About Gem Stones

Opal History and Lore

Opal is thought to have been discovered as long as 4,000 years ago, and myths and lore abound in practically all cultures.  The ancient Greeks thought opal to be the tears of Zeus and prized it as highly as diamonds.  They believed opal gave the gift of foresight and prophecy, which would ensure the owner success in war, business and life. The ancient Romans wore opal as a symbol of hope and purity and believed it could cure illness.  In ancient India, opal was referred to as the Goddess of the Rainbow.  Ancient Arab cultures believed opal had fallen from the sky and that the play of color was trapped lightning.  Opal is considered to have healing powers by many world cultures.  But does it bring bad luck?

During the late 1800s opals were becoming wildly popular as an alternative engagement ring stone and began to rival diamonds in popularity.  Even Queen Victoria was seen wearing them.  The diamond merchants began spreading the rumor that opals brought bad luck to the wearer.  It was effective, and even today there are those who believe it is unlucky to buy or wear one unless it is your birthstone. 

However, Queen Victoria didn't buy into the notion that opals brought bad luck.  She loved opals and made sure her subjects knew she placed no stock in the superstitions.  Throughout her reign, she wore opals herself and gave them to her daughters as gifts.  The Queen's efforts have been credited with helping opal shed its bad luck reputation and regain popularity with the public.

Labradorite (also know as Spectralite) is found in the Labrador Peninsula, Canada.  This shimmering stone encourages patience; it assists in changes, attracting strength and perseverance. The energy of labradorite helps transformation of intuition into action helping you put your thoughts into deeds. It is a true celestial stone, symbolizing the moon - helping you to advance and a stone of the sun - giving you vitality for your "self" during transitions.
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Onyx is an excellent stone for centering and aligning the total person with higher powers.  It furthers the awareness of the instincts, helping you see and feel the guidance. It promotes strength and self-confidence, putting you in control.  Onyx assists you in understanding the reality of the moment. It is also beneficial during difficult or confusing periods as it aids fears and worries and banishes grief.  There are many color varieties of onyx; some of the most popular are black, orange and green onyx.
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Found in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Coral has been called the “garden of the sea”.  It is a stone of organic origin and can be used to reconnect with nature.  Coral also attracts love and prosperity, particularly red coral, which is a stone of passion.  Red is considered the most sought after color, but coral can also be found in other colors.  Coral also promotes creativity and optimism. Emotionally, coral brings inner peace, strength and understanding of purpose.  Physically coral is used for general healing.

Blue Chalcedony is found in the United States. It is a stone with a gentle energy that feels kind of dreamy.  It is a stone of calm and peace that reduces or negates hostility, anger or irritation.  Blue Chalcedony soothes and fosters mental and emotional stability.  It also encourages and eases communication.  Blue Chalcedony is excellent for psychic work and skills of clairvoyance, intuition and energy healing.  It also has a very protective property against negative influences, and helps to reduce or eliminate bad dreams.

learn more about opals here

learn more about semi-precious gemstones here