethyst as the February birthstone.
Amethyst has been a symbol of royalty for centuries. Its deep purple color is associated with luxury, wealth, and power. It is believed to have healing and protective powers and is often used in feng shui to clear negative energy from a space or protect it from harm. It is also said to enhance intuition, spiritual awareness, and psychic abilities. (Amethyst is one of my favorite gemstones - i love the color and its properties really resonate with me and what i need in my life)
Thank you for reading! I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog :)