Agate

Birthstone for: Gemini and Pisces
Aligns with the: Throat Chakra

Blue lace agate is blue chalcedony with layering of white quartz or jasper; it is calming and bestows optimism. Good for communication, especially in friendship, as it reflects both aspects of communication: the ability to listen and understand as well as the ability to communicate clearly.

Quartz or agate/chalcedony, with manganese dendrites. Although purported to come from only one mine in New Mexico, it is also known as dendritic agate, and available elsewhere.

Merlinite is used in magic work,to develop intuition and psychic ablilities, and to access past lives and elemental energies.

Birthstone for: Gemini and Virgo
Aligns with the: Heart Chakra

Green Moss Agate is balancing, calming, stabilising and detoxifying. It acts as a powerful healing, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving stone. Use it directly on or near the area that needs healing, or as an elixir, especially for skin complaints.

Birthstone for: Aries
Aligns with the: Navel Chakra

Contains thin layers of Limonite. Fire Agate is said to make us desire to be the best we can be. It is strongly protective, forming a shield around the body, which reflects any ill-wish back to the source, helping the sender to learn from their actions. It aids circulation. It can also be used to remove heat from the body, and so is good for hot flushes, and conditions caused by too much “heat” in Chinese medicine.

Birthstone for: Gemini and Aries
Aligns with the: Base Chakra

Banded Agate balances and calms, is good for communication and grounding, and promotes abstract creative thoughts.

Red Agate is articificially coloured

Most agates currently available are grey. The colour is enhanced by dying. For example, to obtain a red colour, the pigment is iron oxide, which is imitating nature (iron oxide is responsible for much red or orange pigment in minerals). The agate is placed in a solution of iron nitrate, and heated. Blue pigment is from iron (solution of yellow potassium ferro-cyanide, then boiling in hydrous iron sulfate). These pieces are mainly ornamental, so enjoy them for their cheerful bright colours, although they can be used to some extent in healing, with colour therapy in mind.

The colours often fade over time when left in strong sunlight.