Selenite

DESCRIPTION OF SELENITE

In mineralogy the name of moonstone is attributed not only to the precious adular but also to another semi-precious stone. It is a soft, non-jewelry application but rather ornamental gypsum also known as selenite. That’s what causes all the confusion. The latter also has its shine, which is vaguely similar to the shine of moonstone but is of a different kind than the genuine moonstone. That’s why it would be more correct to call the gypsum selenite, which has always been the advice of mineralogists.

The variety of gypsum with a silky shine is a partially translucent gypsum with a flat-parallel placement of layers and distinct irisation, very soft (you can scratch it with a nail), whitish and yellowish in color. Back in Sumer and ancient Egypt the pinkish, lilacish, wax-yellow and white selenite was used for producing ritual vessels, canopic vases, household objects and religious amulets. That spawned another name of selenite, which can be found in the composition of natural gypsum and is from the same family as alabaster – “Eastern alabaster” or “Egyptian stone.”

Selenite is a universal healer able to relieve practically any illness; it has the most positive effect on members of the gentler sex, ensuring that the cured illness never troubles its owner again. The legends about the marvelous selenite healings exist all across the world – back in time the stone was used by the Tibetan doctors asserting that it could heal bones fever, Transcaucasians used it to cure bladder deposits, and in Bashkiria the alabaster powder was sprinkled over battle wounds.

Today’s lithotherapists believe that selenite can help heal head and tooth aches, enhance vision, cure inflammations of the liver, spleen and gall bladder, harmonize the immune system, remove puffiness and restore the salt balance. Selenite therapy is used for reducing fever. Selenite is equally good for curing depression – it allays apathy and despondency, awakens emotions and triggers an influx of good memories.