💎️ Gemstone Overview

The gemstone is commonly known as Aquamarine. Its scientific name is Beryl.

Aquamarine, which means "water of the sea" in Latin, has been known and used for thousands of years. It was first documented by Pliny the Elder, a Roman author and naturalist who lived from 23 to 79 AD. Ancient seafarers carried aquamarine crystals with them on their voyages as they believed it would ensure a safe and prosperous journey across stormy seas. During the Middle Ages in Europe, aquamarine was also thought to have healing properties for ailments affecting the throat or liver.

In various cultures around the world, aquamarine holds significant spiritual value. It's often associated with tranquility, serenity, clarity, and harmony - much like calm sea waters that its color resembles. Many believe that it can help individuals express their true feelings more clearly while reducing stress levels. Some legends say that mermaids' tails were made of aquamarines; hence it's considered a treasure of mermaids which brings luck to sailors.

In terms of religious significance, within Christianity specifically Catholicism - St Thomas mentions in his writings about apostles' symbols where he associates Aquamarine with St Thomas himself due to its reflective property symbolizing mirroring and contemplation.

Today this semi-precious stone is primarily mined in Brazil but other notable locations include Pakistan’s Karakoram Mountains; Afghanistan; Madagascar; Nigeria; Mozambique; Zambia and Russia’s Ural Mountains.

🔬 Physical Properties

  • Aquamarine, as the name suggests, typically comes in a range of blue shades - from pale light blue to deep oceanic blue. Some aquamarines also have a slight greenish tint. The most valued color is a dark blue to slightly greenish-blue with moderately strong intensity.

  • Aquamarine has a good hardness rating of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale which makes it quite durable and resistant to scratches. It's suitable for everyday wear but care should still be taken not to knock or drop it onto hard surfaces.

  • The crystal structure of aquamarine is hexagonal (six-sided). This gemstone often forms large and well-formed hexagonal prisms that can be quite stunning.

  • While high-quality specimens are considered rare, especially those with deeply saturated colors, aquamarine itself is relatively common compared to many other gemstones. However, larger stones and those with intense color can command higher prices due their rarity.

🌙 Psychic and Spiritual Attributes

Aquamarine is primarily associated with the Throat Chakra. It aids in clear communication, self-expression, and promotes verbal eloquence. Additionally, it can also stimulate the Heart Chakra to encourage compassion and tolerance.

This gemstone is particularly beneficial for those born under the signs of Pisces, Aries, Gemini, and Scorpio. It helps to balance their energies and brings calmness into their lives.

Aquamarine has a strong affiliation with the element of Water. As such it embodies all things connected to the sea; this stone is believed to be a treasure of mermaids making it an excellent talisman for sailors or those traveling by water.

Known as a stone of courage and fortitude that can bring great power. Its calming energies reduce stress while quieting the mind. In terms of psychic energy properties - aquamarine enhances intuition abilities making it perfect for meditation or revelation purposes as well as promoting self-awareness and clarity on one's spiritual journey.

Aquamarine shields your aura from negative emotional energy helping you stay clear-minded and emotionally balanced.

It also encourages intellectual growth and inner knowledge opening up intuition and enhancing psychic abilities hence often used by mystics for its insightful divination qualities.

🍀 Healing and Therapeutic Properties

Aquamarine is a stone known for its calming energies. It helps to reduce stress, quiet the mind, and soothe fears. This gemstone can be particularly beneficial in helping individuals deal with emotional trauma or grief, as it promotes feelings of peace and encourages a positive outlook on life. It also aids in communication by promoting clear expression of one's thoughts and feelings.

In terms of physical healing properties, aquamarine is believed to aid with ailments related to the throat area such as sore throats or thyroid problems due to its association with the throat chakra. It's also said to help balance hormones, boost the immune system, improve allergies, support eye health and assist in maintaining overall vitality.

On an intellectual level, aquamarine stimulates intellect and sharpens intuition. Its calming energy helps clear confusion and uncluttered the mind allowing for better decision making processes. The stone is also believed to enhance creativity which can be beneficial for problem-solving tasks.

As a spiritual tool, aquamarine enhances meditation by promoting inner peace and tranquility. It opens up channels for communication with higher realms providing clarity during spiritual exploration or journeying. Furthermore, this gemstone facilitates understanding one’s place in the universe leading towards enlightenment.

🕯️ Use in Magic and Rituals

Aquamarine is often used in spells and rituals associated with healing, soothing, calming, and purification. It's known as a stone of courage and protection, making it ideal for use in rituals to enhance communication skills or overcome fears. In sea witchcraft traditions, aquamarine is commonly used due to its strong connection with water element and the ocean. The gemstone can also be utilized in love spells because of its ability to encourage compassion and tolerance.

To cleanse an aquamarine gemstone, you can rinse it under cool running water then dry it gently using a soft cloth. You may also leave your aquamarine out during a full moon night for lunar energy cleansing. Charging this stone can be done by placing it near other high vibration stones like quartz or amethyst which will amplify its energy. Alternatively, you could charge your aquamarine by immersing it into saltwater (symbolizing its connection with the sea) for several hours.

In divination practices or psychic readings, Aquamarines are often used as a tool for enhancing clairvoyance - clear seeing - especially when placed on the third eye chakra during meditation sessions. This gemstone aids intuitive understanding thus providing clarity about situations that might seem confusing at first glance.

It's also believed that holding an Aquamarine while doing Tarot card readings helps open up channels of communication between reader and client facilitating more accurate interpretations.

🌠 Gemstone in Astrology

Aquamarine is the birthstone for those born in March. It's also associated with the astrological sign of Pisces, which falls largely within this month. This gemstone is believed to bring courage, foresight and happiness to people who are born under this sign.

In astrology, Aquamarine is linked with Neptune – the planet that rules Pisces. Neptune represents dreams, intuition and spiritual enlightenment. Therefore, aquamarine can be used as a tool to enhance these qualities or help channel Neptunian energy.

While Aquamarine has a special connection with Pisces due to its status as their birthstone, it can influence other sun signs too:

  • For water signs (Cancer and Scorpio), it may deepen their intuitive abilities and emotional understanding.

  • Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) might find increased patience and tolerance when using aquamarine.

  • Air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) could experience enhanced communication skills especially in matters of heart.

  • Fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) may feel calmer emotions and heightened perception while using this stone.

🧿 Talismanic Use

Aquamarine, with its soothing blue-green color reminiscent of the sea, is often used in talismans and amulets for protection during travel, especially over water. To use it this way, one can wear aquamarine jewelry or carry an aquamarine stone while traveling. It's also commonly used in meditation practices; holding an aquamarine gemstone while meditating can help calm the mind and enhance clarity of thought. Additionally, some people place an aquamarine stone under their pillow to promote peaceful dreams.

Aquamarine symbolizes tranquility, serenity, inspiration, and inner peace. Its connection with the sea makes it a powerful symbol for cleansing and healing - just as the tides wash away debris on the shorelines. This symbolism influences its use as a talisman by promoting emotional balance and helping to reduce stress or fears. As such, it might be used in amulets meant for calming emotions during challenging times or inspiring creativity in various endeavors.

🏷️ Buying Guide

When selecting high-quality aquamarine, consider the color and clarity of the stone. The most valuable aquamarines are a deep blue or greenish-blue with no visible inclusions (flaws). Lighter stones are more common but less valuable. Also, look for well-cut stones that reflect light evenly across their surface. Larger stones will generally have deeper colors than smaller ones due to the way color intensifies in larger specimens.

The price of an aquamarine can vary greatly depending on its size, quality, and origin. Smaller, lighter-colored stones may cost as little as $20 per carat while large, high-quality specimens can fetch up to $500 per carat or more. Factors influencing the price include color intensity (the deeper the better), size (larger is usually more expensive), cut quality (well-cut gems command higher prices), and origin (stones from certain locations like Brazil or Mozambique might be priced higher).

Aquamarine is a relatively hard gemstone but it still requires careful handling to prevent scratching or chipping. Avoid wearing your aquamarine jewelry when doing rough work or playing sports. To clean your gemstone, use warm soapy water and a soft brush; avoid harsh chemicals which could damage the stone's surface over time. It's also best not to expose your aquamarine to prolonged periods of heat or direct sunlight as this could fade its color.