Stone of spirituality and travelers, Moonstone intrigues by its name but also its many virtues. Its bright and pearly sheen earned it the nickname of "fish eye" in the past. Discover the secrets of this stone, its origin and all its benefits.
In ancient times, the moonstone was the object of divination and was considered the stone of goddesses. The Romans particularly associated this stone with Diana, the goddess of the hunt and the moon. They believed that the Roman goddess of the moon was visible on this stone.
At that time she was already associated with femininity, gentleness and intuition. To receive celestial clairvoyance, some men wore women's costumes while putting the stone in their mouths.
By slipping into the skin of women, men could then benefit from all the extraordinary powers of this stone, namely: clairvoyance and spiritual awakening.
As the stone is of a well-known white, even silvery color, the Indian and Roman civilizations thought that the moonstone was created by the rays of it. Even today, this stone is sacred in India. According to the beliefs of the Roman Empire, moonstone changed the astral phases. The moonstone is also known for its beliefs related to love.
This one would have the virtue to influence the feeling of love. During the ancient period, the Greeks used it to protect pregnant women throughout their pregnancy. Associated with fertility and passion, moonstone was said to increase sexual desire and carnal pleasure. This reference to fertility was also present in the Middle East, as moonstone was used to increase the chances of having a child.
Among the Egyptians, the moonstone was a great symbol of protection. Once night fell, Egyptian travelers wore this stone to protect themselves from nighttime dangers and to benefit from its powers of intuition.
Discovered in 1801 by Jean-Claude Delamétherie, the moonstone gem unveiled its mysteries as well as all its components in the early 19th century. In 2000, the moonstone was officially declared by the State of Florida in the United States, paying tribute to the first step on the moon in 1969.
Today, moonstone is widely used to make cabochons, but also jewelry such as moonstone necklace, moonstone bracelet, moonstone pendant, etc. People wear these beautiful objects and finery for their healing properties or simply for fashion.
The main moonstone deposits are in Sri Lanka and Armenia in Lake Sevan. However, it is possible to find other smaller deposits all over the world, for example in Australia, Norway, Germany, Poland, Mexico and Brazil.
Of the feldspar family, not to be confused with quartz, moonstone comes from the Sanskrit words "kanta", meaning "loved", and "chandra", meaning "moon". Thus, the two expressions reunited mean "loved by the moon" referring directly to its mythical origin. Its name also comes from the brightness of the moon, in its splendor and beauty.
Moonstone is also nicknamed "hecatolite", in reference to Hecate, the Greek goddess of the moon and fertility. It is both a symbol of death and rebirth. In reality, there are three Greek goddesses of the Moon; Hecate, Artemis and Selene. Together they form the "Lunar Triad". Moreover, Selene gave her name to another mineral whose milky reflections recall those of the Moon. It is the famous selenite.
Moonstone is a variety of orthoclase belonging to the group of silicates, and more precisely to the subgroup of tectosilicates. Its texture is described as perthitic. Indeed, the moonstone is issued from a mixture between two species of feldspar: orthose and albite. When these two species mix and cool, the mineral reveals alternating accumulated layers. Then, when light passes through its layers and scatters in several directions, the moonstone produces what is called an adularescence phenomenon, due to the orthoclase and albite.
Also known as the Schiller effect, this phenomenon of adularescence allows for a sliding reflection on the entire surface of the stone when it changes viewing angle. This optical effect called "adularescence" gives the impression that the stone is a mirror that captures all the reflections and all the colors in its path. This is also the case with labradorite, which is white in color.
Moonstone is colorless, but it has natural reflections that can range from white to blue, sometimes even to yellow or pink reflections. The reflections are mainly due to the structure of the moonstone gem which is crystalline. Its vitreous luster allows different colors to be observed depending on the light.
On the Mohs scale, the hardness of moonstone varies between 6 and 6.5, while its density is around 2.5. Coming from alkaline, plutonic and metamorphic rocks, this beautiful whitish stone is becoming increasingly rare.
In terms of quality, it is evaluated according to the variety, the size of the gem, but also its weight in carats. For example, in the case of bracelets, moonstone in the form of pearls will be about 75 carats (15 grams) while for pendants, being present in the form of small cabochon, will be 30 to 45 carats (6 to 9 grams).
The desires and wishes of purchase will differ according to the color and price (eur) depending on the quality of the gem. For adularia type bracelets, for example, the cost (eur) will be less because they are multicolored and of quality A or B. Note that an adularia moonstone bracelet is a variety of orthoclase, the very component of the gem.
Conversely with bracelets that will have a very nice adularescence thanks to orthoclase and albite, the price (eur) will be higher, which is more after polishing the pearls. Increasingly rare, the delivery of this stone is also impacted, especially in terms of supplies from India and Sri-Lanka which are the main exporters with Brazil, Burma, Tanzania, the United States and Australia.
On the psychological level in lithotherapy, the benefits of moonstone gems correspond to the candor of childhood. Both virtuous and guileless, this stone acts naturally for the good. The moonstone also corresponds to happiness with one's spouse. It acts directly on the mental and astral bodies by harmonizing emotions, thus facilitating reconciliation, when worn in rings, rolled stones or even bracelets.
Moonstone also allows moral minds that consider the sexual act as a primary act to free themselves from this point of view and to rediscover human sexual pleasure. This stone helps to develop sensitivity, creativity and gentleness. It accompanies in the sleep and facilitates premonitory dreams as well as intuition. It helps in certain decisions which can be difficult and in a more just spirit.
Yin stone, the moonstone is a stone that promotes openness to others and stops the fear of others. In general, this stone has the benefit of eliminating unnecessary fears, especially towards others that can lead to hatred of others. It is a stone of tolerance which aims to relax a little the material tendencies in favour of the opening.
This stone also brings to the man a feminine side which allows to counterbalance with a masculine temperament sometimes too developed. The moon symbolizes the female star in opposition to the sun which represents the male star.
It increases tenfold the qualities generally attributed to women such as softness, tenderness, tolerance and maternal instinct. Even the most severe people can see their character soften by wearing a moonstone. Like a light in the darkness, it brings security and comfort.
If you're looking for a stone to sharpen your intuition and clear your mind in times of doubt, the moonstone is probably the one for you. It is the most natural stone in the mineral world.
On the physical level, the moonstone in lithotherapy helps to harmonize hormonal secretions as well as menstrual cycles. This stone allows women to respond to the problem of sterility. It also allows them to preserve lactation after childbirth.
From the discomforts of menopause to period pains, moonstone is ideal for women. By regulating hormones and menstrual cycles, it improves the quality of life of women from the youngest to the oldest.
It reduces bloating and all pains related to the lower abdomen. It improves the quality of the skin, nails and hair. It promotes restful sleep by eliminating stress and anxiety. Thanks to its draining action, it avoids the problems of water retention and takes part in the good functioning of the kidneys and the bladder.
In addition to playing an important role on the balance of the hormonal system, the moonstone has a regulatory action on the thyroid and blood circulation. Its curative virtues can be of great use to overcome a period of convalescence. Protective and comforting, it neutralizes pain and accelerates the healing process. Its gentle energy can be equally suitable for women, men, children and animals.
On the spiritual level, the moonstone illuminates under starry nights and offers visions of the moon when one is dreaming. Intimately linked to the third eye chakra, it accompanies you on the path of spiritual awakening and helps you develop your clairvoyance.
Parasitic thoughts dissipate, calmness sets in, and your mind reaches a whole new level of spiritual awareness. Place a moonstone on your forehead during your next meditation session, and you will be in touch with the cosmos, with the leisure to travel in space in all lightness.
By opening your third eye chakra, the moonstone allows you to be more attuned to your intuition. It improves your ability to feel and perceive things. It increases your sensitivity, creativity and inspiration.
The moonstone also acts on the sacral chakra. Located above the navel, this chakra is linked to emotions and sexual energy. When open and balanced, this chakra stimulates libido and fertility.
The creative energy delivered by this chakra allows you to undertake without fear. Whether it's a child or a business project, all your new ideas are easier to implement when the sacral chakra is harmonized. As a stone of moderation, moonstone helps you to undertake while keeping your head on your shoulders.
It encourages forgiveness, tolerance, kindness, but also acceptance of oneself and others. By acting on the third eye chakra and on the sacral chakra, the moonstone helps you to live in a more relaxed and zen way. It makes you less anxious, and much more spontaneous.
This inner calm and ability to listen makes your relationships with family, friends and lovers more pleasant. Of course, all these aspects are enhanced by the fact that it is a feminine, soft and delicate stone.
It is very easily worn as a rolled stone (either as a rolled stone pendant for example, or as a simple rolled stone after polishing) or as a flat stone in the pocket, but also as a ring on a gold or silver setting, with a round or oval cabochon.
In short, there are so many choices to take advantage of all the benefits... they will all be returned through the jewelry that will be worn through this stone.
When it comes to jewelry, moonstone pairs perfectly with silver, white gold and white gold, but most importantly with envy. Indeed, soft and cool tones are ideal to highlight the glassy and whitish notes of moonstone. Yellow gold and rose gold jewelry provide more contrast but are equally effective in revealing its legendary charm and arousing the desires of those who wear them.
Discreet and elegant, moonstone delivers an energy that is not compatible with all minerals. As a general rule, one should avoid mixing stones with opposing powers. In the case of moonstone, you can easily combine it with all spiritual stones. For example: amethyst, labradorite, aquamarine, rose quartz or kunzite.
On the other hand, you should avoid wearing a spirit stone with an overly energizing stone such as garnet, red jasper, amber, malachite, tiger's eye, obsidian, black tourmaline or turquoise. These energizing stones should be worn alone (especially tiger's eye in relation to moonstone) because they may absorb the energy of others and cancel out the calming effect of spiritual stones.
In the field of jewelry, let's take the example of the cabochon, the ring or the pendant, they blend perfectly with silver or gold. On a silver setting, the oval cabochon, small or large, offers all the effects after polishing of this natural feldspar. When it comes from India or Sri Lanka, the cabochon offers such reflections that it looks like mother of pearl.
On bracelets, pendants or even necklaces, the mineral really does render the most beautiful in terms of "product rendering", you just have to listen to your desires. In oval form after polishing, moonstone gems offer the most beautiful adularescence that is why jewelers mount them on jewelry.
It is not uncommon to see this mineral also marry with amber, giving a beautiful contrast when the amber is rather brown and it is cut in the form of pearls for bracelet.
Like all minerals, moonstone is drained of its energy over time. To preserve its powers and beauty, you just need to maintain it regularly. To cleanse and purify it of accumulated negative energies, you can use spring water, earth or incense.
The simplest method is to soak your stone for a few hours in a container of unsalted distilled water. Remember to wipe it gently so as not to scratch it.
As soon as you feel a small drop in energy, you can also recharge your stone under the moonlight. Favour full moon nights and place your stone on a cluster of quartz to optimize this recharging process. A few hours of this ritual are enough to recover its full powers.