Ina's Crystal Corner: Labradorite
Welcome back to another installment of Ina’s Crystal Corner! But before we take a deep dive into all things Labradorite, I have another update. Last time, I covered Pyrite for this series and I mentioned my engagement. Well, I’m officially married now! For our ceremony, my husband and I chose to do a handfasting rather than exchange traditional rings. We commissioned local artist, Andrea Fernandez (whose work is currently on display at Fern & Fossil Cafe till the end of December), to craft a beautiful handfasting cord featuring my favorite crystal of all time, Labradorite. And with that, let’s jump right in!
Labradorite is a calcium-enriched feldspar mineral that is known for its unique iridescent qualities. This magical stone was first identified (at least for Western Literature) in Labrador, Canada (hence its namesake) but can also be found in the United States, Poland, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, China, Madagascar, and Australia. Labradorite is a fantastic crystal to introduce to your gardening practice. Feldspar minerals like Labradorite are great for plants because they contain nutrients that get absorbed by the plant when they weather in soil. These minerals include varying amounts of potassium, sodium, calcium, and lithium, in addition to being a primary source of clay minerals (a major component of soil). In fact, Feldspar minerals are the most abundant mineral group in the earth’s crust, consisting of about 50% of all rocks, so it’s no wonder that Labradorite is friendly for gardening. Just be forewarned, although Labradorite is good for your plants, they are water-soluble. This means they will deteriorate over time as you water your plant babies. So if you’d like to preserve the luster on these crystals, I recommend removing the crystal before watering.
Labradorite is commonly referred to as “The Witch’s Stone” (how fitting as we approach Halloween), so it’s no surprise that it holds such a special place in my heart. In neo-pagan and modern wicca practices, Labradorite is associated with intuition, awareness, and awakening. It’s believed to protect against negativity and encourage the exploration of one‘s consciousness. This crystal is also thought to facilitate visionary experiences and vivid dreams. Many witches correlate Labradorite with open communication and self expression. I personally have several Labradorite crystals placed in both my plants and on top of my altar.