Amethyst

About this stone

Amethyst — purple quartz — has been worn against intoxication, anxiety, and bad dreams since the Greeks. Astrologically it is associated with Neptune and Saturn together: spiritual perspective with structural calm. It is the most-reached-for stone for hard synastry aspects (squares, oppositions, T-squares) because it slows reactive thinking long enough for both partners to choose their response.

At a glance

Ruling planet

Neptune, Jupiter

Chakra

Third Eye, Crown

Colour

Pale lilac to deep violet

Mohs hardness

7

Origin

Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia

Supports

Hard aspects (squares, oppositions)

How Amethyst links to the zodiac

This stone is traditionally paired with Aquarius, Pisces, Virgo, Capricorn. Each sign draws on it slightly differently.

• ♒ Aquarius

  air · fixed

  Aquarius uses Amethyst to keep the famously detached mind warm and present during friction.

  Ruling planet: Uranus

• ♓ Pisces

  water · mutable

  Amethyst is one of Pisces traditional birthstones — it steadies dreamy diffusion into useful intuition.

  Ruling planet: Neptune

• ♍ Virgo

  earth · mutable

  For Virgo, Amethyst quiets the inner critic that turns hard aspects into endless self-audit.

  Ruling planet: Mercury

• ♑ Capricorn

  earth · cardinal

  Capricorn pairs Amethyst with Saturn discipline; the stone keeps long ambition from hardening into rigidity.

  Ruling planet: Saturn