Properties:
Celestite is, without question, an Air mineral. Its calm, detached and intellectual presence allows us to stand back, observe, and find the best solution to a problem without engaging emotionally, or to resolve conflict through nonviolent communication. It is profoundly calming, and promotes a state of inner peace and deep meditation. Celestite clears the energy body, blowing away whatever is released. Its celestial blue-grey colour aligns not only with the Throat, but also with the Bindu Visarga, a point or ‘drop’ at the back top of the head that aids connection with the ‘Music of the Spheres’, and improves communication with our guides and the Angelic realm. Working with blue celestite can help us to let go of unnecessary ego and see the big picture – our place in the universe, and our connectedness with all that is within it.

Attributes:

  • Chemical Formula: SrSO4
  • Group: Sulphates
  • Crystal System: Orthorhombic
  • Hardness: 3 – 3.5
  • Birthstone: Secondary birthstone for Gemini
  • Chakra: Throat and Bindu Visarga
  • Element: Air

Mineralogy:
Celestite is the strontium analogue of baryte, with baryte often replacing strontium freely within the structure. It may also contain some calcium. Celestite is one of the most important sources of strontium, which is used to create the red colour in fireworks, tracer bullets and signal flares. It occurs mainly in sedimentary rocks such as bedded deposits of gypsum and halite, and also in cavities in bedded limestone and dolomite. The crystals are orthorhombic, with a distinctive diamond-shaped cross section, but it also forms as massive, fibrous, granular or nodular aggregates. High quality collectors’ examples come from Madagascar, Mexico, Canada, USA and Italy. Most of the celestite used in crystal therapy is the beautiful, transparent blue variety that originates from Madagascar.

Celestobaryte, or barian celestite, is a barium-rich variety of celestite. It usually forms beautiful tiny white fibrous crystals. There is a dense, opaque massive variety that originates from Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England. This contains hematite and pyrite inclusion, and is orange (probably due to iron oxide), with strong banding in cream and grey

History and Tradition:
Named in 1799 by Abraham Gottlieb Werner from the Greek cœlestis, meaning “celestial”, in allusion to the faint blue colour of the original specimen. There are no healing or talismanic traditions associated with this mineral.

 

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