Gemstones and Healing: Agate
CATALOGING THE GEMS
I evaluate a gemstone in a number of ways. First, it falls into one of these categories: Heart Stone, Grounding Stone, Guard Dog Stone, High Energy Stone, Trauma Stone, Mental Stone, Stress Tone, Luck Stone, Psychic Stone, Money Stone, Arthritis Stone and Master Healer Stone. I created this system over the years because each stone has unique skills. Some, like the Master Stones, are diverse, multi-skilled and affect more than one chakra in our aura. With this blog, we’re going to look at a Guard Dog stone, the Agate family.
GUARD DOG STONES
A Guard Dog Stone is one that can protect you either physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. They ‘guard’ you energetically. It might be from physical danger, such as when a person is a firefighter, in the military during a war, or as a police person. Or if you have a dangerous kind of job such as construction. Where there is danger, you should be wearing Black Tourmaline
Danger is perceived differently by us as individuals. There could be someone next door that you don’t trust. Or you have someone at work who stresses you out (usually the boss or a coworker). Or there’s an office gossip that is trying to make you look bad to your boss. There’s a hundred different ways that we all wish we had a guard who could protect us in times when we feel vulnerable and unable to completely defend ourselves. And this is where a Guard Dog stone can be worn in necklace form to help support you.
Some stones can do one or two levels of protection, but rarely are able to handle situations on all four levels that may arise. The physical, emotional, mental and spiritual are the four levels. For example, obsidian material (obsidian, mahogany obsidian, snowflake obsidian and apache tears) REFLECT back energy that is coming your way. Obsidian is glass and all glass reflects. Agate, Jasper, Jade, Turquoise, Malachite will ABSORB the hit coming your way, which is why it will change color (grows pale) over time if you are being attacked on any level. Black Tourmaline absorbs and transmutes. Topaz guards on the mental level only. Amber and Amethyst guards only on the physical level. There’s only one that can deal with any type of heavy energy on all four levels and that is Black Tourmaline.
THE HISTORY OF AGATE
The Agate family is vast. It, along with Quartz and Jasper, are found just about everywhere on our planet. Agates chemical composition is SiO2. It has a hexagonal-R crystal system. You can usually see banding or layers in an Agate. Their zoning is what makes them easy to spot. It is in bands or layers. Their hardness is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Agates are some of our most colorful stones and can come in ANY color. They can be translucent to opaque. They are crypto crystalline variety of the very well-known mineral, Quartz (SiO2). Agate makes up about 12% of the Earth’s crust. It can be found in all three types of rock: sedimentary (water, inland seas and oceans combined with sand), igneous (fire/volcanic) and metamorphic (pressure).
Quartz comes in two groups and it is based upon the size of the grains or crystals that are contained within a given stone. Macro crystalline quartz means you can see the individual crystals within it with you eye. That would include well know quartz such as Amethyst, Citrine, Quartz Crystal, Ametrine, etc. Agate is from the crypto crystalline variety which means the individual crystals it contains within it cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are part of the Chalcedony group as a result of this. Chalcedony stones mean they area fibrous crypto crystalline banded variety of quartz.
Agates are created by secondary origin. They are created in cavities and veins of deposition from groundwater, hydrothermal solutions, volcanic areas, or in lining or filling rock cavities, fissures and sometimes form geodes. They are a stone of opportunity and will be created where ever possible. No wonder that 12% of our Earth’s crust is agate!
In the Omo Valley of Ethiopia, primitive axes fashioned out of quartz-agate have been found. They are over 2.5 million years old. Because of its hardness (7) Agate was a useful blade to have around. It wasn’t brittle and withstood stress and pressure.
Agate was named after Achates, a Greek name for the Dirillo River in Sicily, an early source of this gemstone. In earlier times, the Sumerians made agate seals, beads and other jewelry. It was thought that Agate gave the wearer a bold heart, relief from insomnia and pleasant dreams.
Early Greeks wore Agate as protection from the god Neptune, who ruled the sea. Greece had a very active shipping conglomerate and wanted their ships to arrive safely to the ports to sell their goods. Agate helped calm the seas and avoid destructive storms. In the Medieval era, Agate was said to bring God’s favor upon the wearer. Further, it made a person agreeable and persuasive. Many wore it as an amulet of protection against all possible dangers. It also endowed fighters with strength. Agate was a hot seller in this time because it was thought that it could block the “evil eye.”
Roman historian, Pliny said the Agate wearer was certain to attract a god or goddesses favor.
In modern day, Native Americans wear an Agate necklace to protect them during ceremony.
THE ASTROLOGY OF AGATE
Astrologically, the primary ruler is Jupiter. Given that so many cultures see Agate as protective, Jupiter is considered the “guardian angel” effect in a person’s chart. And this umbrella of protection extends to even communing with the gods and goddesses or whomever you believe in. There has always been a “good” connotation with Agate no matter what culture or time embraced it. Agate’s secondary ruler is Saturn and Mars. Agate is a well-known “grounding stone,” and helps people stay present, focus and in their body. Agate bestows common sense and practicality. It anchors a person to be “present” and in the moment, rather being dreamy or spacy. Mars other secondary ruler is said to protect the wearer in any battle and to be victorious. Mars is the warlord of the zodiac. This idea of protection or ‘battle’ can be seen in more modern-day terms, too.
Firefighters, paramedics, police men and women, military personnel all put their lives on the line. They are the ones who needs the beneficial Jupiter umbrella of protection while they carry out their Mars-like activities. There are many different ‘wars’ and it doesn’t have to be an “official” war like Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, Iraq or Afghanistan to apply here. The police officer is always at war with certain individuals, like bad drivers, druggies and criminal elements. Firefighters have their own ‘war’ against fire and flames or structures than can fall upon them. Paramedics and EMT’s frequently are in ‘battles’ either with the people who are injured or druggies who are out of their minds and are dangerous to deal with. These are the people who really need to wear Agate.
The ten most dangerous jobs in the world are: Alaskan crab fisherman, a logger, truck driver, a miner, fire fighter, policeman, armored car guard, bomb squad, Coast Guard Search and Rescue and a Bodyguard. Others are “high iron” construction workers, garbage collectors, farmers/ranchers, roofers, electric lineman, and taxi drivers/chauffeurs. If you are in any of these careers or have a family or friend who is, get them an Agate necklace.
Let’s put ‘danger’ in daily terms for the rest of us who aren’t working in one of these fields. Have a bad boss? Gossip at your office against you? Politics in your career? All these are battles in the war of your career. Maybe you want to give a presentation, do a workshop or lead a group of people in ceremony. This is risk taking for most of us. And where there is RISK, there should be Agate.
People trained in spiritual ceremony, no matter what kind, but especially the Earth religions, know there can be danger. Not all spirits and not all energies are friendly or supportive. Further, people who come to the ceremony may be out-of-sorts, or you may have sorcerers hiding among them. Things can go wrong energetically speaking or get out of hand for a lot of reasons. An Agate necklace protects the person performing the ceremony. Little known is that the wearer of the Agate can ask the spirits of the stone to extend their protection over all those who are attending the ceremony, as well. This is why it is used so often. During sweat lodge, the sweat lodge leader may wear an Agate necklace to keep the energies moving protectively among all the participants. Agate is a workhorse of the first order in situations like this.
Jupiter and Saturn have a profound effect on this Guard Dog stone. As noted earlier, it has a very grounding effect on the individual who wears it. You stay at “home” in your body. This stone works to keep the person in their core and fully focused and centered. It’s good for intense focus and can help the person hold that focus steadier and for longer periods of time. This is particularly a good stone for shamans who have to hold the bi-world focus and never allow it to be less than laser-like.
If going on a journey of any kind (vacations and business travel included) where you are pitting yourself against the elements and taking risks, take your Agate necklace along with you.
Risk takers, in particular (think of race car drivers, bungee jumping, etc.), should always wear Agate for a successful outcome to their endeavor. And, along this same line whatever you FEEL is a “risk,” then that is when you wear this gemstone.
There is such a good feeling to wearing Agate! There’s a natural uplifting of a person’s mood. This is an excellent stone for someone who is Depressed because the energy is naturally upward moving and unfolding. Agate is a work horse gemstone. It has many wonderful elements to it. They are all Jupiter aligned because your mood shifts to the positive when you wear Agate. The Mars part of it is for those who have risk and/or danger in their job or career.
ASTROLOGY TRANSITS AND PROGRESSIONS WITH AGATE
Saturn transits can be helped along by wearing Agate. Jupiter is always an antidote to Saturn, pure and simple. If the person is getting ground beneath Saturn’s fist, a gift of an Agate necklace can mean all the difference in the word to that person who is laboring beneath a lot of heavy, ongoing responsibility. Agate’s ability to “lift” an individual in the emotional and mental realms are areas of its expertise.
Someone with a Saturn with three or more hard aspects often has low self-esteem. Wearing Agate can antidote this and give the wearer a high sense of confidence in who and what they are. It helps this hesitant person to believe more fully in themselves.
If someone has a natal Jupiter with three or more hard aspects, then wearing Agate can help offset this. Instead of never getting the brass ring in life, Agate can help such a person to see opportunities in other areas where she/he did not before. Those born with an “unlucky Jupiter” in their chart can help offset this energy with Agate.
Someone with a natal Mars with three or more hard aspects is usually termed “an accident waiting to happen.” When Mars energy is distorted, the person can indeed have plenty of ‘accidents’ ranging from broken bones to strains and bruises. Agate can help to rearrange this energy to a degree and help the person get in touch with “why” they are so accident prone. There is no such thing as an accident. The “accident” is nothing more than an energy discharge that should have been acted upon and released–but was not. Something should have been said, and was not. Some action should have been taken and was not. There are a hundred thousand reasons why one would not speak up or be pro-active. When it concerns the health of the person, whether they realize this or not, this energy gathers within them and it MUST be discharged in some way. That is when an ‘accident’ occurs.
THE SOUTH ENERGY
From a Cherokee medicine wheel direction standpoint, Agate is a SOUTH gemstone. If there was a “Jupiter” or “Mars” position, it would be the South. At its finest, South energy is about the playful child who finds life curious, interesting, engaging and exciting. Risk takers are found in this direction too, because it is ruled by the fire element. Those who are South oriented will always be found in careers that involve risk of some sort. Or, their hobby will involve risk. People with a healthy South energy, even if adult or elderly, still have their child like fascination with life. They are optimistic people who are fully connected with and living their life to the fullest. They also have a wonderful sense of humor and can find laughter even in the darkest moments. Black humor resides here in this position. Agate is a wonderful stone to wear because there is such agreement energetically between it and the position of Grandfather Coyote.
WHO SHOULD WEAR AGATE?
Anyone can wear this necklace. If you are going into a stressful or confrontational situation, wear it. If you have a nasty work environment, always wear it. If you need to travel and that is stressful on you, take your Agate necklace with you.
Need for protection in a given situation is defined by the individual. What may scare me won’t scare you–and vice versa. If you are feeling vulnerable, wear this necklace. It’s great for teachers and lecturers who may be shy violets who must go forth and speak whether they’re comfortable doing it or not.
WHO SHOULD NOT WEAR AGATE?
Everyone can benefit from wearing Agate. I never allow children twelve and under to get around my necklaces simply because they can break and then swallow a bead–or worse, potentially choke on it. This is a ground rule I have across the board for all gemstones.
AGATE’S MANY COLORS
The Agate works with all chakras. The Jupiter effect covers us from head to toe, chakra-wise. It comes in an array of colors so there will be a particular hue that will appeal to everyone. Generally, you will see the “earth tones” among the Agate family. They can sport lavender, purple, pink and yellow, too. There is something for everyone. Agate is “every woman” or “every man.” Or you could think of Agates in terms of Jacob’s coat of many colors.
TYPES OF AGATE
There are many types of Agate and they are found the world over. Frequently, they are given a name by that country. For example, Fairburn Agates hail from South Dakota. And it is their state gemstone. Botswana Agate has pinks, creams and light tan colors comes from South Africa. Brazilian Agate tends more toward orange/yellow and brown tones with very clear banded markings. There is Bamboo Agate that is pinkish to brown colors. Blue Lace Agate is spectacular and it shows light blue with white bands. Sometimes, it looks like blue doily lace. Botswana age is generally gray, brown and rich brown tones. Sometimes you can find a pale apricot orange. Crazy Lace Agate hails from Mexico and has some striking yellow-gray/brown/orange color banding. Manchurian Agate comes from northeastern China, near Russia. It has terra cotta colors with Picasso-like marbled patterns. Moss Agate (one of my personal favorites) is usually dark green, browns and oranges. It literally looks like moss frozen in time, very delicate and dreamy looking (Neptune/Pisces people love this particular Agate because of that!). There is Fire Agate, which embodies the meaning of “fire” from the South Energy of the medicine wheel.
SPIRITUAL CONSIDERATIONS
Agate works to protect all the chakras and is more concerned with the Etheric field of our astral body as well as our physical body. It is an androgynous gemstone, possessing both male and female energies that are combined and working like a good team with one another. It can often help a person who is “stuck” in either their male side (right side of our body) or the female side (left side of our body). It’s great skill is in ABSORBING negative or ‘heavy’ energy from the surrounding environment so it does not harm the wearer. You will frequently see an Agate losing color if you are putting yourself in harm’s way all the time. If the Agate necklace you are wearing is leaching color and you don’t know why–check it out. You are placing yourself in a risky position (insofar as the stone’s spirits are concerned) and they are constantly absorbing this energy upon your behalf.
Symbolically, you can see Agate as a good team in a work horse harness with you. It will guard and protect you even at the expense of it (or all)the lives of the spirits of the Agate that you wear. It is slow, steady, reliable and considered “strong” medicine by many. And when you look at the BANDS on the Agate, consider them BOUNDARIES of protection that they are putting up for you to keep you healthy, stress free and out of the negative energy of danger.
HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS
Since ALL our dis-eases come from our fouled and toxic emotions (either dragged in from past incarnations into this one or we’ve created a new batch in this present lifetime….), then it stands to reason that Agate can be of help. Agate is more concerned with physical safety of you than anything else. That is its sphere of power. This is where the Saturn energy of it comes into direct play. Saturn is our boundaries, i.e., the physical body we live within. Saturn rules the bones and the structure that holds our body together.
HOW TO WEAR AGATE
Agate is something that can be worn at any time by anyone except children twelve and under. It’s a shield at work if you have nasty coworkers or an ugly boss or manager. It’s protection if you are feeling vulnerable. It lifts you up when you’re feeling down. If you feel out-of-body, just wear Agate and see how you feel about fifteen minutes later. It will gently pull you back into your body. In hard and depressing times, Agate is a natural “upper” with no addictive qualities. It also gives a person organization and being able to stick to and finish a project. Since Agate comes in so many colors, have one of each type of necklace to wear on any given occasion. We all have days when we prefer a particular color over others and Agate can cover all the basis with its multicolor personality.
IN SUMMATION….
Agate is probably the most worn gemstone by those in the know, in the world. For every day stress situations, it can handle things very well. It absorbs the energy aimed at you, the perfect Guard Dog stone. And for serious risk, then do wear it. Even on days when you’re feeling a bit vulnerable or not up to the task of defending yourself, Agate can be your partner to bring up its shield to give you that confidence and standing in your core that you seek. There’s a reason why Agates (and Jasper) are the most plentiful stones on this planet. They were put here by Mom Earth for us to use on days when we feel like we need our guardian angel a little closer than usual….
Copyright Eileen Nauman 2010
