KEY WORDS Inner vision, truthful communication, royal virtues
ELEMENT Wind
CHAKRAS Third Eye (6th), Throat (5th)
Lapis Lazuli is a sodium aluminum silicate with sulfur, chlorine, and hydroxyl, and variable inclusions of Pyrite and White Calcite. Its hardness is 5 to 6 and its crystal system is isometric, mostly aggregate.
The ancient Greeks and Romans called the stone sapphirus, until the term Lapis Lazuli began to be used in the Middle Ages. In Latin, the name means ‘blue stone,’ and this came from the ancient Persian word lazhuward, which meant ‘blue.’ The finest Lapis Lazuli comes from the West Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan. Other deposits of generally lower quality are in Chile and Russia.
The ancient Egyptians used Lapis in scarabs, beads, pendants, and other jewelry as far back as 3100 B.C. In that civilization, it was also ground into powder for use as a medicine and as a cosmetic for eye shadow. The golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen is richly inlaid with Lapis, as were the burial ornaments of other Egyptian kings and queens.
Lapis was also a stone of royalty in ancient Sumer and was treasured in China at least 2,500 years ago. During the European Renaissance, Lapis was widely used for carving art objects, and Catherine the Great decorated a room in her palace with Lapis walls, fireplaces, doors, and mirror frames.
Buddhist beliefs recommended Lapis Lazuli as a stone to bring inner peace and freedom from negative thoughts. In Europe Lapis was also thought to cure various illnesses and to be an antidote for snakebite.
Lapis was used to entomb and decorate the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. As a stone of royalty and spirituality, it was unsurpassed. It still carries the vibration of the inner ‘king’ or ‘queen’ that lies buried in each of us. For those who wish to awaken that aspect of the self, Lapis is a steadfast aid in the deep inner journey. To know oneself deeply is to resurrect one’s inner Divine nature. Therefore Lapis actually is the stone of royalty in its truest nature, and its path of self-knowledge is the means of uncovering that truth.
Lapis activates the psychic centers at the third eye, allowing one to develop enhanced intuition and access to spiritual guidance. It is a stone of visionary awareness, bringing new information to the mind in images rather than words. It enhances intellectual ability, making one a better learner and teacher. It is a stone of truth and a stimulating influence on the throat chakra—therefore it assists one in both discerning and speaking the truth in all situations. Lapis is a stone of initiation as well—gifting a friend with Lapis jewelry can be a catalyst for a mystical journey to higher awareness.
Lapis is often particularly attractive to individuals with past-life connections to ancient Egypt, and meditating with the stone can assist them in recovering memories of those past lives, aiding evolution in the current incarnation.
Lapis Lazuli works exceedingly well with Moldavite, facilitating transformation to one’s highest purpose. Alexandrite and Oregon Opal can assist Lapis in opening one to past-life memories. Lapis Lazuli also harmonizes with Turquoise, Rhodochrosite, Sugilite, Chrysoprase, Pietersite, Rhodonite, and Larimar.
Lapis Lazuli is one of the best-known minerals for activating the higher mind and psychic abilities. It is a powerful Wind element stone that works predominantly on the third eye, with secondary effects depending upon other mineral inclusions. Pyrite inclusions assist in acting upon one’s highest ideals and one’s visions. Calcite inclusions assist in clearing the energy systems of the body to accommodate higher spiritual energies.
Lapis Lazuli has traditionally been used to assist one in connecting with the Gods and invoking Divine inspiration. It is the stone of the spiritual seeker and student, stimulating one’s desire for knowledge and understanding. It can help one learn more effectively and is excellent for enhancing memory.
Lapis Lazuli is also one of the best-known stones for use in alternate- and past-life exploration. It helps one gain access to the Akashic records so one can receive information on one’s own lifetimes or those of another person (with permission, of course!). It acts as a special link to one’s lifetimes in civilizations that prized and used Lapis Lazuli—including Atlantis, ancient Egypt, Peru, Sumeria, and India, among others. It can help one regain lost esoteric knowledge from these civilizations, including information on the star origins of humanity. Above all, Lapis Lazuli is a stone of self-knowledge and reflection. It helps one move out of the mundane mind and into an expanded awareness of one’s motivations and beliefs. This knowledge of self gives one clearer perspective on one’s life and creations. It enables one to identify one’s gifts and abilities, as well as one’s limitations and opportunities for growth.
Lapis Lazuli offers one the opportunity for a life review before death, allowing one to integrate one’s experiences so one can move to a higher level of awareness.
SPIRITUAL
Lapis Lazuli awakens the third eye and enhances one’s ability to visualize and receive visual guidance or information. It enhances meditative journeys and facilitates past and alternate-life viewing. It is a stone for clairvoyance and precognition.
EMOTIONAL
Lapis Lazuli helps one move one’s consciousness beyond the mundane and allows one to identify habits, patterns and lessons one may have difficulty perceiving consciously, which may be blocking one from making spiritual progress.
PHYSICAL
Lapis Lazuli helps one identify the karmic roots of disease. It can be particularly helpful in identifying habitual thought patterns and emotions sabotaging one’s healing. AFFIRMATION I claim the sovereignty and power of my highest self, and I align myself with my highest truth.
