Opal Stone: Virtues of Opal
Opal is a very special fine stone and, unlike other minerals, its crystals do not have any particular shape. The lapidaries cut it into a cabochon in order to preserve its play of light.
Opal is a very beautiful protective stone , which intensifies the emotions and releases the inhibitions of the wearer. It captures the surrounding energies in a very powerful way.
- Origin of the name : From the Sanskrit “Upala” meaning precious stone. From the Latin Opalus and the Greek Opallios, meaning “to see a change of color”
- Home group : Silica
- Color(s) : White, gray (or yellow, pink, green, purple shade)
- Symbol : The inner light
- Hardness : Between 5.5 and 6
- Deposits : Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Peru, USA
- Chemical composition : Hydrous silicon dioxide
- Day of the week : Depending on its color
Varieties of Opal
Opals with play of colors form in the parent rock. The latter has a decisive effect on the appearance of the Opal. The transparency and color of the body depend on this parent rock.
Here are the most common Opals:
Black Opal has a black body color and is opaque to slightly translucent, especially when viewed against a strong light source.
This is a generic name we give to Opal gems in Australia. These Opals are generally lighter than others and have a beautiful opalescence.
Opaque, showing a latticework of parent rock, boulder opals are similar to Matrix opals, where the bedrock is visible on the face of the opal.
- Blue opal (Caribbean)
This Opal has a very soft opaque blue .
- Pink Opal (Machu Picchu)
Machu Picchu Opal is also a variety of opaque Opal. Its pink is very soft and can be reminiscent of Rose Quartz . This stone comes from Peru in South America.
White Opal or “clear opal” is extremely popular. It is translucent to opaque with a white body color.
There are also Green Opals, Fire Opal, Noble Opal, Dendritic Opal etc.
Benefits and virtues of Opal
Lithotherapy uses crystals to act on energies and chakras .
The water contained in opal dissolves energy barriers linked to beliefs and fears of lack, and restores the free circulation of energies. It's a good luck charm to always have with you.
It contributes to the awakening of consciousness , helps to let go and live in the present moment.
Each variety has its own vibration and sees its action targeting different aspirations:
White : to face our inner life. A symbol of the purity of feelings, it is often used to create positive vibrations and balance the chakras , thus bringing joy, clarity and intuition.
Black : to soothe our anxieties. It prevents apathy and lethargy.
Boulder : stone of contact with superior spirits, the Indians used it in ceremonies and rights of passage. It unblocks the chakras and strengthens the addition of light to the aura.
On the physical level
The Opal stone acts both psychologically and physically, the two being intimately linked. It purifies the blood and kidneys, facilitates childbirth , and alleviates premenstrual syndrome . Stone of sensuality with aphrodisiac effects, it develops the senses and releases inhibitions.
White: promotes sleep , in addition to being beneficial for digestion and gastric disorders.
Rose: relieves respiratory ailments and viral infections.
Blue : regenerates the skin , regulates the kidneys, stimulates the production of blood cells and rebalances the hormonal system.
Chakras
On the karmic level, Opal would act on the Crown Chakra , or chakra corresponding to the color of Opal.
Astrological signs
Clear Opal belongs to the signs of Pisces and Cancer . Black Opal is attributed to the signs of Sagittarius , Aquarius and Scorpio .
Recharging and purification
Due to their water content, some stones may break if lost.
You must protect the Opal from heat and drought.
Some stones can lead to thermal shock damage. Temperature fluctuations should be avoided.
Opal could spend its entire life in distilled water . The bath can be placed in lunar light for gentle recharging and in solar light to give it strength, radiance and luminosity .
Meaning and History of Opal
Its history goes back beyond that of humans and extends across our entire planet.
Exploited for 10,000 years in the Virgin Valley in North America , objects decorated with Opal from Ethiopia. They were discovered in a cave in Kenya and dated to 4,000 years BC.
Legends related to weather phenomena have been associated with it among different cultures . The Aborigines called it the “rainbow serpent ”, since the creator god would have brought together this spectrum of colors to give birth to the stone.
We find this idea in India , where the goddess of the rainbow would have metamorphosed into Opal in order to escape her numerous suitors captivated by her beauty.
Finally, Arab culture tells that the light of lightning trapped in the rock results in Opal.
In ancient Greece , it is said to have seen the light of day in the eyes of the king of the gods Zeus. These are his tears of joy following the triumph against the Titans that would have transformed into Opal on contact with the ground .
Since then, the Greeks have attributed to it powers of clairvoyance and prophecy, a belief that we find in the Middle Ages, a period when it was renamed “ophthalmios”, in consideration of its virtues for the eyes .
Finally, among the Romans , it was a sign of hope and purity . They would be the first to have marketed it, awakening desire .
