Astrologers Notes

Day: Saturday

Planet: Saturn

Keywords: Ambition, Focus, Direction, Practicality

Qualities:

 A stone linked with purpose and intention, Lapis Lazuli is associated with the planet Saturn. It amplifies ambition and the practical drive needed to succeed.

For thousands of years, Lapis Lazuli has been seen as an important stone suited to rulers and heads of state. It shows privilege, responsibility and the necessary authority to make decisions. Its mineral content activates natural structural properties, and the organizational ability to make decisions.

The blue colour of the stone inspires clarity and truthfulness in communication. The gold flecks of pyrite often found within bring a practical wisdom based on accepting structure and limitations.

Spiritually, Lapis Lazuli amplifies the ability to master one’s resources. It encourages an appreciation of present conditions, and the long-term planning needed to build something so that it acquires lasting form.

As a stone of friendship, Lapis Lazuli is also related to the need to take responsibility for what we do and say. It is said to encourage self-awareness, dignity, honesty and uprightness. It also assists to contain conflicts, and manage various situations by facing the truth of situations as they occur.

As a stone of wisdom, it imparts reverence for the spiritual traditions of the past.

Lapis Lazuli has been used for problems affecting the neck, larynx and vocal chords. While Lapis Lazuli has not been used to treat physical conditions commonly attributed to Saturn, it is thought to amplify the mental and emotional attributes that this planet represents.

Its main colouring agent is sulfur, which has been seen as the preeminent Saturnian element throughout the ages. In the Bible, sulphur is also called ‘brimstone”.

Myth and Legend:

Lapis Lazuli has been used as an important stone for spiritual and ceremonial purposes over thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians were especially fond of this stone, and only Pharoahs were allowed to wear it. Cleopatra used powdered lapis lazuli as eye-shadow.

 The Arabs, Persians and Tibetans have long revered lapis lazuli as a powerful stone, and it is though to be more valuable than turquoise in warding off ‘the evil eye”. In Europe, lapis lazuli was extremely fashionable, and also the source of the fabulously expensive blue pigment used to make the ultramarine. The wonderful blues of Renaissance masterpieces were created using pigments from this stone.

The best specimens still to this day come from mines in Afghanistan that have been in production for over 6000 years.

Lapis lazuli is regarded by many people around the world as the stone of friendship and truth. The blue stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly.

Gemologer’s Notes

As a composite stone, Lapis Lazuli is not considered a crystal but a rock. In addition to lazurite it contains a number of other minerals which can give a wide variety in features.

The colouring agent is sulphur. Lapis Lazuli has been continuously mined for thousands of years. The best specimens have an even distribution of colour with well-distributed fine pyrite inclusions. It tends to have a vitreous and greasy luster.

Care should be taken when choosing lapis lazuli pieces as a synthetic form has been introduced to the market, with actual pieces or powder pressed with a synthetic resin to imitate the natural stone.

Real Lapis Lazuli should include calcite and pyrite inclusions that are regular throughout the stone, without looking even. Often this is impossible to tell if the stone has been set in jewellery. To ensure therapeutic a s well as aesthetic value, choose a reliable source.

Composition:

• Crystal System: cubic
• Manner of Formation: tertiary
• Mineral Class: lattice silicate
• Colour: deep blue
• Opaque
• RI: approx 1.5
• (Na,Ca)8[(SO4/S/Cl)2/(AlSiO4)6]+Fe
• SG: 2.5-3
• Moh’s Hardness: 5-6

Need more information, speak with our gemologist.