10 Things You Didn’t Know About Aventurine

Aventurine is one healing crystal that all collectors are familiar with, perhaps because it is so common and affordable. But make no mistake, aventurine carries its own magic through a set of both physical and metaphysical healing properties. Often known as Indian Jade, this variety of chalcedony appears in red, orange, green, grey, and blue – each color with its own special meaning. What makes this crystal so pleasing to look at is that it seems to sparkle from within, a shimmering quality known as ‘aventurescence’ which is caused by specks of mica inside the stone. Aventurine is the stone of good luck and fortune, its main properties being balance, prosperity, and abundance. It is closely related to heart chakra, carrying loving vibrations and energies of harmony. This is a stone for the traveler, the dreamer, and the risk-takers, almost always favoring its wearer in games of chance. So where did this lucky little stone come from and who decided it was worthy of a place in every home? Here are 10 things you didn’t know about aventurine. 

1. Aventurine, a stone of chance 

The name Aventurine is actually derived from the word aventura which translates to ‘by chance or fortune’, which is exactly how the stone got its name. In 15th century Venice, a translucent glass was made to accidentally imitate the crystal itself, with sparkling inclusions of gold, copper, and chromic oxide. The first discovery was made by Venetian glass workers who were in the process of preparing molten glass when copper filings accidentally fell into the batch, creating a glass with sparkles.

2. Aventurine in Tibet  

A Tibetan Legend states that aventurine can improve nearsightedness and increase one’s creativity when worn in jewelry. Often used to adorn statues in ancient Tibet, the green variety of aventurine was affixed to the eyes of these figures as it was believed that this would enhance their visionary powers. 

3. Aventurine, fairy treasures

Often used in magical rituals to attract wealth and abundance, this stone is also said to be a proper offering to those magical little creatures who grant wishes. As it is otherwise known as “fairy treasure”, it is said that placing three green aventurine stones in a dish before a garden gnome will bring luck and good fortune to your home. 

4. Aventurine, Stone of the Amazons 

Up until the 19th century, aventurine was known as the “stone of the amazons”. These Brazilian deposits were used to supply jewels and talismans to the Amazonian Warrior Queens who would affix the stone into their shields. This was believed to provide strength and protection through the power of the divine feminine. 

5. Aventurine, pathfinder of the heart 

In American Indian spirituality, the medicine wheel symbolizes the individual journey on which we must all embark to find our own path. It is representative of all of creation in relation to the seasons. In rituals of the medicine wheel, aventurine is used to show the spirit guides through its connection with the healing energies of the heart. In these ceremonies, aventurine is held at the heart of each participant around the wheel who then report that upon contact with the spirit guides, they feel a ‘wave of love’ wash over them. 

6. Aventurine, a stone of fertility 

In folklore and legend, aventurine is said to aid in the quest of conception and was often used in fertility rituals. When the woman was near her period of ovulation, a small hole would be dug in the earth inside which an egg would be broken to leave only the shell. Green aventurine would then be placed inside the shell of the egg and the hole filled, completing the fertility spell. This belief quite possibly surrounds the Etruscan goddess of fertility, Thalna. 

7. Aventurine, the transformation stone of luck for the adventurer 

Green Aventurine is known as a Seeker Transformer crystal, which are used as pointers, compasses, directors, and new beginning crystals. In this sense, it is often used as talismans and amulets for the explorers, wanderers, and gamblers as they bring protection and good fortune to the curious traveler. 

8. Aventurine, an ancient art medium 

The reason this stone is often referred to as Indian Jade is because of how easy it is to carve into. Ancient civilizations were known to express their faith through art, especially by carving the likeness of deities from various types of stone. Green aventurine specifically, was also often used for making tools and weaponry because of its hardness and isotropic brittleness. It has been discovered in artifacts across the globe with one statue from the Olmec civilization in Central America dating back 2,400 years and the oldest discovery from Ethiopia as far back as 2,500,000 years ago. At the dome of Invalides in Paris, France, the grave of Napoleon 1st is placed under a gigantic block carved from red-brown aventurine, imported from Russia, the country against which he himself fought and by which he fell. 

9. Aventurine and its versatility in Folklore 

Persian folklore states that placing aventurine on a baby will ensure that it takes its mother’s milk. Australian tribes would often use the stone in rainmaking ceremonies to end a drought or to bring fertility to the land. Some West African tribes would also carve ceremonial seats out of a single piece of aventurine. Additionally, early inhabitants of what is now known as Britain would utilize aventurine for its purifying properties to sterilize water as well as to treat infertility. Unknown sources state that carrying a piece of aventurine in your left pocket will bring prosperity and protection from harm. 

10. Aventurine, a physical healer

Aside from its many spiritual benefits, aventurine also greatly benefits the physical body in a variety of ways. Dating as far back as its discovery, aventurine has been known to regulate the circulatory system and treat problems affecting the urinary tract, prostate, and hemorrhoids. It is also known to protect against electromagnetic radiation while fighting anxiety and skin conditions such as eczema. Green aventurine specifically also helps to keep the blood healthy.