Let's learn about Amethyst stone meanings, from its geological facts to its crystal healing properties. As one of the most popular gemstones in the world, Amethyst lures you in with its purple color and keeps you mesmerized with its spiritual vibes.
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Can you benefit from Amethyst?
You may benefit from Amethyst crystals if you can relate to any of the following:
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You are looking to connect with your Higher Self
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You enjoy meditation
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You are attracted to the color purple
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You want to feel like royalty
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You want to balance your Crown chakra
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You would like to focus on spirituality
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You are looking for something beyond the physical world
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You are a crystal healer
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You want to protect your space from unwanted intruders
Find your perfect pieces in the Satin Crystals Amethyst collection.
What is Amethyst?
Amethyst is the most desirable form of Quartz because of its attractive purple color. Amethyst is purple and only purple.
Iron and/or Manganese inclusions in the Quartz give Amethyst its brilliant purple color. The possible presence of Aluminum may give the Amethyst a smoky color. Iron minerals Goethite and Hematite are often found included in Amethyst.
Amethyst, like all of the Quartz Family, is a 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, making it hard, glass-like, and unbendable. It has the same chemical composition, atomic structure, and physical properties of Quartz.
Sheila's personal experience with Amethyst
Like most people, I am drawn by Amethyst’s beautiful purple allure. I am attracted more to the darker Amethyst colors and I like to use these when doing manifestation work.
Although I have not personally gotten into meditation, this is the first crystal that comes to mind when people ask me about meditation stones.
When I am feeling a little too grounded and need to see the “big picture,” I like to wear my large Amethyst heart which I have wire wrapped into a pendant.
Lisa's personal experience with Amethyst
As time has progressed, I have gotten to befriend Amethyst to a deeper level. I used to surround myself in Chevron Amethyst from India, which was full of interesting designs and mineral inclusions.
After that, I discovered Brazilian Amethyst. I fell in love with its clarity. Many pieces come with fabulous rainbows.
A new favorite of mine is Uruguay Amethyst. It boasts the same clarity and high quality of its Brazilian brother but has a richer and deeper color that I love.
What do I do with Amethyst?
Since I don't wear a lot of purples, Amethyst jewelry is not my go-to. I do own an Amethyst gemstone ring in sterling silver that makes a nice statement on my finger any chance I get to wear it.
What I truly love is Amethyst desktop geodes. We have had several geodes and geode pairs in the past, but because I like being mobile and efficient, I adore the desktop sizes that are usually between 6-12 inches. They are large enough to produce tons of positive spiritual energy, yet small enough to move around on a whim.
All in all, I highly recommend Amethyst to every crystal lover. It's a staple stone that is cherished for its spiritual powers. I know it's the first thing that comes to mind when I seek a stone for meditation and enlightenment.
What are the different types of Amethyst stone?
As we know, Amethyst is a purple Quartz. However, this purple can vary widely in its intensity, formation, and inclusions. Here are a few different types of Amethyst you may collect.
Ametrine (also known as Trystine) shows a combination of purple Amethyst and yellow Citrine. When Amethyst is subjected to heat, either naturally or induced, it turns into a yellow Citrine. When the heating is uneven, patches of purple Amethyst and yellow Citrine within one stone make up the highly sought combo stone, Ametrine.
Chevron Amethyst is a purple crystal with white bands, usually seen in zig-zag formations. It is also known as Amethyst Quartz because it layered with milky white Quartz veins.
Flower Amethyst is a rare form of small, thin, and long Amethyst points all attached from a common center. They are often formed around hanging stalactites.
There is a wide range of Amethyst clusters that you will find on the market that people have named Flower Amethyst. Everyone has a different idea of what a crystal bouquet looks like!
When polished into beads, Flower Amethyst makes an interesting mix of patterns and can show chevron bands and iron inclusions among the signature purple colors.
Selectite or Spirit Amethyst Quartz has a Chalcedony center surrounded by small Amethyst points. These are rare and highly prized by collectors. These come in clusters also known as Spirit Amethyst Cactus. When polished into slices, they make beautiful cross-section slabs.
Uruguayan Amethyst is the deep purple crystal as mentioned above in Lisa's personal experience. This deluxe stone is so rich in its color that it's like falling into the magical night sky. The dark clusters come only from North Uruguay.
How is Amethyst formed?
Amethyst is formed in vugs in hydrothermal Quartz veins. Vugs are small cavities in rock. These cavities are formed when gas bubbles into hollow flowing lava. The cavities then fill up with silica-rich liquid which contains iron. Over long periods, this liquid forms Amethyst crystals. Natural radiation in the ground causes the iron to give Amethyst its purple color.
Where is Amethyst found?
You will find Amethyst in Brazil, Zambia, South Africa, Uruguay, and India.
Amethyst Mineral Facts
Surface Color: Purple
Streak Color (can vary from surface color, this is the color of the crystals’ powdered minerals): White
Group: Silicates (silicon + oxygen)
Cleavage (where the crystal breaks off naturally to form a new face, parallel to its structure. This is a clean break and can cleave over and over again along the same face, retaining the crystals structure): None
Fracture: Conchoidal (clam-like concave like when glass breaks)
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)
Transparency: Transparent to Translucent (allows light through the crystal but not fully transparent)
Crystal System: Hexagonal/Trigonal (3 equal axes @ 120’ to one another and a 4th axis perpendicular to the other three)
Crystal Habit: Crystals or Massive (hunks of stone)
What has Amethyst symbolized through history?
Amethyst has been used as a precious gemstone since ancient times. It is one of the first stones used by man to protect warriors, cure hunters, protect from diseases, and control bad thoughts. It was referenced in Ancient Egypt sources.
In Greek mythology, Amethyst comes from the word “amethostos” meaning “not drunken” and was believed that the stone could save the owner from getting drunk and hungover.
In Roman mythology, Amethyst is associated with the wine-growing god, Bacchus, and was considered to bring pacification, calm nerves, and resistance to quarrels.
Chinese medicine men and women ground Amethyst to alleviate stomach pains and ward off bad dreams.
In Christianity, Amethyst symbolized self-sacrifice, purity, chastity, and modesty.
In Catholic countries, the stone was used to decorate icons, alters, and crosses. It was given as a ring to cardinals during their ordination.
In Buddhism, Amethyst was the stone of Buddha and is still popular in prayer beads, especially in Tibet. The Amethyst malas encouraged clarity of mind, great for meditation and seekers of enlightenment.
In North Africa, medicine men and women used Amethyst as a rain stone, dropping it into the water for their ceremonies.
Today, Amethyst symbolizes a stone of high vibrations, royalty and spiritual peace. It is one of the first stones introduced to beginning healers and rock hounds. Amethyst is so popular that it has even made it into the mainstream through home decor, meditation, and jewelry.
What birthstone is Amethyst?
According to the Modern Birthstone chart, Amethyst is the proud birthstone for February. If you or someone you know were born in February, definitely check out Amethyst and see if your energies are enhanced.
Amethyst is also gifted for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
Amethyst Balls for divination & psychic reading
If you are interested in scrying and gazing, consider the spiritual powers of Amethyst and know you are not bound to traditional Clear Quartz. Clear Amethyst spheres make wonderful gazing balls and are specifically energized for spiritual work. Even solid Amethyst balls can be used as they mesmerize you into a trance.
Check out some of Satin Crystals' very popular Amethyst spheres:
What is the spiritual Amethyst meaning?
The purple vibrations of Amethyst make it a spiritual stone. This means that you can use the crystal to open and balance the Crown and Third Eye Chakras. These chakras are your spiritual and intuitive energy centers.
Because Amethyst focuses on the upper chakras, it is a popular crystal to use in meditations and connecting with the metaphysical realm. By unblocking these celestial chakras, your path to spiritual growth opens up wide.
Do you know where you stand on your chakra flows? Amethyst pendulums are Satin Crystals best selling pendulums, and they can help you learn about your chakra health.
What is Amethyst good for?
Amethyst is good for many healing energies. Here are a few of the metaphysical properties of Amethyst that healers have benefited from over the years:
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Amethyst is known as the Stone of Spirituality. Use it for spiritual growth.
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Amethyst is the “all-healer” – great for people, animals, plants, other crystals, and distant healing.
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Amethyst is used to ease addictions.
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Use Amethyst at the Crown and Third Eye chakras to access intuition and spiritual connections to higher forces. It clears the mind for spiritual understanding.
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Amethyst is a very popular meditation stone due to its high vibrations and connection to the upper chakras. It accelerates psychic abilities, clairvoyance, and clairaudience.
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Charge Amethyst in the moonlight for psychic energy healing.
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Ametrine's combination of purple and yellow is ideal for strengthening the nerves, balancing anxiety, fear, and nervousness. It cuts through the irrelevant chatter in your head to reveal actionable solutions to your obstacles. Use Ametrine to balance the Crown and Solar Plexus chakras.
How do I use Amethyst crystal for healing?
Whether you are incorporating the stone into your everyday life or actively using it for crystal healing energies, kick start your relationship with Amethyst. Here are a few ideas for your Amethyst stone uses:
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Make an Amethyst gem elixir to drink before bed for a peaceful sleep. Alternatively, drink it during the day if you are feeling restless, or give it to ill pets.
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Rub Amethyst on your temples to counteract excessive eye strain.
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Plant Amethyst (they can even be chipped or broken Amethyst crystals you are no longer using) in potted plants to restore their energies that have been depleted by noise and environmental pollution.
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Send Amethyst to a loved one who has moved away to relieve homesickness.
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Tumbled stones of small Amethyst spheres can be kept in your pocket when you are feeling anxiety. Use them as worry stones to relieve your stress.
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Dowse with an Amethyst pendulum to help make everyday decisions.
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Place an Amethyst geode facing the main entrance to your space to transmute any unwanted energies coming through the door.
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Amethyst clusters provide an earthy decor for your home, office, and garden. They can be placed on a shelf, on the mantel over your fireplace, on your bed stand, or as a centerpiece at your dining table.
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Place air plants in Amethyst geodes and cluster caves to bring together Earth and Plant elements into your space and balance the Feng Shui energies.
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Use Amethyst massage wands or acupressure eggs for self-massage or massage on others. They can be kept at your bedside or in the bathroom. Amethyst holds up in water so it can also be kept in the shower.
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Put Amethyst under your pillow for a good night's sleep. Program the stone to counteract insomnia, nightmares, and sleep troubles.
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Wear Amethyst jewelry to feel the energy of this spiritual stone throughout the day. It adds a royal element to your everyday ensemble.
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Place Amethyst on the Third Eye chakra for past life regression and spiritual hypnosis work.
Divination with Amethyst
Drawing Amethyst in a gemstone divination session means: You may be feeling stress or exhaustion or experienced difficulties recently and need to give yourself gentle loving energies for balance.
Use Amethyst to focus on self-care and hone in on what you really want out of life.
Magical Incantation of Amethyst
This is a message from Amethyst from Doreen Virtue and Judith Lukomski's book "Crystal Therapy":
"Link to the Divine by using the frequencies of my vibrational ladder. Through heightened awareness, I assist in quieting internal chatter so that you can acknowledge the peace of oneness. If you're interested in expansion, I'll train your intuition by accelerating the opening of your chakras so that you can receive and integrate universal wisdom and transcend established boundaries. As a key to the self, I unlock the perfection that can be hidden by personality and thus reveal the glowing intelligence of your soul. It's my gift to accentuate the positive aspects of your being in order to bring forward etheric awareness with the knowledge that Heaven is now available on Earth."
What does Amethyst jewelry symbolize?
If Amethyst was not so abundant, it would be a very expensive crystal. In the ancient days, Amethyst was considered one of the precious stones, in line with Ruby and Emerald. Since then, Amethyst's value has decreased because large deposits have been discovered. Lucky for us modern purveyors of this royal purple stone.
Amethyst's purple colors remind us of royalty. This royal color makes stunning jewelry pieces. Amethyst jewelry is readily available and comes in different purple hues, raw, polished, and faceted. Choose from beaded necklaces, stretch bracelets, dangle earrings, statement rings, and gorgeous pendants in all kinds of Amethyst-centric fashion.
A Pallet of Purple Amethyst Bracelets
As we mentioned before, Amethyst comes in a vast range of purples, from gentle violet to deep purple. People usually have different preferences, or sometimes just want to mix it up a bit. That is why we offer a medley of purple Amethyst bracelets.
Here are some Satin Crystals' custom line of Amethyst bracelets from our designer Sheila:
And if that's not enough purple to please you, we have more! Check out the entire Satin Crystals Amethyst Bracelet Collection to get your spiritual fix.
Does Amethyst lose or change its color?
Natural Amethyst is always a purple color, but it can lose or change its color.
Depending on the structure and formation of the particular Amethyst, it may be prone to lose its purple color. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can irradiate some Amethyst crystals with the sun's UV light. This UV light will eventually fade the purple color back to a clear Quartz. This is called bleaching and it can be done purposely by man as well.
You can also change Amethyst's color to make it darker, lighter, or a totally different stone through heating. This can be done naturally in the Earth or by humans under extreme heat.
When heated at very high degrees, you can turn Amethyst into Ametrine (the yellow and purple combination stone). Add even more heat and you'll get a reddish, brownish-yellow Citrine.
Most Citrine you find on the market today is heated Amethyst. Natural yellow Citrine will occur, but it is very expensive and rare.
What is Ametrine?
As we discussed earlier, Ametrine is a combination of purple Amethyst and yellow Citrine. This bi-color gemstone occurs naturally in nature or can be manmade at high temperatures of heat.
So far, only one mine in the world has significantly produced natural Ametrine. This is located in Bolivia, which is why Ametrine can also go by its trade name Bolivianite.
Of course, you can find random Ametrine pieces from other locations, but they are not being mined commercially like in Bolivia.
What's the deal with Green Amethyst?
When heated either naturally in the Earth or by man, Amethyst will change its colors. Sometimes, depending on very specific deposits and mines, Amethyst can be heated to a green color to simulate the very rare green Quartz known as Prasiolite.
If you hear the term Green Amethyst being used to describe Prasiolite, you will know that you are dealing with an uninformed or deceptive seller. Run back to reality where Amethyst is only ever purple.
What's the deal with Pink Amethyst?
As we meantioned, the very definition of Amethyst is that it is a purple Quartz. Recently we have been seeing a lot of Pink Amethyst pop up in metaphysical crystal shops. This is just a marketing term for Pink Quartz. Whether the pink is natural or dyed, this stone can not be an Amethyst.
Beware of vendors selling Pink Amethyst.
How do you meditate with Amethyst?
To meditate with your Amethyst crystals, program them for your intention. Hold, wear, and surround yourself with the stones during your meditation.
Need help meditating? We have recorded a Guided Amethyst Meditation for you to follow along.
Shopping for Amethyst Stones
Amethyst is a positive addition to your crystal collection. Shop the Amethyst Collection on the website or here on the blog:
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Do you have a favorite type of Amethyst crystal?
Do you have some stories to tell about your own Amethyst experiences? We would love to hear about it. Reach out in the contact box below and either Lisa or Sheila will reply to you.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for entertainment only. See full disclosure.
