History and origin
Possessing a magical lunar glow, the mineral is named after Selene, the ancient Greek goddess of the Moon. The stone has been officially known under this name only since 1817.
Before this, it was popularly called “Kiss of the Moon,” oriental alabaster, and Egyptian stone. Nowadays, it is also called moonstone (translated from Greek, “selenite” means lunar), but mineralogists call another mineral by this name - Adularia.
This is interesting: The name of selenite in some countries depends on the location, as well as the color of the rock. Thus, a stone found off the coast of the White Sea will be called belomorite, and a black sample will be called labradorite.
The thread of the origin of the stone stretches back to ancient times. Archaeological finds dating back to the 8th century BC indicate that selenite was already used to make dishes and jewelry. Ancient magical rituals were accompanied by products made from this mineral; shamans used it during sacrifices.
Medieval chronicles have not lost the chain of references. Selenite was used to make church utensils. In the paintings of famous artists you can see interior items made from this mineral, decorating noble houses.
Later, by the middle of the 19th century, selenite gained popularity in Russia. Samples of the snow-white color were found in the Perm region, and were soon used to decorate the St. Petersburg Winter Palace. Since then, every Russian home has been decorated with a figurine or craft made from this extraordinary mineral.
What is selenite
The mineral selenite is a transparent or translucent variety of gypsum, white or yellow, or less often darker shades. The jewelry has mysterious shimmers of light on the surface of the mineral, unobtrusively attracting attention to the owner.
Figurines and other products made of selenite look like moonlight, which has acquired clear outlines and frozen. They are warm and soft to the touch, the stone is pleasant to hold in your hand.
Another name for selenite is moonstone, which creates confusion.
Astrologers and jewelry sellers call the moonstone adularia. In addition, the mineral is similar in appearance to selenite, but has completely different physical characteristics, magical and healing properties. This must be taken into account when purchasing products.
Interesting facts about selenite:
- the largest specimen of selenite weighs 55 tons, length is 11 meters, width is 4 meters;
- considered a female stone, the patron of the fair sex;
- ancient magicians and sorcerers believed that on a full moon the mineral exudes tears in the form of liquid moonlight.
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Varieties and colors
Selenite is usually white or colorless. These are the most common options. The presence of metal impurities gives the mineral shades:
- peach – “desert rose”, rare, popular in jewelry;
- orange, like an orange – “golden ray”, valued for its rich color;
- green – dim, reminiscent of slightly withered grass, found in Australia;
- gray selenite - found frequently, is the standard for designating the color of cars, previously used in magical rituals;
- pink – rare, distinguished by delicate shades, beautiful in women’s jewelry;
- black – Labradorite, the rarest and most expensive.
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Physical properties of the mineral
Minerologists classify selenite as a gypsum rock. The structure, consisting of tightly fused thin fibers, gives the stone an extraordinary shine and silky shimmer. The optical effect of a running light strip makes it a distant relative of the cat's eye.
Selenite is a very brittle stone. It is easy to scratch with a fingernail, but the softness of the material has its advantages when processing and sanding it. Most samples of the mineral are transparent, which causes the lunar glow effect.
However, there are specimens with inclusions of organic impurities, clay, sand, hematite or sulfur, since the rock itself is the result of fossilization of sediments in the territories of former seas.
Property | Description |
Formula | CaSO4•2H2O |
Hardness | 1,5—2,0 |
Density | 2.31—2.33 g/cm³ |
singonia | Monoclinic. |
Cleavage | Perfect. |
Transparency | Transparent and translucent. |
Color | White, gray, sometimes colored with impurities in yellowish, bluish or pinkish shades. |
Medicinal properties
The healers of Ancient Greece believed in the healing power of selenite. They considered this stone a gift from the god of healing to earthlings, calling it the Crystal of Apollo, capable of giving a person strength, as well as good health.
Also read: Sugilite - a mysterious gem from Iwagi Island
In India, mediums cured people from nightmares, restoring a calm, peaceful sleep. The healing powers of the stone are attributed to the ability to heal the soul and mind, to drive out anger, rage, aggression, and irritability from a person.
This is interesting: There is an ancient belief that in the deep nights under the moonlight the stone exudes tears, which are endowed with healing properties.
Tibetan healers discovered the healing power of the mineral, using it for massages, lotions, inhalations, and also curing gallbladder ailments, removing stones from it.
The ancient Egyptians used selenite powder as an anti-aging agent to maintain elasticity and firmness of the skin, and the Sumerians used the mineral to treat fractures and open wounds.
Modern lithotherapy highlights a number of healing benefits of selenite:
- improving the functioning of the reproductive system, treating infertility;
- quickly relieves emotional and mental stress;
- treats inflammation of the kidneys and bladder;
- helps get rid of headaches, lower blood pressure, and in powder form - lower body temperature;
- normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- calms the nerves, helps get rid of depression, apathy, despondency, puts you in a positive emotional mood;
- with prolonged contemplation of selenite, vision improves;
- Selenite strengthens bones and teeth, and also increases joint mobility and elasticity of ligaments;
- a positive effect is known for pulmonary diseases, fainting, and epileptic seizures.
In addition, selenite helps to recover from diseases associated with disruption of the endocrine system, and also helps with anemia. The mineral has a positive effect on human mental activity.
Magical properties of lunar selenite
Once upon a time, selenite was considered a feminine stone. But later his influence on the stronger half of humanity was revealed. If the mineral makes girls sophisticated and dreamy, then it will awaken determination and courage in guys. The owner of selenite will be able to forever get rid of manias and fears, gain the ability to speak eloquently, develop intuition, and reveal talents.
Selenite is a sacred stone of the Hindus. According to ancient legends, this stone was only allowed to be used by Mesopotamian priests, who wore the crystals under their tongues.
During the full moon, special rituals were held, during which the clergy could lift the veil of the future. Their prophecies were immortalized by chroniclers, admiring the amazing gift of clairvoyance.
Modern esotericists also know other magical abilities of selenite:
- the owner of the stone will eventually be distinguished by a strong will and amazing memory;
- Selenite brings harmony to family relationships, restores lost tenderness of feelings, helps smooth out conflicts;
- over time, the owner of the stone becomes kinder, more sentimental, and acquires childlike dreaminess;
- a stone framed with silver will help creative people develop their imagination, open up an endless flight of imagination, and develop talents;
- Selenite will give a person caution, the ability to foresee danger, while thinking soberly; The stone will also help to convict the deceiver with his unclean intentions.
It is believed that selenite is endowed with lunar energy, so it is most close to people born during the full moon.
Magical Features
Selenite comes to the rescue when it seems that there is no way out and everything is lost. When a person is depressed, depressed, or is too self-confident and believes that he does not need anyone's help. When self-imposed barriers prevent you from moving forward, and nervous exhaustion deprives you of strength. It is at these moments of weakening of internal forces that the presence of a selenite stone nearby is of great importance.
The mineral helps to expand your own boundaries and horizons, discover new facets in yourself, develop hidden capabilities, and believe in yourself. Awakens associativeness, imaginative thinking, creative energy.
The gem calms the mind during emotional fatigue, helps to concentrate and organize thoughts without wasting energy on unproductive thoughts.
Strengthens will and memory. It helps soft, pliable people to gather their courage and deal with the problem, rather than avoid conflicts in their usual manner.
The crystal enhances pure heartfelt love. According to Feng Shui, products with the mineral should be placed in the home in the marriage sector. In general, you can wear it, apply it and place it anywhere, so selenite will quickly reveal its energy.
Gives caution in actions and prudence in words. The mineral extinguishes aggressiveness, softens uncontrollable and obstinate people.
White selenite acts especially intensely in the area of the heart and hands. If you wear the stone near your heart, it will help you experience love and wisdom more deeply.
Helps you see the future and skillfully avoid life’s traps and avoid troubles.
If you put the mineral under the pillow, the voice of the heart will balance the will and mind, freeing you from unnecessary concerns.
Selenite is considered an amulet for people who feel a special connection with the Moon. There is a belief that the mineral develops intuition and softens passions. Women use talismans with selenite to create an aura of mystery and mystery around themselves.
Selenite is used as an ornamental stone to create amulets, jewelry, figurines, and souvenirs.
Jewelry with mineral
The nugget is popular among jewelers. Inserts for all kinds of decorations are made from it, framing the stone with various metals. Common white mineral samples that are affordable are widely used:
- A silver ring with a selenite insert will cost no more than 1,500 rubles when purchased.
- Earrings have a similar price as rings.
- Pendants, brooches, and pendants are valued at no more than 1,000 rubles.
- Beads of medium length will cost about 1000 rubles.
Also read: Lepidolite - purple flake stone
The cost of jewelry may vary depending on the complexity of the design and the rarity of the stone.
White selenite is cheaper, pink, greenish and other shades are more expensive.
Application
Selenite is widely used as an inexpensive ornamental stone. Figurines, figurines, candlesticks, boxes, amulets, amulets, and talismans are made from it.
It is also used in jewelry. It is used to make beads, inserts into earrings, bracelets and pendants.
The mineral is also used:
- in the production of astringents in the chemical industry and medicine;
- for the manufacture of paints;
- for the production of foundry molds in mechanical engineering.
Color varieties
The most common white crystals in nature are selenite. The combination of color and unusual glow, in fact, gave rise to its second name “moonstone”.
There are also rarer, but no less beautiful specimens of pink, blue, light yellow, gray and pale green shades. The rarest specimen is considered to be black selenite - labradorite. If you look closely at this stone, you can contemplate the mystery of a dark moonlit night.
Stone deposits
Selenite is widespread and is mined in large quantities in the USA, Egypt, Australia, France, Germany, and Canada. The largest minerals were discovered in Mexico.
In Russia it is mined in the Urals:
- in the village Second keys;
- Kungur;
- With. Pavlovka;
- With. Opachevka.
Ural selenite is distinguished by its purity and high quality.
Belomorite, which is similar in appearance to moonstone, is mined near the White Sea. The mineral resembles the color of cold waters. Both stones are feldspars, but selenite is orthoclase, and belomorite is oligoclase.
The main mining method is open-pit. First, the upper layers of clay and soil are removed, then sedimentary rocks are removed. Selenite is separated from the resulting soil and delivered to processing plants located near the mining site. There, sorting, crushing into small fractions and further processing are carried out.
Fake or real
Selenite is considered an ornamental stone. There are many deposits of it in nature, so it has a low cost. It would seem that there is no need to create artificial copies. However, you can still find imitation minerals on sale.
A synthetic fake is a silicate semi-liquid mass with impurities that are interspersed longitudinally to achieve the desired effect. Then this mass is turned into an artificial crystal, and after grinding and processing the finished product comes out. You can still distinguish such a product from the original:
- Firstly, the cost is very low - if a natural stone is affordable, then a fake will cost a penny.
- Secondly, strength. The natural mineral is very soft, fragile, and is easily scratched by a fingernail, which cannot be said about its synthetic counterpart.
- Thirdly, the size of the product. Of course, when it comes to jewelry, this criterion is not taken into account. But if these are crafts or figurines, then their size cannot exceed 30 cm - due to its fragility, it is simply impossible to make large products from selenite.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that any dubious counter does not guarantee quality. For beautiful, natural products, it is better to go to a jewelry store, where you can get complete information about any product.
How to distinguish a real stone from a fake
Due to the low cost of selenite, imitations are rare. Most often it is glass, less often acrylic. Under the guise of the original, they can sell stones similar to it - adularia or amazonite. To identify a fake, you need to know some features:
- The softness of a mineral is the most reliable test. It is enough to press your fingernail on the bottom of a product made of natural selenite so that an imprint in the form of a strip remains there.
- If you suspect plastic, the product can be heated to 160 °C - the acrylic will flow, emitting a characteristic odor. Such imitations are lighter than natural stones.
- If the mineral is left in direct sunlight, it will dry out, crack and may crumble. This will not happen with fakes.
Caring for stone products
Since selenite is a fragile and soft material, already at the production stage after the product is made, it is coated with a transparent varnish, but this does not make it super durable, so it is better to treat jewelry made from the mineral more carefully.
Storage is allowed in a closed soft box, away from other, more durable stones to avoid scratches. This nugget also does not like exposure to ultraviolet radiation and excessive moisture.
This is interesting: From a magical point of view, selenite should not be washed under running water so that it does not lose its energy. It is better to place the stone under the light of the full moon so that it is charged with the necessary strength and energy.
As for cleaning without superstitions, a soap solution and a soft sponge will do. This procedure is carried out no more than twice a year, after which the product must be wiped dry.
What stones does it go with?
Selenite crystal
The compatibility of certain gems is assessed based on various factors - aesthetics, belonging to the elements, chakras, protection of planets and others.
Aesthetically, selenites in one piece of jewelry do not combine with other stones - jewelry (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, etc.) overshadow them, and more modest gems distract attention.
Softness does not allow combining selenites with anything else, since harder stones in the neighborhood can cause damage.
If you wear several jewelry on your body at once, then when selecting them you should take into account the belonging of the stone inserts to one or another element. Selenite is an airy gem, so energetically it goes well with stones of air and fire - malachite and jasper, amber and azurite, ruby and pyrope, aventurine and fluorite, garnet, onyx, heliotrope and others.
Selenite's planet is the Moon, which means its power increases in the vicinity of adularia (moonstone), white or light blue opal, aquamarine, blue beryl, jadeite, cacholong, emerald and rock crystal.
Anahata is the chakra to which the selenite stone corresponds; more precisely, it helps to open it, and for these purposes it is more effective to combine the stone with chrysoprase, rose quartz, emerald, carnelian, jadeite, jade and malachite.
Anahata (fourth) is the heart chakra, located at the central point of the chest at the level of the heart. It is responsible for a person’s spirituality, his emotionality, sensuality and unconditional love, and also supplies energy to the cardiovascular system.
Compatibility with names and zodiac signs
In astrology, selenite is considered universal - any representative of the Zodiac can wear it. But so that the stone is not just a neutral, ineffective decoration, it is better to wear it for representatives of certain signs.
Also read: Pomegranate – the grain of the “Phoenician apple”
Selenite and Zodiac
(“++” – the stone fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated):
Zodiac sign | Compatibility |
Aries | + |
Taurus | + |
Twins | ++ |
Cancer | ++ |
a lion | + |
Virgo | — |
Scales | + |
Scorpion | ++ |
Sagittarius | + |
Capricorn | + |
Aquarius | ++ |
Fish | ++ |
The undisputed favorite of the stone is Cancer. He has ideal compatibility with representatives of this sign - the mineral will reveal all its magical abilities to them. The “moon kiss” will become a special talisman for people going through difficult financial times.
The power of the mineral does not bypass representatives of the signs Scorpio and Pisces. The first talisman promises deliverance from negativity, a surge of happiness, and success in all endeavors. Pisces will be able to gain courage and self-confidence.
Representatives of other signs can also wear such amulets - they will not bring them any harm. But the stone will reveal its maximum abilities when a suitable zodiac sign and a creative personality come together in one person. The mineral is strong as a talisman for clergy.
Patron of names
Astrologers identify two main names patronized by selenite:
- Victor, Artyom, Alexander, Gennady. Men with such names are purposeful in life, and also very impulsive. Selenite will help them moderate their ardor, gain balance, prudence, and concentrate their attention on more important points, so as not to chop wood in the heat of the moment. As for family relationships, the stone will help you become more attentive to your loved ones and express your love for them more sensually.
- Polina, Marina, Victoria. Sometimes a woman simply needs to find more softness, sensuality, and pliability. For them, selenite will be the best assistant in the fight against selfishness and gaining feminine prudence. The prudence that such a talisman will show will protect girls with this name from rash decisions during difficult life situations.
There are several more names that are patronized by the “kiss of the moon”:
- Bella. Girls with this name are incredibly charming, but very changeable in nature. The talisman that will bring order and harmony into her life will be belomorite (a type of selenite).
- Yana. For women with this name, a rare specimen of the mineral - black labradorite - is suitable. It will help pacify the hot fervor of emotions, childish capriciousness, and relieve Yana of illusions.
- Leonid. For him, like Yana, the Labrador will serve as a talisman, giving peace to family relationships, as well as prudence in decision-making.
Whatever name or sign the stone is suitable for, it is important to remember that continuous long-term wearing of the amulet can turn any of its properties into reverse. Then the owner will become lazy and less dynamic.
Therefore, it is better to give rest to both yourself and the amulet in order to replenish the energy of both.
Amulets, amulets and talismans
Selenite is often used not only for making figurines, jewelry, and dishes. The mineral is considered a powerful amulet, therefore it is used in talismans and amulets. Each product - brooch, necklace, ring, earrings, pin, keychain, cufflinks, souvenir - has a soft and delicate beauty.
Gems are especially useful for people born on a full moon.
The mineral drives away apathy and is suitable for phlegmatic people.
The magic of the stone made it a talisman for pilgrims. Semelite is filled with the energy of holy places and becomes healing.
Compatibility with other stones
Selenite looks good in compositions with single-color stones - opal, onyx, charoite, cat's eye. Crafts with transparent stones look great.
The gem will highlight the tenderness and beauty of blondes. Blue and pink stones are suitable for brown-haired women.
Energetically, the mineral combines with airy and fiery stones - jasper, malachite, azurite, ruby, garnet, amber.
Additional Information! Selenite belongs to the planet Moon. Therefore, adularia or moonstone enhance its properties. Emerald, rock crystal, jadeite, and beryl also work.
For men
The stone is suitable for both sexes. It gives strength and courage to men. Makes them decisive and courageous.
For women
The mineral gives the fair sex softness, sensuality, and tenderness. In addition, the stone serves as an excellent amulet for family relationships.
How to wear and care
Semelite is a fairly soft stone. Therefore, you need to wear it carefully and carefully. It should be remembered that even lightly scratching the surface with a fingernail can leave a mark. Jewelry made from fragile selenite should be stored in a box upholstered with soft fabric.
Jewelers often apply an additional protective layer of varnish, which must be restored every 2-3 years. The technician can also polish the surface and remove minor scratches. The stone will look like new again.
Care should be taken when cleaning the stone. This is done once every six months. Use a soft sponge soaked in soapy water. Dry the product with delicate napkins.
Important! Under no circumstances should brushes or cleaning agents be used.
To remove accumulated negativity, the stone is washed in running water. It is good to charge it periodically under the moonlight during a full moon.
The stone should not be stored in rooms with high humidity.
Not recommended for anyone
The stone is contraindicated for dreamers, people who are divorced from reality. Wearing such jewelry can disrupt the psyche. The gem enhances the qualities of introversion. A person can become completely immersed in his own world, moving away from others.
Note
Selenite is a stone of pilgrims and is able to absorb the energy of holy places, gaining even greater power. It also serves as a connecting thread between a person and his guardian angel.
To feel this connection, you need to put a stone under your pillow - in a prophetic dream, a hint for further actions will appear from a patron from above. An important aspect is faith - it can greatly increase any magical power, instilling the best feelings in the soul.
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