Spotlight on | Agate

If you have trouble juggling work, family, relationships, health, spirituality, your Netflix queue – Agate might just be the stone for you. Known as “the stabiliser”, Agate is your resident superhero for those who struggle to find balance in this crazy topsy turvy world we’re currently inhabiting…

I mean, don’t we all?

The History of Agate

Named after the Greek philosopher who first stumbled upon it on the shores of the Sicilian River, Achates, almost 2500 years ago, some deposits here in Australia can date back 3.5 billion years.

Agate is a stone that has been used for centuries in various civilisations throughout the world. According to Pliny the Elder, Agate was believed to make its wearers “agreeable and persuasive and give them god’s favour”.

During the Neolithic era, Agate was used in healing amulets and ornamentation dating back to Babylon; in Mesopotamia, Agate signified strength and was carved into seals used for official documents in business transactions; in Ancient China, wearing Agate was believed to purify the mind and energise the wearer’s chi; during medieval times, it was tied to the horns of oxen to promote a bountiful harvest and; in some legends, Agate is believed to calm thunder and lightning storms.

Because of the relative strength of Agate, many historical artifacts have survived unharmed and continue to give historians a deeper understanding of the cultures and eras in which they were crafted and used.

Recognising Agate

Agate is formed out of the pockets inside volcanic rocks or old lava flow when the crevices, nodules and cracks fill with deposits of silica over the ages.

Its unusual colours and markings have made it a highly sought-after stone since time immemorial. Usually banded in layers, or stripes, some varieties have “eye” markings, or specks of colour, some have fossilised inclusions, and others are solid. Called the earth rainbow, the concentric bands of Agate form in nearly every colour the earth can produce, including no colour at all (colourless).

Agate rates a 6.5-7 on the Mohs hardness scale.

What is Agate used for?

There are hundreds of varieties of Agate, each with their unique properties. But in general, compared to other gemstones in the mineral kingdom, Agate radiates a lower, more gentle frequency, which makes it ideal for anyone who’s looking to slow down and take a little breather.

Agate has a calming, grounding effect and is often used to balance yin and yang energies. It can also be used to cleanse the aura and remove negative energy. Agate can bring out your natural talents and skills and encourage you to speak your truth. It also promotes self-acceptance and spiritual growth and soothes anger and bitterness.

When you feel overwhelmed or out of balance, coming back to Agate’s healing properties can remind you what true balance feels like and helps you identify what is most important to you on a deeper level so you can live in alignment with your values.

Types of Agate