Purple amethyst - the powerful healing stone

Amethyst is a purple quartz prized for its beauty, its mystical energy and healing properites since ancient times. Yet amethyst, like the common quartz is silicon dioxide or silica found in sand. Amethyst has been prized for centuries by ancient Roman and Greeks, monarchs, churches, Tibetan monks and used in the Crown Jewels. But the most significant attributes of amethyst are the health benefits one can derive from the stone which include cure for insomnia and sobriety, boosting the immune system, detoxifying the body and increasing creativity. There are scientific backings as to why the purple amethyst is a superconductor healing crystal.

All photos were taken by me (Bakerwoman)

Nature's surprise box

I acquired my first geode at a local country fairgrounds in the 1980s. For $10, I chose an odd-looking mottled oval rock from a heap because it stood out from the rest. I was told by the man in the booth that a lighter geode will have a hollow interior with crystals. The heavier ones will likely be solid agate. There was no way for me to know what was inside until it was cut open. I watched with bated breath as the shrill diamond cutting blade sliced through the geode into two halves with water spraying all over the blade housing. When the geode broke apart and revealed tiny purple amethyst quartz crystals, I was beyond just pleased. It was the beginning of my love affair with amethyst geodes.

So what exactly are geodes and how were they formed?

Geodes (Greek word for earthlike) were formed by bubbles when volcanic molten lava cooled. Groundwater rich with silica and minerals seep into the hollow cavities of the cooled lava bubbles over millions of years, depositing layers of dissolved minerals which crystallize and point inwards towards the center. Geodes were also formed in cavities and open spaces of sedimentary and igneous rocks when groundwater transported and deposited dissolved minerals, including silica, inside these voids.

The outer shell of the geode is typically a grayish-blue and white concentric layers of chalcedony which surround the amethyst quartz geodes as a banded agate as shown in the photo.

How Geodes are formed

This closeup of the cut geode shows the inside filled with dense amethyst quartz crystal tips or terminations. The tiny pointed crystals range in color from pinkish lavender to a dark mauve. The purple color is derived from deposits of manganese and high iron oxide contents or hydrocarbons. White calcite deposits can be seen along the right periphery of the geode.

Amethyst has a way with charms

Here are examples of different shades of amethyst quartz made into pendants. The crystal point pendant (left) has a light purple, almost lilac color complemented with rough-cut tourmaline gems. African amethyst usually have a rich, deeper purple color a shown on the silver pendant with the round cut. My all-time favorite is the asymmetrical large amethyst pendant (bottom right) with the vibrant and energizing purple hue.

No matter how you cut it, amethyst crystal is beautiful in any shape, color and form.

Purple Amethyst - the color of royalty and symbol of power

This tall cathedral amethyst geode was my second acquisition with large pointed sparkling quartz crystals. The adjective cathedral refers to the towering shape of the geode. This rich dark purple is traditionally the color of royalty and religious leaders since ancient times. The British Crown Jewels included amethyst. The Catholic Church bishops wore rings of amethyst as it symbolized piety and celibacy.

This lovely geode from Brazil is a one-of-a-kind artwork sculpted by Mother Nature which took more than 200 million years to deliver to my home. It makes a beautiful display piece for the entryway of any home.

The color purple of amethyst is linked to the body's energy center at the pituitary and pineal glands located in the point between the eyes and the just above the eyebrow. This is known as the sixth chakra or the Third Eye which controls intuition, spiritual awareness and mental clarity.

This photo shows the uneven distribution of the purple color of amethyst with the the purple being more intense at the tips of the crystals. This is difficult to notice when standing two feet away from the geode as the purple color appear to be an even rich and dark color with no patchiness.

This is my third geode which I "rescued" from a store on the verge of shutting its door. This cavernous geode reminded me of the toothy mouth of a Great White shark in the movie "Jaws." This geode sits on a sideboard in the sunroom sending out positive energy into the room. It may be the reason why all the orchids seem to only bloom in this room and nowhere else in the house.

Experts do not recommend an amethyst geode to be exposed to direct sunlight as the color will fade. I have this geode sitting in the sunroom for the last 5 years based on the Feng Shui preferred placement and have no desire to move it. The room has a certain calmness and spiritual energy.

Amethyst Feng Shui Placement

Amethyst, like all other quartz is piezoelectric, meaning it can develop an electric charge when subjected to mechanical pressure.The electric charge causes the quartz to vibrate at its own frequency as it expands and contracts. The regular arrangement of atoms in the quartz makes them vibrate at a stable frequency. That is the reason why quartz crystals make excellent resonators and emitters of electromagnetic waves and are widely used in watches, oscillators and in the electronic industry.

Amethyst quartz has magnetic fields and so does the human body. The potent vibrations with stable frequencies help balance the mind-body state called chakra energy. When amethyst is used to balance or open the Third Eye or Brow Chakra, it opens the right side of the brain improving the levels of creativity and sharpen your senses. Amethyst also balance your moods and treat depression.

What is piezoelectiricity?

Experiences after the Third Eye Opening

Do you notice the white triangular and trapezoidal shapes scattered around the crystals? These are reflections of light hitting the prisms of the amethyst crystals.

When infrared light waves pass through the prisms of amethyst crystals, these bend and change directions. This is called refraction. When this happens, the light waves become elongated with very long wavelengths called Far Infrared Ray (FIR) which generate a low level of heat, just like a stove, a lighted fireplace, or hot coals. Far Infrared Ray penetrates the human body and expands capillaries and stimulates increased blood circulation and cell-regeneration. The waves of energy boost the immune system and relieves nervous tension. Because of the calming effect of amethyst quartz, it is also the crystal chosen for meditation. This is part of the reason why the rosaries of Tibetan monks are made of amethyst.

Amethyst crystals produce negative ions into the air. As you breathe in the negative ions, blood carries these into the brain which stimulates the release of the brain chemical seratonin, a natural mood enhancer. Negative ion emissions benefit those suffering from depression, low energy levels and chronic fatigue. Negative ions also cleanse the body by eliminating toxins and free radicals, purifying the blood, stimulating blood flow and circulation and boosting the body's immunity.

The Benefits of Negative Ions

My experiment to cure sleeplessness

So, here I am wearing my amethyst pendant 24/7 for 6 days to cure my insomnia. The first night, I slept well, except for little nightmare. The second night, I slept through and did not have to get up to go to the bathroom, but had a near-exploding bladder in the morning. The third night, I slept well but did not have to rush to the bathroom in the morning. The fourth night, I slept like a rock and had difficulty waking up. The fifth night, I had a restful sleep and actually slept in.

Amethyst crystal can also be placed under your pillow at night to promote calm and restful sleep. Gently rub your forehead with an amethyst crystal to rid of headaches and migraines. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Dust accumulates and settles in the crevices of the amethyst crystals like everything else in the home. Dust and dirt dull the sparkling clusters of the geode. I take the geode to the kitchen sink and give it a good rinse with cool tap running water. A soft brush helps loosen dirt in the hard to reach places and avoid breaking off any of the smaller pointy crystals.

Clean and purify

Most crystal experts advice soaking crystals in a plastic or non-metal tub filled with water and one tablespoon of sea salt. Sea salt is preferred to table salt because it is a crystalline and can draw impurities and negative energy. Table salt on the other hand contains aluminum and iodine. Since this is a fairly large geode, I chose to dissolve 1 tablespoon of sea salt in a bowl of water and then pour it into the large cavity and let it soak for 15 minutes or so.

Do you believe that amethyst crystal has healing benefits?

Kids will have so much fun discovering the surprises inside each geode after they break all 12 of them. No two are alike and each one is so special. A great educational gift for the 6 year-old and up and great learnng tool.