This week, with inspiration from an article published by the BBC, we decided to write about lapis lazuli- a celestial, rich, blue-hued mineral that has been used in jewelry and pigment making for over six thousand years.
"Lapis lazuli" is the name given to this stone which is made up of a number of individual minerals: lazurite, a highly sought after blue colored stone; pyrite, a popular gold- toned crystal; and other minerals such as sodalite (another blue and white toned mineral), and calcite (often milky white). The picture here shows a specimen that likely contains all of these.
Lapis jewelry was used to decorate the necks of royalty as far back as the ancient city of Ur, in Mesopotamia, approximately around 3800 BC. Thousands of years later, medieval monks used the crushed up stone as pigment for decorating their intricately painted manuscripts. During the Renaissance it is believed that this blue pigment was used to depict the royal robes of the Virgin Mary. In the new age world, lapis can pass as both the throat and third eye chakra balancing stone, because of the middle-hued blue color it possesses. Because of this, the stone is great for problems with the throat, thyroid, or larynx, and helps with insomnia, headaches, and other brain disorders, among other things. Metaphysically, lapis supposedly aids in learning, understanding, focus and problem solving.
However you use lapis, it is important to know that today the state of lapis lazuli is quite sad. The majority of it has been found and mined in Afghanistan since ancient times, where today, roughly about 50% of the profits made from this trade go directly into the hands of the Taliban, a corrupt government system hat now "own" the same mines used for lapis mining for almost 6 thousand years.
It is an incredibly complicated issue, and if possible, it is best to source this mineral from the other parts of the word where it is found, such as Russia, Chile, Italy, and even the USA, even if the quality is different.
For more detailed information on the current state of the lapis trade, visit the BBC article here.
Happy Full Moon in Capricorn! 🌝♑️It’s a special one as it is our second full moon in Capricorn in a row! So I did a quick tarot pull asking thee questions. In the earthen spirit of Capricorn of course I got pentacles, clarity, and straightforwardness with this reading lol. Took me less than 5 minutes to understand. Read for for the spread!
Ahhh- the enchanting realm of May Day! A time when flowers bloom in riotous colors, the air vibrates with flickers of summer, ancient traditions stir beneath the surface of the earth, and the promise of new beginnings pulsates around us. From April 28 through May 5, we stand on the threshold between spring's awakening and summer's embrace, Beltane, the spirited celebration also known as May Day. Let us embark on a journey through time to uncover the ancient origins and cultural tapestry of Beltane, from the blazing bonfires of the Celts to the floral splendor of English Flora Day, this magical time of year has a beautifully rich history and diverse multitude of ancient traditions.
