Opals, with their mesmerizing play of colours, have captivated human imagination for millennia. These mesmerizing cabochon gemstones occur in various colours and types, including fire opal, black opal, white opal, Australian opal, etc. – and each has its own individualistic story to tell. Important origins for opals include Australia, Ethiopia, and Mexico – with each origin contributing its own geological characteristics of quality and carat weights to this gem.
Beyond their alluring beauty, however, lies a deeper layer of meaning imbued with spiritual beliefs and symbolic associations. From ancient civilizations to modern practices, opals have been revered for their connection to the unseen realms, offering a glimpse into the transformative power of the universe.
Understanding Opals
Composed of hydrated silica spheres, opals possess a unique internal structure that diffracts light, creating an optical phenomenon known as opalescence or ‘play of colour’. This brilliant play of colour is a kaleidoscope of shifting hues that dance across the opal's surface with every movement, and unfolds across a spectrum of vibrant hues, from fiery reds and oranges to ethereal blues and greens. The play of color is the hallmark of a precious opal, making it a true wonder of nature's artistry.
A Black Opal with intense Play of Colour
But opal stones are more than just captivating gemstones. Throughout history, they have been imbued with mystical properties, and revered for their astrological prowess. From adorning the fingers of pharaohs and the crowns of Roman emperors to adorning the ceremonial attire of Native American healers, opal jewellery has found its place in diverse societies, each culture weaving its unique narrative into the gemstone's story.
Opals in Ancient History & Lore
Opal stones have been compared to volcanoes, galaxies, and fireworks with their flashes of spectral fire. Historic admirers granted extraordinary specimen poetic monikers like “Pandora,” “Light of the World,” and “Empress.” In ancient Rome, this mesmerizing gem symbolized love and hope. The Romans gave it a name, opalus, meaning “precious stone.” In 75 AD, the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder marvelled at how some opals contained such a dynamic play of colour that they rivalled the most brilliant pigments used by artists. Other opals mimicked the fiery blaze of burning sulphur or glowing oil lamps. They marvelled at how this shape-shifting gem encompassed the red of ruby, the green of emerald, the yellow of topaz, the blue of sapphire, and the purple of amethyst.
Across civilizations, legends abound of opals manifesting from divine realms bearing mystical abilities beyond the ordinary world. Arabic legends tell of opals falling from the heavens in flashes of lightning. Ancient Greeks believed opals awarded their owners gifts of prophecy and protection from disease. Across Europe, the gem has long been considered a symbol of hope, purity, and truth.
Stick pin featuring a carved opal face crafted in the Art Nouveau style by Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach, circa 1900.
While modern astrologers link opals as a birthstone for those born in October, some incorrectly think wearing opal jewellery is unlucky for anyone born in another month. But that particular myth emerged from a 19th-century novel, not ancient lore. In fact, for most of history, opal has been regarded as the luckiest and most magical gem because it can showcase every color. Once, it was even thought to hold the power to preserve the golden hue of blonde hair!
Symbolic Meanings of Opal
While wearing opal stone jewelry or using it in its cabochon form in rings and pendants is relatively modern, this luminous gemstone has an ancient legacy of a supernatural legend. Across cultures, opals were revered as gifts from divine realms to cure ailments of the eye or reveal invisible truths. Many treasured opals as cabochons and amulets for prophecy, divination, and visionary consciousness. Some believed wrapping an opal in bay leaves could temporarily cloak the wearer unseen to the world.
This spawned folklore of the opal as the "patron stone of thieves" for its suspected ability to grant invisibility. But a deeper meaning lies behind the myth. Opals awaken "inner sight" to discern personal fate, divine one's life path, and decipher spiritual truths. They illuminate hidden realms where the soul gains wisdom unclouded by illusion. Our ancestors understood opal's sublime gifts for polishing the lens through which we perceive reality's mystical undercurrents.
Today crystal healers harness opal's transcendent energy to open portals of imagination, receive visions from ascended masters, interpret signs through synchronicity, recall past lives, and consciously co-create an enlightened future.
Metaphysical Properties of Opals
The mesmerizing optical effects of opal stones originate from their unique physical structure. Small silica spheres are packed into intricate layers that diffract incoming light. As color waves bend and reflect off the spheres' surfaces, they break into the spectrum of fire dancing within precious opal gemstones. This unique composition gives opals a powerful ability to amplify and balance energy. Known as a "stone of happy dreams and positive changes," Opals assist one in developing a more optimistic spirit. Different colored and types of natural opals such as fire opal, white opal, black opal, Australian opal and opals from Ethiopia activate corresponding chakras, cleansing blockages, and activating healing vibrations. The cascading rainbow colors also link lower chakras to the enlightened Crown chakra.
Opals, especially fire opals, black opals, and Australian opals, are also known to enhance spiritual gifts including psychic awareness, lucid dreaming, and astral projection. Their high energy resonance facilitates out-of-body travel to higher realms for profound visions that catalyze personal transformation. Throughout history, opals have been revered as spiritual tools for evolving consciousness and manifesting healing shifts. Shamans enter mystical terrain wearing opals as protection for gathering wisdom from spiritual entities. Opals amplify intention, heighten intuition, and reveal one's destiny, divine role, and soul evolution.
Integrating Opals Into Your Daily Practice
If you resonate with the opals' energy and symbolism, consider incorporating them into your spiritual practice. Here are a few ways to do so:
- Meditation: Holding an opal gemstone during meditation can deepen your connection to your inner self and intuition. Focus on the play of color, allowing it to guide your mind toward tranquillity and self-awareness. You can also visualize the opal's light filling your body, clearing away negativity and promoting emotional balance.
- Journaling: Write about your experiences with the opal, reflecting on the thoughts, feelings, and insights that arise. Use the gemstone's symbolism as a source of inspiration, exploring themes of transformation, creativity, and self-expression.
- Rituals & Spells: Design rituals or spells incorporating opals to manifest specific intentions. For instance, hold an opal while setting intentions for increased creativity or emotional healing. You can also incorporate the gemstone into rituals connected to specific lunar phases or planetary alignments, drawing upon their respective energies to amplify your intentions.
- Crystal Grids: Create a crystal grid using opals alongside other complementary crystals. For example, combine them with amethyst for enhanced intuition and spiritual understanding, or with carnelian to boost creativity and passion. Arrange the crystals in a specific pattern based on your intention, allowing their combined energies to work synergistically.
A Crystal Grid
Conclusive Reflections
Opals have a unique inner structure that makes their colors shine and sparkle. These colorful flashes can help balance emotional energy and heal the spirit. Opals boost intuitive gifts like fortune-telling dreams, astral travel, and seeing into past lives. Their high energy lets the spirit journey into mystical worlds and discover truths for personal change. Natural opals magnify focus, sharpen gut instincts, and reveal life's meaning. In old traditions and new age ways, opals hold metaphysical might - raising your vibe, tuning into guides, understanding your soul's purpose. These flashing stones shine light on buried emotions so you can heal yourself. They awaken your highest spiritual abilities so you can become your best self.
If you’re looking to buy opal stone online – we invite you to browse through Precious Earth’s collection of these magnificent cabochon gemstones. Our web store, which include precious and semi-precious gemstones across 20 categories, includes the likes of peridot, moonstone, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and more. Each gem purchased at Precious Earth comes with its own lab certified guarantee of authenticity, and a lifetime returns policy – so that you can rest assured of a genuine purchase at our web store.
