LAPIS LAZULI

A stone that is best known for its rich blue color, Lapis Lazuli is an uncommon metamorphic rock combination of various minerals; most often, a variant of sodalite called haüyne; as well as calcite and, sometimes, pyrite. Historically, Lapis Lazuli was a popular stone for pigment in textiles, as well as its use as a gemstone in jewelry. Perhaps most notably, it was abundantly used in the funerary mask of Tutankhamun and was considered the favorite eye shadow color of Cleopatra.

LAPIS LAZULI HISTORY AND MINING

Lapis Lazuli is prized for its remarkable ability to take a polish, and because of this it is often used in the artistic crafting of jewelry, carvings, mosaics, ornaments, and vases. Historically and, perhaps, most notably, Lapis Lazuli is found within the limestone beds of the Kokcha River valley of Badakhshan, Afghanistan, where the Sar-i Sang deposits have been mined in the region for over 6,000 years. Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan was once considered a primary resource for the ancient Mesopotamian, Persian, and Egyptian civilizations, as well as for the Greeks and Romans at a later time. It has been documented that Ancient Egyptians first obtained the material through trade with Mesopotamians as part of early and successful Egypt-Mesopotamia relations. During the height of the Indus Valley civilization, in approximately 2200 BC, the Harappan colony, now known as Shortugai, was first established near the legendary Lapis Lazuli mines. The people of the Harappan colony grew to be very familiar with the trade value of finished material, and many historical artifacts have been discovered from the region as a result; including beads for jewelry, mosaic tile, and deity sculpture. Much later, during the Renaissance Period, Lapis Lazuli was often ground and processed in order to create a pigment called ultramarine, which was most commonly used in oil painting and fresco plaster design. Ultramarine has been prized as a pigment for centuries, with the beautiful blue material gracing the brushes of many famed Renaissance artists, such as Raphael and Michelangelo, who used the pigment within much of their works.

The famed mines in northeast Afghanistan continue to be a major resource of the material, with important amounts also being produced near Lake Baikal in Russia; as well as within certain regions of the Andes mountains, in Chile. Smaller quantities are also mined in Pakistan, Italy, Mongolia, Canada, and the United States.

LAPIS LAZULI METAPHYSICS

Metaphysically, Lapis Lazuli is considered a powerful stone of the Throat and Third Eye Chakras. It is said to aid its user by helping to facilitate a mental framework of forward thinking; all the while, harboring a productive space for self-induced courage and positive attitude. A stone of mental prowess, Lapis Lazuli can aid the mind by bringing forth more calculated thought patterns and positive affirmations, creating a fruitful environment for manifestation capitalization. It is also said that Lapis Lazuli can intensify its users’ psychic abilities and intuition, allowing for ancestral protection and wisdom to funnel through the Third Eye and into the conscious mind. Physically, Lapis Lazuli is said to bring its user relief from troubles of the mind; such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It is also said to aid the body with afflictions of the nervous system, adrenal system, and thyroid.