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The Magic of Moss Agate Stone

As you gaze into the Moss Agate stone, you are whisked away by the natural scenery unfolding within it. With dendritic tendrils that seem to fan out like the leaves of a fern or the branches of a tree, it’s no wonder that Moss Agate has become the quintessential Gardener’s Stone, housing the magic of life and the beauty of nature within it.

The savvy gardener would do well to wear Moss Agate stone or carry it nearby when working their magic in the garden as it can help increase Nature’s bounty and lead to fertile plants that are healthy and full of vigor, as well as more robust harvests.

It is not uncommon to hang small pieces of Moss Agate on trees to inspire the tree to grow healthy and produce vibrant blossoms and fruit. Charging Moss Agate stone and “planting” it in the earth of your garden provides the most magical of plant food for your plants.

The plant deities and devas look kindly on a garden and gardener who employs the magic of Moss Agate stone in their garden and do their best to encourage a blessed bounty and to counsel and guide the hands of the gardener as they tend to their garden.

There is a powerful, vigorous healing energy within the Moss Agate stone. Tribal healers lauded its ability to interact on a truly organic level with the mind, body, and spirit to bring it to wholeness and the glow of health.

With a typically lower, calm, and tempered vibration than many crystals, Moss Agate strikes a balance between the yin and yang within us and in the world around us, reconciling our world with the harmonic cycle of life.

Moss Agate resonates with the Heart and Root Chakra, and as such is a stabilizing gem – quite literally. Curiously enough, it has a reputation for being able to steady the feet of young children so that they do not fall.

Moss Agate is connected to Asclepius, god of medicine and one of Apollo’s sons. Asclepius is intricately connected with the art of healing; the rod of Asclepius – a snake-twined staff — went on to become a symbol of medicine.

His daughters represent the healing arts in their very essence – Hygieia (the goddess from whom the word “hygiene” comes), goddess of cleanliness and sanitation. Panacea, goddess of universal remedies. Aesco, the goddess who oversees the healing process, and Aglæa/Ægle, goddess of the “glow of health.”

Moss Agate is actually a form of chalcedony. Chalcedony stones are wonderful, calming stones, used to banish fears and nightmares as well as promote better mental health and dissolve destructive illusions and self-deluding fantasies.

Watch the Video: The Gardener’s Stone

Sometimes referred to as “mocha stone” or “birthing crystal,” Moss Agate provides amazing benefits to women who will be conceiving and lactating mothers. Keeping Moss Agate nearby in the delivery room can ease the pain of childbirth and help with welcoming the new bundle of joy into the world, as it is the stone of new beginnings.

And being that Moss Agate is a form of chalcedony, chalcedony is known to help lactating mothers produce milk for their little ones.

While it is called an agate, moss agate doesn’t actually fit the typical description of an agate stone, as it doesn’t have the characteristic bands that agate stones are known for. But seeing as it was given its name long before the scientific understanding of agate evolved, the name has stuck nevertheless.

The dendritic, moss-like bands within the Moss Agate stone are formed by inclusions of iron and manganese. It’s worth noting that Montana is home to its very own special form of Moss Agate, called Montana Moss Agate, known for having a characteristic red hue due to iron staining.

A product of the volcanic eruptions and lava flows that have occurred near Yellowstone Park, Montana Moss Agate can only be found near Yellowstone River and its tributaries between Sidney and Billings, Montana.

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The Meaning of Malachite Stone

Malachite is considered “The Stone of Transformation.” It gets this identity from its ability to be particularly helpful when it comes to undergoing major life changes or starting a new project or goal. Malachite’s name comes from the Greek word malakos, which means “soft.”

Malachite is often used to protect against negative energy and is also used to inspire creativity and enhance intuitive abilities. It is also used to align one’s path with life’s synchronicities and has power over coincidence. It has been used throughout history to line the carvings of churches, to paint Egyptian tombs, and even in art as a pigment. Malachite dust was even used as eye shadow, and in Czarist Russia it was used to decorate cathedrals.

Malachite Metaphysical Properties

Interestingly enough, it is believed malachite will sometimes break into pieces to warn of immediate danger. Malachite amplifies emotions, both good and bad, so be very careful when wearing Malachite while in a sour mood – you will be made more miserable.

Some malachite comes with unique light green bands that can sometimes form an eye-shaped design. These are called “eye stones” and are especially potent when it comes to amplifying visions and creating wards of protection. Malachite also has the ability to create a psychic barrier of protection that can conceal you from negative energies.

A green oval malachite cabochon ring with vertical line coloration starting lightest green in the center line and alternating dark and light outward, resting atop a raw malachite shard. HyperLinks to Conscious Items product "The Heart Healing Ring" in a new tab. | Malachite Metaphysical Properties and Meaning |

The Healing Power of Malachite Stone*

As its lively green color suggests, Malachite embodies the energies of natural healing, spiritual growth, and renewal. It is also used in crystal healing to help with digestion, heal muscle injuries, make labor and childbirth easier, and help with heart problems.

►Video: The Transformation Stone: Malachite

Interesting Facts About Malachite

Malachite is somewhat brittle and doesn’t lend itself to being faceted, so it is often easiest cut and smoothed into cabochons.

Malachite stone has a hardness of only 3 ½ on the Mohs scale.
Zaire produces the best quality malachite, but the stone can be found in other parts of the world such as Romania and the Congo.
Malachite usually grows in conjunction with other minerals, most commonly Azurite. In fact, malachite and azurite banded together in one stone are usually called azure-malachite.
Malachite is actually a by-product of copper, created when other chemicals alter the composition of copper.

Is Malachite Toxic?

A bracelet of smoothed shiny Malachite beads with a banded pattern resting atop a cross-section of tree rings. Hyperlinks to Conscious Items product "The Anti-Anxiety Bracelet" in a new tab. | Malachite Metaphysical Properties and Meaning |

Malachite can be toxic and the dust can cause difficulty breathing among other complications. The stone can be worn down by fluids, such as sweat and moisture. Seeing as malachite is soft and can wear away with relative ease, take care to not wear it in jewelry that you will have on for a prolonged period of time or that will have constant contact with the skin.

When grinding malachite, make sure it is wet and wear a protective mask, to help lessen the odds you will ingest the dust. Smokers are especially sensitive to malachite dust. If it is being inhaled by a smoker, the smoke will taste unusually sweet. This is a consequence of the copper oxide in malachite mixing with moisture in the mouth. This combination becomes saccharin.

Malachite and the Chakras

Malachite aligns with the Heart Chakra and the Solar Plexus Chakra. The Heart Chakra is where the physical and spiritual meet, and to have an open heart chakra is to be full of love, empathy, and understanding. The Solar Plexus Chakra is the chakra where our sense of purpose originates and is at the heart of our self-esteem.

Malachite generates harmony in the Heart Chakra, making it easier to remain positive and to keep emotions balanced. It also helps shed light on one’s own shortcomings and impending pitfalls. In terms of its connection to the Solar Plexus Chakra, malachite can help increase willpower and confidence.

A smooth shiny Malachite bead with alternating bands of varying shades of green strung on a black braided cord resting on a tan surface near plant grains and seeds. Hyperlinks to Conscious Items product "The Detoxification Necklace" in a new tab. | Malachite Metaphysical Properties and Meaning |

Malachite Frequently Asked Questions

Is Malachite a crystal?

Malachite crystals are usually bright green, although there are malachite specimens that are not crystals. They are usually opaque and dull, with an earthy appearance.

Where is Malachite found in the United States?

While Malachite is predominately found in Russia, Zaire, and Australia, Malachite can be found in United States locations such as Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Is Malachite toxic?

Malachite dust can be toxic if inhaled, so caution should be practiced when drilling or carving the stone.

How is Malachite formed?

Malachite is actually a by-product of copper, created when other chemicals alter the composition of copper. Malachite usually grows in conjunction with other minerals, most commonly Azurite. In fact, malachite and azurite banded together in one stone is usually called azure-malachite.