The Sober Stone
The amethyst (also called the artist’s stone) is my daughter’s birthstone, she being born in February, and it has been a prized gem throughout the centuries. From the breastplate of Aaron, to the rings of Bishops, to the British crown jewels, a true amethyst has been valued as much as the diamond, but as it’s rarity decreased, so did it’s value.
The name amethyst was derived from the ancient Greek word amethustos, meaning “not intoxicated”, or “sober”. Throughout history the special virtue of amethyst has been that of preventing drunkenness and overindulgence. The stone is thought to control evil thoughts, make a shrewd man in business, protect soldiers from wounds during battle, aid warriors to victory, help hunters as they search for game, protect the wearer from contagious diseases, and makes demons take flight if the figure of a bear that has been inscribed on the jewel. The amethyst is known as a precious stone bringing forth the highest and purest of aspirations, while guarding against anger and our base natures. It encourages calmness, bravery, chastity and sobriety. It is associated with the crown chakra at the top of the head where divine essence enters. Historically, the stone was believed to assist in prophecies and visions and thought to bring riches and powers to its owners, and rings of amethyst set in bronze were worn as charms against evil, and magical cups carved from amethyst banished sorrow and evil from all who drank. It is a good stone to solve disharmony, and is suggested for the children of warring relatives to wear. In recent times, it has been suggested that amethyst cups be used by college students to avoid over intoxication.
To quote crystalvaluts.com, “In today’s world, Amethyst is still a remarkable stone of spirituality and contentment, known for its metaphysical abilities to still the mind and inspire an enhanced meditative state. Its inherent high frequency purifies the aura of any negative energy or attachments, and creates a protective shield of Light around the body, allowing one to remain clear and centered while opening to spiritual direction. Amethyst stimulates the Third Eye, Crown and Etheric Chakras enhancing cognitive perception as well as accelerating the development of intuitive and psychic ability.”
Perhaps all clients should receive an amethyst ring or necklace when they enter a recovery facility, but I am not seeing any program directors handing out stones. The healing power of the amethyst, and all gemstones, is vast, including stress relief, protection, and all physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Our addicts need all the help they can get, and just calling your facility ‘Amethyst House’ is not enough.
Amethyst trivia- did you know that the Smithsonian has one of the largest Amethysts ever, weighing 400 pounds!
