AMETHYST

The stone you chose is Amethyst. Its name derives from the Latin amethystus, from the Greek  améthystos 'intoxicating', and therefore 'anti-intoxicating', because in ancient times it was believed that the stone fought drunkenness. Amethyst is a stone deeply linked to balance. It is a symbol of thoughtful choices, which require time and care and which, for this reason, require balance. Legend has it that amethyst takes its name from the nymph Amethos with whom Bacchus fell in love. One day while the deity was drunk, he started chasing the sap. When Bacchus reached Amethos, the latter desperately prayed and invoked the goddess Diana to whom she was devoted. Once caught, instead of the nymph Bacchus found in his hands a handful of shining crystals, which bore the color of wine, when this happened Bacchus immediately sobered up, from that moment it is believed that amethyst is an excellent cure for drunkenness and that it is enough to put a stone in the wine to avoid getting drunk. Many cups in the Middle Ages were made of amethyst. Purple comes from the cross between the red of passion and the blue of detachment, precisely for this reason it gives balance to excesses, from exhilaration for the body and the spirit. It is associated with the god Mercury, Hermes for the Greeks and Thoth for the Egyptians. Mercury metal when brought to the boil emits violet vapors and loses its silvery luster. It is the symbol of modesty and the first initiation. Its name Amethyst could be associated with the name of the Egyptian deity Ammit also called Ammut, Ammet, Ahemait or Devourer who  is a monstrous creature from Egyptian mythology, also known as the "Devourer of the Dead", "Eater of Hearts", and "Great of Death". The Devourer attends the rite ofpsychostasia together with the Gods of the Court of Osiris. If the heart of the deceased weighs more than the Feather ofMaat he is fed to Ammit and his soul condemned to oblivion. That is, he cannot continue his journey into the afterlife and hug his loved ones again. His head is covered with a sort of mane, which most likely resembles this stone.  Indian tradition dictates that amethyst stones are given to brides on their wedding day, a pledge of fidelity and humility. Amethyst is a very popular stone in Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations. The symbolic meaning of the stone with its purple colors represented the purity of the spirit. Its purple and reddish shades represented the chastising and purifying effects of suffering. Some believed that the colors alluded to Christ's wounds and suffering, so such gems were used to aid wound healing. Even in the present, amethyst has the meaning of indicating the heart of the humble who die with Christ. It represents those who pray for their enemies and their persecutors. This purple quartz is worn by Roman Catholic bishops as a symbol of trust, piety, humility, sincerity and spiritual wisdom. Many cultures find spiritual undertones in these purple stones. Often seen as a stone of peace, some believe its calming presence produces relaxing dreams bringing the dreamer more in tune with the Divine. This clarity and tranquility also extends to the alert mind. Ruled by the planet Jupiter, it is the zodiac stone of those born under the signs of Pisces and Leo. They are also present in  Lists of traditional and modern birthstones include it as the February birthstone. According to legend, Valentine wore a ring with this gem carved in the likeness of Cupid. This may seem like an unlikely pairing, given the gemstone's reputation for calming passions. However, in the Middle Ages chaste love was highly valued as true love, and such purple crystals indicated this view of love. The spiritual meaning of this famous purple stone is connected to the mind. It supports our thinking processes and intuition. Violet stone is said to promote calm in the mind and clarity where there is confusion. This wonderful quartz stimulates spiritual awareness and facilitates awareness of the reality of the soul. These stones strengthen the sense of justice, critical ability and confer honesty and rectitude. As a meditative stone it enhances the introspective ability, revealing to the subject his inner wisdom. It purifies and opens the mind towards what surrounds us, regenerating levels of consciousness and projecting ourselves towards ever higher potentials. A Gem emblem of spiritual transformation towards a greater understanding of love at the expense of selfishness. The color purple is associated with the crown chakra, which represents the center of Cosmic Consciousness, of the I Am. It is located at the top of the head. While the other chakras are connected to a specific nervous plexus, the crown chakra is connected to the brain and therefore to the entire nervous system. The stones associated with this chakra are: amethyst (protection), ametrine quartz (concentration) and diamond (meditation).