Gemstone of the Month: Tiger Eye

The golden shimmer of tiger’s eye was the first to catch my eye. Of all the gemstones in the world, tiger’s eye fascinated me as a child. It seemed magical, with it’s chatoyancy (reflected light bouncing between parallel bands within the stone) and silky luster. Who would choose to gaze into plain crystal balls? Surely, this was the stone in which mysterious pictures would appear.

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I wasn’t alone, as tiger’s eye has been a favorite throughout history. Roman soldiers were given pieces of tiger’s eye carved with talismans to protect them in battle. Travelers throughout the Mediterranean carried pebbles in their pockets as a safeguard. Egyptian scarabs were often carved of tiger’s eye, as a symbol of the sun god Ra and his gift of spiritual transformation. A member of the chalcedony family, tiger’s eye is usually golden yellow and brown. Naturally occurring forms of red and blue tiger’s eye do appear, but they are more likely the result of color enhancements (heat treatment for reds and dye for blues).

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Metaphysically, tiger’s eye is considered a stone of the mind. It brings mental clarity, grounding and assists in bringing about positive changes. People who have a difficult time maintaining their internal focus (people with ADD, bipolar disorder, procrastinators, people in a state of transition, who desperately need mental grounding) often resist the energies of tiger’s eye, as its grounding effects get right to work on them! Tiger’s eye is also a stone that brings abundance, confidence and healthy ownership of one’s own power. If you’re looking to make an exciting change, build up your confidence or embark on a new career venture, tiger’s eye just may be the stone for you. Plus, it’s just gorgeous! Check out the gem wall on your next Bead World visit to see what tiger’s eye has to offer your latest beading project!

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Happy Beading!