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OPAL

It is a precious stone of great beauty, given its rich variety of shades, lights and colours, called opalescence. Since ancient times this gem has been highly desired among the eastern people as a bringer of happiness.

In its formation, opal is a kind of gelatine, which as it hardens closes cracks and fissures leaving water and air inside. When light enters this perfect disorder it decomposes into the colours of the rainbow creating a thousand shapes and sizes playing inside.

It is wonderful to gently move the opal and watch these plays of light change with every angle of observation or with changes in light.

Noble opal has an abundance of varieties. The sunflower, almost colourless and transparent with a bluish sheen. The harlequin, from transparent to translucent with beautiful coloured bands arranged in segments. The white, with a white or light background and multicoloured play of colours. The black opal, with a dark grey or black background, also dark blue and dark green, with intense multicoloured opalescence. Fire opal, named for its fire-red colour, normally has no opalescence.

Today Australia is the largest producer of opals. Other important deposits are in Ethiopia, Sudan, Honduras, Brazil, Mexico, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Canada and the United States.

It is a delicate stone, so it should only be washed with mild soap and water, rinsed thoroughly and then dried with a soft cloth. Keep away from abrasive or cleaning products.

PLANETS AND STARS

Opal is associated with the Zodiac sign Libra and the month of October. Its planetary correspondences are the Moon and the metallic correspondences are silver.

ESOTERIC AND HEALING PROPERTIES

Opal is known as the “Artists’ Stone”, as it has the ability to bring hidden talents to the surface. It is recommended to people who need to be serene. Since it reflects all the colours of the rainbow, it can be used with great versatility and in all energy centres. As opal emits a strong vibration of its own, it is advisable not to use it in conjunction with other stones.

Noble opals contain water, so they are ideal for restoring the emotional body. They can also be held in the hand while meditating, bearing in mind that this type of opal amplifies the state of mind that predominates at the time, whether it be peace, or pain, which is why it is important that this stone be used by people who are perfectly aligned and in solid emotional balance at that moment.

It can broaden mental intensity, and replenish new and stimulating openings.
It is useful in cases of atony, melancholy, indifference, scepticism or discouragement.
It is inadvisable in cases of hypersensitivity or great excitement.
It is indicated for eye conditions, conjunctivitis, keratitis, glaucoma, cataracts, and improves the vision of those suffering from myopia, astigmatism or presbyopia.