“Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty,” according to the International Colored Gemstone Association.

“Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence,” according to the ICGA website.

“Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. It was, in particular, considered to be the stone of bishops and they still often wear amethyst rings,” continues the ICGA. “In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often fashioned from it.”

Amethyst is said to enhance spirituality, raise the vibrational level of the holder, cleanse the astral, etheric and physical bodies, and produce a peaceful, tranquil state of mind.

According to Melody’s fine book Love is in the Earth, amethyst “can be used to protect against psychic attacks; the energy of the attack being transmitted to the transmitted to the universe after its transformation into a positive, loving energy.

Amethyst is classically the stone of sobriety, purity and chastity and would be an excellent stone for those with tendencies toward addictive behavior, or for those spiritual seekers intent upon transformation through the progressive purification of mind, body and aura.