Onyx

Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans.
The name comes from the Greek word onux, meaning fingernail. The story is that one day frisky Cupid cut the divine fingernails of Venus with an arrowhead while she was sleeping. He left the clippings scattered on the sand and the fates turned them into stone so that no part of the heavenly body would ever perish. 
True, black isn't normally the color one associates with fingernails.  But in Greek times, almost all colors of chalcedony from white to dark brown and black were called onyx.  Today when we think of onyx we often preface the word with black to distinguish it from other varieties of onyx that come in white, reddish brown, brown and banded. Later, the Romans narrowed the term "onyx" to refer to black and dark brown colors only.

Most Black Onyx that is commercially available today is color enhanced (heated and dyed) to increase it's depth of color, although this process does not decrease it's value in any manner.

Although onyx, sard and sardonyx are all varieties of chalcedony, onyx is similar to agate, with straight rather than curved bands.  These bands may be brown and white or black and white. Sard is a brownish red variety, sardonyx is a blend of sard and onyx and therefore has the straight white bands of onyx and the brownish red color of sard.
Onyx is mined in  Brazil, India,  California and Uruguay. It has a fine texture and black color; however some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black or brown background and again, this variety is known as sardonyx. 

Mystical Properties:

Onyx is thought to increase regeneration, happiness, intuition and one's instincts. It is also told to decrease sexual desire, and to aid in changing bad habits.
The shapes or patterns that onyx holds inside it have led some to suggest that Onyx has a picture in it that tells a story or carries a lesson. Lore tells us that an onyx will retain memory of the physical occurrences surrounding a person. A strong stone to use in psychic work as it tells the story of the wearer. 
A strength-giving stone, good for athletes or people under extreme mental and emotional stress. It brings balance to mind or body as well as strength of mind. Onyx is a wonderful  stone for those who are flighty by nature, as it will help ground and focus your attention. A strengthening stone that can help you approach a lesson or task with greater self-confidence. It is highly recommended that Onyx be used in conjunction with pearls and diamonds to increase their own metaphysical qualities.

Healing Properties:Onyx must be laid directly on the body or worn over a long period of time as it's power develops quite slowly. It is known to be particularly helpful with skin ailments, healing infected wounds as well as fungal infections, inflammation and even sunburn.  Pat the affected skin with onyx water several times during the day and cover with an onyx water compress at night.
Due to the fact that onyx needs time to develop its full power, it should be discharged once a week under running water, and if used for a long period of time, it should be placed in the earth overnight once a month. This will regenerate it to help keep it's energy strong.

Magical Properties:Energy: Projective
Element: Fire
Deity: Mars
Associated Stone: Diamond
Powers: Protection, defensive magic, reducing sexual desires  
Ancient magic lore tells us that in times long past, onyx was thought to be the manifestation of a demon imprisoned in the stone. This demon would awake in the night and spread terror and nightmares to any persons within its range of influence.
Since antiquity, though, onyx has been known to actually be used as protection against black magic, as well as defensive magic when negativity is directed toward you.
Onyx will also help you gain emotional balance and self-control, when added to the benefit that it also balances the male and female polarities within each person, this is quite a powerful stone to have in your divination rituals, whether for protection or otherwise.
 
Zodiac:Associations: Saturn, Earth 
Mystical Birthstone for the Month of December, and birthstone of most ancient cultures for the month of July.
Stone of Capricorn for a positive influence, and Leo, to dream of onyx signifies a happy life with a suitable companion.

Chakra Classification:
Onyx is associated primarily with the 1st, Root or Base Chakra. It assists with challenges in life, especially those caused by a drain of energy. It prevents the draining away of personal energy and can be used for protection from such. It also helps with grounding and controlling or eliminating excess or unwanted energies.
Black onyx and red onyx are associated with the 1st, Root or Base Chakra. White onyx is associated with linking the 1st, Root or Base Chakra and 7th, Crown Chakra to have balanced energy throughout the chakra system. Excellent for centering and aligning your full being with higher powers. 

Lapis Lazuli

Deep blue in color, lapis lazuli is actually a combination of lazurite, calcite and pyrite. It is prized as a stone that activates the throat and brow chakras. Lapis lazuli offers mental reasoning and objectivity assisting the clearing of emotional baggage. It also can be used as a focusing tool for meditation and dream analysis.

 

Lapis Lazuli is a symbol of luck, success and prosperity. Lapis lazuli is a mineral of dark blue color with inclusions of golden Pyrite, giving impression of multiple stars shining in the dark blue sky. Lapis Lazuli is bright and sparkling under the sunlight, but will become dark and gloomy under candlelight or artificial lighting. In Egypt and Babylon Lapis Lazuli stones were highly valued. In Babylon magical incantations were engraved on plates made of Lapis Lazuli. Egyptian judges carried this stone on the neck with an inscription "True". Lapis Lazuli figurines of scarab symbolized Pharaoh power. In ancient China balls made from Lapis Lazuli were symbols of power and they decorated the mandarin's clothes. In ancient Rome the gemmas from Lapis Lazuli served as amulets and talismans. Astrologists relate Lapis Lazuli to Uranium.

Healing properties:

When worn on the hand, Lapis Lazuli improves blood circulation, chases away melancholy and improves sleep. It also strengthens ability to concentrate. Placed on a sore spot, it will help to reduce pain and pressure. It boosts activity of the thyroid gland, improves physical strength, helps in pregnancy, treats radiculitis, asthma and insomnia. Lapis Lazuli extract is helpful for eye's diseases. Crushed and milled into fine powder it will heal wounds and scorpion bites. A mix of Lapis Lazuli powder with honey and juice from pomegranate leaves is used to treat ulcers and eczema.

Magical properties:

Lapis Lazuli is a Stone of sincerity. It helps to change life to the better, promotes new interests, strengthens true friendship and brings happiness in love. Lapis Lazuli can help to shake away distress and painful memories. To achieve that, place a piece of Lapis Lazuli in the area of the "third eye" and meditate for several minutes.

Labradorite

The Labradorite gemstone is a semi-precious healing stone that can help reduce anxiety, build perseverance, and strengthen psychic abilities. Learn about the properties of this stone. Labradorite is also known as Spectrolite and is a Feldspar mineral. Depending on how large of a piece you have, the stone’s color can be predominately dark gray to black,  or have more of a blue or green note. It seems the stones that are more popular for jewelry making are the ones that have a brighter blue or green hue. There are flashes of iridescent colors running through the stone that show up as blue, gold, red, or orange. The iridescent sparkle may not be seen at all angles, so be sure to hold the stone up to the light and rotate it slowly.

Metaphysical Healing Properties

Labradorite strengthens and stimulates psychic abilities, intuition, spiritual awakening, strength of will and a feeling of inner worth. Labradorite strengthens and protects our aura by balancing and clearing our Chakras. It teaches us to use mystical Power wisely and well. This stone also aids us in self awareness and communicating with our highest self and with Source.
Use this stone when you are feeling down, anxious, or your energy is drained. It can assist in strengthening your will and feelings of inner worth, along with building inner resolve, perseverance, and purpose. It can also assist with reducing stress and anxiety, regulating metabolism, and digestion. It has also been called a Power stone.

Labradorite Associations

Chakras: solar plexus and brow chakras
Angel: Archangel Raphael, the healing angel
Planet: Uranus
Zodiac: Sagittarius, Leo, Scorpio

Carnelian

Carnelian is a gemstone known for its many beneficial properties; it is a form of chalcedony, and can vary in color from reddish brown, to a rust like orange, while the spectrum of shades can encompass the very intense and dark, as well as pale and smoky. Typically, carnelian stone meaning is associated with power, protection and positive energy. Carnelian is found and mined mainly in India, Uruguay, Brazil and South Africa, though its use is advocated the world over for its many advantageous properties.




Carnelian Stone Beliefs
The carnelian stone is believed to this day, to enhance the life of a wearer. It is associated with the astrological signs Aries, Taurus, Cancer and Leo, and is one of the birthstones of those born in the month of July. It is believed to vibrate to the numbers 5 and 6, and also balance the Second (sacral) chakra. The following are some benefits that the carnelian stone wearer will experience.

Power
The carnelian is affiliated with ambition, drive and power. It is an excellent stone to promote professional success and reverberates with positive energy that translates into action. It is also helpful in decision making and motivation.

Protection
The carnelian guards the wearer from negative influences and energy. It is also beneficial to protect against feelings of anger, jealousy and rage, whether self inflicted or external. It also defends against depression and grief.

Energy
The carnelian stone meaning signifies positive energy, promoting the health and longevity of life. It increases physical energy and has also been associated with renewed sexual drive.

Healing
Carnelian stone benefits are linked with healing and physical health. Bodily, it helps in the absorption of beneficial vitamins and minerals, increases blood circulation, and alleviates menstrual cramps. It is also believed to aid in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and relieve back pain, headaches and allergies.

The carnelian stone can be worn in the form of jewelry, or an amulet or even as a talisman of good luck. To this day, it is combined with Lapis and turquoise jewelry, with which it was traditionally combined to make amulets and totems. It can also be placed in your home or workplace to promote the flow of positive energy and bring health and success. The carnelian stone meaning can aid in protection against negative feelings and bring happiness and luck. Bring this stone into your life, and wait for your life to take an upswing for the better!

Tiger's eye

This is a stone for the mind, not the body. Tiger Eye is used to focus the mind. It will cause the mind to have feeling of oneness and feel more direct in all thoughts. It makes one aware of one’s own needs related to the needs of others. This stone lets you see everything. Use it for insight and you can be a very lucky person. It’s also known to bring clear thinking.

This crystal exhibits a visual property known as chatoyance, meaning it has qualities that give the appearance similar to a cat eye. In tiger eye bands of gold, symbolizing manifestation, blended with a dark brown background, representing the grounding energies of the earth. It’s used for balance and grounding – and letting go of judgments.
Golden Tiger Eye is used for protection, especially during travel. It is thought to enhance good luck, and brings prosperity, often in the form of money. It aids integrity, willpower, practicality and encourages the correct use of one’s personal power. Tiger Eye (Golden) is associated with the third Chakra, but it can be placed either on the first or third chakras (Red Tiger Eye promotes gentle attunement of the root chakra), and where you place it relates to where you are in terms of a manifestation process.

Tiger Eye can help us to translate our ideas into physical reality. If you have a lot of ideas about what you want, but your energy is scattered you lack focus to launch your plans or ideas etc. I would recommend putting tiger eye, or a smoky quartz (smoky quartz is much better for scattered energies than clear quartz). Place either at the base of the feet or on your base chakra while visualizing earth energy grounding you and growing roots to anchor your energy. A personal symbol carved in Tiger eye is excellent for the spiritually advanced to use in meditation.

Healing properties of Tiger Eye

Tiger Eye helps with digestion, stomach, anxiety, ulcers, bones. It is recommended to use with Malachite or Pearl for mental/emotional balance and understanding. This stone also helps change stress, anxiety, fear and obsessiveness into practicality and logic.

Tiger Eye Energies: Good Luck, Protection, Prosperity, Courage, Grounding, Patience and Releasing Stress, Anxiety, Fear.

Birthstone for November (Zodiac Sign Capricorn, Leo and Scorpio)