Ina's Crystal Corner: Amethyst
Greetings Plant-lovers!
Today I’m starting a new series about the crystals we use in our terrarium kits to highlight not only how beautiful they are, but also how their physical and spiritual properties might affect both plants and people.
Amethyst in one of Fern & Fossil’s 5” Hanging Terrariums
Now full disclaimer: I am not here to advise anyone on their spiritual practices. Personally, I practice my own interpretation of Wicca and see myself as a “baby witch” still learning along the way, so please consider this blog more as an explorative essay rather than as some comprehensive guide. Crystal interpretations will differ from practice to practice, person to person, and I advise readers to do their research and avoid participating in any closed rituals (see sage, smudging, and cultural appropriation).
This June we’re covering Amethyst, a variety of quartz with a range of vibrant violet hues. The name Amethyst comes from the Greek word amethystos, which roughly translates to “not intoxicated”. In Greek mythology, Amethyst is connected to Dionysus, god of wine. To summarize the tale, Dionysus goes into a drunken rage and inadvertently causes a maiden to turn into quartz. In his grief, Dionysus accidentally spills wine on the quartz to create the colorful stone. Although the Ancient Greeks might have believed wearing the stone helped prevent drunkenness, we don’t recommend using it that way on your next night out!
Today amethyst is often said to promote calmness by reducing anxiety and absorbing negative energy. In Buddhist traditions, amethyst is associated with the third eye chakra which represents one’s consciousness and enlightenment. Amethyst can be used to unblock the third eye chakra and release feelings of depression and anxiety. In Western astrology, amethyst is linked with 2 zodiac signs: Pisces and Aquarius. Amethyst is associated with the month of February and the start of Pisces season. It’s thought that Pisces natives can benefit from wearing or placing amethyst in the home to promote peace, dreaminess, and empathy while Aquarius natives can use the stone to enhance clarity of the mind.
A Fern & Fossil Terrarium pictured with raw amethyst (upper right) and tumbled amethyst (bottom right)
As a protection stone, amethyst is perfect for keeping your plant babies safe from pests and diseases. The mineral properties of amethyst also reportedly help promote growth in certain plants by encouraging stronger roots. In my personal experience, I’ve used amethyst to help revive my christmas cactus plant (I named him Rikki) when my lovely menace of a cat knocked its pot over, seriously damaging the roots. It was a close call, but I like to believe the amethyst helped prevent transplant shock after repotting so Rikki could pull through. When using crystals in your garden or wardrobe, be sure to cleanse the crystals of their stored energy from time to time. I personally recommend just leaving them out in moonlight near the windowsill or using incense.