Moonstones are a form of silicate from the feldspar group. They are examples of the commonest mineral in the earth’s crust and are found in a wide variety of rocks. Their chemical composition can be written as the general formula X(Al,Si) 4O8 in which the X may be either Calcium, Sodium, Potassium or Barium. Moonstones in particular belong to the orthoclase feldspar group, found in igneous rocks such as pegmatites and granites or in crystalline schists and veins and in particular sedimentary ore deposits. The best known moonstones are found in Switzerland, Piedmont Italy. Moonstones have a translucency and a greyish white color that looks as if you are actually viewing the Moon on a cloudy night.
According to Indian astrology, moonstones are also known as chandramanis or the semi-precious stone for Moon. People wear a moonstone to propitiate a negative Moon in the birthchart, or at times even if the Sun is found in a powerful but negative position, as it then provides a cooling effect.
Wearing a moonstone brings about peace of mind , the ability to concentrate, the fruition of love and prevention from betrayals in love and marriage The waxing and waning of the Moon, a fundamental part of the astrological system, plays an important role in the determination of our destinies. Contrary to popular belief, the lunar phases of darkness that can creep into one’s stellar chart in the form of the umbras and penumbras of rahu and ketu (Moon’s nodes) merit close attention and treatment. More on the Moon’s nodes.
The moonstone plays the same role as the pearl in gem therapy, with one major difference: it is capable of causing a great deal of cooling that may result in the wearer being exposed to health ailments associated with colds and chills. Therefore it is better to wear the moonstone only in conjunction with another stone that is capable of producing heat, or associated with stellar bodies that are heat-generating, like the planet Mars (coral) or Sun (ruby). Ideally moonstones should be worn set in silver, with a stone of minimum weight of 5 and a quarter rattis on the little finger of the left hand. [One rattika = 0.59 metric carats. – ed.]
