Properties:
Chrysoberyl is balancing, mood-lifting, and emotionally soothing, especially for the heart. It is lovely to use after a traumatic experience, to “smooth ruffled feathers”. Chrysoberyl can gently shield and protect, and also supports the immune system. It radiates an intense green light into the body, burns off any negative energy, and balances, clears and connects all the Chakras. It is particularly strong around the Solar Plexus, Heart and Upper Heart Chakras, and can increase one’s sense of inner strength and vitality. Physically, it reduces inflammation, and is useful in the treatment of sinus problems and IBS. A crystal water (without brandy as a preservative) can be used to treat eye irritations. Spiritually, it opens the Third Eye Chakra and allows one to remain grounded while working both psychically and spiritually.
Alexandrite is aligned with and opens the Heart Chakra, but also opens the Third Eye and Crown Chakras, creating a strong spiritual connection, and a gentle connection with one’s spirit guides. The narrower, pointed end of the crystal is quite directional, and used as a wand can open and balance the other Chakras. Alexandrite balances physically and emotionally, is generally healing, supporting the immune system, and specifically can calm inflammation and aid regeneration of tissue down to a cellular level. It can help raise underlying energy levels when overworked, and also facilitates travel between dimensions. Used in meditation, alexandrite can create inner expansion, and a feeling of being “at one with the Universe”. The energy is quite masculine and goal-orientated, and encourages independence. It not only assists us in achieving our goals on an earthly level, but its use can also mark one as a spiritual warrior. Because the energy is so powerful, I strongly recommend dedicating the crystal before use.
Attributes:
- Chemical Formula: CaMgSi2O6
- Group: Oxides
- Crystal System: Orthorhombic
- Hardness: 8.5
- Birthstone: Secondary birthstone for Leo; Alexandrite is secondary birthstone for Scorpio
- Chakra: Heart, Upper Heart, Third Eye and Crown
- Element: Spirit and Water; Wood
Mineralogy:
Chrysoberyl is usually found in granites and granite pegmatites while alexandrite is found in mica schists. Its hardness is inferior only to diamond and corundum (sapphire and ruby), and so will often endure while the parent rock weathers away. Crystals are orthorhombic, and have a distinctive (usually tabular) shape. Chrysoberyl often displays chatoyancy (cat’s eye effect) from included minerals that form parallel to each other and focus reflected light into a bright line, so the stone is sometimes known as “cat’s eye”.
Alexandrite is a rare gem variety or chrysoberyl. Chromium has replaced some of the aluminium in the structure of alexandrite. Light absorption is effected by the chromium, and varies dependent on the source, so alexandrite appears green in daylight, changing dramatically to red under tungsten light.
History and Tradition:
Chysoberyl’s name comes from the Greek for “golden beryl”, in allusion to its colour. It was known in Asia for thousands of years, and cat’s eye chryoberyl was used to protect against the “evil eye”. Hindus believed it would not only protect its owner from harm, but would also prevent poverty.
Alexandrite was named for Tsar Alexander II, and was supposedly discovered on his birthday in 1830. Because of its relatively recent discovery, there are no traditions associated with this mineral.
