Moonstone
Moonstone is a variety of feldspar with a flash of blue color known as "adularescence" once believed to be derived from the Moon. The interior lighting effects, however, result from light diffraction as light travels through thin layers of separate minerals. Moonstone when polished can also exhibit another light effect known as chatoyancy, known as the "cat's eye" effect. Although just a word of caution: the effects of light can make moonstone at any moment's notice desirable for those who practice magic. The ingredients for moonstone including aluminum potassium silicate and sodium aluminosilicate can come from a laboratory as individual compounds. When made by a laboratory, the created moonstone has a greenish hue and looks like a liquid-filled quartz as if for a mood ring. The alkali feldspar group has particular significance for other reasons such as the inclusions of albite that show-off the iridescence important to moonstone gems. The chemical formula for albite and orthoclase both known as feldspars is (Na,K)AlSi3O8 with the potassium variety being the orthoclase. Alternating films of the two minerals cause light diffraction. as mentioned before, parallel to the top of the host crystal.
This gemstone is mined in Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Myanmar, and the United States. Rumors say the blue moonstone washes up by the tides when the Sun and Moon are in alignment once in every twenty-one years. The figure of speech, "once in a blue moon", emerges from this belief. In reference to this alignment, the occurrence known as a saros period occurs in eighteen years, eleven days, and eight hours. The moonstone was known by the Ancients as Selenite; furthermore, depending on the brightness of the moon's light, the moonstone could either foretell the future or reconcile lovers, according to Charles W. King. He also says, if the moonstone is held inside one's mouth, it can help the bearer to decide what affairs to be taken and which to leave alone — a practice to help keep one’s thoughts to himself. According to Pliny, the “selenitis” today known as moonstone was said to be native of Arabia in spite of its Moonlike resemblance. It waxed and waned with the luminary phases; and, by his report, reflected the color of honey and image of the face of the Moon. By virtue of its chatoyancy, the moonstone like the cat’s-eye was thought to be capable of hypnosis known as self-trance. The light reflected by a moonstone was believed to be a living spirit and the epitome of good luck. Moonstone is thought to balance the emotions of the wearer; so, for better or worse, it gives awareness of qualities such as desire inside the subconscious. Those with an affinity for this gemstone are said to have a psychic harmony with the thoughts and feelings of others. To that end, the moon's energy is thought to be embodied by the monoclinic structure of the crystal. High quality moonstones exhibit a "blue flash" making this gem better suited for those with an affinity for eclipses and born under the sign of Libra.
Moonstone is a ritual stone used by those who travel and desire a safe journey. Fortunately, this gem is mostly used for ornamental jewelry. Much of the perceived alleviation from worry or stress comes from having improved confidence associated with travel. Antoine Mizauld in his book titled, Les Secrets de la Lune (1571), tells us the story about his friend who was a traveler and who owned a moonstone that mimicked the phases of the Moon. Mizauld himself obtained a moonstone (possibly selenite) for the purpose of documenting the white point of the stone. After doing so for a month and with success, the moonstone was then dedicated to King Edward VI who thought of the gift as being uncommon. Incidentally, Moonstone is known as the gemstone of Mondays. Calmness and happiness are virtues offered by moonstones to those who seek more meaning in their choice of gem or jewel. As a charm for lovers, a moonstone can be given as a gift for fortune-telling. When held inside one's mouth during a full Moon, legends say it gives one knowledge of the future albeit at some risk. The moonstone's opalescence can be impressive when set inside a necklace making it a wise choice for outside wear or in public when precious jewelry can better stay at home.
Charles William King was a British writer and Victorian gem expert. His collection of engraved gems was presented to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 1881 as the result of his failing eyesight.
Pliny the Elder was an Italian historian who died near Pompeii in 79 AD. His books on natural history were used throughout the Middle Ages as a reference and compilation of knowledge. As Western science emerged from the medieval period, mistakes were discovered in his compiling of information, and these were based on errors in reading original authors. His Natural History has since been credited as the first encyclopedia.
Antoine Mizauld was a Parisian surgeon who attempted to harmonize the health of his patients with the motions of celestial bodies during the 16th century. He was a medical humanist and an advisor to Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre. He incorporated the writing of Hermes Trismegistus with those of Galen, Aristotle, and Plato.