Facts about Sunstone

The Origin and History of Sunstone

There are many different stories of how Sunstone came to be and how it was used, most notably involving Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Nordic Mythology, AND Native American culture. Ancient Greeks thought the stone was a representation of their Sun God named Helios or Apollo. They believed that it fell from the sun during a solar eclipse and in turn was a gift. Ancient Egyptians thought it represented their Sun God named Ra, and the stone would invigorate the physical body. Nordic Vikings used Sunstone as a compass because the shimmer and reflection from the sun created a sort of guidance for them. Native Americans believed the stone had healing powers and it was used in treating their people. Native American legend says that Sunstone got its powers when a warrior dripped blood onto the stones when he was wounded and his spirit was transferred into the stones, coloring them red.

Sunstone gets its name from its alternative name, Heliolite. The Greek word “helios” means sun and “lithos” means stone. First discovered in 1837 by JD Dana, it can now be found all over the world in Sri Lanka, India, Norway, Canada, Mexico, Russia, China, and in Oregon, USA. It is also Oregon’s official state gemstone!

Appearance and Composition

It is rich in color, varying from a range of reds, oranges, browns, and golds. It is usually semi-translucent with inclusions, mostly showing off its color range, shimmer, and glitter when held up to the light. This effect is called Aventurescence. Sunstone is a type of Feldspar and it contains Hematite and Goethite, which is why there is such a speckled look to the stone. It is also known as Aventurine Feldspar. It rates 6-6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and it is commonly used in jewelry making because of its durability and its beauty.

Metaphysical Properties and Uses of Sunstone

Because of its name, Sunstone has many properties associated with the sun and people often think it radiates energy directly from the sun. It is known as a stone of joy, positivity, and encouragement. People can use it to balance their feminine and masculine energies; it is thought to help heal feelings of weak masculinity in all of us, regardless of our gender. 

Because Sunstone is known for its positive energy, people often use it to combat low self-esteem. People who lack healthy boundaries and who struggle with saying no might use Sunstone and wear it daily. For general use, people most commonly choose to wear Sunstone in jewelry because they like having it close to their physical body. It is also a common practice to keep specimens around your house to clear energy and foster a positive home environment. Raw Sunstone is quite beautiful! Despite it being closely associated with the Base and Sacral chakras, Sunstone is also predominately used to clear and cleanse all chakras. 

How to Care for Sunstone

Different with most stones, Sunstone can and should be put in the sun! Sunstone’s energies and metaphysical properties are amplified when the stone is put in direct sunlight. Some people believe that keeping it in harsh sunlight can disrupt its energy, so it’s best to keep it on a windowsill or in a place where gleams of sunlight throughout the day are common. Keeping Sunstone in the sun is also the fastest and easiest way to charge the stone.

Do not clean your Sunstone with bleach or harsh chemicals. Using soap and warm water is the best way to properly clean your stone, and drying them fully before storing or wearing it will ensure its longevity. Even though it is a fairly hard stone, make sure to keep it away from other rough specimens as it can scratch.

SHOP ALL SUNSTONE