Serpentine
Properties of serpentine
Serpentine is a very special stone for several reasons. First, it doesn't represent a single mineral, but rather an entire family of minerals belonging to the silicate group, which includes about twenty different types. This characteristic makes serpentine very difficult to identify.
The streamer can take on various colors ranging from colorless to white, passing through gray, brown, beige, black, blue... But the most well-known and commercially available streamer is often olive green.
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Serpentine belongs to the triclinic crystal system. Its luster varies from greasy to silky to glassy. Its density ranges from 2.55 to 3.30, and serpentine is a fairly brittle stone with a hardness rating of 2.5 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale.
The most notable serpentine deposits are found in several countries across all continents, including France, Canada, the United States, China, India...
History of the Serpentine
Etymologically, the term serpentine derives from the Latin word serpentinus, which literally means "stone serpent." Although widely known since antiquity, the broad range of minerals that fall under the name serpentine led to confusion and misidentification until the first half of the 20th century.
In any case, it seems that the ancients, from Egypt to Mesopotamia, valued this stone for making cylinder seals. This is mainly due to its oily properties, which prevent clay or wax from adhering to the seal.
Several ancient civilizations used serpentine as an ornamental stone, or even as a stone for making ritual and religious objects. For the Romans, it was a decorative and medicinal stone used to treat venomous bites. Today, serpentine is considered a fine stone often used for ornamental purposes.
Benefits of the serpentine
On a physical level, serpentine has several healing properties, stimulating the digestive and cardiovascular systems and promoting the secretion of various glands. Its calming properties can help soothe the pain and tension associated with migraines, both nervous and muscular.
On a psychic level, the serpent acts as a shield to counteract aggression and invasive waves, both physical and mental. It also promotes relaxation and frees the mind from distracting thoughts and distractions that hinder meditation and spiritual openness. As such, the serpent is well-suited to assist with astral travel and spiritual experiences.
On a karmic level, serpentine is the stone of choice for the heart and throat chakras. It is especially suitable for the astrological signs of Gemini, Libra, and Pisces.
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The serpentine is purified with demineralized water, taking care never to use salt, which could damage the stone. To recharge it, burying it for a few hours in uncontaminated soil (in the middle of a forest, for example) should restore its full power.
