Hardness: 7
Agate is a form of banded Chalcedony, a member of the Quartz family. Traditionally, Agate needs to have bands or lines going around it to be classified as Agate. Agate is believed to be around 3000 years old, yet it was named more recently (300 – 400 years B.C.E.) after the Achates River in Sicily.
Agate has several medical applications including easing headaches, gastric distress, dizziness, poor balance, discomfort of pregnancy and prevention of miscarriages. This tranquil and pacifying stone balances and grounds us physically, emotionally and intellectually. Agate helps us get rid of internalized anger and stress and makes us feel safe and secure and accepting of ourselves.
Agate aids our perception in circumstances, allows us to know who are and aren’t our real friends and encourages fidelity in relationships . It makes us conscious of the underlying reasons behind our being physically sick. There is even more to this fabulous stone. Agate is beneficial to our eyes, stomach, uterus, pancreas, lymph glands and veins and it brings prosperity!
Blue Lace Agate: This pale blue “banded” form of Agate is easily identifiable by it’s white or dark blue pattern of lines. Blue Lace has a soft, calming and peaceful energy. Blue Lace Agate is a healing, supportive and nurturing stone that works best when placed around the throat, heart, 3rd eye and crown chakras. Blue Lace Agate deals with our emotions and thoughts. It encourages us to verbally express our feelings and thoughts while counteracting our unhealthy feelings based on fears and rejections. People who have light blue in their aura resonate well with Blue Lace Agate. Blue Lace Agate can help with: thyroid, arthritis, fractures, digestive glands, lymph infections, high fevers and shoulder and neck pain. It also strengthens the capillaries and pancreas.
Interesting Tidbits: The Byzantine people (in what is now Istanbul) knew along time ago that Agate’s color could be enhanced by subjecting it to fire. However, the true art of coloring agate began in ancient Rome. Agate is often colored for 2 reasons: Agate’s natural state is often a dull gray. Agate is a porous stone making it easy to absorb the dye.
| Polished on one side. Can be used as a bookend. |
