Iolite

In this guide, I will discuss everything you need to know about this majestic crystal. You will find here the basic information about iolite stone, its meaning, uses, and healing properties. I’ve also included important details on how to cleanse and charge the stone to keep it free from negative vibes, as well as the best crystals to pair it with. Let’s start.

Iolite is a stone used to explore the inner workings of the mind, heart, and soul. According to legends, slabs of iolite stones are used by Vikings to determine the sun’s direction, especially during overcast days. During those days, navigation is quite difficult. However, the use of iolite helps in reducing glare and knowing the direction of the sun’s polarization. Hence, iolite was called the “Vikings’ Compass” as it helps sailors determine the right way to go in the vast, unfathomable seas.

Iolite is a type of cordierite, which is a magnesium-iron aluminum cyclosilicate. In mineralogy, iolite is called cordierite; however, gem-quality stones that are often made into faceted pieces and jewelry are called iolite. “iolite” comes from the Greek word ios, which means violet.

Known for its purple and blue hues, iolite is usually compared to more famous blue gems like blue sapphire and tanzanite for its brilliance and color. This is particularly true for deep blue stones, which can be used as a more affordable alternative to sapphire and tanzanite.

In addition to that, iolite exhibits pleochroism, a phenomenon where crystals exhibit different colors when viewed from different angles. As such, iolite is also called “water sapphire” and “dichroite”, which means “two-colored rock” in Greek.

Like how it was once used to guide sailors to their destination, iolite can also be used to give directions to those who somehow feel lost. Whether that be on their life’s journey, goals, relationships, interests, passions, or anything else, iolite can offer guidance. It lends wisdom, insight, and clarity to anyone so they may be able to find their way out of a problem.

As a stone of vision, it helps one see the truths about themselves, so they may be able to let go of fear. Instead of anxiety, there will be calm and harmony. It guides and protects them during out-of-body experiences, astral travels, and lucid dreaming. It grants motivation and guidance. It helps us see beyond the veil, beyond the material and the obvious, and into the most profound wisdom of the universe.

For those who need direction in working towards a goal, iolite can also help. For artists who are lost and need creative rejuvenation, iolite can help replenish the spring of creativity to get you back on track. And for those who need clarity of thought on what they want in their lives and why everything is the way it is, iolite can give them the wisdom to help them make the right choices and forge their destinies ahead.

Furthermore, iolite gives inner strength, resilience, and endurance to push through it all, no matter how stormy the seas will be or how hard the pattering of the rain could be.

Iolite is commonly used in jewelry. You can wear any type of iolite jewelry you prefer, but if you want it to attune to your vision, imagination, and intuition, we recommend wearing it as an earring if you can find one. Another great alternative is iolite necklaces, which position the jewelry close to the throat chakra. If you have a cabochon or a raw iolite stone instead and want to wear it wherever you go, you can place it inside a macrame holder.

Of course, if none of those are available, iolite can also be placed in your purse or pocket. You can also put it up as a house or office decor wherever you need its energies, be it in your meditation room or artist studio.

Be warned, though, that iolite might make you feel out of touch with your body and ungrounded. This is due to iolite resonating well with the higher chakras. To be safe, you can carry grounding crystals with you, like black tourmaline. I will cover this in more detail in a moment.

Iolite Physical Benefits

Iolite may be commonly used for its metaphysical properties, but it also has physical benefits as well. Some of the crystal healing properties of iolite are the following:

• Headache

  Iolite can help with headaches and migraines. Moreover, if you feel dizzy or disoriented, having an iolite close to you might help make it go away.

• Pain Relief

  Similarly, an iolite stone can help tone down pains in the body, particularly in the part of the head. Not only does it help with migraine, it might also aid in lessening eye strain.

• Ear Health

  Iolite stones are very helpful in promoting balance even in the physical body. If you constantly feel dizzy, it might be related to an ear problem. Iolite is also known for helping to deal with Meniere’s disease.

• Nervous System

  Continuing the list of its healing properties in the head area, iolite may also help with the nervous system by promoting nerve health. It’s especially useful for nerve numbness and pain.

• Respiratory System

  Iolite healing crystals could also be used to treat common respiratory system ailments, like sinuses and colds. It also helps with a sore throat.

• Digestive System

  Iolite can be used to strengthen the digestive system. It promotes healthy digestion, removes fatty deposits, and helps regenerate the liver.

• Detoxification

  Iolite crystals are great at removing toxins in the body. They are especially helpful in dealing with alcohol toxins. It’s been said that iolite could help lessen the side effects of alcohol.

• Weight Loss

  Iolite could also help with weight loss. It promotes healthy digestion and eliminates fat deposits.

• Skin

  Iolite could also help in maintaining good skin health. It aids in treating not only skin ailments like blisters but also varicose veins.

• Recovery

  Iolite may also aid in treating fevers and malaria.

• Immune System

  Iolite can also support the immune system, helping fight illnesses and bacteria.

• Hair

  Iolite also aids the healthy growth of hair and nails.

• Endocrine System

  Iolite may also help strengthen the endocrine system, particularly the pituitary gland.

• Memory

  Iolite promotes good memory recall and stimulates the brain.

• Insomnia

  As a calming and balancing stone, it can stave off insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness. It also prevents nightmares and bad dreams. With iolite’s help, your sleep patterns may improve.

Iolite Emotional Benefits

Iolite isn’t only used for physical healing. There are also mental, emotional, and psychological benefits to gain in using iolite crystals. Some of them are the following:

• Addiction

  Iolite is an excellent stone for those who are dealing with addictions. It helps one see the underlying cause of their addiction and see how destructive it is, not only to themselves but to other people around them. It will help them instead make healthy habits and turn their life around.

• Calming

  Iolite is an effective calming stone. It helps one let go of the fear of the unknown and pushes them to be welcoming to inner experiences. If they are actively suppressing their emotions and thoughts due to unconscious fear, iolite can assist them to trust in the process and banish fear. Instead, it instills wisdom and knowing to help them cope with past experiences. It gives hope and inner peace.

• Wisdom

  Iolite offers wisdom and insight on a person’s inner world. It helps them see things they may have unconsciously refused to look at before because of fear. With wisdom, they can resolve problems decisively and effectively.

• Mental Clarity

  This stone helps you become more objective in resolving problems so you can avoid making hasty decisions based on emotions. It helps you clear your mind, formulate thoughts, and use your creativity to solve issues. It also aids you to have a clear perspective on the problem.

• Focus

  This crystal promotes focus and attention. If you are ever in a chaotic state of mind, iolite can bring it back to order.

• Relationships

  Iolite may help promote healthy relationships by helping fight against codependence. It also aids in dissolving rifts in a relationship. If you are in a new relationship, things may be more difficult as you are still starting to get to know each other. Iolite can help in this area. Furthermore, it also helps those people who have controlling families so they can make the right choices that speaks true to themselves. It will help them find their true self.

• Enthusiasm

  This stone brings motivation and focus. It’s especially useful for people who have goals and dreams that were delayed due to a lack of direction and concentration. Iolite can help them be more enthusiastic about doing what’s needed to be done.

• Harmony

  Iolite promotes harmony and balance.

Iolite Metaphysical Properties

With its rich purple shading, iolite is a powerful crystal for metaphysical and spiritual healing. Here are some benefits you may experience if you incorporate it into your daily life:

• Intuition

  Iolite is said to promote intuition and inner vision.

• Balance

  Iolite can bring the yin and yang, the masculine and feminine aspects of ourselves into balance. It also helps us become more focused instead of being consistently distracted and disorganized.

• Creativity

  Iolite is one of the best stones to spark the imagination. It’s very useful for artists, writers, musicians, or absolutely anyone who relies on their creativity to pursue their goals in life.

• Manifestation

  Iolite is said to be a powerful stone to awaken the imagination. With its help, you can visualize the life you want and bring them to reality through the law of attraction.

• Clairvoyance

  Iolite is a very helpful stone in awakening or stimulating clairvoyant abilities. It’s called the vision stone for its power to help one see beyond what their senses tell them.

• Psychic Ability

  Not only is iolite useful for awakening clairvoyant powers, but it can also help stimulate and improve other psychic abilities, such as precognition.

• Dreams

  Iolite can help you achieve lucid dreaming. It may also protect you from bad dreams, nightmares, and entities that can attack you while you sleep.

• Astral Travel

  Its protective powers also extend to astral travel. Not only does it help protect a soul in making an astral projection from harmful entities, but iolite may also help you achieve astral projection.

• Spiritual Realms

  This wonderful stone could also help you connect with beings from the higher realms, particularly angels.

• Protection

  Iolite is a protective stone. It doesn’t only shield you from negative entities but also illnesses and physical harm. In fact, iolite is used as a protective talisman by travelers to keep them safe on their long journeys.

• Past Life

  Iolite crystals can also be used to access your past life or alternate life. By doing so, you may be able to know the reasons behind your present life’s predicament and find answers on how to deal with it by understanding the lessons from the past.

• Wealth

  Iolite is also said to be helpful when it comes to finances and money. If you have debt, iolite can help you become more wise and responsible at handling your money.

• Aura

  Iolite is also said to activate the auric field, helping it work with the subtle bodies.

Because of the impressive metaphysical, healing, and protective powers of this beautiful violet stone, iolite is greatly used in meditation. It’s especially helpful in doing inner work, astral projections, and developing psychic powers.

The crystal has a strong connection to the third-eye chakra, like most violet-blue stones.

As such, it can be used to awaken latent psychic abilities like clairvoyance. However, do note that working on awakening your psychic gifts might not be that easy.

When working with iolite, you may experience headaches and migraines, especially near the third-eye area. This is due to iolite working and stimulating your third-eye chakra. But as you start getting used to its powers, the slight pain may subside, especially since iolite also helps in relieving headaches.

To work with iolite, meditate and place it near the third-eye chakra. Although it connects with other chakras, too, iolite works the strongest with this particular chakra, which I will explain in detail in a moment. Moreover, keep in mind that it may be best to align all your chakras first before attempting to work with iolite to stimulate your latent psychic gifts. You may feel overwhelmed by its vibrations if you aren’t ready.

Iolite Chakras

As I’ve said, iolite connects strongly with the third-eye chakra. However, this mystical stone also works with other chakras, including the throat chakra, crown chakra, and soma chakra.

• Third-Eye Chakra

  The Ajna, or the third-eye chakra, is the center of our intuition and imagination, located between our eyebrows. It holds the key for us to see the bigger picture, to discern beyond what is obvious. As a creative stone, it can help unlock the creativity and imagination of an artist. As a vision stone, iolite meanings may include having the ability to use clairvoyance and precognition.

• Throat Chakra

  The Visuddha, or the throat chakra, is where our self-expression and communication reside. By balancing it, we are able to express ourselves freely and truthfuly.

• Crown Chakra

  The Sahasrara, or the crown chakra, is at the top of our head and this is where our spirituality resides. Opening it will help us achieve higher consciousness.

• Soma Chakra

  The Soma or Amrita, is located just above our third-eye chakra. It represents our connection to the higher realms and is said to be our creative center.

There aren’t many varieties of iolite. Iolite itself is already a gemstone variety of cordierite, so if there are subtypes of this crystal, they are usually differentiated due to their color and composition. Some crystals that we can think of as varieties of iolite are:

1. Water Sapphire

   Water sapphire is the blue-colored variety of iolite and is perhaps the most well-known one. It’s been said to aid imagination. It can also help in healing and protection.

2. Iolite Sunstone

   Iolite Sunstone or Sunstone Iolite is a combination of the two stones, sunstone, and iolite. This purplish-orangish stone helps us become more open to possibilities and adventure.

3. Brown Iolite

   Brown iolite is the brown-hued iolite stone, which is said to encourage calmness, healing, and balance.

To get the most out of iolite, you can pair it with other crystals that either enhance or balance its qualities. Good stones to pair with iolite are grounding crystals which can help you avoid being ungrounded. High-vibration crystals may also be a good fit for iolite.

1. 

   Sunstone

   Sunstone is a protective and healing crystal. It can help with enhancing intuition and inner guidance.

2. 

   Tanzanite

   Tanzanite is a high-vibration crystal that helps with spiritual awakening. It also promotes intuition and enhances psychic gifts.

3. 

   Sugilite

   Sugilite helps bring calm and can help protect you against harmful entities. It may also shield you from nightmares.

4. 

   Lapis Lazuli

   Lapis Lazuli promotes creativity and mental clarity. It can also help you access past lives.

5. 

   Obsidian

   Obsidian is a grounding and protective stone that could help shield you against psychic attacks. It’s also useful in treating addictions.

6. 

   Tiger’s Eye

   Tiger’s Eye stimulates creativity and enhances focus. It can also be used to protect yourself against negative energy.

7. 

   Citrine

   Citrine is a bright and energetic crystal that could help with your overall well-being. It also promotes creativity.

8. 

   Mother of Pearl

   Mother of Pearl helps promote intuition and imagination. It also helps promote abundance.

9. 

   Larimar

   Larimar is a healing stone that could help you build self-confidence and inner strength. It also enhances intuition.

10. 

    Black Tourmaline

    Black Tourmaline promotes grounding, calm, and mental clarity. It also enhances creativity, focus, and energy.

Like most crystals, iolite needs to be cleansed and charged to keep it free from negative energy. If it’s filled with negative vibrations, iolite will feel heavy energetically and it may seem not to be working. Therefore, it’s important to purify them every now and then so they can be filled with positive energy again.

Although iolite is a bit harder than other crystals and stones, having a score of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale level of hardness, it’s only fairly tough and kind of brittle. When cleansing iolite, it’s necessary to keep it away from harsh chemicals, detergents, and cleaners that could damage it. The most advisable way to cleanse it is by using mild soap and water. Don’t submerge it in water, though.

When it comes to charging, most methods work. However, while it can be charged in natural light, avoid exposing it to sunlight for long periods of time. Keep it away from direct sunlight, too.

After cleansing and charging, keep them in a cool, dry place. This all goes for your whole gemstone jewelry collection, anyway. Make sure to keep them safe and secure in an area where they can’t be disturbed.

Here are some methods we recommend when cleansing and charging iolite:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Crystal Charger

  There are many tools that can help charge your crystals. Whether you use a pyramid, large selenite plates or bowls, or grids, you can enhance the powers of your stones as you charge them. As with other methods, you should set an intention when placing your stones on a crystal charger.

• Visualization

  Visualization is a safe and powerful way of charging any of your crystals. Take time to center your energy and ground yourself, then pick up the sone in your hands. Focus on filling your hands with a radiant light through visualization for a minute or two. Focus on removing the negativity from the stone, allowing it to be cleansed and recharged with purpose. You should be able to feel the energy within the stone shift into positivity.

Conclusion

Iolite stones are indeed captivatingly beautiful; however, that’s not all it gives. They can help you achieve a more meaningful spiritual life by helping you get attuned to your intuition and imagination.