TIGER’S EYE

Tiger’s eye is a chatoyant gemstone with a golden, red-brown color and a silky luster. It gains its’ wonderful, color-shifting appearance from the parallel intergrowth of quartz crystals and altered amphibole fibers, specifically crocidolite, which is sometimes called “blue asbestos”. Tigers eye most often develops in metamorphic rock within iron-rich ancient seas; there, it formed from the replacement of the finely-fibrous crocidolite crystals by hardier, longer lasting variations of quartz. This is a geological process called pseudomorphosis, and in this case it is where the quartz takes on the fibrous structure of the original amphibole material. Over vast expanses of time, hydrothermal fluids seep into the cracks and fissures within quartz-rich rocks, depositing the silica and crocidolite fibers. Eventually, the crocidolite and silica interact with trace amounts of iron and then oxidize, turning the stone golden-brown and creating its signature chatoyancy, or cat's eye effect. Common sources of tiger's eye include Australia, Brazil, Burma, Canada, China, Korea, India, Namibia, South Africa, Spain, and the United States.

TIGER’S EYE HISTORY AND USES

Historically, tiger’s eye has been used by various cultures and for various purposes across many parts of the globe, including but not limited to tokens of good-luck, wealth, protection, and for the warding off of evil spirits and the evil-eye. For thousands of years, tiger's eye has had a rich history as a protective talisman: For instance, it was designated as an amulet of courage and protection by Roman soldiers who wore it as a symbol for bravery, focus, and deflection of weapons in battle, in the belief that it would embody the tiger's strength and cunning nature in order to elevate them to victory; Even earlier yet, ancient Egyptians were well-known to have used the material in the crafting of deity art that symbolically represented divine vision and wisdom, as well as its designation as a stone of the "all-seeing eye" within specific statue depictions of gods like Ra, the Sun God, and Geb, the Earth God. These depictions and crafts were often placed in tombs of the deceased for their use within the afterlife. Tiger’s eye has long been considered a symbol of strength and focus across numerous ancient civilizations, with its ceremonial uses lasting steadfastly into the modern era, where it is considered a beloved semi-precious stone that can be found within modern art, jewelry, and spiritual practices.

TIGER’S EYE METAPHYSICS

Metaphysically, tiger’s eye is considered a powerful stone of the Root and Sacral Chakra’s. It is said that tiger’s eye can aid its user by helping to provide life-changing foundational support, including the obtaining of structure, protection, good-luck, and courage that is most-needed when building upon a healthy foundation. Tiger’s eye is also said to be a terrific addition to home and business décor, as it helps to create stability and bring about motivation and prosperity within the space. Physically, tiger’s eye is said to be a fantastic aid for healthy bone structure. It is also said to aid the body with increased iron absorption and can help to provide healthy hemoglobin levels. Additionally, it is said that tiger’s eye can bring positive energy and sexual wellness to the reproductive organs.