The sixth sign of the Zodiac is Virgo (August 22 - September 21). The Mystical Zodiac stone for Virgo is Agate.
Agate is a member of the chalcedony family. Most chalcedony is one color, but agates are banded or layered. These layers are formed by ground waters carrying sediment and depositing them on top of existing layers.
The name “agate” is derived from the Greek word for the river Achates in Sicily, the first place that agate was found in large amounts.
Early History/Mythology
The Sumerians held agate in the highest regard. They used the stone in signet rings, seals, and in jewelry. Legend has it that Mithridates, the King of Pontus, has a collection of over two thousand bowls made of agate (some legends have the number as high as four thousand).
The Byzantine Empire and European royalty during the Renaissance were also huge collectors, as museum exhibits in Europe can attest. Persians and Arabs often used the stones for rings, and would carve their names into the stone, as well as verses from the Koran.
Physical Properties
In terms of physical properties, agate is primarily used for strength, wellness and balance.
For strength, it was used on the breastplate of armor for soldiers to help protect them during battle.
For wellness, in ancient times, it was boiled in water, and then the water was consumed, to help relieve symptoms of illness.
For balance, agates help keep your yin and yang in harmony. This is also why agates are believed to be good for strengthening relationships, because they can balance the yin/yang in your relationships as well. It is also looked to for improving your ability to sleep and have pleasant dreams. As such, it would be a great stone for using in dreamcatchers or keeping on your nightstand.
Emotional Properties
Agate is said to be a strong emotional healer, allowing on to discern truths and accept circumstances. It is believed to improve your memory and concentration, as well as encourage honesty.
It’s a wonderfully grounding stone, allowing you to see inside, boost your self-confidence, allay your fears and give you a stronger center from which to operate.
As part of its ability to balance and harmonize, you can use it to cleanse your aura and release negative energy.
Agate is a great stone for artists because it is also used for strengthening ones intellect as well as enhancing creativity.
If using for chakra work, agates can work on any of the chakras. If you want to focus your chakra work more, you can choose a colored agate that matches the color of the chakra you are dealing with.
Types of Agate
The photo at the top of this article shows you but a few of the many types of agate. So you can know them all by name, here is identifying information
1 - Madagascar Agate
2 - Asia Agate
3 - Moss Agate
4 - India Black Skin
5 - Plume Agate
6 - Blue Lace Agate
7 - Banded Agate
8 - Plume Agate
9 - Montana Agate
10 - Red Agate
11 - Crazy Lace Agate
12 - Crazy Lace Agate
13 - Argentina Agate
14 - Montana Agate
15 - Dry Head Agate
16 - Mexican Lace Agate
17 - Laguna Agate
18 - Banded Agate
19 - Graveyard Point Agate
Agate Jewelry
Agate has so many types, in so many colors, that it can make a wide variety of wonderful jewelry. Some examples are:
Tiger Agate
This is where agate is heated to the point where banding forms inside. Although it is called crackle agate, it is still just as sturdy as any regular agate. The crackle effect does not affect the durability or strength at all
Cleanse and Purify Your Stones
For information on how to cleanse your stones, see this article by Diane Fergurson, published recently on Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.
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You can read Giani's Tarot reviews in the Review section of this blog.
This is the sixth article in this wonderful series, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more
in the upcoming months! I thank Giani
for his wonderful
continued contributions to Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.
The beautiful jewelry pictured above can be found in Giani's shop on CraftStar.
~ diane
Series Article Part 1 - Opals
Series Article Part 2 - Sapphire
Series Article 3 - Amethyst
Series Article 4 - Moonstone
Series Article 5 - Diamonds
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