Precious and semi-precious gemstones have been used throughout history for physical, mental, and spiritual healing. Gemstones are still widely used today as transmitters, receivers, and magnifiers of energy – they are an excellent tool for the conscious creator!
Each type of stone carries its own vibration that has been influenced by geometrical form and color. When a person embraces its energy, the gemstone emits its energetic frequency which has a powerful vibratory effect to empower the receiver.
Gemstones can be used for healing, balancing, transformation, soothing emotions, activating abilities, and attuning the mind, body, and spirit. They can be worn and used often to create a more harmonious life.
Keep in mind when using gemstones that they are aids and a wonderful partner in your expansion, but not a replacement for your own personal power. You are the creator of your life – gemstones are simply your helpers.
Alphabetical List of Gemstones and Their Purpose
Abalone is a naturally iridescent shell that has been used in decorative jewelry by many cultures. Abalone radiates the energies of comfort and gentleness, and assists in calming and soothing the emotions. It has a relaxing peaceful effect and can help restore emotional balance.
Agate is a chalcedony (pronounced kal-sed-on-ee) and is one of the oldest stones in recorded history. It is distinguished by characteristic colors and banding, and occurs in a wide assortment of colors. Agate protects from stress and energy drains, and has a cleansing and stabilizing effect on the body. It gives courage, emotional strength, self-confidence, and dispels fears.
Amazonite is a semi-opaque blue-green variety of feldspar. It brings clarity, insight, balance and is beneficial to the nervous system. Amazonite’s powerful filtering action protects against electromagnetic pollution from microwaves, computers and cell phones. Amazonite enhances creativity and the ability to express oneself and is good for anyone involved in the arts. It is particularly beneficial to musicians and writers.
Amber is a fossil resin from prehistoric trees that has aged over the course of millions of years. Amber promotes an optimistic, joyful attitude and brings a care free, sunny disposition.
Amethyst is crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac or lavender. It is a powerful and protective stone and has the ability to transform negative energy into positive energy. It enhances spiritual awareness and wisdom, promoting a higher state of consciousness and increasing spiritual development.
Angelite is a soft blue stone that represents peace and brotherhood, and promotes compassion and understanding. It is also a very soothing, uplifting stone and very helpful during times of transition. Angelite encourages you to speak your truth and to be more accepting. Spiritually, it helps to connect with the higher guidance of angels and highly evolved spiritual beings.
Aventurine belongs to the quartz family and comes in several colors including green, red and blue. It is the stone of opportunity and brings good luck, abundance and money. Aventurine is also considered an all purpose healing stone and helps to relieve stress, anxiety, and emotional discomfort.
Bloodstone (also called heliotrope) is a dark green to greenish-blue chalcedony with distinctive red spots (red iron oxide) that resemble blood, giving this stone its name. It is a stone of courage and strength, and helps move energetic blocks for mental, physical and emotional renewal.
Botswana Agate is a beautiful stone that combines shades of taupe, peach, opal white, brown, pink and gray. It maintains well-being and harmony in the body and spirit, and is an excellent stone for people who are sensitive, lonely, or easily hurt. Botswana helps to release repressed emotions and replenishes energy lost in situations where there has been manipulative control (such as with a parent or partner).
Brecciated Jasper is Red Jasper that was broken at some time during its growth. During the healing process, whole quartz formed in the previously broken veins. The final product is a rusty red stone with white streaks and web like patterns. Brecciated Jasper is an excellent “worry stone”. It calms the emotions, eases stress, and helps bring happiness by allowing you to have a good outlook on life.
Bronzite is the gemological name for the common mineral, Enstatite. It is chocolate brown with golden swirls. Bronzite is a grounding, protective stone that is used to restore harmony and self confidence in situations where you feel powerless. It inspires courtesy and acceptance, and promotes decisive action and loving discernment. This stone is beneficial to use when making plans for the future because it alleviates indecision and doubt.
Carnelian enhances analytical capabilities, perceptiveness and awakens hidden talents and gifts. It provides protection, increases personal power and enhances ones vitality and will. Carnelian also increases motivation, energy and endurance and encourages creative visualization. Because it is believed to bring luck and opportunity, it is an excellent stone to wear on a job interview.
Charoite assists in grounding the spiritual self and walking your destiny. It brings insight and reveals the life plan you are here to work on. Charoite is a stone of transformation and helps to overcome fear and turns negative emotions into positive feelings. It can be used to overcome obsessions and compulsions.
Chrysocolla is a stone of peace and increased wisdom. It encourages a neutral attitude and clarity of thought, enabling one to remain calm during chaotic situations. Chrysocolla is a powerful aid in truthful, loving communication, and can be used to decrease nervousness and irritability.
Citrine is a yellow variety of quartz. It is known as the “merchant stone” because it helps acquire prosperity. It is a stone of success, joy, and laughter and assists in manifesting what one wants to bring into their life. Citrine gives the feeling of warmth and comfort, and has the ability to dispel negative energy so it never needs to be cleansed.
Coral has been called the ‘garden of the sea’ and was once believed to be a plant, but is now known to actually contain living animals called polyps. Coral is the result of accumulated skeletal masses from these polyps. In many cultures it symbolizes life and blood force energy. Coral expedites and accelerates the transfer of knowledge, and facilitates intuition and imagination. It is a good aid for meditation and visualization.
Crazy Lace Agate has stunning patterns of varying colors from cream, white, tan, gray and yellow-orange. It is mined in Mexico and sometimes referred to as Mexican Lace Agate. Crazy Lace Agate is called the Laughter Stone, or “Happy Lace.” Its warm, supportive properties encourage security, self-confidence, optimism, and joy.
Dalmation Jasper is an opaque, white jasper with brown and black spots, similar to “fire engine” dogs. Dalmation Jasper is a mood lifter. It is a great pick me up and brings a sense of fun. Dalmatian Jasper helps us to see our own strengths and weaknesses and can help us when we are feeling disillusioned. This stone increases loyalty and is beneficial for long term relationships.
Dumortierite is called “the blue denim” stone and is often mistaken for Lapis Lazuli or Sodalite. Since it enhances intellectual abilities and assists with mental skills, it is considered a learning stone and excellent for students. Dumortierite is known to enhance organizational abilities, self-discipline and orderliness. It will also stimulate psychic or prophetic vision if you are gifted.
Fluorite has a wide range of colors including yellow, blue, pink purple and green. It helps bring mental clarity, increases concentration, heightens mental abilities and assists in absorbing and processing of new information. Fluorite is said to absorb and neutralize negative vibrations, and makes one more receptive to the vibrations of other stones.
Fossil Coral is natural stone formed from mineralized remains of ancient coral. The fossilized coral typically appears as small flower-like patterns in the stone and occurs in colors of earthy tans, browns, grays, yellows, oranges, reds, pinks and purples. Fossil Coral enhances one’s ability for past life recall. It assists in understanding these past influences so one can release the old and move into positive transformation and spiritual growth.
Freshwater Pearls are created by placing a small shell bead inside a freshwater mollusk. The color of the pearl varies depending on the type of mollusk. Pearls inspire purity, innocence and serenity. They enhance personal integrity, promote endurance and emotional stability. Pearls foster motherly love and assists in accepting love. They are calming, centering and promote faith, charity, truth and loyalty.
Garnet is known for 3 things: 1) As a stone of love and passion. It enhances sensuality, sexuality and intimacy. 2) For a successful business. It attracts good luck in business ventures, and can help you be productive, motivated and build self-confidence for business success. 3) As the “stone of health” because it dissolves emotional blockages in the body.
Hematite is a metallic gray iron oxide mineral. It helps absorb negative energy and is calming in times of worry and stress. Hematite helps develop concentration and focus, and brings balance and harmony to mind, body and spirit.
Honey Jade is the common name for a creamy, golden looking jasper. Honey Jade imparts joy, happiness, cheerfulness and inner peace. It teaches the interconnectedness of all life and radiates unconditional love. Honey jade strengthens the nerves and overcomes fatigue.
Howlite is found in large cauliflower like masses in it’s natural state. It’s natural color is white or gray but because it takes dye easily it has become an inexpensive alternative to more costly gemstones. Howlite calms and soothes the emotions, can slow an overactive mind and help to achieve a deep and restful sleep. It can assist in reducing stress, anxiety and tensions and works with the heart to bring gentleness, patience and tact.
Jade creates a positive attitude towards money and can be used to attract more of it into ones life. The soothing green color of jade also makes it a wonderful healing stone. It can instill a sense of calm and well-being, and can help to increase ones enjoyment of life. Jade improves vitality and is associated with wisdom, peace and harmony.
Jasper is a member of the quartz family and comes in many colors. It is a nurturing stone and is great for balancing physical energies, and easing emotional stresses. Jasper gives one the courage to speak out and have personal independence. It encourages honesty with yourself, and helps to increase responsibility and compassion.
Kambaba Jasper is an exotic looking stone from Africa. It is an opaque forest green and black jasper, deep and rich in color. Kambaba Jasper stabilizes the emotions and soothes the nerves and mind. It is a grounding stone, providing protection and reducing fears and insecurities. Kambaba Jasper helps find a sense of balance and assists in relaxation. Use this stone when working in an environment with lots of negativity.
Labradorite itself is a silvery gray but changes according to the angle of light refraction, and may be blue, green, yellow, and pink. It is considered a power stone, allowing you to see through illusions and determine the actual form of your dreams and goals. It is excellent for strengthening intuitions, developing enthusiasm and to see more clearly in meditation.
Lapis Lazuli is an aluminum silicate with a deep blue color. It usually has inclusions of pyrite and/or calcite. Lapis Lazuli is a powerful stone for those who seek spiritual attainment, connecting the wearer to a higher truth. It stimulates personal and spiritual power and brings mental clarity and emotional healing. Lapis Lazuli can open the door to inner-knowledge and self acceptance.
Leopardskin Jasper, also called Jaguar Stone, has intricate circular “leopard” markings with tawny deep brown tone contrasts. It is a supporting stone and helps draw into your life whatever you need for physical healing. Leopardskin Jasper attracts forces of harmony and repels forces of disharmony. This stone fortifies natural resistance, helps to maintain health, and will strengthen and fine-tune your body’s overall regulatory mechanism.
Malachite is a green stone, usually banded in tones varying from very dark green to a mellow green. It promotes harmony and improves communication throughout your physical body. Malachite’s energy flows through in a rhythmic, wave-like motion, and alerts your body to its own dis-harmonies. This allows your own healing forces to be activated so balance can be restored.
Moonstone is a stone of passion. It is said if you give your lover moonstone when the moon is full you will always have passion for each other. Moonstone is a very feminine stone and strongly connected to the moon. It helps to align the hormone production, metabolism, and reproduction. Moonstone also brings good fortune, enhances intuition, and brings success in love and business matters.
Moss Agate is a multi-shade of green that resembles moss or trees. It is a powerful stone to help balance emotional energy. Moss Agate is considered an abundance stone and believed to bring the wearer health, friends and riches. It is used by midwives to assist in delivery and reduce pain in childbirth. When placed in the garden, Moss Agate helps to foster better growth in plants. It is a stone of new beginnings.
Mother Of Pearl is a shell obtained from white sea mussels. Like a mother’s love, it is nurturing, soothing, and protective. Use Mother of Pearl when you are experiencing out-of-balance emotions, unfulfilled emotional or physical needs from childhood, a senses of abandonment, or difficulty feeling or expressing love.
Obsidian is formed from volcanic lava which cooled too quickly for crystallization to occur. It has a glassy luster and is most often black but can occur in other colors. Obsidian helps to block negative energies and protects against depression. Use obsidian in an environment that is charged with negative energy and allow it to transmute the negative energy into positive. Try wearing Snowflake Obsidian if the black feels too strong.
Ocean Jasper has unpredictable color swirls and wavy patterns of green-gray, white, cream, beige, brown, pink and maroon. It is a stone of joy, encouraging optimism and bringing into focus the positive aspects of one’s life. Ocean Jasper lifts the spirits and increases expression of love in words and actions.
Onyx is a protective and strength-giving stone. It guards against negativity and helps to calm one’s fears, leaving them feeling stable and secure. Onyx helps in letting go of old habits, releasing the past or attachments, and moving on. It is used to end unhappy or bothersome relationships. Onyx imparts self-control and encourages a stable life.
Peridot is a protector against negative emotions and is often called the stone of “positive vibes.” It is a stone of lightness and beauty, and brings a joyful, friendly energy. Peridot clears the heart, releases the ego, and brings about a sense of peace. A visionary stone, Peridot brings insight and helps connect us to our destinies.
Picture Jasper is a wonderful stone for connecting with earth and nature. It is often called the stone of Global Awareness and is said to promote feelings of responsibility towards the planet, encouraging a need to care for and protect it. Picture Jasper is used to create harmony, balance and positive energy flow. It stimulates the immune system, to help clear pollutants and toxins from the body.
Pyrite is known to attract abundance and ease financial hardships. The resemblance of pyrite to gold has made it a traditional symbol for money and good luck. It is an excellent shield stone, blocking out negativity from various sources. Pyrite boosts self confidence, stimulates the intellect and helps to transform thought into intelligent action.
Quartz can be found in all shades and colors but Clear Quartz is the most versatile healing stone of all the crystals. It is able to work on any condition. It attunes to the higher self making it an excellent stone for meditation. Clear Quartz energizes and activates the energy centers within the body, protects against negativity, and enhances metaphysical abilities and spiritual growth.
Rhodonite is known as “the rescue stone”. It helps dispel tension and anxiety, balances the emotions, relieves and soothes heartache and grief. Rhodonite helps to heal emotional scars left by old wounds. It promotes self esteem and self confidence. Rhodonite enables forgiveness and compassion, for yourself and others. It mends a broken heart and attracts new love.
Rhyolite, also called Rainforest Jasper, facilitates change and is associated with variety, creativity and progress. It can help gain insight, strength and self-realization. Rhyolite processes the past and integrates it with the present. Rhyolite is a balancing stone and is recommended for help with issues of self-esteem and emotional strength. It helps to stimulate insight into solutions and alternatives.
Riverstone has a creamy white appearance with beautiful, subtle patterns. Riverstone accelerates change. It will help you break out of a rut and move more swiftly through changes in yourself, your health, or your life. Effects of other life-promoting therapy or therapeutic gemstones are intensified or accelerated when used with Riverstone. This stone aids in meditation and spiritual work. It is best to use this stone with a clear focus and intention.
Rose Quartz is the stone of unconditional love, opening the heart to love of self and others. It promotes tenderness, comfort, gentleness, joy and hope. The soothing energy of Rose Quartz lowers stress and tension, clears out anger, jealousy, and resentment of others, and allows healing of heart issues. Rose Quartz supports an existing relationship, promoting trust, commitment and harmony.
Serpentine, also referred to as New Jade (though not a true jade), is an excellent meditation stone and helps you to understand the spiritual basis of life. It assists in finding inner peace and helps you to feel more in control of your life. Serpentine helps to correct mental and emotional imbalances and encourages the ability to solve conflicts by peaceful means.
Smoky Quartz is a protection stone. It is grounding, stabilizing and has a strong link with the earth. Smoky Quartz is nature’s stone of endurance and a superb antidote to stress. It is excellent for overcoming negative emotions, relieving depression, and elevating moods. Smoky Quartz will give you an extra boost and promotes pride and joy in living. It is worn for emotional support and balance.
Sodalite is an opaque, navy blue stone with characteristic white calcite streaks and flecks. Sodalite is stone of self expression and confidence. It promotes inspiration and creativity, making it an excellent choice for artists and writers. Sodalite assists in issues of self worth, self acceptance, and self esteem. This stone will help to achieve emotional balance, and calms anxiety and panic attacks.
Sunstone is an orange to reddish-orange stone containing small hematite crystals that give it an additional sparkle and fire. Sunstone brings light to all situations and has a bright, joyful energy that instills optimism, increases vitality and lightens dark moods. This stone will restore life’s sweetness and help you to nurture yourself. Sunstone facilitates self-empowerment and independence.
Tiger Eye combines earth energy with the energies of the sun. It is an excellent grounding stone and promotes balance and strength. It is used to focus the mind and is excellent for people who feel spaced out or uncommited. It supports integrity and assists in accomplishing goals. As a power stone, Tiger Eye has a wonderful reputation for attracting wealth, money and luck.
Turquoise is a master healing stone that helps to strengthen the entire body. It is also a protective stone, providing strength, purification and solace for the spirit and overall well-being. Turquoise dissolves a martyred attitude or self-sabotage, releases inhibitions and prohibitions and helps let go of old behaviors that no longer serve in one’s growth. To be gifted Turquoise brings good fortune and peace.