Magic, mystery and rituals - Spooky Gemstone legends
As the veil between worlds grows thin each Halloween, it's impossible not to feel drawn to stories of magic and mystery. Folklore legends have been told for millennia in every ancient culture across the world, steeped in fantastical allure. It's no wonder that Gemstones, with their mesmerising colours and enchantment, have featured in these tales since records began. Come with us as we dive into ancient folklore and get into the bewitching history of some of our favourite gemstones!
Obsidian (The Witch’s Mirror)
In English folklore Obsidian has come to be used in the mystical practice of Scrying - a form of divination where witches and occult practitioners stare into a reflective surface to tell fortunes, see visions of the future, or communicate with spirits. Obsidian was famously used in the 16th century by occultist and alchemist John Dee, who served as astronomer and advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. He used Obsidian for his divinations and even claimed to predict how long she would reign. Originally, Scrying was conducted using a crystal ball, however polished Obsidian became the more modern trend during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when interest in mysticism surged.
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Onyx (The Familiar's Stone)
In medieval Europe, Onyx was often associated with witches and their familiars (familiars being a witches animal companion, protectors and kindred spirits). An age old tale tells a story of a lonely witch who lived in a forest, on the out skirts of a quaint village, with her beautiful black cat named Onyx. Villagers believed the cat was her gateway to the underworld, from which she gained her dark powers. The witch also owned a mystical Onyx necklace, and on Halloween night, the witch would wear her necklace using it to summon spirits and ask for visions of the future. However, one fateful night, a young villager confronted the witch throwing her Onyx necklace into the depths of the forest, breaking the curse of the witch. The cat suddenly transformed into a human, revealing they had been trapped in the feline form for centuries. Although, the forest does not remain in peace, it is said that every Halloween night, the witch roams the under growth forever searching for her precious Onyx necklace.
Garnet (The Vampire's Stone)
Medieval Europe was rife with dark legends and myths, and is still famous for birthing one of the most well known monstrous creatures of all time... This fascinating tale of Garnet takes place in a remote village surrounded by dense, misty forest. The charming townsfolk found themselves plagued with a vampire, who was once a nobleman, cursed for his arrogance and greed. One of the villagers happened to be a wise herbalist, she revealed that Garnet possessed protective properties against dark forces. One night, a brave villager called Elena, decided to confront the vampire in the woods armed with a Garnet talisman made by the herbalist. A sense of dread came over her in the dark of the forest and the vampire appeared, with a look of malice and hunger. Elena, summoning all her courage, gripped the Garnet tightly and a deep red, protective aura surrounded her, causing the vampire to recoil. Suddenly, a number of villagers gathered behind her, with more Garnet amulets from the herbalist. Joining forces they created a powerful barrier that trapped the vampire, the Garnet dissipated him into a cloud of mist, freeing the village from his curse.
Moonstone (The Lunar Stone)
For centuries, Moonstone has been known across many cultures for its mystical qualities, with many legends linking the gemstone to the stars and the moon in beautiful celestial tales. One legend from European folklore in the middle ages, tells a story of a knight who became injured in battle. On his quest to find healing, he came across a wise woman known for her knowledge of gemstones. She gifted him a Moonstone, with instruction to keep it close to him on the next full moon. As he rested under the moonlight, with the Moonstone close to his chest, the gemstone absorbed the moons lunar energy, and the next morning.. he was healed. Another story of Moonstone magic comes from Native American folklore, where a young woman wished upon the stars for wisdom. A sprit then appeared who gifted her a Moonstone which was told would illuminate her path and show her signs or visions. As she made her way the Moonstone would reflect the light of the stars and provide her with clarity in times of darkness.
Lapis Lazuli (Stone of the Afterlife)
In Egyptian burial practices, heart amulets made from Lapis Lazuli were placed on the chest of a deceased loved one after mummification. They believed that the heart is the resting place of the soul and morality. In the afterlife, the heart would be weighed against the feather of Ma'at (Ma'at being the goddess of truth and justice). If the heart was as light as the feather it meant the person had lived a virtuous life, allowing them to enter the afterlife. However, if the heart was heavier, weighed down by the persons wrong doings, the soul would be devoured by Ammit, a fearsome creature that had the head of a crocodile, a torso of a lion and the hind quarters of a hippo. The Lapis Lazuli heart amulets were inscribed with passages from The Book of the Dead, usually spells and instructions to navigate the soul to the afterlife.
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Opal (The Cursed Stone)
One of the most enduring myths surrounding gemstones is the belief that Opal brings bad luck to those who wear it. This belief was heightened during the 19th century when Sir Walter Scott published his novel Anne of Geierstein (The Maiden in the Mist) in 1829. The story features a mysterious Opal set into a diadem worn by one of the novels characters, Annes grandmother, Lady Hermione. Portrayed as having a superstitious nature, she grows deeply attached to the Opal which appears to ominously change colour with her mood. Lady Hermione's sudden death in the book is attributed to the Opal and its deadly powers. This reinforced and enhanced the belief that Opal cursed its wearers, which was widely held by the public at the time and even led to the decrease and near fall of the Opal trade across Europe.
Amethyst (The Spirit Stone)
In English folklore, there are tales of amethyst crystals that are said to be guarded by restless spirits. In one particular ancient English myth, it is told that a powerful Amethyst crystal was discovered in a sacred grove - although it is not specified exactly which sacred grove, it is thought to be either Glastonbury Tor, The New Forest or, of course, Stonehenge. This crystal radiated magical powers and was protected by its guardian, the ghost of a druid named Eira. Rumours of the crystal spread through a nearby village and greedy thieves planned to steal it, disregarding the villagers warnings. On the night of the heist, moon shining in the depth of the black sky, the thieves approached the Amethyst in the heart of the grove. Eira, giving the men a chance at reprieval, appeared in a flash of purple light to warn them of the doom that would befall anyone who would misuse the crystal. Her kind efforts in vain, Eira transformed the thieves into stone, ironically forever guarding the Amethyst and its sacred grove for eternity.
