The Duality of Peridot~A Favorite Gem of Royalty

Polished Peridot

As promised my dear sister, the post on Peridot.  While I have been promising this post for months now, I find it ironic that I finally felt moved to write this during my sister’s birth month.  This stone is very unique and some experts say that it is almost exactly like the Olivine stone except for where it comes from.  Peridot has been in use and mined for about 4,000 years now and is said to be a favorite gemstone of Queen Cleopatra.  The Egyptians have been mining it for over 3,000 years and originally cultivated it from a small island in the Red Sea called Zebriget.  The Egyptians “cornered the Peridot market” until about the 1920′s when more Periodot sources began to open up.  Throughout history, the Peridot has had many different cultural names such as Peridote, Peridoto, and Chrysolite.  This gem is made up of  minerals such as magnesium, iron, silicate compounds with nickel and chromium impurities giving the stone its distinctive yellow-green color.  Peridot has been regarded since ancient times as a symbol of the sun.  The Ancient Greeks believed that it brought dignity to the person who wore peridot and often used it in jewelry and inlays for various pieces of furniture and drinking vessels.

Rough & Uncut Peridot

Peridot has a great tradition with royalty, in fact, during the times of the Crusades, this stone was mistaken for Emeralds.  Many pieces of ancient  jewelry of royalty claimed to have Emeralds in them but in reality it was Peridot.  For a little while, it was even called Topaz and the name was changed in order to stop confusion between the real Topaz and this beautiful little green stone.  During the period of Ottoman Empire, Peridots have decorated much of the Turkish Sultans thrones, jewelry, and heirlooms.  The Russian crown jewels sport a 192 carat, clear and flawless stone. 

Peridots are usually found in small pieces if you want clear and flawless but a few larger specimens have been found clear and flawless like the Russian crown jewels I mentioned above and the Smithsonian has a 310 carat stone on display.  Some of the lore of Peridots is  actually quite interesting.  During the Middle Ages, the stone was strung on donkey hair and worn on the left arm to ward off evil spirits.  It was used abundantly in churches to keep evil spirits out and considered to be a powerful protection gem when set in gold.  It also guarded against nightmares, enchantments, illusions, and the evil eye.

Peridot & Diamond Jewelry

Peridot is opaque when it is raw but clear and gorgeous when cut and polished.  It is only found in green or yellow-green colors and mined almost exclusively in Egypt until the 1920′s.  Now, it can be found in Afghanistan, Brazil, India, Ireland, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Canary Islands and Arizona.  It is easy to find but usually in small pieces that are already set into jewelry.  It is more difficult to find Peridot in large, raw pieces.  Peridot is a soft  stone and can crack easily which it is usually found already set in jewelry.

As you can see this post, I’m on a jewelry kick.  I normally did not ever get excited about Peridot since it is just kind of a “blah” color.  I prefer Tanzanite and Emeralds as my jewelry stones of choice but the more I researched and looked at pictures, I found that Peridot rocks!   It is definitely considered a strong metaphysical gemstone and originally connected to the Sun but some experts also classify it with the planet, Venus.  It has a receptive energy and is considered an earth element stone.  This stone is most effective when set in gold and used for protection, health, wealth & sleep.  Peridot is associated with the zodiac signs of Leo, Scorpio, Virgo, and Sagittarius.  The numerology associated with Peridot are the numbers five and six.  Peridot is great for use in Chakra cleansing as well as releasing and neutralizing metaphysical and physical toxins from your body.

Peridot Tiara

Peridot is worn or carried for a variety of general healing purposes.  It was believed that if medicine was drunk from a cup decorated with Peridot that it would boost the healing effectiveness.  The stone is used to promote healing from insect bites….remember, the no liability cause?  I am not responsible if you get bitten by a black widow or brown recluse spider and then treat it with peridot and duct tape….consult a physician immediately:-)  Physically, Peridot helps with treatment of liver ailments and promotes health of the colon, heart, lungs, spleen, pancreas, intestines, and gallbladder.  This stone aids in digestion and detoxing as well as stimulate contractions during labor.  It is reputed to be powerful stone when trying to overcome addictions, weight gain, alcoholism, near-sightedness, and sunburn.  Peridot has a tonic effect and considered to heal and regenerates tissues.  When the stone is placed on a pregnant abdomen, it assists by strengthening the muscle contractions and lessens the pain associated with childbirth.  No wonder royalty liked it:-)  It also strengthens the metabolism and benefits the skin as well as balances that split personality and overcoming those of you who suffer from hypochondria.  Since Peridot releases nervous and negative energies, it  is useful in promoting sleep and attract love.

Uncut Peridot

Metaphysically, the Peridot packs quite a powerful punch.  It is considered a protective stone for the aura and cleanses the heart chakra of negative emotions and unblocks  the solar plexus chakra.   It also activates these chakras if they are clogged and not working right.  This stone neutralizes physical, mental, and emotional toxicity and encourages mental clarity and clear decisive thought patterns.  Peridot teaches us that holding onto the past is counterproductive and shows you how to remove yourself from outside influences as well as trust your own higher energies for guidance.  It releases negative patterns and old vibrations so new, healthy frequencies can be accessed.  This great little gemstone aids you in understanding your destiny and spiritual purpose.   It also is a great stone to alleviate jealousy, resentment , spite, anger, and reduces stress as well  as improving difficult relationships.  Peridot is the original life coach but definitely a lot cheaper than today’s human life coaches.  All you have to do for the Peridot is cleanse it, charge it, and program it with good intentions….hmmm….I think this is worth a try before spending several hundred dollars on someone to tell you where your life could be better and how to get motivated.  :-)

Light Colored Rough Cut Peridot

 Due to its green color, Peridot has been long thought to be useful in attracting wealth into your life.  Well, at least it can’t be any worse than obsessively buying lotto tickets in the hopes of becoming the next millionaire…because that hasn’t worked for me so far:-)  It also helps break laziness and behavior patterns and cycles as well as centering during meditation.  It is great when used to aid in lifting anger, depression, lethargy, and emotional blockages.

Well, how do you wear it to manifest all of this greatness and how do you cleanse and charge you ask?  As usual, I generally prefer to cleanse all of my crystals with Sage smudging but you can use water and the elements to cleanse as well.  As for charging your Peridot, most experts believe that the full moon works the best for this stone.  When you program your crystal, make sure you are clear with your intent and ask the crystal “if it is agreeable”.  Remember crystals are inherently good and dislike being used for bad or evil purposes.  If it is love you wish to attract, wear on a chain so that the Peridot rests over your heart.  Place this stone over your areas of ailment to generate the helpful energies, if your liver is bothering you–place on liver and visualize repair and regeneration.   When used for clearing or activating the heart and solar plexus chakra’s,  use raw Peridot and place directly on your heart and solar plexus chakra.  The Peridot should  be placed on the left and right sides of the body if you are in need of Aura cleansing.

As you can see, even the often forgotten Peridot has a rich and healing history.  Well, my dear sister, I hope you enjoyed finding out about your birthstone as much as I enjoyed researching and writing about it.  I find it amazing that these wonderful gifts from the earth are meant for such higher and helpful purposes.  Stay tuned for my next crystal post, I will provide you with the keys to wisdom via the Sapphire.