Birthstone: N/A
Meaning: Truth
Chakras: Third Eye, Throat, Crown
Zodiac: Libra, Gemini, Sagittarius
Planet: Mercury, Jupiter
MOH’s Scale: 5
Element: Water
God/Goddess: Horus, Athena, Dana (Danu), Hera, Inanna, Ishtar, Nut, Ma’at
Anniversary Gift: 9th Anniversary
Lapis lazuli, or lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. Lapis lazuli is a mixture of hauyne, lazurite, and sodalite in a matrix of calcite, with pieces of pyrite providing the golden flecks. Its name means ‘sky stone’ from the Latin ‘lapis’ meaning stone and the Persian ‘lazward’ meaning ‘blue’ or ‘sky’. As early as the 7th millennium BC, lapis lazuli was mined in the Sar-i Sang mines, in Shortugai, and in other mines in Badakhshan province in modern northeast Afghanistan. Lapis lazuli artifacts, dated to 7570 BC, have been found at Bhirrana, which is the oldest site of Indus Valley civilization. Lapis was highly valued by the Indus Valley Civilization. Lapis beads have been found at Neolithic burials in Mehrgarh, the Caucasus, and as far away as Mauritania.
Afghanistan was the source of lapis for the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, as well as the later Greeks and Romans. Ancient Egyptians obtained the material through trade with Mesopotamians, as part of Egypt–Mesopotamia relations. During the height of the Indus Valley civilization, approximately 2000 BC, the Harappan colony, now known as Shortugai, was established near the lapis mines.
Lapis lazuli has been mined in Afghanistan and exported to the Mediterranean world and South Asia since the Neolithic age, along the ancient trade route between Afghanistan and the Indus Valley dating to the 7th millennium BC. Mines in northeast Afghanistan continue to be a major source of lapis lazuli. Important amounts are also produced from mines west of Lake Baikal in Russia, and in the Andes mountains in Chile which is the source that the Inca used to carve artifacts and jewelry.
Quantities of these beads have also been found at 4th millennium BC settlements in Northern Mesopotamia, and at the Bronze Age site of Shahr-e Sukhteh in southeast Iran (3rd millennium BC). A dagger with a lapis handle, a bowl inlaid with lapis, amulets, beads, and inlays representing eyebrows and beards, were found in the Royal Tombs of the Sumerian city-state of Ur from the 3rd millennium BC.
Lapis was also used in ancient Mesopotamia by the Akkadians, Assyrians, Sumerians, and Babylonians for seals and jewelry. It is mentioned several times in the Mesopotamian poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh (17th–18th century BC), one of the oldest known works of literature. The Statue of Ebih-Il, a 3rd millennium BC statue found in the ancient city-state of Mari in modern-day Syria, now in the Louvre, uses lapis lazuli inlays for the irises of the eyes.
In ancient Egypt, lapis lazuli was a favorite stone for amulets and ornaments such as scarabs. Lapis jewelry has been found at excavations of the Predynastic Egyptian site Naqada (3300–3100 BC). At Karnak, the relief carvings of Thutmose III (1479-1429 BC) show fragments and barrel-shaped pieces of lapis lazuli being delivered to him as tribute. It was also used in the funeral mask of Tutankhamen (1341–1323 BC). Powdered lapis was used as eye shadow by Cleopatra. Jewelry made of lapis lazuli has also been found at Mycenae attesting to relations between the Myceneans and the developed civilizations of Egypt and the East.
Pliny the Elder wrote that lapis lazuli is “opaque and sprinkled with specks of gold”. Because the stone combines the blue of the heavens and golden glitter of the sun, it was emblematic of success in the old Jewish tradition. In the early Christian tradition lapis lazuli was regarded as the stone of Virgin Mary.
In late classical times and as late as the Middle Ages, lapis lazuli was often called sapphire though it had little to do with the stone today known as the blue corundum variety sapphire. In his book on stones, the Greek scientist Theophrastus described “the ancient sapphirus, which is speckled with gold,” a description which unmistakably matches lapis lazuli.
There are many references to “sapphire” in the Old Testament, but most scholars agree that, since sapphire was not known before the Roman Empire, they most likely are references to lapis lazuli. For instance, Exodus 24:10: “And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone…” (KJV). The words used in the Latin Vulgate Bible in this citation are “quasi opus lapidis sapphirini”, the terms for lapis lazuli. Modern translations of the Bible, such as the New Living Translation Second Edition, refer to lapis lazuli in most instances instead of sapphire.
By the end of the Middle Ages, lapis lazuli began to be exported to Europe, where it was ground into powder and made into ultramarine, the finest and most expensive of all blue pigments. Ultramarine was used by some of the most important artists of the Renaissance and Baroque, including Masaccio, Perugino, Titian and Vermeer, and was often reserved for the clothing of the central figures of their paintings, especially the Virgin Mary. Ultramarine has also been found in dental tartar of medieval nuns and scribes, perhaps as a result of licking their painting brushes while producing medieval texts and manuscripts.
Lapis lazuli is an ancient gem, and as such, has a long history. The incredible golden and azure blue beauty of lapis lazuli has caused it to be valued as one of the most sacred stones for millennia. The very earliest cultures valued lapis lazuli more highly than gold. It was sacred to the Sumerian goddess of love and war, Ishtar, who was said to have worn a necklace made from it. The stone was often used to represent the heavens, and the earliest reference to it is in a Sumerian hymn describing the moon god Sim as having a ‘long flowing beard, bright as lapis lazuli’.
It was the most revered of stones, used by the wealthier denizens of the Nile, royalty, and the priestly class. Lapis lazuli is a stone of royalty and honor, much loved by the ancient Egyptians. Its golden flecks give it a magnificence that draws the eye and it has long been associated with the eyes since Ancient Egyptians used powdered lapis lazuli to make the color ultramarine for eye shadow and carved pieces for creating sacred Eye of Horus symbols. A lapis lazuli eye of Horus was considered to be particularly powerful.
Egyptian culture made a practice of burying lapis lazuli scarabs with their dead and believed it to offer protection. It was thought to be sacred to the star goddess Nut of the heavens and to Ma’at, the goddess off truth and balance. Judges in Ancient Egypt had to wear small lapis lazuli pendants of Ma’at on gold chains, as a sign of the responsibility of their office.
Witch Tip: If you wish to call upon one of these goddesses, place a piece of lapis lazuli as an offering on your altar.
The Egyptian sun god Ra was also described as having lapis lazuli hair, which was symbolic of the heavens. This association may have come about due to the golden ‘sun’ flecks in the blue stone. The stone continued to have such positive symbolic associations in the Late Period of Egypt, becoming known as ‘kheshed’ which meant joy or delight. Protective amulets and talismans were often carved onto this precious stone.
An ancient Greek cure for eye problems was to place a piece of lapis lazuli in a bowl of warm water, leaving it under the night sky for a few minutes, and then using the water to bathe the afflicted eye. You may try this if you suffer from sore eyes. As the lapis lazuli sits in the water, say: ‘stone of heaven, beloved of the gods, give me clear vision’. Then soak a little of the water in cotton wool and gently wipe across the eyes. If the eye strain persists, you would be advised to bathe your eyes in this water twice daily.
According to ancient records, lapis lazuli has been used to aid pregnancies throughout history. The ancient Greeks called it the ‘stop stone’ due to its use as an amulet for preventing miscarriages- a practice that continued through the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, ultramarine pigment made from crushed lapis was added to a potent medicine called Alkerries syrup and given to a woman who experienced difficulties during childbirth. The relaxing and harmonizing energy of the stone was said to help the body or reduce the physical stresses caused by pregnancy.
Witch Tip: If you are pregnant, wear a piece of lapis lazuli around or near the waist to protect the unborn child. Make a charm bag using blue silk and fill with pieces of lapis. Keep it on your person to benefit from the relaxing energies.
Considered to be the ‘stone of friendship’, it is said to protect one from physical danger and encourage honesty and dignity. It supports successful and loving relationships and teaches compassion and spiritual love. It is said to bring good luck, fortune, and harmony to relationships.
Lapis lazuli is an ancient stone and a universal symbol of deep wisdom and truth, including inner truth. It supports anyone ready to step into their own power and authentic self. It is a stone of intuition and is said to promote self-awareness. It inspires you to express yourself, clear your mind, actively listen, and helps improve your leadership abilities. It helps one to understand the mind, promote higher guidance, memory work, and focus, and thus this stone can be very intellectually stimulating and incredibly helpful to students or at work.
It works particularly well on the Throat Chakra and as such, it is a good stone to use if you repress your vocal energies. This may be shown by speaking too quietly or by being reluctant to speak your mind in situations either at home or at work, or shyness in general. It encourages honest and open communication. Lapis lazuli strengthens confidence in your abilities, acting as a hand of reassurance on your shoulder. It brings emotional and mental virility, giving you the ability to overcome trauma, grief, and depression. It will unity the mind and voice to bring clarity and objectivity of thought and speech which will filter the important and unimportant to understand and reflect. Also referred to as the stone of queens, wear lapis lazuli for luck, willpower, and self-esteem.
Witch Tip: If you have trouble speaking from the heart and saying what you really feel, anoint 4 pieces of lapis lazuli with cedar oil (which is sacred to Ishtar) and ask for help in expressing yourself.
Lapis lazuli is a stone of happiness. It is an enhancer gemstone, meant to give your current abilities a boost. It grants its wearer a clearer perspective on any negativity that is creeping into the mind. This makes lapis a great gemstone for happiness because you can’t fix a problem until you acknowledge that it is there. Lapis lazuli truly helps to enhance your insight.
Witch Tip: Create lapis lazuli gem essence and drink it to help reduce emotional bondage and stress.
Affirmation: I reach for the stars.
Lapis Lazuli is the great stone of intuition which allows us to make changes when change is necessary. Lapis is also an excellent stone for protection and shields us from psychic attacks, harmful energies and negativity, evil eyes, psychic vampires (people who are draining your spiritual energy, vitality, and emotion), clear negative influence brought about by judgments and/or projections, any negative past life energies, and last but not least- oneself. It returns negative energy and vibrations to its source and can be used to reverse curses.
Lapis cleanses the lens of the Third Eye and penetrates subconscious blocks. It also opens and balances the Throat Chakras. This stone promotes psychic abilities and inner vision. The sense of space associated with blue helps this stone to expand consciousness. Use it to improve your clairvoyant abilities. Lapis brings you closer to enlightenment and increases your intuition.
Lapis can be used for empowering and also improving your dreaming. The stone can also help if you suffer from insomnia, easing restlessness, anxiety, and helping you to fall asleep easier. Lapis gives reassurance and eases tension making this a great crystal for nerves. It can be worn as a pendant while you sleep or placed under the pillow. Lapis has also been said to be a helpful stone for dreamwork. Some believed that dreaming of lapis lazuli would foretell love that would be forever faithful.
Witch Tip: Blue stones often provide that calm needed to be able to function through difficult situations. Anoint your lapis lazuli with a few drops of lavender oil before retiring to bed to benefit from its tranquil effects.
Lapis lazuli has a wide range of uses as an aid to relaxation and is a great stress reliever. The calming attributes relieve stress and worry. Lapis lazuli can be held or worn to help you with meditation, or it can be used to help you practice meditating if you find your mind is easily distracted. It is a wonderful stone to meditate with because it awakens the third eye chakra to help you go deeper into your meditation. Whenever you find your attention wandering, think of the lapis lazuli for a few moments and visualize its golden flecks in your mind’s eye. This will help you to bring your focus and attention back to the subject or purpose of your meditation. It helps understanding and is often used in meditation, assisting us in accessing unknown mysteries. It encourages us to discover our true selves and face our inner most demons. It promotes honesty, self-expression, dignity, and courage.
Lapis lazuli is said to help create and maintain a connection between the physical and celestial planes, creating a strong spiritual connection. This may be related to its property of assisting in contact with guardian spirits. It creates an all-around protective shield.
In Feng Shui, lapis lazuli is associated with wisdom and creativity and should be used when decorating the house in blues towards the front of the home.
Lapis lazuli has wide ranging uses in crystal therapy, being useful in a myriad of ways. It is said that you can use it to help boost your immune system and to alleviate migraine pain. This was a touted ancient migraine remedy. It helps to ease eye strain, reduce blood pressure, regulate the thyroid gland, relieve back pain, and help many problems affecting the neck and throat. Staying in that area, it also is said to help easy larynx and vocal cord disorders. It also helps relieve vertigo and dizziness.
Witch Tip: To reduce and relieve back pain, hold lapis lazuli to the site of the pain.
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