Qualities of Moonstone

Moonstone, a member of the feldspar family, shimmers in the light and produces a beautiful display of colors known as adularescence when cut and polished correctly. Found in many parts of the world, the most valuable stones come from Sri Lanka and the European Alps. Other deposits exist in Madagascar, Myanmar, Brazil, Australia, and the United States.

Physical Qualities

• A fragile stone with a Mohs rating of 6, moonstone lacks the hardness of many other gemstones. Constructed of potassium aluminum silicate, the prismatic stone can damage if pressure is applied. Settings for the stone help to provide support and protection for the stone.

  The shimmering adularescence occurs from how the stone refracts and scatters light, but this only occurs when the stone cutter aligns the central interior lines and height of the stone correctly in a cabochon, or button form.

Color Varieties

• The stone, one of several birthstones associated with June, appears in several colors including pearlescent white, champagne, transparent with bluish hues, lavender, smoky grey, brown, green, orange and an occasional red variety. Transparent stones cost more than more opaque ones. The stone may include a cat's eye or star formation, but these are rare. Rainbow moonstones contain shimmerings of many colors and are valued for their radiance. Collectors prize large, deep blue moonstones because or the stones' rarity.

Balancing Qualities

• Associated with the goddess energy, crystal healers recommend moonstone for enhancing fertility and fostering love. Crystal lore values this stone for its ability to balance a woman's hormones and ensure an easy pregnancy and delivery. Many consider the stone to be a woman's stone, easing PMS and alleviating menstrual cramping and easing the transition into menopause. Men may benefit from its connection to the feminine, as it balances emotions and teaches that everything is connected to the cycles of change. The flexibility it brings allows you to flow with life's changes and to adapt to the transitions involved in the aging process.

Supportive Qualities

• Crystal practitioners value moonstone for its ability to enhance medication and bring about new beginnings. It stimulates passion and assists in the expression of love in all forms. It enables you to connect with your creative imagination and inspiration, bringing internal harmony and peace with others.

  Indians believe the stone brings vivid dreams and honor it as a holy stone. People wishing to develop or increase intuitive capacity through dreams find it beneficial. The stone promotes empathic and intuitive connections by enhancing the flow of beneficial energies. Some believe it allows them to see the future and plot a path to their dreams and goals.