| Amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of churches in the middle Ages. It was, in particular, considered to be the stone of bishops and they still often wear Amethyst rings. In Tibet, Amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often fashioned from it.
Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness and the gemstone still symbolizes sobriety.
The legend of the origin of Amethyst comes from a Greek myth.
Bacchus, the god of wine, was angered one day by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that would cross his path. In order to perform this, he created fierce tigers. Along came the unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws of the tigers. Bacchus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.
Metaphysically, Amethyst balances emotions, enhances compassion and tolerance, and helps to blend opposing personalities into strong relationships.
It is believed that Amethyst keeps you in touch with your spirituality and helps you reach your highest goals. It balances and heals all chakras, but especially the third & seventh. It keeps you grounded, and aids in Channeling
Special thanks to www.gemsbrokers.org and www.gemstone.org for the information on Amethyst
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