Do I Need Moonstone? Meaning and Healing Properties
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Moonstone is a mesmerizing gemstone that has captivated people for centuries. Its soft, ethereal glow is said to hold powerful healing properties and is believed to bring balance and harmony to the wearer. This gemstone is associated with intuition, emotional balance, and stability. Its delicate, translucent appearance is said to reflect the phases of the moon and is often used in rituals to honor the divine feminine.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at moonstone, the history behind as well as its meaning, and its healing properties.
What is Moonstone?
Moonstone comes from orthoclase (also known as adularia) and albite minerals, which are part of the feldspar family. Its most common color is white, but it can also be peach, gray, green, blue, black, and even multicolor.
Moonstone is a variety of feldspar minerals that are prized for their unique and striking appearance. It’s composed primarily of aluminum silicate and potassium and is quite unique as it appears to glow or change color as it’s viewed from different angles.
Although typically white or colorless with a blue or gray sheen, it can also be found in other colors such as yellow, orange, green, pink, and brown. It’s a relatively hard stone, rating 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. What makes moonstone so attractive is its unearthly glow, called chatoyancy, and appears as a milky sheen. When you hold it up to the light, it scatters everywhere, producing its mystical and magical pearly essence.
This appearance comes from how it forms by orthoclase and albite intermingling. Once formed and cooled, these minerals separate into stacked thin and flat layers that alternate. The light falling between the layers scatters in multiple directions producing a phenomenon called “adularescence” or the “Schiller effect.” This is when the light seems to billow across the gemstone, giving it a glowing and, sometimes, iridescent look while providing an impression of movement.
Deposits of this lunar crystal are all over the world. Armenia, Austria, Australia, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, Sri Lanka, the Swiss Alps, and the United States are all significant locations. However, Myanmar is the source of the strongest blue tones while Sri Lanka provides most commercial ones.
Do You Need Moonstone?
Moonstone is said to have soothing and calming energy, which may benefit those who are feeling anxious or stressed. It’s also believed to have a balancing effect on emotions, which may help to reduce mood swings and irritability.
Some people also believe that moonstones can help to enhance intuition and psychic abilities, making it a good choice for people who are interested in developing their psychic abilities or exploring their spiritual side.
Moonstone is beneficial for travelers, particularly when they’re traveling at night. It’s believed to protect travelers and help guide them safely home.
Moonstone has a balancing effect on hormones, which may help to alleviate menstrual cramps. Its soothing and calming energy can help reduce stress and tension in the body, which can also contribute to menstrual cramps.
Additionally, Moonstone is believed to have a connection with the reproductive system and also helps balance the menstrual cycle, improves fertility, and eases menopausal symptoms. Therefore, it’s an ideal stone for women who struggle with certain reproductive issues.
Moonstone Healing Properties
At its core, the moonstone is balancing, introspective, reflective, and lunar. It can help a user change the structures of their life on emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual planes. The energy fosters new beginnings and allows a possessor to realize the nature of new beginnings, which are also endings.
Moonstone is a wishing and hoping crystal, allowing the user to absorb what they need from the universe, not what they necessarily want. It facilitates recognizing the vicissitudes in life while gracefully acknowledging unavoidable changes.
Moonstone Healing Properties – Emotional
Moonstone provides for emotional thought rather than intellectual reasoning. It can bring on flashes of insight and banish neglect of realization. It’s said that this milky, shimmering stone will turn dull if the user refuses to pay attention to the messages it’s trying to convey.
Moonstone is ideal for conquering fears and bringing on a sense of nurturing, naturally evoking a desire to be attentive to the needs of others. Therefore, it’s a stone of compassion and tenderness, useful for those in management and other types of leadership positions. It helps people stay in touch while maintaining an air of authority.
Moonstone for Intuitions, Decisions, Dreams & Meditation
Moonstone is notorious for stimulating intuitive recognition and applying that insight in a practical and useful way. It enhances discernment with acute perception, enabling a person to make decisions to further personal growth and development. It helps maintain and sustain the destinies chosen in life.
Some say it can even mitigate insomnia while assisting with the practice of lucid dreaming. These powers extend to meditation, bestowing restful sleep afterward.
Moonstone for Romantic Love
Moonstone’s most ancient healing property is that of romantic love. When two people come upon a piece of moonstone during the full moon, it’s believed that they will fall madly in love with each other until the end of time.
Moonstone Healing Properties – For Women
Moonstone is often associated with femininity, intuition, and emotions. It’s said to be a powerful stone for women, helping to balance hormones and emotions, and aiding in the alignment of the chakras. It’s also associated with the moon and is said to have a soothing and calming energy. Folklore and tradition have often linked moonstones with goddesses and their association with women.
Symbolism of Moonstone
Moonstone is a gemstone that has been associated with various symbolic meanings throughout history and across different cultures. Here are a few of the most common symbolic meanings associated with moonstone:
1. Femininity and intuition
Moonstone is often associated with femininity, intuition, and emotions. As mentioned earlier, it’s said to be a powerful stone for women, helping to balance hormones and emotions, and aiding in the alignment of the chakras.
2. Moon and femininity
The gemstone is also associated with the moon, which is often seen as a symbol of femininity and intuitive energy, making the moonstone a powerful symbol of the feminine.
3. Calming and balancing energy
Moonstone is said to have soothing and calming energy, which can help to reduce stress and tension in the body. It’s also said to have a balancing effect on emotions, helping to reduce mood swings and irritability.
4. Intuition and psychic abilities
Some people also believe that moonstone can help to enhance intuition and psychic abilities, making it a good choice for people who are interested in developing their psychic abilities or exploring their spiritual side.
5. Protection and guidance
Moonstone is also said to protect travelers, especially at night, and help guide them safely home. It’s also believed to protect from negative energy and bad luck.
6. New beginnings
Moonstone is also known as a powerful stone for new beginnings, making it a great stone for those who are looking to start fresh in any aspect of their lives.
7. Healing
Moonstone has been used in many cultures for healing purposes. It’s believed to relieve stress and promote peaceful sleep, as well as help with hormone balance, menstrual irregularities, and menopause.
The symbolism of moonstones can change depending on the stone’s color. Here’s what the different colors of moonstone mean:
- Black: While the white moonstone represents the full moon, the black moonstone denotes the new moon. Therefore, it’s all about new beginnings, babies, endeavors, and projects of every kind. It’s very protective and deflects negativity away while encouraging creativity and inspiration.
- Blue: To focus on expression and manifesting love as well as peace, blue moonstone is ideal. It brings mental clarity, shining a light on the truth and what’s right.
- Gray: The mystical side of white moonstone shines its strongest in gray. This is good for mediums, psychics, and shamans because it opens pathways to the invisible and mysterious side of spirituality.
- Green: Green moonstone balances emotions and connects a possessor to the feminine earth energies. It brings calm, and emotional healing, and is perfect for people who work with the earth. For instance, gardeners, farmers, and horticulturists benefit from having a stone in their pocket while working.
- Peach: Good for women, there is a focus on the emotional and intuitive aspects offered by white moonstone. Peach is soothing yet instills confidence and teaches a person to find self-value. It’s a symbol of divine love in all its innocence and purity.
- Rainbow: Because of the multicolored nature of rainbow moonstones, it imbues all the properties of the individual colors into one. It provides psychic protection, especially in the dream state. It reacts with a user’s aura to deflect negativity while perfectly aligning them with nature and the universe.
How to Use Moonstone
1. Wear Moonstone as Jewelry
Moonstone is most commonly used in jewelry as a cabochon, which is a type of gemstone that is cut and polished without facets. The most prized moonstones have a strong adularescence, which is a blue-white glow that seems to shift or change as the stone is moved.
Moonstone cabochons are often set into silver or white gold to enhance their color and highlight the stone’s unique optical properties. It also can be cut into beads and made into necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Additionally, Moonstone is sometimes used as an accent stone for other gemstones like diamonds, pearls, and sapphires.
2. Use Moonstone as a Decorative Element
Moonstone can be used as a decorative element in various ways, depending on the desired look and application. Some of the ways it can be used include:
- Inlaid into furniture: Moonstone can be used as an inlay in furniture, such as in tabletops, dressers, and cabinets. The stone’s shimmering blue-white color can add a unique, eye-catching element to the piece.
- Mosaics: Moonstone can be used to create intricate mosaic patterns in walls, floors, and other architectural elements. The stone’s translucence and play of light can create a mesmerizing effect.
- Decorative accents: Moonstone can be used as a decorative accent in a wide variety of applications, such as in lamp bases, vases, and other decorative objects.
- Figurines and sculptures: Moonstone can be used as a material for creating figurines and sculptures due to its natural beauty, it can be carved to enhance its adularescence.
- Collectible figurines: Some manufacturers create miniature creatures and objects from moonstone, that people can collect
In all cases, the unique optical properties of moonstone make it a beautiful and interesting decorative element that can add a touch of elegance and wonder to any space.
3. Use Moonstone in Crystal Therapy
Moonstone is believed to have powerful healing properties in crystal therapy and is often used to balance emotions, promote inner growth and strength, and enhance intuition. Some ways in which moonstone can be used in crystal therapy include:
- Meditating with a moonstone: Holding a moonstone while meditating can help to balance emotions and promote inner peace and calm. It’s also believed to enhance intuition and psychic abilities.
- Wearing moonstone jewelry: Wearing moonstone jewelry, such as a pendant or ring, can help to keep the stone’s healing energy close to the body. This is a great way to harness the benefits of moonstone throughout the day.
- Placing moonstone in the bedroom: Placing a moonstone in the bedroom can promote peaceful and restful sleep, as well as help balance the emotions.
- Carrying a moonstone with you: Carrying a moonstone with you during the day can help to promote inner growth, balance emotions, and enhance intuition.
- Placing moonstone in your bath water: Adding moonstone to your bathwater can create a relaxing, soothing, and balancing effect. This can be very helpful in helping to release negative emotions and promoting a sense of inner peace.
How to Clean and Care for Moonstone
Moonstone is a relatively delicate gemstone, and it requires proper care to keep it in good condition. Here are some tips for cleaning and caring for moonstone:
- Cleaning: To clean moonstone, simply use warm water and a mild soap. Avoid using ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners, as the high-frequency vibrations and heat can damage the gemstone. Gently scrub the stone with a soft-bristled brush and then rinse it with clean water.
- Dry: Dry the moonstone thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth. Be sure to pat it dry, as rubbing it can scratch the surface of the stone.
- Store: Store moonstone in a soft, padded pouch or jewelry box to protect it from scratches and other types of damage. Avoid storing it with other gemstones or jewelry that may scratch it.
- Avoid Chemicals: Avoid exposing moonstone to chemicals, as they can damage the surface of the stone. This includes things like cleaning agents, lotions, and perfumes.
- Handle with Care: Moonstone should be handled with care. Avoid dropping or hitting it against hard surfaces, as this can cause chips or fractures in the stone.
- Avoid Heat: Avoid exposing your moonstone to extreme heat, as it can cause it to crack or become discolored.
- Professional Cleaning: If your moonstone is particularly dirty or dull, you may want to have it professionally cleaned. A jeweler or gemologist can use special tools and techniques to clean your moonstone without damaging it.
Overall, moonstone is delicate and should be treated with care. Proper cleaning and storage can help preserve the beauty and luster of your moonstone. It’s important to be mindful of how the stone is treated and stored to ensure its longevity.
What Gemstones Pair Well with Moonstone?
Moonstone is believed to have a strong connection to the moon and intuition, making it a popular choice for spiritual and healing practices. Some gemstones that are thought to complement moonstone’s metaphysical properties include:
1. Selenite
Moonstone and Selenite are believed to complement each other well in metaphysical practices due to their strong association with the moon and intuition. Moonstone is thought to bring emotional balance and promote inner growth, while Selenite is believed to help clear negative energy and promote peace and calm.
Together, they may help to create a harmonious balance between the emotional and spiritual aspects of the self. Selenite is also known to enhance the properties of other crystals placed on top or next to it, making it a great companion for moonstones.
Selenite is a powerful stone for spiritual purification and inner peace, clearing away any negative energy, and promoting a sense of tranquility and serenity. Together, these crystals can help to promote inner peace, balance, and spiritual growth.
2. Labradorite
Labradorite is known as a powerful grounding stone and is believed to protect the wearer from negative energy while balancing the aura. It’s said to bring out the best in people, making it a great companion for Moonstone which is known to balance emotions and help access inner wisdom.
Together, they can be used to create a harmonious balance between the physical and spiritual aspects of the self, and provide a powerful shield of protection while accessing inner wisdom, supporting emotional stability, and encouraging self-discovery.
Labradorite is also believed to enhance intuition and spiritual awareness, which can complement the Moonstone’s ability to help with intuition and self-discovery. Additionally, the combination of the two stones is believed to promote a deeper understanding of the self.
3. Clear Quartz
Moonstone is believed to promote inner growth and balance emotions. When combined, Clear Quartz amplifies the energy of Moonstone and enhances its ability to help with self-discovery and intuition. It’s also believed to be a protective stone, which can help to balance the emotional and intuitive aspects of the moonstone.
Clear Quartz is believed to help clear the mind and make it easier to access your intuition and inner wisdom, thus providing a good companion for Moonstone. The combination can enhance intuition, promote spiritual growth, and help with emotional balance, inner wisdom, and self-discovery.
4. Blue Kyanite
Blue Kyanite is known to be a powerful stone for communication, self-expression, and truth-seeking, it’s said to align all the chakras and balance the yin-yang energy.
Together, Blue Kyanite and Moonstones can be used to enhance intuition, self-discovery, and communication. The Blue Kyanite can help to clear any blockages that may be preventing you from fully expressing yourself, while the Moonstone can help to provide emotional balance and access to inner wisdom, which can be helpful when communicating. The pairing of these stones is said to promote a deeper understanding of oneself and help with finding inner peace and emotional balance.
Additionally, the combination of Blue Kyanite and Moonstone may also be helpful for those who are looking to improve their communication skills, particularly when communicating about sensitive or emotional topics.
5. Amethyst
Amethyst and Moonstone are believed to complement each other well in metaphysical practices. Amethyst is known to be a powerful spiritual stone; it’s said to provide a spiritual connection and a sense of peace and tranquility.
The combination of these two stones can be used to enhance spiritual growth and self-discovery. Amethyst is believed to provide a strong spiritual energy that can help to enhance the spiritual and intuitive aspects of the Moonstone.
Together, these stones can help to promote inner peace, spiritual growth, emotional balance, and intuition. It’s also said that Amethyst can protect from negative energy and psychic attacks, which can also work in harmony with Moonstone’s calming energy.
Where is Moonstone Found?
The most common variety of moonstone is called “adularia” which is named for the location where it was first found, in the mountains of Switzerland. Moonstone can be found in many places around the world and is typically found in metamorphic rocks such as granite, gneiss, and schist. Some notable locations for Moonstone include:
- Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is considered to be one of the most important sources of moonstone in the world. The country has been known for producing high-quality moonstone for centuries, and it is still considered to be one of the top producers of moonstone today.
- India: India is also a major source of moonstone, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnatakas, which are known for their high-quality moonstones.
- Myanmar: Moonstone mines in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) produce a wide range of colors and sizes.
- Madagascar: Madagascar has recently become an important source of moonstone, with mines producing high-quality stones in various shades of pink, peach, and gray.
- Brazil: Brazil is also a major source of moonstone, particularly in the state of Minas Gerais. The mines there produce moonstone in various shades of gray, white, and yellow.
Other countries that produce moonstone includes: Germany, Norway, USA (Oregon, Colorado, Virginia), Mexico, Tanzania, and Russia
The Color of Moonstone
Moonstone gets its color from the presence of various minerals and elements within the stone. It’s a variety of feldspar mineral, which is composed primarily of aluminum silicate and potassium. One of the key elements that give moonstone its color is titanium.
The way in which titanium is incorporated within the crystal structure of the feldspar causes a phenomenon called “adularescence” which is the light that appears to float across the surface of the stone and gives the characteristic blue-white sheen. The color of moonstone can range from colorless, gray, yellow, orange, green, pink to brown depending on the mineral content, size and shape of the crystals and the orientation of the stone.
History & Lore of Moonstone
Moonstone has a rich, illustrious history stemming back to Hinduism and ancient Rome. Even today, it holds a significant place and is still a much sought-after stone for jewelry.
1. Moonstone in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, also known as Ceylon, has a long history of mining and trading moonstones. The country is well known for producing high-quality moonstones with a strong adularescence. Moonstone mines in Sri Lanka are located in the highlands of the island, primarily in the Kataragama and Meetiyagoda areas. The moonstones found in Sri Lanka are typical of the orthoclase variety and are known for their blue adularescence, which is caused by the presence of albite inclusions.
Moonstone mining in Sri Lanka has a long tradition, with the mining and trading of moonstones dating back to at least the 10th century. The moonstones were highly valued by the ancient Sinhalese people, who believed that the stone had powerful spiritual and healing properties. Even today, moonstones are still considered sacred in Sri Lanka and are often used in religious rituals.
Sri Lanka’s moonstones are considered among the finest in the world, and the country is a major producer and exporter of the stone. Moonstones from Sri Lanka are prized by gemstone collectors and are often used in high-end jewelry.
2. Moonstone in India
To the native people in subcontinent India, moonstone is a very sacred gem. It’s believed to have powers of love and is a traditional wedding gift. It’s instrumental in helping estranged lovers reconcile, especially during the full moon.
Indeed, people in India believe moonstone captures moon rays and connects to their moon god, Chandra Shekara. The name literally translates to “person who wears the moon.” Moonstones affixed to the forehead of his statues will fade or become brighter depending on whether the moon is waning or waxing.
3. Moonstone in Ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, moonstone was highly valued and was used for a variety of purposes. The Romans believed that the stone had powerful healing properties and it was often used in amulets and talismans for this reason. They also believed that the stone had the power to bring good luck and protect against evil spirits.
In addition to its spiritual and healing properties, moonstone was also highly prized for its beauty. The Romans appreciated the unique, iridescent sheen of the stone and often used it to decorate jewelry, sculpture, and other decorative objects. The stone was also used in intaglio (engraved) or cameo (raised) form, in rings and pendants, and even sewn into clothes and accessories.
Moonstone was also used for medicinal purposes in Ancient Rome. The Romans believed that the stone could help to regulate menstrual cycles and ease childbirth and that it could also be used to treat various ailments such as gout and fever.
Moonstone was also associated with the Roman goddess of the moon, Selene, who was said to be associated with abundance, fertility, and romantic love. For this reason, it was used to decorate statues and sculptures of Selene, and also to make jewelry and other decorative objects that were dedicated to her.
4. Moonstone in Europe
All over Europe, ancient mariners believed it was a traveler’s stone. When worn, it provides protection, particularly at night. Even people in the Middle Ages used moonstones as scrying crystals. They would fashion them into spheres for seeing the past, present, and future.
5. Moonstone During Art Nouveau
During the Art Nouveau Period between 1890 and 1910, moonstone became very popular for jewelry. One of the pioneers in this movement is Rene Lalique, a French master goldsmith who created breathtaking pieces. While most of his work is now in museums, modern jewelers all over the Western world have attempted to mimic it.
6. Modern Popularity
During the antiwar and hippy movements of the mid to late 1960s, there was a resurgence in the use of moonstone. Since it promoted peace, love, and calm, it was a perfect accompaniment for the era. Even the state of Florida in the USA adopted moonstone as the state crystal in 1970.
Frequently Asked Questions about Moonstone
No, rainbow moonstone is actually a type of labradorite, not orthoclase. This comes from Labrador, Canada, or Madagascar.
Many people refer to sandine as a moonstone due to it being feldspar with adularescence, but it’s not a moonstone in that it specifically combines albite and orthoclase.
Moonstone is a classic birthstone for June babies. However, due to its lunar associations, it could be a gift for those born on a Monday (Moon-Day).
Moonstone intrinsically connects to Cancer, Libra, and Scorpio. However, because it’s a June birthstone, it could also associate with Gemini.
Moonstone is ideal for activating the intuitive and creative power of feminine energy, helping you to connect with your true emotions. It can also help balance and cool down one’s emotions.
Wrapping Up
Moonstone is a fabulous crystal, beholding moon rays encased in layers of albite and orthoclase. It has so many benefits, uses, and abilities; you could spend hours studying it and still not fully grasp its power.
From ancient civilizations to the modern day, Moonstone has been cherished for its beauty and mystical energy. Whether you’re looking to heal from emotional wounds or just add a touch of elegance to your style, moonstone is a powerful gemstone that you can’t go wrong with.
