Banded Agate

In this post, we will review the banded agate healing properties, its meaning, how it formed, its types, and where to get one. You will also find in this comprehensive and complete guide ways to cleanse and charge your banded agate stone, plus the best crystals to pair it with. You will also know why banded agates are called the “Rainbow of the Earth.”

Essentially, banded agates are layered agates that are a combination of two main minerals: quartz and chalcedony. In a sense, it’s an opaque form of these minerals, but because of its rather special formation process, it developed a unique appearance to the others. Up close, you can see microscopic quartz crystals. This is especially true for banded agates.

Banded agates are also known as “Earth Rainbow” because of the striking colors on their surface, forming stripes. In reality, these colors are more than just their appearance because they extend to the very core of the stone. If you slice up an agate into thin disks, you will see these bands forming in a circular pattern.

Agates look this way because, during their formation, silica-rich fluids found themselves trapped in nodules or vesicles of igneous or sedimentary rocks. As more silica-rich fluids get trapped in this way, layers form upon the previous layers until it eventually cools down and thus becomes an agate.

Many agates are created this way. In fact, another name for banded agate is layered agate, which is obviously in reference to how it was formed.

Banded agates can be found all over the world. The most famous sources of banded agates are Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, Mexico, and Botswana.

Banded Agate Meaning and Healing Properties

Banded agate helps in bringing a sense of calm and peace to its wearer. It’s a famous grounding stone, able to bring back a person’s energy to the earth whenever they feel “out of sorts.” It’s a crystal known for improving day-to-day life by balancing the mind, body, and spirit.

Banded agate also helps you organize your life, assisting you in putting everything back together.

It helps you release unhelpful ideas, thoughts, and connections so you can take control of your life once more.

It reinstills order in chaos, transmuting the negative to the positive, all the while organizing all the details in your life and helping you stand on your own feet.

It helps you appreciate the beauty and joys of nature, life, and the Earth.

Banded agate has many potential applications as a stone that could protect and heal its owner. Of course, its most popular usage is jewelry and ornament. Banded agate is also quite hard and durable, making them perfect for rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, anklets, or any other type of jewelry.

Although it’s recommended to bring banded agate’s healing energy with you by wearing them as jewelry, larger crystals are more suited for home, office, or car decor. They can help purify the negative energy in your surroundings, helping you and the people in the vicinity.

If you can’t wear them as jewelry, carry cabochons, polished stones, or even small raw banded agates in your pocket or purse. They are just as effective as well.

Other uses of banded agates are:

• Meditation
• Gridwork

In crystal healing, banded agates have many positive effects which I will cover below.

Banded Agate Physical Benefits

Banded agates are used for physical healing. Some of its well-known applications are the following:

• Digestive System

  Since ancient times, banded agate has been said to help deal with digestive issues, including constipation, indigestion, and stomachache. It also heals food allergies and stops poisons, as well as strengthens organs like the pancreas and the intestines.

• Lymphatic System

  Banded agates are also used for healing and strengthening the lymphatic system.

• Eye Health

  Banded agates could also support eyesight and help heal related ailments.

• Skin

  Banded agate promotes healthier skin. It also helps fight skin-related diseases and heals wounds faster.

• Circulatory System

  Banded agates are also very effective in promoting blood vessel elasticity. Not only does it strengthen your blood vessels, but it also helps heal varicose veins.

• Reproduction

  Banded agates are said to help with pregnancy and childbirth.

Banded Agate Emotional Benefits

The stone has many benefits to the mind and heart as well. Here are some known benefits of banded agate to your mental and emotional well-being:

• Calming

  Banded agate is a calming stone. It harmonizes the chaotic mind and brings tranquility to the spirit. If you’ve been beset with negative emotions such as fear, it helps you become calm and collected.

• Focus

  With a calmer mind; your brain can function more effectively. Thus, banded agate could also help boost memory and focus on helping you think more clearly.

• PTSD

  Banded agate is very effective in helping people deal with trauma, whether from this life or a previous one. It helps you let go of those harmful emotions and habits, giving full support to aid you in living a happier life.

• Kindness

  This crystal could help negate emotions like resentment and envy. It helps you resolve issues within your inner self to accept past mistakes and start your journey towards forgiveness.

• Bravery

  Banded agate instills courage. If you have trouble dealing with your emotions when facing other people, especially those who assert their dominance on you, banded agate could help you realize your fear is only in your mind.

• Self-Confidence

  Banded agate helps one attain self-confidence. It also helps you gain control and find your personal power. If you have a self-worth or self-image problem, having a banded agate with you could help you deal with this issue.

• Relationships

  Banded Agate’s gentle energy will assist you in cutting ties with toxic and manipulative people, especially those who had you in their control. It lends you self-confidence, willpower, and courage to get those people out of your life.

Banded Agate Metaphysical Properties

When it comes to the metaphysical, banded agate is also held high for its abilities. It’s particularly effective in grounding one’s energy to the Earth and releasing negative vibes. Here are the benefits of having a banded agate with you:

• Insight

  Banded agate crystal is a great stone to use to help you gain insight into your mind, heart, and soul. Looking inwards is the only way we will know our truest selves. The crystal could help us come to terms with our flaws and weaknesses. It helps us know our deepest desires and demons to confront them head-on. Only by doing so could we make our life better and move forward, as it would help us let go of the things that weigh us down.

• Grounding

  Banded agate is highly effective when it comes to grounding. It connects with the Earth’s energies, helping you breathe more freely and go with the flow. As you gain more insight into who you are and accept it, you become more at peace with yourself. Combined with banded agate’s grounding and calming powers, you become less bothered by negativity and live more happily instead.

• Balance

  Banded agates help bring balance to your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It also promotes stability and strength.

• Harmony

  Banded agates bring yin and yang to balance. It harmonizes your physical and subtle bodies.

• Energy

  Banded agates promote positive energy, so you may be able to do more. It combats fatigue as well. It even shields you from the negative energy that may be causing you to feel drained and tired all the time. It cleanses the energy around you.

• Protection

  Banded agates also protect you from negative vibes from other people. It also puts up an energetic barrier between you and people or entities with evil intentions. In fact, since ancient times, banded agates have been used as a protective stone.

• Divine Feminine

  Banded agates resonate with the Divine Feminine, making it a great stone for women. It also promotes compassion and empathy in everyone.

Banded agates are commonly used in meditation because of their calming and grounding abilities. Its powers are so strong that some crystal healing practitioners claim that only by having it nearby you could experience its wealth of benefits. Having a crystal or two around could help cleanse the surroundings from negative energies and protect you from harmful entities. It also grounds you to the energies of the Earth, thus preventing overwhelm.

To meditate, take deep breaths and close your eyes. Ask permission from the crystal to borrow its energy and powers. Meditate for as long as needed. Make sure to thank the crystal for its help after you are done.

Banded Agate Chakras

Banded agate can connect with a number of chakras, both major and minor ones. Its most powerful connection, though is the Root Chakra, which is why we put it at the very top of the list. Next is the Third-Eye Chakra. I will explain each of its significance below.

• Root Chakra

  Also called the Base Chakra, the Root Chakra is located near our tailbone. It’s considered to be the home of our survival instincts, needs for safety, and physical identity. A blocked Root Chakra manifests in many ways, including anxiety and financial insecurity. Before all the chakras, the Root Chakra is usually the first one to be opened. Activating this chakra helps us become stable and grounded, which is something that banded agates can do.

• Third-Eye Chakra

  The Third Eye Chakra is located between our eyes, and it’s also called the Brow Chakra. As the seat of our intuition, opening this chakra is important so we may gain a bigger picture of the world and awareness of ourselves.

• Earth Star Chakra

  Located twelve inches below the feet, the Earth Star Chakra connects us to the earthly and universal energy. When this chakra is closed, we may feel ungrounded and out of touch.

• Soma Chakra

  Just a little above our Third Eye is the Soma Chakra. It represents vitality, stamina, and youthful energy.

• Solar Plexus Chakra

  The Solar Plexus Chakra is the seat of our personal power and self-esteem. This chakra needs to be activated so we feel more confident and courageous.

• Sacral Chakra

  Between the Solar Plexus and the Root Chakra is the Sacral Chakra, or Spleen Chakra. It’s where our pleasure and creativity sit.

• Crown Chakra

  At the very top of our head is the Crown Chakra, which is often referred to as the center of our spirituality and awareness. By activating this chakra, we feel more spiritually fulfilled and connected with the universe as a whole.

Banded Agate is a catch-all term for any agate with bands on the surface. Thus, there are truly many types of banded agate out there. Some of them are the following:

1. 

   Sardonyx

   Sardonyx is a type of chalcedony which is a mixture of sard and onyx. Often found as a stone with alternating red, brown, and black colors, it’s a protective crystal used since ancient times.

2. 

   Black Banded Agate

   A black and white variety of banded agate, it’s stone that could help bring balance to your yin and yang energies.

3. 

   Blue Lace Chalcedony (Agate)

   Blue Lace Agate is a blue and white type of agate, believed to have the ability to promote calm and tranquility.

4. 

   Moss Agate

   A type of banded agate with moss inclusions, it’s said to have the power to shield its wearer from negative energy.

5. 

   Fire Agate

   With patterns of fiery red, orange, brown, and black, fire agate is a stone of positivity and protection.

6. 

   Onyx

   Known for its coal black colors, some types of onyx have black and white bands. These types of onyxes are known for their protective and grounding abilities.

7. 

   Botswana Agate

   Also called sunset stone for its brown, cream, yellow, black, and white coloration, Botswana Agate helps in reducing stress and anxiety.

8. 

   Grey-Banded Agate

   A type of agate with bands of varying gray hues, grey banded agate gives protection and promotes harmony.

Banded agates can be paired with a wide variety of crystals. Combinations will largely depend on the type of banded agate you are using and your intentions, so please refer to the above section.

In general, the following works well with banded agates:

1. 

   Smoky Quartz

   Smoky Quartz is one of the best stones to use for protection and grounding. Pairing it with banded agate will make it even stronger.

2. 

   Carnelian

   Carnelian stimulates creativity and promotes bravery. The stone resonates well with the first three chakras, much like banded agates.

3. 

   Black Tourmaline

   Black Tourmaline is a strong protective stone that could shield you from negative energies and entities. Like banded agates, it has grounding powers.

4. 

   Red Jasper

   Red Jasper is a calming stone that also promotes self-confidence. Its qualities make it a good pairing with banded agates.

5. 

   Amethyst

   Amethysts have been known to promote inner peace and calm. Its a powerful stone for enhancing spirituality, which is why it could work well with banded agates and all its subtypes.

All crystals need to be charged and cleansed regularly to keep it free from negative energies. At a Mohs hardness level of 6.5 to 7, banded agate is quite durable, making it safe for almost any type of cleansing method, including:

• Smudging

  Smudging your stones will immediately remove negative energies, so it is important to open a window for them to leave if you are cleansing your crystals indoors. Simply light either used bundled or loose sage with a match then blow out the flame to produce smoke. Wave the stone through the smoke for 30 to 60 seconds to clear bad vibrations. Ensure you use a fire-safe bowl or plate for safety.

• Brown Rice

  You can place any crystal in brown rice for 24 hours to remove negative energy safely. All you need is a bowl or jar of brown rice that you can bury your stones in to completely cover them. After removing the stones from the brown rice, you can use a soft brush to remove dust. Dispose of the rice as it will have absorbed the negativity from the crystals.

• Ground

  Returning your crystals to the earth can refill them with energy, renewing them. Dig a hole in the earth and place a plate in the soil. Cover the plate slightly, then place the stones on top. Bury the stones and mark the place on the surface where you know where to dig. A week later, carefully remove the topsoil and remove the stones. If you reach the plate, you know you have gone too far and you may have dug up the stone.

• Soapy Water

  Some stones can be cleaned in soapy water. When cleaning them, ensure that you use a gentle soap and carefully remove any dust or debris from the stone. After the stone is clean, rinse off the stone with lukewarm water and pat the stone down with a soft cloth.

• Sound

  If you have large stones or a number of crystals, using sound may allow you to charge all of them at once. You can use Tibetan bells, a singing bowl, or tuning forks to create a vibrational tone that will fill the stone and renew them again. Play the sound for about 10 minutes to charge your crystals.

• Water

  As long as your stone is not water soluable and is durable enough (3+ on Mohs hardness), you may be able to put it in a bowl of lukewarm water to cleanse and charge the stone. You will want to leave the stone in the water between 2-10 hours (leaving it overnight is a good way to do it). Dry stones with a soft cloth to avoid causing damage to them.

• Sun

  While the sun can charge your stones very quickly, you will want to remove the stone from the sun after an hour or two as the sun could discolor your crystals (even those that are sun-safe). You can set your stone outside or on a windowsill to absorb the powerful energy from the heavens. The time you need to charge your crystals will vary, but they can often be ready in just a few minutes.

• Full Moon

  Cleansing your stones with the full moon is an excellent way to remove negativity. At twilight, place your crystals on a windowsill or a place where they will be able to absorb the light of the moon (and its vibrations). Remove the stone the following morning before the sun gets too high into the sky. You can also place several stones on a grid to charge with a specific intention.

Keep in mind though, that when putting them in water or under the sun, avoid subjecting them for long periods of time. When cleaning it with soapy water, use mild detergent and wipe it dry with a soft cloth. Never use harsh chemicals or put it near hard objects, as it could still be damaged or scratched.

Conclusion

Banded Agates may be common, but they are among the most popular stones. It’s not just because of their mesmerizing beauty and quality but also due to their various metaphysical and healing properties. Thankfully, banded agates are easily available. You can buy them online or in-store from trustworthy sellers.