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Healing Crystals from Ocean - Pearl, Abalone and Mother of Pearl
Stones of the Sea
Abalone Shell
There are lots of names for Abalone Shell as it can be found all over the world.
The ear-shaped shell of the abalone shells have many names: Haliotis Iris, Paua Shells, Nacre, Mother-of-Pearl, Aulon, and Sea ear to name a few.
It is found in several distinct places and cultures around the world, which explains its many names, coming from several languages.
There’s no doubting its beauty. They are also fantastically individual - no two shells are quite the same.
It is an organic gemstone, the same category as amber and pearl. But how and where do they form? What is their symbolic significance, and what spiritual properties do they give when worn?Abalone is a Sea Mollusk
Abalone is a variety of mollusks or sea snails with feet and tentacles. Its ear-shaped shells are made up of microscopic pieces of calcium carbonate, stacked one on top of the other, almost like tiny Lego blocks.
Each of these brick-like layers has a clingy protein material between them. This adds to the exceptional strength of the abalone shell.
Abalone mollusks grow by feeding on seaweed such as kelp. The different varieties of seaweed create different colours in their shell as they grow.
The concentric rings you can see on the outside of an adult abalone shell are evidence of the changes in the seaweed diet of the mollusk.
Abalone mollusks can repair minor damage to their own shells. This might be caused by otters or even humans trying to remove them from rocks.
Perhaps this is where Mother-of-Pearl's symbolism of strength and healing comes from. Not only exceptionally strong, but the abalone shell is also exceptionally beautiful and deeply symbolic.
Where Are They Found?
There are over a hundred varieties of abalone worldwide. They are generally found in cold, coastal waters such as those of New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, the West of North America, and Japan. In Africa, it is now a $40 million dollar industry.
Those mollusks with vibrant, iridescent shells are the most popular for use in jewellery.Turning these shells to the light can reveal many hues, from turquoise, peacock green and blue to rose pink, purple and gold shimmer.
Abalone shell can vary from a few inches to seven inches in length. This means that jewellery coming from the shells varies in size and shape.
The many uses of the abalone is surprising. It has inspired makeup palettes, wedding themes, in tiles and laminates in home decoration.
The iridescent colours and deeply spiritual meaning bring special attributes to the homes decorated with it.
Abalone can form pearls, and these can be made into jewellery. They are exceptionally rare, so it is very lucky to find abalone pearls.
They form in the mother-of-pearl shell, at the edge of the shell or in the gut. Only one in seven hundred abalone mollusks will form pearls.
The most common use of the abalone shell is for jewellery and gifts.
Cultural Significance of the Shell
The shell has special meaning in many cultures and has spiritual properties. Let's look at the spiritual histories of the abalone shell.
Maori People, New Zealand
The Maori people of New Zealand call abalone Paua. It can be found in the coastal waters off of New Zealand.
Paua shells are usually about five inches and oval-shaped. The Maori people eat the meat of the shell, which is a Maori delicacy. They then use the shell to make jewelry and other special gifts for trading.
The Maori people used this shell in warrior artwork. They would use it as the eyes of these warrior and other demi-God figures.
Contemporary art in New Zealand still incorporates these spiritual shells into their craft.
They believe the shell strengthens the body and the heart of the wearer. With a stronger heart and body, the person is thought to be able to communicate their feelings more clearly.
The Maori believe the Paua will bring connectivity and harmony to relationships.
The way the colours of the shell shift in the light is also a symbol of change and transition in Maori culture.
Abalone jewellery might be the symbol to represent the change, and to protect you in the next phase of your life, as it does for Maori people.
Native American Cultures
In some Native American cultures, the shell of the abalone is to burn sage.
They believe the combined spiritual power of abalone and sage would take their messages to their Gods.
The smoke of the sage is used to cleanse evil spirits. This is used in modern-day cleaners also, which we explore later.
Apache Nation, North America
There is an Apache story that explains the significance of this shell in their ancient culture.
The Apache nation believes there is a connection between the shell and the first woman - known as White Painted Woman. She is also known as Esdzanadehe or Changing Woman. She survives a flood in the shell of an abalone.
As the floodwaters recede, she walks the land. She is impregnated by the sun and has a son. This son becomes the Killer of Enemies, protecting her from evil.
She is later impregnated by the rain and births the Son of Water. At the end of the White Painted woman's life, she walks east until she finds her young self. The two merge, and in this way, she is born over and over again, through endless generations.
This is why the puberty ceremony for Apache girls - the Sunrise Ceremony, uses the shell of the abalone. It is a symbol of their new womanhood fusing with previous generations of the White Painted Woman.
The shell is a way through which apache girls connect to their spiritual heritage.
They wear the abalone shell on their forehead during the puberty ritual. The abalone power teaches the girls of their spiritual power as women, and their ability to heal, as they 'become a woman'. Abalone stone has much to offer.
It can stimulate psychic development such as intuition. It can improve your ability to express your emotions with clarity. this can encourage cooperation with those around you at work and in your personal life.
Perhaps your work or family life is stressful at the moment. The shell gemstone will attract tranquility and clarity of mind.
Many swear by its ability to help us work through emotional situations, be they now or things that happened far in our past or past lives. Let's look at other meanings and uses of abalone stone or shell.
Connecting to Chakra
The chakras linked to the shell of abalone are the third eye, the crown, and the heart. These are areas linked to intuition, that harmonise with the intuitive properties attached to the shell of the abalone.
Cleansing Rituals
In cleansing rituals, it is believed that holding onto the iridescent shell of the abalone increases feelings of purity. This deepens the effect of the spiritual cleanse.
These rituals involve the burning of sage to clear negative energies from within, or from a specific space. Couples and families can do these rituals to cleanse a space in their household after an argument or when they move to a new home.
The smoke from the sage is thought to clear the bad energies and bless areas with a positive light.
A Symbol of Water
Many cultures think of the abalone as a symbol of water. Its calmness and tranquility protect us from life's unsettling passions.
To wash away any unpleasantness and shield us from the darkness.
A Way to Heal and Protect
The shell of abalone looks like a kind of shield. It's no surprise then that it has protective and healing qualities.
It brings safety from harm and emotional balance. It can protect the heart - in the physical and metaphysical aspects.
Fertility and Motherhood
The abalone mollusk is fecund - or fertile, for its species. As such, many people trying to conceive or wanting to guarantee the health of a new child or grandchild wear the abalone stone.
The fertility aspects can bring wealth, abundance, or new opportunities at work. The shell has been used as a sort of currency in many native cultures.
Mother of Pearl can be a beautiful gift for new mothers. It can provide much needed emotional, physical, and mental support to new moms. It can remind a new mother of the extraordinary act she carried out in creating and nurturing of an individual spirit.
To Calm Us
The relaxing sound of the ocean waves has surrounded the abalone during its entire life. It is thought that these waves of relaxation transit to the wearer of the abalone shell.
As such, it can calm the mind and relax the spirit.
There are those not attuned to its psychic attributes. Holding the shell and admiring its natural beauty alone can remind us of the everyday miracles around us.
It can be a reminder to take stock of what we have and to appreciate and celebrate it. When we are going through troubling times it can be a reminder of the inherent peace in nature that we can connect to if we choose to.
The abalone stone can remind us of the uniqueness of each of us. It can help us to tolerate the imperfectness in each of us, and in each of our personal relationships.
As a Power Boost
By improving our power to communicate our emotions clearly, this gemstone can be used as a symbol of empowerment and feminine power.
It has protected the soft core of the mollusk. It can protect the more sensitive aspects in us. Projecting an image of strength and beauty to the outside world.
As a Magical Gift
The abalone stone is an excellent gift. The Maori people believe it can bring luck, peace, and prosperity to the person wearing it.
Perhaps the wearer loves water, and the abalone shell can be a special reminder of the sea.
Iridescent abalone sea shell flatters warm and cool skin tones alike. They change colour every time they are viewed in a different light which is certainly part of their charm.
It means they can be paired with almost any outfit. It is exquisite when paired with other ocean gemstones.
The rich cultural and spiritual significance of abalone makes it a conversation starter all over the world.
You can wear it alone or with simple earrings. Many women in public speaking, therapeutic, or teaching roles wear a piece like this to strengthen them and assist them to be more articulate.
Not unlike the way the Maoris used its spiritual powers for millennia.
The shell shows up best nestled in silver, platinum, or natural fibres. It can also be nested in rose gold or gold - it all depends on the colouring of the wearer as to which metal will work best.
The shell of abalone looks like a kind of shield. It's no surprise then that it has protective and healing qualities. It brings safety from harm and emotional balance. It can protect the heart - in the physical and metaphysical aspects. It also is said to boost the immune system and assist digestion.
Pearls
The definition of pearl is a hard object found in the soft tissue of a saltwater or freshwater mollusk. They tend to be pale in colour, shiny, and round. Since ancient times, pearls have been precious. The pearl meaning is centred around purity, balance, and inner wisdom.
Pearls have long been a source of pure fascination. Silky and glistening with many shades, these precious gems seem to carry a one-of-a-kind energy. Often tagged as being gifts of grace and glamour, pearls also carry a luminous water energy and a sense of harmony as they are created in synergy with other living creatures (marine pearl oysters and freshwater mussels). After doing a deep dive into the divine delights of the pearl, there is so much to be celebrated about this moonlike orb of magic.
Pearls are a gemstone of inner wisdom. They have huge healing energy and as they carry the lucid movement of water within them, they are all about inviting you to find your own balance and flow.
The Gemstone of Inner Wisdom
Pearls are born into this world rather than simply found. What’s even more remarkable is the fact that they are found in the deep blue depths of the ocean. As the tides are pulled by the moon, this infuses these sweet little gemstones with all the power and grace of divine feminine energy. They are connected to nature and wisdom and new beginnings and they invite us symbolically to do a deep dive into our own inner oceans and discover the treasures that shimmer beneath the surface.
The pearl has long been celebrated for its wisdom and wonder. According to mythology it is a gift often gained through experience when one reaches a state of knowledge and understanding. There are so many stories woven into these glistening orbs. In Ancient Japan, they believed pearls to be the tears of mythical creatures. In Ancient Greece they were considered to be the tears of the gods. In Christianity they have even been called the tears of Eve. In the Koran, they are a symbol of perfection found in paradise. In Vedic texts, the pearl was considered to be the daughter of the moon - united by a flash of lightning that married earth and heaven.
Pearls arrive into our hands in the same style in which they are born. They are formed when mollusks sense an irritant and throw up pearly layers as a way of protecting themselves. These layers build and build over time (every grain of sand can be seen as an irritant to a mollusk) until eventually you are left with this concentric build-up of energy and protection. These pearls are gathered, they aren’t cut or shaped or fussed with in any fake way. They are created from living creatures and they carry that sentience and that sublime meaning with them. Pearls are a constant reminder that we have the powers of protection stashed within us and that we also have the knowledge we need to keep ourselves balanced and safe. Just like the mollusk, we have intuitive wisdom, and this can lead to the wonderful creation of things.
When we think of pearls, we often picture the moonlike hues of white brightened by luminescence. But there are plenty of different kinds of pearls out there and each with their own different colours and charms. Here are a few different varieties of pearls for you to fall in love with.
Tahiti Black Pearls
Rare and regal, Tahiti Black Pearls are highly coveted. These dark and dreamy types of pearl are full of myth and magic and said to be magnets for attracting all kinds of wealth into our worlds. Tahitian pearls are also linked to hope, fertility, and peace and carry with them the vibrant moods, dream-like landscapes and lore of French Polynesia.
Natural Pearls vs Cultured Pearls
Natural saltwater pearls are organically created whereas cultured pearls are created when the mollusk is introduced to an irritant by human intervention as a method of encouraging the pearl to form. Cultured pearls are still considered true pearls, but natural pearls are obviously much rarer and therefore have a special quality to them. On the other hand, cultured pearls are curated in a carefully looked after environment which gives the mollusk and the pearl a chance to thrive. These cultured pearls can appear larger, more luscious, and higher in quality when compared to those born naturally in sometimes testing conditions. If you find a perfect pearl it is most likely a cultured pearl rather than one found by pearl divers. Freshwater pearls are the white pearls that you often see in classic pearl jewellery.
Physical
The pearl is all about balance and it reflects this in the harmony it brings to the body. For those who feel physically off kilter, this wonderful gem will bring you back into strong stature. Pearls are excellent for lung issues, they help reduce the effects of asthma and bronchitis, and they heal all your essential organs like the heart, liver, and kidney. They have a sedative effect on the body too, meaning that you get a good night shuteye, calm overactive adrenal glands, and let go of hypertension and headaches. They are also said to be beneficial for pregnant women and new mothers thanks to all their fabulous feminine energy.
Mental & Emotional Healing
Along with bringing your hormones into balance and ensuring your body is finding that sweet spot between ride and rest, pearls love to lend a hand when it comes to soothing our emotions. Known as a stone of inner wisdom, pearls help us to find the confidence we need to be our own advocates in the world. They also lighten the mind and your mood meaning that you feel a bright spell of optimism and ease wash right over you. Pearls help us to let go of anxiety, nervousness, and that negative inner voice. They inspire sincerity, loyalty, and truth - not just to others but most importantly, to ourselves.
Metaphysical Properties
With such an emphasis on balance and wisdom, it’s no surprise that the pearl connects deeply with the third eye chakra. The third eye chakra is the gateway to our inner well of knowledge. It awakens our intuition, helps us find clarity, and illuminates darkened corners so we can see ourselves fully and with fine-tuned understanding. Pearls also help protect us as they are exceptional at absorbing negative energy and keeping our auras pure and clear.
Pearls are made to be worn which is why you often see them in classic necklaces and dainty drop earrings too. All healing stones, gems, and crystals work best when pressed against the skin. This direct contact invites all those healing properties to sink right in. Pearls can also last a lifetime. They are a forever stone and can accompany you on your journey through this world and onto the next.
How to Cleanse Pearls
Pearls need a little TLC to keep them gleaming and glowing with love throughout life. The longer you look after your pearls, the longer they will be by your side. While they aren’t particularly high maintenance, it is worth remembering that these precious little gems are born beneath the sea and therefore shouldn’t be exposed to too much direct sunlight, dryness, or humidity as this can dull the luster of your lovely pearl.
As pearl has the metaphysical quality of mopping up bad energy and negative moods, you will also want to give your pearl a cleanse and charge every now and then to keep it pure and working at the top of its a-game. The best way to care and love your pearl is to wear it as it works in harmony with your body’s natural oils. If you do want to dust it off - a soft cloth will do the job.
Mother-of-Pearl
Mother of pearl gems are those that are full of shimmering iridescent pearl colour and seem to dance in the light. Mother of Pearl is also called Nacre and is the material found in the inner shell layer of some mollusks. This pearlescent material is used to make jewellery that is formed from pure imagination and fascinating to look at. They are known for their ability to awaken dormant dreams, encourage psychic connection, and for their protective qualities against negativity.
Just like all precious gemstones and crystals out there, pearls come cloaked in their own healing energy too. They are known as an introspective gem, which means they guide us back into ourselves and show us our own sense of sublime wisdom. Yet, the luminous pearl doesn’t stop there. This pretty orb is brimming with benefits for the body, mind, and soul.
All three conjure up the sea, beaches, hunting for shells, rock pools, fun, holidays and good times to follow.
This photo highlighting this blog are my holiday purchases. I'm absorbing my water energies at the moment.
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