Lapis Lazuli Meaning, Properties, Care, History & Originby Leigha Montigue
Lapis Lazuli, an exquisite blue semi-precious stone, has been cherished for its beauty and metaphysical attributes for millennia. Its name, derived from Latin and meaning "stone of the sky," is fitting due to its deep blue hue adorned with mica flecks resembling a celestial night sky. Composed of multiple minerals, including lazurite, diopside, calcite, and pyrite, Lapis Lazuli holds a striking appearance.
This captivating stone has been revered across cultures for its beauty, spiritual significance, and healing benefits. It is believed to enhance spiritual awareness, inner wisdom, and intuition, making it popular for meditation and spiritual practices. Additionally, Lapis Lazuli is associated with emotional healing, clear communication, and protection from negative energies.
To care for Lapis Lazuli, it's essential to clean it regularly with a soft cloth, avoid exposure to harsh chemicals and sunlight, and limit prolonged contact with water. Some believe it benefits from recharging in moonlight during the full moon phase.
Geologically, Lapis Lazuli is a metamorphic rock primarily composed of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite. Its formation occurs under high pressure and temperature conditions, contributing to its unique blue color and marbling patterns. The stone's quality is graded based on factors like color intensity, pyrite inclusions, and overall attractiveness.
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Lapis Lazuli, an exquisite blue semi-precious stone, has been cherished for its beauty and metaphysical attributes for millennia. With its deep blue hue adorned by tiny mica flecks resembling a celestial night sky, it captivates the imagination.
The name "Lapis Lazuli" carries a historical significance. "Lapis" stems from the Latin word for "stone," while "Lazul" means "sky" or "heaven". Notably, Lapis Lazuli is not a single mineral but rather a rock composed of multiple minerals, including lazurite, diopside, calcite, pyrite, and more, which together create its striking appearance.
This alluring stone has held such extraordinary value that even King Tutankhamun's mask boasts intricate inlays of Lapis Lazuli, along with turquoise and carnelian, set in brilliant gold. Its timeless allure continues to inspire and connect with humanity across diverse cultures and spiritualbelief systems. Since antiquity, lapis lazuli has been worn with the belief that it will ward off evil. improve eyesight, balance chakras, bring emotional healing, and promote inner peace. In addition, lapis lazuli has been associated with strength and courage, royalty and wisdom, intellect and truth.
Lapis Lazuli Metaphysical Properties
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★ Protection ★ Confidence ★ Communication Skills ★ Inner ★
★ Wisdom ★ Intuition ★ Truth ★ Connection ★ Clarity ★ Manifestation ★
★ Spiritual Growth ★ Emotional Healing ★
Spiritual Awakening: Lapis Lazuli is believed to enhance spiritual awareness and assist in spiritual growth. It is often used in meditation and spiritual practices to help individuals connect with their inner wisdom and higher consciousness.
Inner Wisdom and Intuition: This gemstone is thought to stimulate the Third Eye chakra, which is associated with intuition, insight, and inner wisdom. Lapis Lazuli can aid in accessing and trusting one's intuition and inner guidance.
Emotional Healing: Lapis Lazuli is associated with emotional healing and balance. It is believed to help release repressed emotions, bring emotional clarity, and promote self-awareness and self-expression and support people ready to step into their power.
Communication: Lapis Lazuli is believed to enhance communication skills and improve the ability to express oneself with clarity and confidence. It can also assist in resolving conflicts by encouraging honest and harmonious communication.
Protection: In some traditions, Lapis Lazuli is considered a protective stone. It is believed to shield the wearer from negative energies and psychic attacks while promoting a sense of security and strength.
Intellectual Clarity: Lapis Lazuli is thought to enhance intellectual abilities, improve concentration, and support critical thinking. It may help organize thoughts and facilitate problem-solving.
Connection with Higher Realms: Lapis Lazuli is associated with connecting to higher realms and spiritual beings. It is believed to facilitate communication with spirit guides, angels, and other divine entities.
Physical Healing: While primarily known for its spiritual and emotional attributes, some metaphysical practitioners believe that Lapis Lazuli can support physical healing processes, especially in the throat, head, and respiratory areas.
Manifestation: Lapis Lazuli is sometimes associated with the law of attraction and manifestation. It is believed to assist in clarifying one's desires and intentions, thereby helping to attract positive energies and outcomes.
As with any metaphysical or healing property attributed to crystals and gemstones, it's essential to remember that beliefs can vary among different cultures, spiritual practices, and individuals. The power of Lapis Lazuli lies in the meaning and intention that each person assigns to it, so it's essential to trust your intuition and connection with the stone.
Proper Care for Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli is a beautiful gemstone that requires proper care to preserve its appearance and metaphysical properties. Here are some guidelines for caring for Lapis Lazuli:
Cleaning: Clean your Lapis Lazuli jewelry or objects regularly with a soft cloth to remove any dust or dirt that may accumulate. Avoid using brushes or abrasive materials that could scratch the surface. Instead, wipe them with a soft cloth and store dry, in a separate bag or box where it can neither scratch nor be scratched by other jewelry. Avoid ultrasound and steam cleaners!
Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Lapis Lazuli is sensitive to acids, chemicals, and even household cleaners. Avoid exposing it to substances like vinegar, lemon juice, and other acidic solutions.
Avoid Heat and Sunlight: Lapis Lazuli is sensitive to pressure and heat. Prolonged exposure to heat and direct sunlight can cause Lapis Lazuli to fade and lose its vibrant color. Store your Lapis Lazuli jewelry or objects in a cool, dark place when not in use.
Limit Contact with Water: Although Lapis Lazuli can go in the water, it's best to avoid prolonged exposure to water or immersing it for extended periods.
Recharge in Moonlight: Some people believe that Lapis Lazuli can benefit from being recharged in the moonlight. Place the stone in a spot where it can be exposed to the moon's light during the full moon phase to cleanse and rejuvenate its energy.
Be Mindful of Settings: If your Lapis Lazuli is set in jewelry, check the settings periodically to ensure the stone is secure. Loose settings may increase the risk of damage or loss.
Consult a Professional: If your Lapis Lazuli jewelry needs significant cleaning or repair, it's best to consult a professional jeweler experienced in handling delicate gemstones.
By following these care tips, you can maintain the beauty and energy of your Lapis Lazuli for years to come.
Lapis Lazuli Hardness
Lapis Lazuli has a relatively soft hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale. This softness makes it susceptible to scratches and abrasion, making proper care essential to preserve its appearance.
Lapis Lazuli Origin & Geological Properties
Lapis Lazuli is a blue stone or rock composed mainly of blue lazurite, white calcite, and sparkly pyrite. Its geological properties play a crucial role in determining its appearance and characteristics. Here are some of the key geological properties of Lapis Lazuli:
Mineral Composition: Lapis Lazuli is primarily composed of three main minerals:
- Lazurite: Lazurite is responsible for the intense blue color of Lapis Lazuli. It contains the elements sodium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, and sulfur. The higher the lazurite content, the more valuable and desirable the Lapis Lazuli.
- Calcite: Calcite is a white mineral that often occurs in Lapis Lazuli. Its presence can create white streaks or patches in the blue matrix, known as "marbling."
- Pyrite: Pyrite, also known as "fool's gold," appears as golden metallic flecks in Lapis Lazuli, resembling twinkling stars. These pyrite inclusions are one of the defining features of high-quality Lapis Lazuli.
- Formation: Lapis Lazuli is a metamorphic rock, which means it forms from the recrystallization of pre-existing rocks under high pressure and temperature conditions deep within the Earth's crust. It typically forms in limestone or marble rocks rich in calcite. The presence of specific minerals and impurities during the metamorphic process contributes to its characteristic blue color.
Occurrence: Historically, the most renowned and sought-after Lapis Lazuli came from the Sar-e-Sang mine in Afghanistan. However, it can also be found in other countries, including Russia, Chile, Myanmar, and the United States.
Associations with Other Minerals: Besides the three main minerals mentioned above, Lapis Lazuli can contain other minor minerals, such as diopside, hauyne, and sodalite, depending on the specific geological conditions of its formation.
Veining and Marbling: Lapis Lazuli often exhibits intricate veining, marbling, or banding, caused by the varying concentrations of its constituent minerals during the rock's formation.
Grain Size: Lapis Lazuli can have different grain sizes, ranging from fine-grained to coarse-grained, which affects its overall texture and appearance.
Quality Grading: The quality and value of Lapis Lazuli are assessed based on factors such as its color intensity, the abundance and distribution of pyrite inclusions, the absence of calcite streaks, and overall uniformity and attractiveness.
Overall, Lapis Lazuli's geological properties contribute to its unique beauty and appeal, making it one of the most cherished gemstones in human history.
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