The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Opal
The Power of Stones: Crystals and Gemstones

ORIGINS

Opal is an iridescent mineral of hydrated silica. It is found in an array of colors and varieties, including blue, cherry, chrysopal (blue-green), fire (orange-red), green, and hyalite (clear, glassy). The most famous opal deposits are in Australia, where it is the national gemstone, but it is also found in the United States, Honduras, Brazil, and Slovakia. In 2008, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found opal on Mars, suggesting that liquid water remained on the planet’s surface a billion years later than scientists had previously believed.

HISTORY/LORE

Australian Aboriginal legend describes the birth of opals: The Creator came down to Earth on a rainbow to bring the message of peace to all humans. On the spot where his foot touched, the stones became vibrant with color and began to sparkle, and this is how opal came to be. Opal plays a role in Sir Walter Scott’s 1829 novel, Anne of Geierstein, in which he writes of “a superb opal, which, amid the changing lights peculiar to that gem, displayed internally a slight tinge of red like a spark of fire.”

USES

Healing Uses: Opal cleanses the body, fights infections, and purifies the blood; cherry opal is especially helpful for blood disorders. Fire opal resonates with the abdomen and lower back, treating the intestines and kidneys. Green opal strengthens the immune system and battles colds and the flu. Hyalite, also called water opal, combats dehydration and enhances water retention.

Magical Uses: Opal is a delicate stone that supports cosmic consciousness and induces psychic and mystical visions. It reveals emotional information from the past, especially from past lives, and helps to incorporate that information into the present. Blue opal is particularly useful for this.

Feng Shui Uses: Generally speaking, opal uses water energy, the energy of stillness and purification, making it useful in the northern area of a home or room as well as the Career/Path in Life sector. Fire opal, on the other hand, uses fire energy, the energy of heat, action, and passion. Use this stone in the southern area of a home or room or in the Fame/Reputation sector.

Personal/Spiritual Growth: Opal is the birthstone for the month of October. This stone is wonderful for artists, as it stimulates creativity and originality. Chrysopal in particular opens the mind to new ideas and helps you to see the world with new eyes. Fire opal assists in business matters as well as situations of injustice or mistreatment. Green opal works wonders in relationships.