Each month has been assigned a gemstone or mineral that is associated with it and the people born in that month. The birthstone for February is amethyst, one of the most well-known gemstones out there. Ancient cultures used the stone for a variety of purposes. Amethyst means “not intoxicated” and comes from the ancient Greek word amethystos. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing an amethyst would keep them from getting drunk, although I have never seen any evidence of this.
Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz and is a fairly common stone, but that does not mean it is not a powerful or useful stone. In fact, I often joke that amethyst does it all and is very handy to have around.
One of amethyst’s most sought-after properties is it’s perceived ability to help soothe emotions and provide a peaceful environment. Amethyst is thought to help ease anxiety and stress, making it a great stone to have at work or at home. It is believed to aid in decision-making and mental focus, bringing a clarity of mind. This may tie back into purported beliefs that amethyst can prevent intoxication. Having an amethyst with you to aid in clear mental functions may mean that you are less likely to want a drink or to overdo it when you do drink.
Many gemstones have spiritual properties based on their color. Each color has a meaning and an energy, and color plays a large part in our lives. We use color often in the spiritual world, but color psychology is a very real thing in the mundane world. Many companies use color in their logos and ads to send messages to us at a subconscious and emotional level. Purple is a color that is associated with authority, the Divine, spiritual endeavors, creativity, wisdom, peace, and the crown chakra. Taking the color purple into consideration, amethyst would be a good stone for all of these intentions.
Amethyst is a great stone to use for increasing your intuition and connecting with the Divine. Amethyst is one of the stones associated with the crown chakra, which is the chakra that connects you to Spirit, aids in personal transformation, and helps you realize your own divinity and the divinity of humanity. Amethyst also works indirectly to help increase your spirituality. It is believed by some to calm your fears while raising your hopes and lifting your spirit. Releasing your fears and maintaining a positive attitude is a good way to raise your vibrations, which leads to being more connected to Spirit. And the more in tune with Spirit you are, the better your intuition will be.
Nothing in life ever fits easily into just one box, and amethyst is no exception. Yes, it is purple and it is great for all the calming and spiritual intentions of purple, but amethyst does even more. Breaking the color rule, amethyst is a good stone to use for protection. Some people believe that amethyst can protect against a psychic attack. So it may not be the best stone to save your car from getting broken into, but it would be useful to protect your energy. It is thought that amethyst transmutes the negative energy directed at you into loving and protecting energy.
You can also use amethyst to attract love. It can help promote love in all of its forms, as well as provide stability and protection to an existing relationship. Amethyst can help you understand what you need from a relationship and encourage you to find balance with your partner and work in service to the relationship. Amethyst is a stone that pairs well with other gemstones and combining it with rose quartz for love work is a heady combination.
If you need a gemstone that can do it all for you, look no further than this month’s birthstone. Amethyst is usually available in jewelry, carvings, and specimen pieces, so you can find the right fit for your needs and space. Let’s embrace the power of amethyst and manifest a peaceful, healing year.
Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.