LAPIS LAZULI

Knowledge of the universe
In a starry night
Painted in a stone
Where truth shines bright

Lapis Lazuli is one of the birthstones for September, and one of my favorite stones.  (And, no, this is not a picture of lapis.  It is a starry night.)  This is a complex metamorphic rock with a Mohs hardness of 5 or 6, and one of the few that I hand polish.  This complex gem always contains Lazurite, but may also contain calcite, pyrite, and sodalite.  This beautiful stone has a rich history of use for carving and jewelry that stretches back for more than 6000 years.  There are deposits of lapis lazuli in Chile, Canada, Russia, Burma, and the US.  Some of the best deposits are found in the caves of the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan.

The name, Lapis Lazuli, comes from the latin for stone, lapis, and the Persian word lazaward.  I have seen this translated as sky, heavens, or blue.  This deep blue stone that is flecked with "gold" has long been a favorite for carving ceremonial and ornamental pieces, game boards, bowls, dagger handles, and sculpture.  Now as in ancient times, it is worked and shaped for jewelry of all types.  In Egypt, lapis lazuli was ground to a powder and used as makeup.  In Europe, the same powder was used to color the paint that Michelengelo used to paint the Sistine Chapel.

In China, lapis lazuli was considered a stone of royalty.  In Persia, it was believed that this stone was the starry sky shrunk down to a precious gem.  In Islam, it is protection against the evil eye and in Buddhism it is used for healing and inner peace.

This beautiful gem has long been seen as a stone of spiritual energy and enlightenment.  It is a stone of deep inner truths, wisdom, and self awareness.  It is believed to connect to the spirit realm and aid in the development of psychic abilities.  It can enhance intuition, focus, clarity, and creativity.  There are some who believe that lapis lazuli is the energetic building block of knowledge.  It may help with past life exploration and help you find the magic that resides within you.

Whew, that's a lot from a pretty little stone.