Many gemstones have certain meanings attributed to them, and some are also known to belong to a particular month (birthstones). If you are searching for a gift for someone, this may help you narrow the search. Or perhaps you'd like to match some jewellery to a particular personality trait of your own. It can be very interesting to see what meanings are accredited to a stone you are attracted to!*

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A
Agate is said to enhance health and longevity, physical and emotional balance, courage and energy. It is also believed to enhance the effects of other stones. Birthstone: June

Amethyst can increase your intuition, creativity, memory and motivation. It is meant to be excellent for meditation, as it soothes the mind and focuses attention. Birthstone: February

Aquamarine is used to overcome fear, bring tolerance, clarity of mind, perception, emotional and intellectual stability. Excellent for meditation. Birthstone: March

Aventurine is said to be an all-purpose healer, used to reduce stress, develop confidence, enhance creativity and ability to see possibilities, and improve prosperity. (A legend from ancient Tibet indicates that aventurine was used to both improve nearsightedness and to increase the wearer's creativity.) Many believe that aventurine has the capacity to calm a troubled spirit and bring about inner peace. Red aventurine in particular is said to lessen negativity.

B
Bloodstone (also called Heliotrope) may be useful for physical and mental vitality, mental clarity and balance, physical strength, and moderation of aggression and violence. Instils courage. Birthstone: March

C
Carnelian can assist with concentration, memory, and vocal expression. It is used to lift depression and boost energy. Birthstone: July

Cat's Eye Quartz is known to bring peace, harmony and tranquillity. It can assist understanding, mental clarity and intuition. It is a balancing stone.

Charoite is a rare stone found only in one area of Russia. It is said to be useful for cleansing the aura, transmutation of negativity, releases fear and assists with aligning the heart and crown chakras. It is known as a stone for courage and useful as a basis for honest relationships with others as well as the self.

Citrine can aid with self-confidence issues, releasing negative feelings/anxieties/fears. It is a healing and motivating energy. Getting tasks done and developing self-worth can be achieved through the energies of citrine. One of only two stones that never need cleansing or clearing. Birthstone: November

Clear crystal is used to amplify the effects of other stones. It is used in meditation to get in touch with oneself.

Copper enhances energy flow to body and mind, also assists self esteem and self expression.

Coral is not really a stone, but the product of marine life. The ancients believed it prevented ill fortune and, if worn, protected against skin disease. It is used to provide mental clarity and ward off nightmares. Dreams about coral are believed to foretell recovery from a long illness.

D
Dalmatian stone is believed to assist with resourcefulness. Also, if you strongly fear personal failure, you may want to try wearing this stone. Gives protection from nightmares and assists with patience.

Diamond enhances energy of the mind/body/spirit, sleep, courage, and self esteem. Birthstone: April

E
Ebony is known as one of the most intensely black woods available. Its fine texture and ability to polish highly has made it very valuable as an ornamental wood. It is said to mean strength.

Emeralds assist your psychic abilities, meditation and spiritual insight. Can be used in the treatment of depression and fertility. Birthstone: May

Fluorite can enhance concentration, spiritual awareness and analytical abilities. Can aid the treatment of arthritis.

G
Garnet is said to assist with strength, endurance, confidence and compassion. Is known to be a tonic for the whole system. Birthstone: January

Gold balances emotional extremes and energy fields, and enhances the regeneration of physical/mental/spiritual planes.

Goldstone is associated with vitality and energy. It is an energy stone, particularly for money and power. Also a good stone for repelling and removing negativity and unwanted entities from your environment. Blue Goldstone is a lucky stone that can aid the transferral of thoughts from one person to another. It is also used to ease the pain of arthritis, rheumatism and other aches and pains. Activates, clears and protects the heart chakra. It could exercise salutary influence on the lungs, heart, gland and muscular system. It is said Goldstone will relieve anxiety and fear.
 
H
Hematite can be used to improve your optimism, vitality, and mental capabilities. It is said to be an excellent all-round healer that draws illness from the body. Many people use it to relieve pain in the body.

I
Iolite, also known as the "water sapphire", helps eliminate and release discord in relationships. It is a stone used to draw you towards inner knowledge, stimulating your spirituality.

J
Jade brings peace, courage, serenity and wisdom. It improves expressive ability and enhances benevolence and memory. Good for removal of negative energy.

Jasper enhances mental processes and endurance. Assists with balance on all levels.

K
Kunzite is used for inner love, gentleness, showing strength in sensitivity, and in habit-breaking assistance.

Kyanite (also called Disthene) is a calming stone. It removes emotional, mental and spiritual confusion.

L
Labradorite enhances higher consciousness and telepathy. Give protection to aura. Can be of great help in developing the ability to see auras.

Lapis Lazuli - a stone of universal truth and friendship. Encourages intellect, courage and enlightenment. Enhances judgement and wisdom. Allows authenticity.

Lepidolite - encourages independence for setting and attaining goals inconspicuously, provides protection from outside influences, relieves everyday stress, and promotes restful sleep when placed near your pillow. Attracts good luck to those who carry it, and drives away negativity. When used with rose quartz, it becomes a stone of reconciliation of love. Lepidolite can be laid directly on painful parts of the body. It helps with nerve pain, sciatica, neuralgia and joint problems.

M
Malachite is used to aid expression, patience, physical endurance, and releasing of guilt. Said to be good for asthma.

Moonstone is helpful for intuition, sensitivity and psychic abilities. Attracts friendship and loyalty, good for sleep. Birthstone: June

Muscovite can assist with mental stimulation, inspiration, problem solving, attunement to the future, and moderation of overly-rapid spiritual awakening.

N
Natrolite aids visionary experience, quantum leaps to higher consciousness, and brain evolution.

Nebula Stone can bring spiritual light into matter, and is useful for attuning to probable futures, fulfilling one's highest aspirations, feeling at home in the body and on earth.

Nuummite has some interesting associations: personal magic, the deep journey to the core of self, enhancing clairvoyance, attuning to the elemental forces, and achieving self-mastery are all assigned to nuummite.

O
Obsidian enhance connection between mind and emotions, clearance of subconscious blocks, grounds, protects, and assists in dispersal of negative energies. Can be a forceful stone, if so, use Snowflake Obsidian which is a gentler energy.

Onyx is said to be able to defend against negativity that may be directed at the wearer. It can assist with the release of 'negative' emotions such as sorrow and grief.

Opal enables moderation of greed and emotional balance, enhances imagination and creativity, can aid in the maintenance or treatment of eyesight. Birthstone: October

Opalite assists you to tap into your personal creativity. Releases inhibitions and encourages intuition. Believed to enhance psychic abilities.

P
Pearl symbolizes grace, harmony, modesty and purity. Enhances sense of balance and sympathy. Can help with self-acceptance. Birthstone: June

Peridot can assist with patience, mental and emotional clarity, happiness, sleep and confidence. Birthstone: August

Picasso Jasper's message is to celebrate life. Some believe this stone can most easily assist in transformation in the area of relationships. Specifically, it is said to attract like minded people who become loyal and trusted friends. It can also help to renew old friendships that have been lost. Some suggest using it for the transformation of one's creativity. Anyone feeling an artistic block, whether new or lifelong, can benefit by letting the eyes travel through the patterns of Picasso jasper and allowing thought to dissolve.

Picture Jasper is used to both develop and enhance business pursuits. It also promotes unity in working together to save the planet. Can also be used to stimulate the immune system.

Q
Quartz, or Clear Quartz, is known to help with transmitting and receiving energy, balancing, and meditation. A multi-purpose healing stone. Referred to by Sobriety Stones as 'the poor man's diamond, because it is so rich in every way except material value.'

R
Rainbow Obsidian is particularly powerful in meditation to dissolve shock, fear or barriers. It expands your consciousness, sharpens the senses and can help you delve deep into mysterious phenomena and experiences.

Rhodonite can enhance self esteem, confidence and calmness. It is used to gain understanding, memory, tenderness and harmony. Can assist with potential, and body reflexes.

Ruby amplifies energy, motivation, visualisation, and intuitive thinking. Can enhance passion, vitality and strength. Birthstone: July

Rutilated Quartz improves life force, inspiration, problem solving, stability, insight and energy.

S
Sapphire brings balance to mental/spiritual/physical planes, aids meditation, fidelity, communication, creative expression and serenity. Birthstone: September

Septarian is known as a healing stone; beneficial to all-round health and well-being. Used to give relief from muscle spasms & open psychic abilities.

Silver was called 'tears from the moon' by the Incas. Aids fertility, perception, communication, mental clarity, and harmony. Also assists hormonal balance. Used to aid wound healing & water purification. Recent media coverage has raised silver's profile as a healing mineral.

Snowflake Obsidian has similar properties to Obsidian, but with a gentler energy: enhance connection between mind and emotions, clearance of subconscious blocks, grounds, protects, and assists in dispersal of negative energies.

Sodalite enhances spiritual awareness, communication, mental and visual clarity, re-establishes inner peace. Develops courage and objectivity.

Smokey Quartz is believed to increase fertility and mood elevation, and balance sexual energy. This stone will relax you, and help reduce depression and fatigue.

T
Tiger's Eye allows self confidence, mental focus, optimism, communication and is a good general tonic. Balances Yin and Yang energies.

Topaz enhances energy levels, individuality and creativity. Balances emotions. Assists in eliminating negativity.

Tourmaline assists communication, cooperation, tranquillity, and inspiration. Helps break up energy blockages.

Turitella is said to dispel a superiority complex, help with transitions and give insight in knowing that all is well, regardless of the outcome.  It also helps with calming, reduces fatigue and is helps stomach issues

Turquoise brings peace of mind, self-realisation, problem solving, chakra alignment and body strength. Enhances communication, body strength & psychic abilities.

U
Unakite helps release conditions which have been prohibiting personal growth. Enhances perceptions, and encourages participation with others. Has a balancing and stabilising effect.

V
Variscite is soothing, calming and balancing. Often mistaken for turquoise. Aids the blood and heart, and brings abundance.

W
White Phantom Quartz aids access to Akashic Records, morphogenic fields, and past life memories. Connection with spirit guides and energy cleansing.

Willemite helps with interdimensional travel, adventures in the astral body, and connection with higher astral beings.

Wulsenite is used for creativity, manifestation, determination, sexuality, alchemy, and Earth connection.

X
Xonolite - meaning not available

Y
Yukonite - meaning not available

Z
Zircon is used for sleep, energy in times of physical stress, and protection for travellers.

Zoisite enhances increases in inner and outer development, awakening of the true self, joyful engagement with life, healing, increase in life force.

*Please note that these meanings are listed as a guide only, and not meant to be used as a substitute for medical advice. These definitions are researched from a variety of resources. Sources have included:
The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian
Sobriety Stones and Gems for Friends
Crystals, Gems & Minerals - An easy to use guide to their powers and benefits by Pamela Robbins