Opal: A Bewitching And Soothing Stone

Precious and semi-precious gemstones all have amazing powers, in addition to their beauty. Opal, the stone with the colors of the rainbow, has never ceased to be coveted, all the way to Cleopatra’s court.

It is now your turn to discover this bewitching and soothing stone.

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Origins and deposits of opal

Its name comes from the Sanskrit upala, “precious stone,” from which Greek drew opallios and Latin opalus. Archaeologists are reported to have found opal-decorated objects in a Kenyan cave, dated to around 4000 BC.

Australia, where opal was identified in 1849 in layers of sandy clay, now supplies most of the world’s opal: Coober Pedy, in South Australia, is its capital, with fields stretching for dozens of kilometers. Opal needs alternating dry and wet periods to form. Since 2008, Ethiopia has become another major producer.

Mineralogically, opal has no crystals: it is a hydrated silica made of tiny spheres that diffract light. Two stones from the same deposit can be completely different, hence its many varieties.

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A stone of legend, born of the sky and the gods

Its beauty and colors have earned it a place in many legends. In India, it was said that the goddess of the rainbow turned herself into opal to escape her suitors. In Arab cultures, it shines so brightly because it holds lightning within. For the Greeks, it was born from Zeus’s tears of joy after his victory over the Titans, and granted the gifts of clairvoyance and prophecy.

For the Romans, it symbolized hope and purity. Pliny the Elder tells how the senator Nonius chose exile rather than surrender his opal to Mark Antony; legend adds that it was meant for Cleopatra. And according to some Aboriginal groups of Australia, the Creator came down to Earth one day on a rainbow: where he set foot, the stones began to sparkle. Opal was born.

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Opal, a stone that is both soothing and invigorating

Crystal healing makes it possible to take care of yourself with gemstones. Opal is both soothing and invigorating: it restores drive to weary people and acts above all on the emotional level.

A reputation as a cursed stone

In the Middle Ages, it was said to make its wearer invisible. In the 19th century, Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein (1829), in which an opal loses its fire at the touch of holy water, gave it a reputation for bad luck, and sales collapsed. Queen Victoria, who gave opals to her daughters, helped restore its image.

Interesting facts about opal

Opal contains water, up to 20% of its weight. It is also said to mirror the wearer’s state of mind: a lively person revives its colors, a sad one dulls them, and it would not bear an overly negative environment.

⚠️ The virtues attributed to stones come from traditions and beliefs. They are not a treatment and do not replace medical advice.

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How to cleanse and recharge opal

• Cleanse it in a bath of distilled water, but never with salt.
• Recharge it gently in moonlight rather than in the sun or near a heat source.
• Never let it dry out: in too dry a place, it can dehydrate and even crack.

This stone of purity and love is not the only one that deserves your attention: discover amethyst, the stone of sobriety.

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