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The Magic of Rocks and Stones

Moonstone

Written and compiled by - Patricia Jean Martin

Named for its resemblance to the Moon, Moonstone is actually a variety of Orthoclase Feldspar that contains a schiller (shimmering) effect or adularescent sheen.  Adularescence is described as "an effect seen on certain minerals (the most famous, Opal and Moonstone) which causes it to display a billowy, rounded, ghost-like reflection with a bluish-whitish color emanating from the surface when the mineral is cut into a cabochon.  It is caused by structural anomalies or build up of water in the mineral."  Adularescent is derived from the mineral name, Adularia, of which Moonstone is a variety of.  Polished Moonstones also commonly exhibit chatoyancy (a narrow band of reflected light that produces a "cat's eye" effect) or asterism (a six-rayed star effect produced by reflected or transmitted light). 

Found as a rock-forming mineral in igneous, plutonic, and metamorphic rocks, Moonstone breaks (or cleaves) into blocky chunks very often at 90º angles creating tabular crystals.  Most are complexly twinned, meaning they often grow as several sets of two interwoven crystals that are mirror images of each other. 

The most common Moonstone in the Feldspar family is that of the mineral Adularia, but many famous and rarer specimens are from the Plagioclase Feldspars of Albite (Sodium Aluminum Silicate), along with the Oligoclase and Labradorite varieties.  A popular semi-precious stone, Moonstone comes in a variety of colors and shades, but is most often a whitish-blue.  Other colors range anywhere from colorless to silvery-white, yellow to orange, green to gray, brown, peach, pink and a type that is multi-colored called Rainbow Moonstone. 

Other names for Moonstone are Ceylonese Opal, Water Opal, Girasol, Fish-Eye and Wolf's-Eye.  The highest and most sought after quality Moonstones come from Sri Lanka. 

General Information:

Chemistry:  KAlSi3O8 (Potassium Aluminum Silicate) 

Class:  Silicates. 

Subclass:  Tectosilicates. 

Group:  Feldspar. 

Color:  From colorless to bluish-white; also silvery gray, green, orange, peach, yellow or multi. 

Luster:   Vitreous (glassy), pearly parallel to cleavage; transparent to translucent.

Crystal System:  Monoclinic or prismatic Crystal Habit:  Tabular to prismatic crystals.  Repeated twinning is common, showing as fine parallel lines on good cleavage faces. 

Cleavage:  Perfect in two directions at 90º 

Fracture:  Uneven - flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern. 

Hardness:  6.0 

Specific Gravity:  2.6 

Streak: White. 

Other Characteristics:  Exhibits adularescence, chatoyancy, or asterism. 

Notable Occurrences:  Sri Lanka, Burma, Madagascar, Germany, India, Tanzania, Brazil, U.S., Mexico. 

Best Field Indicators:  Cleavage, hardness, color, crystal habit. 

Uses:  Gemstone; mineral specimens; 

Myth & Lore:

Moonstone is associated with all goddesses, but especially the Moon goddesses.  Resembling the Moon or "moonshine", the ancient Romans believed the stone was actually formed from moonlight.  In the Orient, people believed Moonstones were actual rays of moonlight that had solidified, and that the shimmering light held within the stone was a good spirit that lived there.  People in ancient India also thought along these lines, and the stone is still considered sacred in India today. 

Amulets of Moonstone were frequently hung in fruit trees to ensure fruitful and abundant crops.  In Asia and Europe the stone was associated with love and fidelity and was often worn when trying to attract a faithful lover.  It was believed that if held in the mouth, Moonstone would help one make proper decisions.  This versatile stone was also used in ancient times to cure insomnia. 

Due to its association with water, Moonstone is said to be protective of those at sea.  It is also protective of those that travel at night and especially during New Moon phases, and was once called the "Traveler's Stone".  It was also thought to protect against insanity, epilepsy, and any adverse wanderings of the mind.  The ancient Greeks called Moonstone "Aphroselene" after the goddesses Aphrodite (love) and Selene (moon). 

Pearl, Moonstone and Alexandrite are the birthstones of the month of June.  To recharge Moonstone, place it under the light of the Full Moon. 

Metaphysical Properties:

Astrological Sign's: Cancer 

Element's: Water 

Chakras: Third Eye (Brow) 

Lunar (feminine) energy. 

Intuition. 

Receptive. 

Reflective. 

Inner harmony. 

Balancing. 

Calming. 

Love and happiness. 

New beginnings. 

Lucid dreams. 

Enhances psychic ability. 

Protective (especially in travel). 

*Gives physical aid in treating: Menstrual cycles, hormonal imbalances, and all female related health issues. Fertility. 

Circulatory system. Emotional distress, anxiety and stress. Assists with the cycles of change.  Alleviates swellings and helps reduce excess fluids in the body.  

Regenerative for eyes, skin and hair. 

Sleeping disorders. 

*NOTE: Stone therapy should NOT take the place of medical evaluation and procedures, and should be used merely to enhance one's health and well-being. 

My own thoughts and experiences:

A most magickal stone, I think a good specimen of Moonstone can send you reeling!  Case in point, I recently obtained an exceedingly beautiful specimen from one our wholesale dealers.  The stone had been mounted in a pendant, and the moment I laid my eyes on it I knew I had to have it.  I almost felt like Gollum...the little naked, seedy and greedy character from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"...as I practically grabbed the pendant out of the wholesaler's hand, with the immediate thought, "To heck with my store...this one's mine! Ha!  It's mine!  All mine!  My preciousssssss, my precioussssss."  I was not a pretty sight.  Although I can grin at myself in recollection now. 

But strangely -- after a few days of hoarding the stone, picking it up every time I walked by it, attempting to wear it but then oddly taking it off and preferring to just have it in front of me where I could look deeply at it and into it -- I came to a slow realization that the stone was not mine.  And I fought with that stone for about a week, saying, "Yes you are!," and listening to it calmly reply, "No I'm not." 

Very shortly after that time, a dear friend and neighbor of mine called our store and asked if we had any Moonstone.  She has just recently come into her own as a witch and was looking specifically for a Moonstone pendant.  Ack!.. well we'd just sold the last remaining two we'd had at the store, and so I said, "No, I'm sorry, but I'll check with our supplier for you soon."  But as I hung up the phone, I basically knew. 

I let it go for another couple days, occasionally glancing at the pendant sitting patiently on my coffee table.  It cast off a loving and comfortable glow, and yet it's flashes of shimmering wavy blue waters would remind me I had something to do...and it had somewhere to go.  A few days later I got that opportunity when that same neighbor friend came to share a special dinner with George, OwlOak and me.  I brought the stone out and asked if she liked it.  She did.  And so with nary a gulp I gladly gave it to her, for by this point I knew for sure where the stone wanted to be. 

So... will Moonstone cause you to become introspective and yet at the same time reflect back the vision of what action to take?  Will it play with your emotions but make you understand them perfectly as it harmoniously blends the inner and outer dimensions that spark a more fertile intuition?  And will it exude a mesmerizing and enchanting force, yet pull up a loving feminine nature to your forefront?  Yes indeed it can and will.  I'm actually intermittently holding a small tumbled piece of Moonstone now in order to best be able to bare the soul of the stone and to feel its comforting motherly arms wrapped around me as I attempted here to bare my own. 

Moonstone...an insightful and loving Goddess stone.  Gaze deeply into its milky moonlit essence and hypnotic hues while meditating.  Take in the colors that shine forth.  The flashes of blue and sometimes yellow, pink and green are inspiring, but the blue will calmly take you to the core of your inspiration.  Here you can feel the joy and happiness of the yellow, the warmth and soft love of the pale pink, the new beginning and gentle life-force of the green, and the shimmer that reminds you that your spirit is Divine.

Sources:

"Rocks and Minerals" (Peterson Field Guides) ~ Frederick H. Pough 

"Love Is In the Earth" ~ Melody 

http://webmineral.com/data/Orthoclase.shtml 

http://www.minerals.net/mineral/silicate/tecto/feldspar/variety/moonston.htm 

http://www.igmla.com/LegendofStones.html 

http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/feldspar.html 

© 2006 Patricia J. Martin

Best wishes and Blessed Be

 

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Correspondence Tables:

 

IncenseCandlesColours Magickal Days Stones and Gems Elements and Elementals

 

Traditions:

 

Traditions Part 1  -  Alexandrian Wicca /  Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC) /  Ár Ndraíocht Féin (ADF) /  Blue Star Wicca /  British Traditional (Druidic Witchcraft) /  Celtic Wicca /  Ceremonial Magic /  Chaos Magic /  Church and School of Wicca /  Circle Sanctuary /  Covenant of the Goddess (COG) /  Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) /  Cyber Wicca /  Dianic Wicca /  Eclectic Wicca /  Feri Wicca /

 

Traditions Part 2 Gardnerian Wicca /  Georgian Tradition /  Henge of Keltria /  Hereditary Witchcraft /  Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) /  Kitchen Witch (Hedge Witch) /  Minoan Brotherhood and Minoan Sisterhood Tradition /  Nordic Paganism /  Pagan Federation /  Pectic-Wita /  Seax-Wica /  Shamanism /  Solitary /  Strega /  Sylvan Tradition /  Vodoun or Voodoo /  Witches League of Public Awareness (WLPA) /

 

Other things of interest:

 

Gods and Goddesses (Greek Mythology) /  Esbats & Full Moons Links to Personal Friends & Resources Wicca/Witchcraft Resources What's a spell? Circle Casting and Sacred Space  Pentagram - Pentacle Marks of a Witch The Witches Power The Witches Hat An esoteric guide to visiting London SatanismPow-wowThe Unitarian Universalist Association /  Numerology:  Part 1  Part 2  /  Part 3A history of the Malleus Maleficarum:  includes:  Pope Innocent VIII  /  The papal Bull  /   The Malleus Maleficarum  /  An extract from the Malleus Maleficarum  /  The letter of approbation  /  Johann Nider’s Formicarius  /  Jacob Sprenger  /  Heinrich Kramer  /  Stefano Infessura  /  Montague Summers  /  The Waldenses  /  The Albigenses  /  The Hussites /  The Native American Sun DanceShielding (Occult and Psychic Protection)  The History of ThanksgivingAuras  - Part 1 and Part 2 Doreen Valiente Witch” (A Book Review) /   

 

Sabbats and Festivals:

 

The Sabbats in History and Mythology /  Samhain (October 31st)  /  Yule (December 21st)  /  Imbolc (February 2nd)  /  Ostara (March 21st)  /  Beltane (April 30th)  /  Litha (June 21st)  /  Lammas/Lughnasadh (August 1st)  /  Mabon (September 21st)

 

Rituals contributed by Crone:

 

Samhain / Yule Imbolc Ostara /  Beltane Litha Lammas Mabon

 

Tools:

 

Tools of a Witch  /  The Besom (Broom) /  Poppets and DollsPendulums / Cauldron Magick Mirror Gazing

 

Animals:

 

Animals in Witchcraft (The Witches Familiar and Totem Animals) /  AntelopeBatsCrow Fox Frog and Toads Goat / HoneybeeKangarooLion OwlPhoenix Rabbits and HaresRaven Robin RedbreastSheep Spider SquirrelSwansUnicornWild Boar Wolf /  Serpent /  Pig /  Stag /  Horse /  Mouse /  Cat /  Rats /  Unicorn

 

Trees:

 

In Worship of Trees - Myths, Lore and the Celtic Tree Calendar.  For descriptions and correspondences of the thirteen sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft see the following:  Birch /  Rowan / Ash /  Alder /  Willow Hawthorn /  Oak /  Holly /  Hazel /  Vine /  Ivy /  Reed /  Elder

 

Sacred Sites:

 

Mystical Sacred Sites  -  Stonehenge /  Glastonbury Tor /  Malta - The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni /  Avebury /  Cerne Abbas - The Chalk Giant /  Ireland - Newgrange /

 

Rocks and Stones:

 

Stones - History, Myths and Lore

 

Articles contributed by Patricia Jean Martin:

 

Apophyllite  / Amber Amethyst Aquamarine Aragonite Aventurine Black Tourmaline Bloodstone Calcite Carnelian Celestite Citrine Chrysanthemum StoneDiamond  /  Emerald / Fluorite Garnet /  Hematite Herkimer Diamond Labradorite Lapis Lazuli Malachite Moonstone Obsidian Opal Pyrite Quartz (Rock Crystal) Rose Quartz Ruby Selenite Seraphinite  /  Silver and GoldSmoky QuartzSodalite Sunstone ThundereggTree AgateZebra Marble

 

Wisdom and Inspiration:

 

Knowledge vs Wisdom by Ardriana Cahill I Talk to the TreesAwakening The Witch in YouA Tale of the Woods I have a Dream by Martin Luther King /

 

Articles and Stories about Witchcraft:

 

Murdered by Witchcraft The Fairy Witch of Clonmel A Battleship, U-boat, and a Witch The Troll-Tear (A story for Children) /  Goody Hawkins - The Wise Goodwife /  The Story of Jack-O-Lantern The Murder of the Hammersmith Ghost Josephine Gray (The Infamous Black Widow) /  The Two Brothers - Light and Dark

 

Old Masters of Academia:

 

Pliny the ElderHesiodPythagoras

 

 

Biographies

 

A "Who's Who" of Witches, Pagans and other associated People

(Ancient, Past and Present)

 

Remembered at Samhain

(Departed Pagan Pioneers, Founders, Elders and Others)

 

Pagan Pioneers:  Founders, Elders, Leaders and Others

 

Abramelin the Mage /  Agrippa Aidan A KellyAlbertus Magnus - “Albert the Great” Aleister Crowley - “The Great Beast” /  Alex Sanders - “King of the Witches” /  Alison Harlow /   Allan Bennett - the Ven. Ananda MetteyyaAllan Kardec (Spiritism) /  Alphonsus de SpinaAmber KAnn Moura /  Anna FranklinAnodea JudithAnton Szandor LaVey /  Arnold CrowtherArthur Edward Waite /  Austin Osman SpareBalthasar Bekker /  Biddy EarlyBarbara Vickers /  Bridget Cleary - The Fairy Witch of Clonmel /  Carl " Llewellyn" Weschcke Cecil Hugh WilliamsonCharles Godfrey Leland /   Charles WaltonChristopher PenczakChristina Oakley Harrington Cornelius Loos /  Damh the Bard - "Dave Smith" /  Dion Fortune /  Dolores Aschroft-NowickiDonald Michael Kraig Doreen ValienteDorothy MorrisonDr. John Dee & Edward Kelly /  Dr. Leo Louis Martello /  Edain McCoy /  Edward FitchEleanor Ray Bone - “Matriarch of British Witchcraft” Eliphas Levi /  Ernest Thompson Seton /  Ernest Westlake /  Fiona Horne /   Frederick McLaren Adams - Feraferia Friedrich von Spee /  Francis Barrett /  Gavin and Yvonne Frost and the School and Church of Wicca /  Gerald B. Gardner - The father of contemporary Witchcraft /  Gwydion Pendderwen Hans HolzerHelen Duncan /   Herman Slater - Horrible Herman /  Heinrich KramerIsaac Bonewits Israel RegardieIvo Domínguez Jr. /  Jack Whiteside Parsons - Rocket Science and Magick /  James "Cunning" Murrell - The Master of Witches /  Janet Farrar and Gavin BoneJean Bodin Jessie Wicker Bell - “Lady Sheba” / Johann Weyer  / Johannes Junius - "The Burgomaster of Bamberg" /   Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim  -  the “Hexenbrenner” (witch burner) /  John Belham-Payne John George Hohman - "Pow-wow" /  John Gerard /  John Gordon Hargrave and the Kibbo Kith Kindred /  John Michael Greer /  John Score /  Joseph “Bearwalker” Wilson /  Joseph John Campbell /  Karl von Eckartshausen Lady Gwen Thompson - and "The Rede of the Wiccae" /   Laurie Cabot  - "the Official Witch of Salem" /  Lewis SpenceLodovico Maria Sinistrari Ludwig LavaterMadeline Montalban and the Order of the Morning Star /  Margaret Alice MurrayMargot AdlerMichael Howard and the UK "Cauldron Magazine" /  Margaret St. Clair - the “Sign of the Labrys” /  Marie Laveau - " the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans" /  Marion WeinsteinMartin Antoine Del Rio Matthew Hopkins - “The Witch-Finder General” /   Max Ehrmann and the "Desiderata" /  Michael A. Aquino - and The Temple of Set /  Monique WilsonMontague Summers /  Nicholas CulpeperNicholas RemyM. R. SellarsMrs. Maud Grieve - "A Modern Herbal" /  Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Morning GloryOld Dorothy Clutterbuck /  Old George PickingillOlivia Durdin-Robertson - co-founder of the Fellowship of Isis /  Paddy SladePamela Colman-SmithParacelsus /  Patricia CrowtherPatricia Monaghan /  Patricia “Trish” TelescoPaul Foster Case and the “Builders of the Adytum” mystery school /  Peter Binsfeld /  Philip HeseltonRaven GrimassiRaymond Buckland /  Reginald Scot /  Richard BaxterRobert CochraneRobert ‘von Ranke’ Graves and the "The White Goddess" /  Rosaleen Norton - “The Witch of Kings Cross” /  Rossell Hope Robbins /   Ross Nichols and the " Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids" (OBOD) /  Rudolf SteinerSabrina Underwood - "The Ink Witch" /  Scott CunninghamSelena Fox - founder of "Circle Sanctuary" /  Silver RavenwolfSir Francis Dashwood /  Sir James George Frazer and the " The Golden Bough"S.L. MacGregor Mathers and the “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn” /  Starhawk /  Stewart Farrar /  Sybil LeekTed Andrews The Mather Family - (includes:  Richard Mather, Increase Mather and Cotton Mather ) /   Thomas AdyT. Thorn CoyleVera ChapmanVictor & Cora Anderson and the " Feri Tradition" /  Vivianne CrowleyWalter Brown GibsonWalter Ernest ButlerWilliam Butler YeatsZsuzsanna Budapest /  

 

 

Many of the above biographies are briefs and far from complete.  If you know about any of these individuals and can help with additional information, please contact me privately at my email address below.  Many thanks for reading  :-)

 

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