AGATEits meaning and healing properties

Agate is a symbol of health, prosperity and longevity. It is a striped variety of chalcedony with different layers exhibiting different tints. Agates have very diverse appearances and do not resemble each other. There are more then 150 varieties of Agate. This stone is named after the river Ahates (now river Dirillo) on the island of Sicily. The agate has been found and extracted there from ancient times.

Agate

Usually Agate was used to make cameos. The Eye Agate was used as inserts in statues as well as for manufacturing talismans and amulets to protect against "evil eye", "bedevilling", sorcery, etc. Some call Agate “The Twelfth Anniversary Gift” as by the twelfth year of family life a married couple supposedly knows already all the shades, nuances and stripes of coexistence. Astrologists consider Agate as a stone of Mercury, Venus, Moon and Saturn.

Healing properties

In the Middle Age healers recommended to wear Agate beads to those suffering from chronic cough, throat and dental diseases.
To strengthen the stone's healing power, requests about health were engraved on the surface of Agate balls; Agate cameos with symbolic picture of disease were also popular (for example, woman with a loose hair symbolized migraine), as it was believed this will drive away the illness.
According to an ancient superstition, grinding Agate in water gives strong medicinal properties to water. This water can be used to heal wounds, as well as stings / bites of snakes or animals.
Agate strengthens sight, settles digestion, protects from kidney diseases, improves hearing.

Stone meditation
Cat on Moss agate pendant Fish on Moss agate pendant Lizard on Moss agate pendant Butterfly on Moss agate pendant

Magical properties

Ancient Greeks believed that Agate amulet confers to the wearer prudence and guards him against dark thoughts and unrequited love. In the Ancient Rome Agate was devoted to Goddess of fertility and it was considered the stone of farmers and gardeners.
It was believed that placing the Agate balls along the garden fence will protect the plants from adverse weather conditions.
Pliny the Elder affirmed that Agate helps athletes to win, as it confers to them serenity, courage and power and also suppresses excessive anger. It was also believed that Agate has an ability to give to the wearer eloquence, attraction, convincingness in speeches and self-confidence. Black Agate protects from danger, gives power against forces of darkness.