Peridot/Olivine
A Lapidary
Peridot/Olivine
Crystal System – Orthorhombic
Formation – Primary, Igneous, Volcanic
Mineral Class – Island Silica
Colours – Pale transparent zesty Lime to waxy Olive green
Chemical Formulation – (Mg,Fe)2[SiO4]
Other names – Chrysolite, and often mistakenly named Topaz or Emerald
Picture - Saffron Dennis
Astrological Connections
As the birthstone for August babies, Peridot/Olivine/Chrysolite connects to both the late Leo and early Virgo energies.
Peridot is the gemstone-quality version of the crystal Olivine, and as it can be almost lime green when highly faceted to a more milky green when raw, it is a regal piece worn as jewellery. Due to its brittle nature, the gem is challenging to work with. Those gems perfectly formed under a master jeweller's hands are highly sought after, making them costly pieces fit for royalty.
Considering that Leo's energy can sometimes be described as overconfident, even overbearing, Peridot is known to aid those looking to exude healthy, well-bounded self-esteem. With Virgo following on in Zodiacal order, the energy can be pushed into Virgo to deal with the opposite issue, a lack of confidence and self-belief; the stone works well to balance the two natures. As many of us have the Sun in one sign and then Mercury and/or Venus in the sign before or after, it can be interesting to play around with the energy of the month's birthstone to see if, like Peridot, the balance can be bought into your life while working with the power of the month's birthstone to harmonise the planets in your chart.
I am a Leo Sun with the Moon and Venus in Virgo; peridot/olivine is one of my go-to stones to boost my confidence in unfamiliar surroundings. I believe it keeps the Leo Sun burning bright without overpowering it with overexuberant heat.
George Fredrick Kunz in his book The Curious Lore of Precious Stone (Kunz, 1971) states that a previous adept, Giacinto Gimma, collected information on gemstones for amulets: “Golden yellow was, of course, the symbol of the sun and of Sunday. The precious stone was chrysolite (peridot) or the yellow jacinth. The animal connected with the color was the lion, doubtless from the association of the zodiacal sign Leo with the mid summer.” As a talisman to drive off evil spirits, it was believed that the connection to the Sun was enough to shine a bright light on darkness and evil and drive it away.
Henry Cornelius Agrippa helps further. “So, the chrysolite stone, which is of a light green color, in which, when it is held against the Sun, there shines forth a golden star; and this comforts those parts that serve for breathing, and helps those that be asthmatical; and if it be bored through, and the hole filled with the mane of an ass, and bound to the left arm, it drives away idle imaginations and melancholy fears, and puts away foolishness” (Agrippa, 1898)
Hildegard of Bingen, an Abbess working in the 12th Century CE, was a genius polymath; however, she had some “interesting” ways of offering support from gemstones and crystals. The advice given in her Liber Vitae Meritorum (The Book of Virtues and Vices) is, however, clear and straightforward for Peridot; just wear a Peridot necklace! Hildegard believed that Peridot brought wisdom, “this stone will strengthen the intellect and wisdom as well as creativity,” and “ Enlightenment and good knowledge will never disappear when you wear Peridot on your heart.” (Strehlow, 2022) As gold is also associated with the energy of the Sun, it concludes that setting this gem in gold will enhance its properties.
More History
As Peridot is often cited as Topaz or Topazius, you will find that many old lapidaries will use this name rather than the modern Chrysolite or Peridot.
Pliny stated that the stone was found in the Red Sea, 37 ½ miles from the mainland, on an island, hidden away from the commoners and protected from unauthorised presence. The legend told of a gem so lustrous that, in the day, it could not be seen. The servants tasked with retrieving the stone for their masters were sent out at night as the gem shone in the dark. The servants marked the area and then returned to mine the stone in the day. Some sources name the island the Isle of Serpents, an apt name for a green stone!
Physical Healing
With its combination of magnesium and iron, this stone and its chemical makeup can help us determine some of the benefits Peridot can bring.
Wear this stone to assist in rebalancing the system, and use the elixir for any detoxing regime. It is said to be so helpful that it can assist in cancer treatment alongside allopathic medicine, of course! The liver benefits from this stone as an assistant to remove waste and toxin buildup.
This stone helps nourish the skin and remove the signs we wear on the surface of burnout and overwork. Peridot can assist with helping to clear red eyes and undereye dark circles, liver spots, warts, and all of these problematic conditions.
For most folk, green is the colour on the spectrum that our eyes rest at most efficiently, as it sits right in the middle of our visionary scale. The colour helps bring everything into balance and ease the mind and spirit. Peridot is said to help with Bipolar disorder, hypochondria, nervous and anxious conditions, and anything where there is an unhealthy excess.
On a mental level, this stone is excellent for easing worry, guilt, and self-defeating patterning. It helps us break through our inner barriers to assist our healing process.
References/Bibliography
https://gem-a.com/birthstone-guide-peridot-for-those-born-in-august/ - Accessed 27th August 2024
Hildegard of Bingen’s Spiritual Remedies (Strehlow, 2022)
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones (Kunz, 1971)
Three Books of Occult Philosophy or Magic (Agrippa, 1898)
Stone Medicine - (Franks, 2016)