Selenite Meaning
Many energy workers, wellness professionals, and crystal devotees turn to stones and minerals to cultivate a sense of calmness and peace. One of the most reputable stones for promoting a purification of self and spaces is selenite. This well-loved mineral can also be used to charge up other stones and provide rejuvenation to anyone who comes into contact with it.
While selenite has been incorporated into decorative finishes for centuries, it has more recently come into common usage in mindfulness and cleansing practices for practitioners from all walks of life.
Selenite is a crystal used to clear energy from objects, spaces, auras, and other crystals; it has a powerful effect on individuals as well. Commonly associated with the moon and named after the Greek goddess for the moon, some dub Selenite the “Moonstone Crystal.” With a luminous appearance, Selenite is a striking crystal and a perfect addition to your collection. Most well-known as a tool to cleanse other crystals, Selenite is also used to purify, cleanse, and clear your energy and the energy in your surroundings.
Let’s explore the mysteries of Selenite, including its meaning, properties, history, connection to the chakras, and much more.
What Is Selenite?
Selenite is the crystalized form of the mineral gypsum. The stones are distinguished by their translucent coloring with hints of grey, white, green, yellow, and brown, many of which are often muddied together to create unique hues. Selenite also has a traditionally pearly shine on its edges and a nearly completely clear reflective surface on its planes, making it reflective and eye catching and further distinguishing it from naturally dull pure gypsum in its non-crystalline form.
Selenite is a variety of gypsum, which is a chalky mineral. It’s sometimes called satin spar gypsum. Selenite is sometimes used as a broad term for transparent gypsum crystals. The chemical formula for Selenite is CaSO₄•2H₂O, which is calcium, sulfate, and water molecules. It’s a fairly soft mineral, ranking at a 2 on the Moh’s scale.
Selenite develops when seawater evaporates, and the salt builds up. Selenite crystals form in prismatic or tabular shapes. The presence of water molecules allows the Selenite to form easily into thin, transparent sheets. That’s why early uses of Selenite were in the manufacture of eyeglasses and windowpanes.
These days, Selenite’s primary appeal is as a crystal and artistic piece (with healing properties).
selenite composition and makeup
Deriving from gypsum, selenite is made up chemically of calcium sulfate dihydrate. In contrast to its sister varieties satin spar, desert rose, and gypsum flower, all of which are crystalline forms of gypsum, selenite is notable for its softness. Rating just a 2 on the Mohs scale, the mineral is very susceptible to scratching, denting, and other contact-based damage. Selenite’s crystalline structure is identifiable by its cleavages, or how it breaks off from other pieces of the same type. Selenite tends to manifest its structure with three uneven edges.
Selenite forms over time as water passes through limestone rock or clay soils and then evaporates, leaving deposits of calcium and sulfate behind. Unlike other gypsum-based crystals, selenite typically forms large, clear, and colorless with few to zero occlusions or imperfections. In contrast, desert rose crystals get their coloring from the intrusion of sand over time.
Harvested from large beds, selenite is also unique in that it is found unattached to a matrix or other nearby rocks. Instead, the crystals lay detached from the soil around them as a result of having been eroded and formed by a steady flow of water. Selenite crystals have been found in a range of sizes including massive structures over 15 meters in length located in underground caves.
Selenite is a fairly common crystal, occurring in different caches across the world. Some more notable sources include the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Greece, and Mexico, to name a few.
Selenite Types
While most Selenite is colorless, white, or gray, and in a wand shape, Selenite comes in other forms. The presence of impurities, such as iron oxides or clay minerals, may tint the Selenite brown, yellow, red, or blue.
Blue Selenite placed on the third eye chakra helps to calm the mind, balance financial integrity, and see through illusions.
Green Selenite promotes a general sense of well-being, contributes to self-esteem, and is good for the skin and bones.
Orange-Brown Selenite is very useful for cleansing your home or workspace. It especially helps to focus on nature.
Peach Selenite is used for healing, forgiveness, and acceptance. It helps you understand your inner processes and gives you an insight into your inner self. Peach Selenite can be used by women going from the passages of life, from puberty through menopause, including childbearing years.
Selenite can also occur in other crystalline structures, including rosettes, flowers, scales, prisms, and of course, the wand.
Angel wing Selenite, also known as fishtail Selenite, has a unique, feathery appearance. Practitioners often use it to connect with angels or spirit guides.
Origin And History
Selenite is found mainly in Mexico, Morocco, Australia, Greece, and the United States. It’s also been found in Japan, Poland, Russia, Argentina, and Brazil.
It’s been known to humans for thousands of years, and found in ancient Egyptian artifacts and Roman buildings.
The biggest source of Selenite is a large cavern in the Naica mine in Chihuahua, Mexico. A sight to be seen, this reserve has crystals the size of telephone poles and redwood trees. The largest piece of Selenite in this cave measures 36 feet long and weighs 55 tons. Scientists estimate its age to be over 500,000 years old.
The cave’s unique combination of high temperatures, mineral-rich water, and specific rock formations. Discovered in the early 2000s, the cave’s harsh environment is perfect for creating Selenite that is transparent, pure, and very large.
Not limited to Earth, Selenite was also found on Mars in 2004 when rovers Spirit and Opportunity identified a form of gypsum on the surface. Adding to the allure of Mars, the discovery is an indication that sometime in the past, conditions were ideal to create the mineral.
Some of the earliest known uses for selenite were by ancient civilizations across North America, South America, Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Because of its transparent qualities, the Greeks used selenite in their windows as a type of glass inset allowing the light to enter buildings. Similarly, the Romans took to using selenite to create decorative windows and embellishments in their churches where the play of light on the crystal created an ethereal effect.
Selenite gets its name from the Greek word selene, which means moon. It is also reminiscent of the Greek goddess of the moon, Selene. In ancient folklore, the crystal was believed to have descended from the moon itself.
While considered an informal type of moonstone, modern collectors and professionals should be sure not to confuse selenite with actual gemstone called moonstone, or hecatolite, which has an entirely different composition and appearance.
Official scientific cataloging on selenite finally occurred in 1747 when it was discovered and recorded by Swedish mineralogist J.G. Wallerius. He published his findings based on the chemical composition of the mineral rather than its appearance.
Selenite Healing Properties
Selenite possesses unique healing properties, including clearing negative energies and fostering productivity. Selenite’s calming energy supports physical and emotional healing. Known for its metaphysical powers, believers use it in rituals to enhance intuition and psychic abilities. It’s important to note that Selenite’s properties are believed well in the study of crystals but shouldn’t be used in place of professional or medical help for serious concerns. Selenite can be used as a supportive practice for other modalities.
While mostly known for its wellness implications, selenite has been used in a variety of industrial applications from farming to the formulation of ceramics materials. As a source of calcium and sulfur, selenite can remove impurities from soil and provide for more productive agriculture. Besides improving environmental outcomes for flora, selenite has a myriad of healing properties that span physical, emotional, and metaphysical benefits for people.
Physical Healing Properties
Holding selenite or keeping it nearby has been credited with several physical healing attributes. Most noticeably, users report improvements with skeletal issues such as alignment and strength.
Selenite is also believed to repair damage done by free radicals, or molecules that are unstable and that can cause damage to other cells. Free radicals are often associated with a variety of illnesses and are believed to generally expedite the aging process. By helping to stop and revert free radical damage, selenite can help people look and feel younger especially with healthier looking skin and hair.
Another area selenite is said to bring physical healing is in reducing and repairing inflammation throughout the body. Whether from stress, illness, or a buildup of toxins, inflammation can cause additional health comorbidities and lead to physical discomfort. Using selenite to combat inflammation can also help diminish muscle tension and pain, improve digestion, and even help the immune system function more effectively.
Some believe that Selenite may have a positive influence on the skeletal system. Placing Selenite on or near areas of discomfort is thought to aid in physical healing, particularly related to bones and joints.
Selenite is sometimes used in the healing process after surgery or injury. Its gentle energy is believed to support the body's natural healing mechanisms.
Placing Selenite under the pillow or near the bed is believed to improve the quality of sleep. Its calming energy may help quiet the mind and create a serene environment conducive to restful sleep.
Mental & Emotional Healing Properties
The calming energy of Selenite is thought to alleviate stress and anxiety. Holding a Selenite wand or crystal may help individuals relax and release tension, allowing for emotional healing.Selenite is believed to enhance mental clarity and emotional understanding. It may assist in gaining insight into one's emotions, aiding in the process of letting go of negative thought patterns.
Selenite is often used for balancing and aligning the energy centers in the body. Its presence is believed to promote overall energetic well-being and harmony.Selenite is often used for aura cleansing in energy work. Its purifying energy is said to help remove energetic blockages, attachments, and imbalances in the aura, promoting overall well-being.
Just as selenite reduces physical irritations, it is also known to have a calming effect on the spirit. As an emotionally supportive mineral, selenite can soothe individuals who feel distressed and lessen their sensations around anger, fear, and self-doubt. With its high yet fine vibrational level, selenite crystals can create a sense of peace and confidence, eliminating feelings negativity.
Along with a more peaceful demeanor, individuals can experience fewer instances of anxiety when they keep selenite on hand. Wellness practitioners believe this results from selenite’s ability to provide clarity in difficult situations and to help users see circumstances for what they really are rather than being consumed by worry. Individuals also say the clarity derived from selenite can lead to better decision making and keener insights that can provide for a more positive life experience.
Another emotional healing property of selenite is its tendency to cultivate honesty in those who keep it nearby. By enhancing truth and openness, these individuals are better able to experience authentic relationships with others. This renewed perspective can also lead to ease and candidness when it comes to forgiveness, helping people become more honest with themselves about what emotions and relationships are best for their goals and life trajectory.
Selenite’s calming influence can also have a palliative effect on those suffering from grief. It is believed that holding onto selenite while resting can give the crystal time to absorb the negative energies and emotions that no longer serve a constructive purpose in personal development.
Selenite is attributed with creating relaxing sensations in the body and the surrounding environment, making it a great crystal to keep not just at home but also at the workplace. Many practitioners recommend using selenite to generate a spirit of calm wherever needed in order to preserve a state of wellbeing and prevent negativity from impacting the mind and emotions throughout the day.
Metaphysical Properties
While prone to physical and emotional benefits, wellness professionals often turn to selenite for its ability to foster angelic connections. By encouraging and amplifying connections to a higher self or celestial being, selenite fosters energy flow throughout the body in order to promote knowledge. This can lead to a better understanding and correlation with experiences such as past life regression, meditation, and navigating different levels of consciousness.
Many reiki practitioners choose selenite as their crystal of choice at the onset of a client session, using the stone to cleanse the aura and prepare the body and spirit to open up to the practice. Selenite stimulates positive energy flow and peace to help individuals participating in reiki to feel more relaxed during the process and to be more in tune with the energic changes happening in their body. The result can be an enhanced healing experience both physically and emotionally.
Selenite also works by clearing out blocked energy that can prevent individuals from experiencing life with ease and vigor. Healers often recommend using selenite to cleanse not just a person’s mind and spirit but also their home, office, vehicle, and individual belongings that may have held on to heavy emotions and experiences for a long period of time.
Since selenite can remove negative energies and is self-cleansing by its very nature, it is also used to cleanse and recharge other stones. Selenite bowls and towers are often employed to remove unwanted emotional and spiritual residue from crystals regularly used in a wellness practice. For the most effective cleansing, the selenite should make physical contact with the target stones for at least one full day.
Selenite’s use in the metaphysical realm for mental powers and advancing of the mind.
Selenite is associated with enhancing intuition and psychic abilities. Meditating with Selenite or keeping it close during divination practices is believed to amplify intuitive insights and spiritual guidance.
Selenite resonates strongly with the crown chakra, the energy center associated with spiritual connection and higher consciousness. Placing Selenite on or near the crown chakra is believed to activate and open this energy center, fostering a deeper connection to the divine. It is also thought to facilitate communication with the spiritual realm and angelic beings.
Due to its amplifying properties, Selenite is used to charge and cleanse other crystals. Placing crystals on a Selenite charging plate or next to a Selenite wand is believed to enhance their energetic properties.
Chakra And Selenite
The energy centers of the body, known as chakras, directly interact with crystals and stones of all shapes, compositions, and sizes, and selenite is no exception. The crystal is believed to create connections with several of the chakras and to enhance the alignment of these points in the body to improve overall wellbeing.
The heart chakra is responsible for helping individuals process love and compassion along with being truthful to others. This directly maps to selenite’s strength as a clearing crystal that also promotes honesty. An open heart chakra can be detected by how well a person is able to control and regulate their emotions. Selenite’s ability to promote calm also amplifies the heart chakra’s ability to manage feelings and more aptly navigate interactions with others.
The crown chakra can also benefit from selenite’s calming influence. As a center for knowledge and consciousness, an unblocked crown chakra can provide individuals with the ability to be more self-aware. Selenite strengthens this ability by helping people remain calm and experience life with more clarity. Because the crystal also helps users connect with a higher self, the crown chakra can be opened further to enhance receptiveness to celestial beings and shed light on their insights.
Used for balancing chakras or clearing blockages at energy centers. Use Selenite with the crown chakra, which focuses on how you think and respond to the world. The crown balances your energies and Selenite’s cleansing properties bring the chakras into balance. Selenite enables one to connect to the soul. This represents a oneness with God, peace, and wisdom.
When creating a basic crystal grid, use Selenite in the crown chakra space to create balance. A Selenite wand or point traces the lines of the grid, activating and connecting the energy of each crystal. This energy will help manifest your intentions. The other crystals in the grid will focus the grid on healing, abundance, protection, energetic refresh, and relationships.
Zodiac Signs And Selenite
While not considered a traditional birthstone associated with a particular month, Selenite is directly connected with the moon and its phases. It is believed that its energies may change with the movement and orientation of the moon, making it a useful crystal for people born any time of the year.
When it comes to the zodiac, selenite has close ties to three distinct signs. While these archetypes differ widely from one another, selenite’s healing and calming properties have a direct impact with a unique approach.
Cancers are renowned for being emotional people who frequently need to express themselves in order to find mental and emotional relief. Selenite can step in for people who feel they do not have a proper outlet by providing a sense of peace and calm when other emotions may be raging on. Those under the Cancer sign are also notable for their struggles with communication, which selenite can unblock by enhancing connection and the promotion of knowledge.
Perhaps a bit of an opposite to Cancers, Geminis may not have difficulty expressing themselves or making connections with others. However, by adding selenite to their wellness routine, Geminis can experience an enhanced bond with their peers as well as angelic beings and higher forms of self. This can heighten their spiritual experiences. Notoriously confrontational at times, Geminis may benefit from selenite’s calming properties, helping them to temper their reactions and interactions with others while more precisely articulating themselves.
Those born under Taurus can also largely profit from selenite’s healing capabilities. The inherently stubborn tendencies of a Taurus can be mitigated by incorporating selenite since the crystal is believed to help people become more open minded. Representing the moon goddess and her femininity, selenite may also help balance out a Taurus tending toward heavier, more traditionally masculine affinities by creating a sense of calm and peace.
Selenite is not a traditional or natural birthstone. It is, however, a zodiac stone for Taurus. It helps Taurus find mental clarity. Selenite is also of interest to Cancer, Aquarius, and Gemini zodiac signs. It also has significance to the rest of the zodiac signs, all of which touch upon the months. For no other reason, Selenite can be used to cleanse all other birthstones.
Cleansing Selenite
While Selenite is well known as a crystal that cleanses other crystals, it’s a good idea to allow it to shed the negative energies it accumulates. A couple of popular methods are to place it in the light of a full moon or use a sound bath. While some use water to cleanse crystals, prolonged exposure to water can lead to the crystal’s deterioration over time, so it’s best to use dry methods to cleanse Selenite. Placing it in a bowl of dry salt is another possible method for cleansing.
The Safety Of Selenite
Selenite is a relatively soft crystal that can be scratched or chipped easily. As a result, it should be kept away from small children. All others should be careful about scratches caused by breakage.
Rarely, individuals can have skin sensitivities or allergies. If this is you, wash your hands after handling Selenite.
Selenite can generate dust, especially when forming it into certain shapes. If this is your profession, wear a mask to avoid breathing the dust as it may irritate your lungs.
Finally, some individuals are more energetically sensitive than others. Selenite is generally considered gentle and high-vibrational, but you should pay attention to how it makes you feel and use the crystal accordingly.
Final Thoughts On Selenite’s Many Benefits
For individuals looking to enhance their feelings of calm and clarity, selenite may be a perfect fit within an existing wellness regimen. With its high energy and self-cleansing abilities, selenite can protect and preserve the emotions and mind while also cultivating peace and enhancing perception. The crystal can also be a great fit for individuals looking for a closer connection with their higher self.
While some may prefer selenite to adorn their desk or bedside table because of its physical beauty, individuals can benefit from its intrinsic healing properties by keeping it nearby. From clearing blockages to enhancing connections with beings from many levels, selenite is a wonderful crystal to include in a wellness routine or to add to one’s spiritual journey.
