What is the Birthstone for February?
For those born in February, the beautiful amethyst is their traditional birthstone.
As the 2nd month of the year, February represents the overwhelming excitement and energy that comes from new growth and change. Amethyst as a spiritual stone can help in calming the active mind while also connecting you to your higher self and spirituality.
Amethyst is perhaps the most popular purple gemstone in the world. The manganese and iron inclusion in its crystalline structure are what give the amethyst its beautiful shade or violet. A variety of Quartz crystal, amethyst has been used in personal adornment for millennia.
Like most crystals from the quartz family, the February birthstone is at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. It has a glass-like translucency and is an unbendable and tough material.
Small amounts of this crystal are found at several locations throughout the globe in metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks. The most important amethyst deposits in the world are usually found in cavities and fractures of igneous rocks. In Uruguay and Brazil, the larger deposits of amethyst are found in cavities of basalt flows, containing hundreds of pounds to tons of amethyst stones.
Other productive deposits of amethyst are located in France, Canada, Mexico, Madagascar, India, the US, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Myanmar, Morocco, and Namibia.
The Meaning of February Birthstone
Amethyst is considered to be one of the most popular varieties of quartz crystal. It is loved for its mystical, spiritual, and powerful energies. Here are some of the facts and meanings of the February birthstone.
Etymology, History, and Folklore
Amethyst is derived from “ametusthos”, a Greek term that means “not intoxicated”. Such etymology came from ancient lore.
The wine God Bacchus was furious over an insult. He decided to avenge himself and decreed that the first person he meets will be eaten by his tigers. That unlucky mortal happened to be a beautiful maiden named Amethyst who is on her way to the shrine of Diana.
Amethyst asked for the protection of Goddess Diana. As the tiger sprang to eat her alive, the goddess turned amethyst into a white, clear crystal. Regretting his cruelty, Bacchus then offered the juice of his grapes, pouring it over the clear crystal. This gives the stone its lovely purple hue.
With that said, throughout history, the amethyst crystal is believed to prevent overindulgence and drunkenness. Ancient Romans and Greeks have always studded their wine goblets with this February birthstone in the belief that the wine drunk from the amethyst cup will not intoxicate them.
Furthermore, when worn on the body, particularly at the navel, is said to have a sobering effect. This is not only for drunkenness but also in your over-zealousness in passion. In addition, the February birthstone is also worn by catholic bishops in the belief that it can protect them against mythical intoxication. Not only that, kissing their ring is believed to help keep them from mystical draining energies while keeping them securely grounded in their spiritual thought.
The February birthstone has also been traced back as far as 25,000 B.C. to Europe’s Neolithic people. Its legendary and spiritual energies made it popular for amulets and beads in several cultures.
Later on, this February birthstone was utilized in scepters, crowns, and jewelry as a stone of royalty. Meanwhile, ancient Egyptians used this as a healing crystal to ease guilt and fears as well as a strong protector while traveling. It is also said to be valuable for placement under the pillow before sleep to induce pleasant dreams while curing insomnia.
Furthermore, the February birthstone is considered to be a powerful psychic stone of protection against black magic and witchcraft. It was said to lose its colors, turning pale when placed near an attacker.
Meanwhile, the Peruvians believed that if the names of the moon and the sun were engraved on an Amethyst and hung around your neck with a swallow’s feather or a baboon’s hair, it can help dispel witchcraft. Similarly, Pliny the Elder claimed that the amethyst stone with figures of the moon and the sun can immunize you against poison.
In addition, a bear engraved on this February birthstone is said to help put off demons. In folklore, it was believed to deter animal flees. Also, it was once believed that you could summon any love by speaking their name in an amethyst stone, even if that person was committed to another.
The February birthstone is also listed as the 12th foundation stone of the New Jerusalem. Amethyst was also considered by some to be inscribed with the name of apostle Matthew and was symbolic of his sobriety and conversion.
Spiritual Meaning and Metaphysical Properties
In the spiritual world, the February birthstone can offer a powerful connection to the divine. It carries a high spiritual vibration of humility and devotion. This makes it highly conducive to quieting your thoughts in meditation and prayer and surrendering to that which is greater than yourself. Not only that, but it also helps stimulates the higher mind to receive your spiritual power as a creation of the Divine and to open yourself to the wisdom, insights, and guidance that’s offered.
The February birthstone is popular in rosaries and prayer beads, due to its attribute of creating an environment of calmness, imbuing a sense of mental tranquility and serenity. It is also considered a stone of spiritual purification and protection. It helps in cleansing your energy field of negative attachments and influences. Not only that, but it also helps create a resonant shield of powerful spiritual light around your body.
Furthermore, this February birthstone can also act as a barrier against lower energies, geopathic stress, psychic attacks, and unhealthy environments. It’s a valuable ally for protecting you when doing intuitive and psychic work. Plus, it also helps in enhancing your personal space with a protective and healing circle of Light.
The amethyst stone also possesses a multitude of metaphysical properties. However, its main property is to bring peace, calmness, and balance. It helps in the elimination of impatience and anger. Its soothing energy can heal physical, emotional, and spiritual pain and suffering. It is even thought to control evil thoughts while increasing intellectuality.
In this modern age, this February birthstone is still a remarkable crystal of spirituality and contentment. Its innate high frequency can help calm and guide the mind, bringing those who are overstressed, overwhelmed, or overworked back to the center. This stone helps in identifying the root causes of your negative emotional patterns and behaviors that cause imbalances in your life.
Moreover, the amethyst stone can help initiate greater wisdom and understanding. It acts as a nurturer and comforter for those who are currently grieving the loss of a loved one. Its gentle energies can communicate that there is no death and only transitioning. It helps in relieving sorrow and hurt while encouraging happiness in a loved one’s spirit being released from the confinement of the physical body.
Sometimes dubbed as the Soul’s Stone, the amethyst crystal can help in connecting and recognizing the external existence of the soul which initiated deep soul experiences.
What Color is February Birthstone?
The shade and tone of the February birthstone can vary ranging from deep violet to purple to light pinkish violet, sometimes with tints of red and blue. These colors can be light and subtle but they are nearly vague or dark and the crystal looks opaque.
The lighter-toned amethyst crystals are used for mass commercial productions while the premium, rare reddish violets are reserved for designer jewelry. Amethyst with deep purple color with red and blue flashes is known as Siberian Amethyst and features a high price tag.
Also, take note that when an amethyst crystal is heated, it can turn yellow-brown, yellow-orange, or dark brownish. It is then sold as citrine or ametrine when partially heated.
How To Use Your February Birthstone?
The February birthstone is one of the best crystals you can use for meditation. Its violet rays of energy can stimulate higher vibration and open up the third eye chakra. In fact, placing an amethyst stone directly over your third eye chakra as you meditate can instantly create a calming and peaceful meditative state which stills the conscious thought and mind, guiding you towards deeper understanding.
Large amethyst clusters can also be used for meditation altars or used as concentration objects. This helps you train your mind to be centered and calm while awareness is focused on the objective world.
You can also place your February birthstone in the North-East point on a crystal medicine wheel to balance and heal the body. This also helps bring better decision-making, common sense, and spiritual guidance.
The February birthstone can also be placed under your pillow or mattress to prevent insomnia, induce pleasant dreams and prevent nightmares and the general fear of the dark. When rubbed at the center of your forehead in a counterclockwise motion, this stone can help in reducing headaches and throbbing.
If you’re experiencing a stressful situation, using the amethyst crystal as a rubbing stone can. By placing it in your wallet or pocket, you can easily reach out to the stone whenever you feel stressed in order to bring peace and calmness to the mind.
You can also display your February birthstone in your home or workplace to invite peace and serenity into the surrounding. In fact, there are various figurines and sculptures made of amethyst that you can find. Not only that, working with an amethyst crystal can bring mental acuity and enhanced decision-making.
For the easiest way to use your February birthstone, you can wear it as pieces of jewelry. Amethyst is a durable and tough stone, thus it can be embedded or faceted in various jewelry pieces. You can often find it in necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Wearing your February birthstone allows you to keep its energies close to your auric field throughout the day.
Lastly, you can create an amethyst elixir. With this, you directly absorb the energetic benefits of this powerful stone. Make sure to use the indirect method of creating an amethyst elixir.
The Health Benefits and Healing Properties of the February Birthstone
Dubbed “Nature’s Tranquilizer”, the amethyst crystal can soothe and calm the mind, assisting in the transmission of neural signals via the brain. This helps calm an irritable mood, hyperactivity in children, and OCD. Its soothing energy is even said to help reduce the pain of headaches, migraines, stress, and nervous tension. In addition, amethyst is also used to treat psychic disturbances while stabilizing brain imbalances. Take note, however, that it is not suitable for cases of paranoia and schizophrenia.
Not only that but this February birthstone is also said to prevent insomnia and nightmares, especially when it’s caused by an overactive and stressed mind. IT can help ease your mental and physical anxieties and is suitable for calming a hot-headed or easily angered mind.
Moreover, amethyst is said to help prevent intoxication, allowing you to overcome your addictions by counteracting the effects of drugs and alcohol on your brain functioning while exuding peaceful and sustaining energies.
The vibrational energies of the February birthstone are said to help boost the production of your hormones. It also helps in the stimulation of the proper functioning of the endocrine glands. Plus, it also helps increase the performance of your nervous system.
Amethyst also supports the proper oxygenation of your blood. It aids in the treatment of the digestive tract, stomach, heart, and, more importantly, the skin. In fact, the February birthstone is considered to be one of the best stones in the healing crystal community for healing all sorts of skin problems from simple itchiness, acne, and rashes to more serious skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema.
In addition, the amethyst crystal is said to help relieve the symptoms of hearing disorders such as tinnitus. It is said to help strengthen the immune system while reducing bruising, pain, and swelling. As an elixir, amethyst is said to help in the treatment of arthritis.
The Love and Relationship Benefits and Properties of the February Birthstone
In terms of love and relationship, the February birthstone can help in the manifestation of your true self instead of being influenced by other people just to fit in and conform to their expectations.
It is quite unrealistic to be the perfect partner at all times. This stone can help you love and put yourself first before others. Belief in your ideas and looking beyond what other people think of you can help you be your own self and assist in establishing an honest relationship.
The February birthstone can stimulate the heart and open yourself to love. It can help in breaking down the walls while releasing all your fears and worries that may cause understanding in your relationship. Plus, it also assists in the elimination of destructive behaviors and ideas that you make. Its energies then replace such negativity with empowering and uplifting vibrations that can help build and strengthen your relationship.
In times of searching and deep conversations with your partner, you might feel a bit vulnerable and uneasy. The February birthstone is handy for such situations. This violet crystal can stimulate self-reflection and openness. It also helps remove shame and disappointment so you get to the heart of the issues or problems in your relationship.
In short, this stone can help you become more honest. And with honesty, you can experience genuine happiness and satisfaction in your relationship. It helps you understand your own desires and needs in your relationship. Thus, you know what truly makes you happy and how you wish to be loved and taken care of.
Furthermore, the February birthstone is said to help in removing boredom or lethargy in your relationship, particularly for those who have been together for years. This stone can stimulate your commitment and love, restoring what you lost and igniting the passion and desire that you’ve lost.
Amethyst is also useful during times of challenging situations in your relationship. With its calming presence, this stone can help keep a level-headed and patient nature. It can get rid of despair, anger, grief, jealousy, or any other negative emotions that cause problems in your relationship.
It soothes the emotional wounds and past hurts, allowing you to heal and grow. And in times of heartbreak, this stone can help give you a clear head and remove the choking, overbearing, and stifling feelings in order to get you through these difficult times.
The Wealth Fetching Benefits and Properties of the February Birthstone
The February birthstone may be popular in the spiritual realm; however, its abilities also expand to achieving success and wealth. The amethyst crystal is a powerful ally that can help in growing your business as well as sharing your wealth and abundance with the people that you love.
The February birthstone with its rich, deep purple glory has been associated with wealth, status, royalty, and prestige. Since ancient times, purple has been considered the color of nobility and royalty. This is mainly because of the fact that purple was not the easiest shade to come by during the earlier years. There’s no doubt that this stone helps attract wealth and good fortune into your life.
Since amethyst resonates strongly with the mind, it can trigger improved brain functioning. As a result, this violet stone can help foster creative thinking, innovative ideas and dedicated performance at work. This makes it one of the best stones you can place on your office desk or work table to increase creativity and productivity.
Amethyst is also a good stone if you need help in considering whether the professional that you have has long-term potential or to move on. Such foresight and intelligence allow you to recognize opportunities and good deals. Plus, this stone can help in distinguishing a good investment from a bad one.
Lastly, as “Nature’s Tranquilizer”, the February birthstone is best used for those always working under pressure. Sometimes stress and anxiety can hinder you from reaching your true potential and thus limiting your wealth and good fortune. The energies of the amethyst crystal invite peace and harmony in your professional life and relationships. This helps inspire performance, stability, and prosperity in your financial life.
The Benefits of Wearing a February Birthstone? Ring, Necklace, Bracelet, and Other Jewelry
Birthstone jewelry is an old tradition and is one of the best ways to benefit from the endless healing benefits of your February birthstone. For years, jewelers have been curating birthstones into pendants, bracelets, charms, rings, and more to create the perfect gift for the wearer.
Wearing your February birthstone has the benefit of bringing healing elements around the clock. With your birthstone directly pressed against your skin, the energies and vibrations of the crystal can easily transfer to your body where it is needed.
How to Cleanse Your February Birthstones?
Crystals should be cleaned once in a while and your February birthstone is no exception. The amethyst crystal may be tough and durable; however, it is sensitive to cleaning materials such as acid and alkaline solutions as well as ammonium fluoride. Therefore, it’s best that you clean this stone with mild detergent or soapy water.
You also need to use a soft-bristled brush or your fingers to rub its surface in circular motions to remove the accumulated dust and debris. Take note that prolonged exposure to hot or cold water can cause damage to the crystalline structure. Thus, you should clean it as quickly as possible. Don’t leave your February birthstone oaked in soap or water. Rinse it thoroughly and air dries after.
Meanwhile, using technology in cleaning your February birthstone jewelry can work wonders. An ultrasonic jewelry cleaner can save a lot of time and effort in cleaning your amethyst jewelry.
Now, in terms of cleansing and recharging its energies, there are several ways you can try.
For one letting it soak in pure spring or river water can help cleanse its energies. Ocean water is also ideal. However, if you do not live near a natural body of water, then you can simply cleanse it under tap water and visualize it washing away all the negative energies and impurities.
You can also do salt cleansing. Sprinkle some sea salts on your February birthstone and lightly rub it on its surface. You can also bury the stone in a bowl filled with sea salt to cleanse away the negative impurities from within.
Another way to cleanse the toxic energies from within is to smudge the stone. Smoke can help clear the accumulated energy within your February birthstone. You can choose to use sweetgrass, sage, copal, or your preferred herb bundles to achieve a thorough cleansing of your stone.
To energize your February birthstone, you can let it soak in the energy of the moon. This helps enhance its metaphysical energies. You simply place the stone directly under the moonlight for hours. In order to get the most potent energy, wait for the full moon or new moon.
Crystal singing bowls also work wonders in recharging your February birthstone. Thanks to the soothing sound vibrations of these bowls, toxic energies within the stone will be released and then filled with soothing and positive energy vibrations.
Final Thoughts
February babies are blessed with a spiritual and nurturing crystal as their birthstone. There is a reason why this purple quartz remains one of the most popular stones n the healing crystal community.
Its potent metaphysical and spiritual energies can help February babies to reach higher attunement to the divine and in gaining peace and relaxation when times are tough. Amethyst is truly an invaluable February birthstone sharing both powerful healing vibrations and the lovable aesthetics to adorn your body and home.
