Opal Gemstones

What is an opal gemstone?

Opal is a mineraloid, and that means it doesn’t have the crystalline structure like other gemstones such as diamonds or sapphires. Unlike other gemstones, opals don’t have a uniform structure. They’re formed from a mix of silica and water that’s filled in voids in rocks. Over time, the water evaporates, leaving behind a gel-like substance that hardens into a solid. That’s the geological process that forms opals. They’re found in a couple of places around the world, the most famous ones being in Australia.

People value most gemstones for their durability and ability to withstand time. However, opals are valued for their beauty, which sets them apart from other gemstones. No two opals are alike. They come in a range of colours and types, and their hues can shift dramatically, making each opal a unique specimen. You might encounter white opals, black opals, fire opals, or boulder opals—each with its set of characteristics, or “opal essence”.

Shapes & Forms of Opal Gemstone

When it comes to forms and shapes, opals offer incredible versatility. Because they are organic in nature, they can be found in various stunning shapes—round, oval, pear, and even freeform cuts. One of the most popular forms of opal is the cabochon, which has a smooth, rounded shape that allows the opal’s colours to shine.

There is another unique kind of opal: the matrix opal, where the gemstone is embedded in the host rock, allowing the opal to maintain its natural connection to the earth. This form is commonly seen in boulder opals. Some opals also come in rough, uncut forms, which can be polished and shaped by skilled jewellers to reveal their hidden beauty.

Opals can be many colours, from milky white to deep blue or fiery red. The “play of colour,” or fire within an opal, can be so intense that it looks like a rainbow trapped in the stone.

Opal Gemstone Metaphysical Properties and Benefits

For hundreds of years, opal has been thought to hold powers that are not of this world. In numerous cultures, opal is considered a precious stone that, above all else, represents hope, purity, and even spiritual enlightenment. The way an opal scintillates in the light, changing and sometimes contrasting with the colours and patterns seen on the stone’s surface, is thought, quite rightly, to be one of the opal’s best features.

Opal is frequently linked with increasing creativity and the healing of emotions in a metaphysical sense. The stone is thought to raise the wearer’s feelings and desires, pushing them to express themselves fully and to chase after what might be considered an atypical artistic kind of life. In decision-making, the opal is said to be a beneficial stone to have on hand.

On a physical level, some individuals think that opals possess healing powers that can promote the body’s immune system, aid with digestion, and alleviate emotional stress. While scientific proof backing these assertions may be scant, numerous people take pleasure in adorning themselves with opals for their alleged abilities to instill peace and harmony in one’s life.

Opal Gemstone Meanings in Ancient Lore and History

Opals have been held in esteem and awe for thousands of years. Ancients in Greece held the view that opals granted the gift of prophecy and the ability to see into the future. Opals, too, were thought to bring abundance and good fortune, and they were favoured by many who sought the guidance of deities.

In Europe during the Middle Ages, opals were thought to be protectors, a belief stemming from their perceived ability to keep evil at bay and maintain the wearer’s good health. These ideas about opals not only made them popular among the medieval European elite but also caused their value to skyrocket, leading to lavish settings for crown jewels and other sorts of precious jewellery.

In ancient times, opals were at times viewed with fear. Certain cultures believed that it was the colours in which the gemstone was played that could bring bad luck—especially when the stone’s hues were darker. That negative belief kept opals somewhat avoided in these cultures, but their really quite wonderful allure eventually dispelled any lingering spooky vibes, and at least by the mid-20th century, they had become a quite desirable gem.

Currently, opals are one of the most sought-after gemstones across the globe. In the forms of rings, necklaces, or earrings, the ancient stones continue to ensnare a modern audience with their beauty and mysticism.

Opal Gemstone and Birthstone

Opal is revered for its captivating colours, and it has an almost mythical place in history for what it has instilled in us. Creativity, emotional balance, and even luck are somehow magically associated with this gemstone. The opal’s rise in popularity is almost as colourful and transformative as the stone itself. Carrying a piece of opal around could potentially ignite your muse.

In the past, opals were thought to be protectors and predictors in matters of importance. The ancient Romans held opals in high regard, seeing the stone as a powerful gem with the combined benefits of all the other gemstones. In contemporary times, we prize opal for its individual quality, as no two pieces display the same colour scheme, and none are exactly alike. Even so, we find ways to set the opal creatively in jewellery—be it rings, pendants, or bracelets—making the gemstone a sleek and somewhat edgy piece to wear.

Guide to Cleansing Opal Gemstone

Ensuring that your opal is clean from an energetic standpoint allows it to be vibrant and effective. Because opals are not the toughest stones, cleansing them can take a little more care. They do well when soaked in lukewarm water, but they shouldn’t be left hanging in humid environments—a common demise for many rocks in the quartz family. Unlike those that can take a good steam cleaning, opals are not excellent with either high heat or rapid temperature shifts. When opals start to dry out, their presence in your living space might start to feel as though they are simply nothing but lovely paperweights. My trinkets, however, quite love the domestic space that I share with them. I frequently cleanse them in the safer stovetop method. After all, they could use a little love, too.

Another efficient technique is smudging. Carry your opal through the smoke of white sage or palo santo to uproot any negative energy. Because they are soft stones, opals should not be cleansed with salt and certainly not with any harsh chemicals that could cause the stone to damage its surface or dehydrate. Regular rescue missions of a cleansing kind help keep an opal performing at its peak and looking brilliant.

Guide to Charge Opal Gemstone

An opal’s energy recharges best when it is exposed to nature’s elements. The moon, especially when it is full, gives the best opportunity for recharging this stone’s energy. Simply place your opal on a windowsill overnight to harness the power of the moon’s energy.

One more potent way to charge an opal is to put it next to a piece of selenite or clear quartz, which are both known for their cleansing and amplifying abilities. If you’d like to take a more active role in the charging process, try meditating with the opal while directing all your thoughts toward the stone and picturing it taking in bright, new energy. And whatever you do, avoid giving the opal too much intense sunlight. It can dry the stone out, causing it to become less valuable.

The Significance of Opal Gemstone in Tarot

In tarot divination, opal is frequently associated with intuitive abilities, metamorphosis, and emotional transparency. It vibrates in harmony with the High Priestess card, which stands for profound understanding, veiled verities, and the subconscious mind’s might. The opal’s shifting array of colours mirrors a changing palette of emotions and the capricious journey of life.

Certain tarot practitioners utilise opal to bolster their already considerable psychic powers or aid them in unravelling the not-so-simple predicaments they find themselves in. On the reading table, opal can act as a sort of psychic clarifying agent, helping the practitioner to straighten out the confoundingly intertwined energies that plague them and achieve a deeper communion with their inner selves. Some poets might call the act of peering into opal a sort of divinatory meditation, where spiritual enlightenment and emotional healing are but two of the atmospherically flavoured byproducts of such an act.

Opal Gemstone and Zodiac

Opal resonates most closely with Libra and Scorpio, the zodiac signs of October. Libras, who are all about balance and harmony, can find opal’s energies beneficial for what might be called emotional homeostasis. It’s not that opal is a stone that brings about such calm; it’s that, for the month of October, it’s not possible to be more emotionally stable and more down with what you are (meaning core values) than you are when you are in the company of opal.

Scorpios are naturally intuitive and transformative, and opal enhances these traits. But even if you’re not a Scorpio, playing in opal’s sand can lead to some of the most creative—and sometimes spontaneous—moments of your life.

Opal is lovely and lovely to look at. More than that, this delicate stone has a potent elixir-like quality of inspiration. It is October’s birthstone, so October babies can call it theirs. Opal has its own potent power of attraction. It probably doesn’t hurt that the word “opal” comes from the Greek word “opallios,” meaning “to see a change in colour.”

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