Seven Varieties of Agate and Their Healing Properties

Healing Benefits of Agate

Agate is a commonly found group of crystals that form in a wide variety of colours and distinct patterns. They consist primarily of quartz and chalcedony and form within spaces inside other rocks. These pockets fill layer by layer, creating the well-known banded look of agate crystals. These can be further affected by changes in pressure, temperature, and other minerals, meaning that each agate is unique in its patterning, even when cut from the same piece. Agates are found all over the world and are less expensive than many other crystals, though their value can increase based on the quality of a stone's banding and colour. They may be named based on how they form or on where they are found in the world like, for example, Botswana agate.

Agates may be found in jewellery and are often carved into cabochons and beads. They are carved into cameos and various decorative shapes such as animals, angels and hearts. They can also be found in raw and tumbled stones in a variety of sizes and shapes.

The Healing Properties of Agates

Agates have been valued by people for thousands of years and have been used in many ways, including in jewellery, stone carving and based on their healing and other beneficial properties. Agates are generally regarded as very stabilising stones that are excellent for grounding, balancing and cleansing. They have a calming and soothing energy that works slowly but thoroughly to aid those who work with it. Agates are thought to be useful in increasing self-confidence and improving concentration and analytical abilities. They are good crystals when looking to eliminate negativity, soothe anger and support anyone starting on a new path in life, especially if this has come after a difficult or traumatic experience. In addition to the general properties and benefits of agate, each variety has specific uses unique to it. Some of the advantages of working with agate crystals include:

• Easing insomnia
• Revealing hidden information in a situation
• Boosting self-acceptance
• Balancing yin and yang energies
• Encouraging open-mindedness
• Promoting goodwill
• Calming fear and stress
• Increasing flexibility
• Enhancing creativity
• Aiding difficult communication
• Enhancing meditation
• Bringing insight into your current situation

Who Should Get One?

The gentle, slow energy of agates makes them ideal for anyone who is looking to slow down, ground or find balance in life. They can be great for people who feel like they are always rushing or feel out of control in life because of having so many responsibilities or tasks to attend to. These crystals are also a good choice for harmonising the mind, body and spirit. Agates are beneficial for finding and working on the causes of issues rather than just relieving the symptoms.

1. Blue Lace Agate

This pretty stone has a gentle calming energy that can help bring peace of mind to those around it. Its blue colour links it to the throat chakra and it is an excellent choice for balancing and healing issues in this energy centre. Blue lace agate encourages sharing your thoughts and feelings and supports anyone who finds this difficult or has a difficult topic or person to approach. It is also great for performers and public speakers or anyone who has to deliver speeches in work meetings, gatherings or exams and assessments.

This is a great crystal for those who provide care for others as it promotes patience and understanding while helping to relieve stress. This variety of agate is believed to aid you in hearing the messages your angels have for you and in finding your spiritual path. Blue lace agate is can help in breaking down old patterns of thoughts and behaviours that hold you back or no longer serve your highest good. Blue lace agate is commonly recommended for soothing anxiety, whether this is linked to a specific event or for those who struggle daily.

2. Botswana Agate

The energy of this crystal is full of balance, stability and harmony. It encourages living your life with peace and not allowing small issues and concerns to be overblown and cause stress. Botswana agate reminds those around it that they have control of their path in life and that ultimately the final choice lies with them. These may not always be easy choices but this crystal can help in finding clarity and purpose. Botswana agate can also be used in helping to find practical solutions to problems rather than focusing on blame and dwelling on the issue. It encourages looking at the obvious or to people and opportunities close by in case a solution has been overlooked.

This variety of agate is believed to benefit those who suffer from depression or conditions characterised by anxiety or fear, such as agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder. Botswana agate can bring comfort to those who are sensitive to the opinion of others or have been hurt by the teasing of others.

3. Crazy Lace Agate

Crazy lace agate is a good choice of crystal for unity people to work toward a common goal and encouraging teamwork. It is an excellent grounding crystal that balances the emotions, intellect and physical energies and inspires clear thinking. This is a useful crystal for when things aren’t going to plan as it supports going with the flow and protects against outside energies while energising and helping you to stay in the present moment. Crazy lace agate encourages you to reflect on your life experiences and use these to further your growth and inner stability. This crystal is beneficial for releasing emotional baggage and hurts, supporting you to heal and move on in life. It can also aid in overcoming negativity, bitterness, resentment and hate.

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Crazy lace agate is sometimes known as the laughter stone as it reminds us to look for happiness in every area of life, even when it feels hard or like everything is against you.

4. Dendric Agate

Dendric agate has a reputation as a stone of abundance that can help to enhance every area of your life. It has a particularly strong connection to nature and is a great choice of stone for people who work with plants, crops or trees. It can be used to help develop connections to the natural world as well as to boost the growth of all types of plants. Sometimes called the stone of plenitude, this variety of agate creates a peaceful atmosphere so is a great crystal to place in areas where discussions may become heated or when clashing opinions cause tempers to rise. Dendric agate encourages patience and perseverance and aids in realising when self-imposed limitations are holding you back.

This crystal is beneficial when working towards goals as it helps you to keep these realistic and practical. It encourages hard work and will support you in any efforts to improve your current situation or prospects. Dendric agate is also known as tree agate.

5. Moss Agate

This is another variety of agate that can help strengthen your connection to nature and is said to help reduce sensitivity to environmental pollutants or changes in the weather. Moss agate aids in developing trust, boosts self-expression and supports us in releasing fear. It helps to improve self-esteem and our ability to get along with others, no matter how they are different from ourselves. As a stone of abundance, it helps to inspire us with new ideas when feeling stuck or stagnated.

Moss agate has a positive energy that will help bring you hope in difficult times. This crystal is believed to help speed up recovery after illness or injury and has been traditionally used by midwives to ensure a good delivery.

6. Fire Agate

Fire agate is a grounding stone that supports you in travelling your spiritual path, even in difficult circumstances. It boosts courage and is a beneficial crystal for people who are facing a large change in life, whether it is one they have chosen or one that has been forced upon them. This variety of agate helps to differentiate between your thoughts, wants and needs and the influence of the opinions of other people. It will aid you in pushing through whatever needs to be done to achieve your goals and dreams.

Fire agate is said to increase vitality and mental stamina. It can help in balancing moods and has a strong protective energy, creating a protective shield around the body to reflect harm back to its source.

7. Black Agate

This crystal is thought to be useful in easing sleep difficulties such as insomnia and repeated waking. Like all black stones, it has a protective energy that shields us from harm, the evil eye and fear, especially fear of the dark. Black agate can be used to gently release pent-up energies and angst calmly rather than them bursting out in hyperactivity, anger or sadness. Traditionally, black agate was used to remove bad luck, curses and jinxes.

This calming stone is believed to be greatly supportive in times of grieving and in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere during stressful times.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2020 Claire