Always drawn to warm tones, this stone is one of my favorites. Thought to be named for the red-orange Kornel cherry, its deep orange-red tones are warm enough to stand up against gold or to contrast cooler tones of silver and white gold. This stone will stoke your Root, Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras, as well as a few others. Carnelian is a variety of chalcedony, a mineral of the quartz family. Like its element fire, its colors change from orangey cream, orange to deep red orange in either subtly shifting tones to more obvious banded strips of colors, hence its nickname, the Sunset Stone. Often heat-treated or dyed, finest examples come from India, though also found in Brazil, Uruguay and Siberia.
Like the gemstone Tigereye, this stone stimulates the first three Chakras. It promotes stability and courage, warriors in ancient times wore it to give strength in battle. This firestone infuses the body with life, warm light and heightened energy and can literally help warm the body when held tightly. Physically it promotes a free flow of breath and oxygen, bathing the organs and body tissues with nutrition. Wear it if you feel timid, sluggish and weak, or if you want to strengthen the lungs. If you suffer from upper respiratory issues, this powerful stone is for you. Carnelian also stirs up the libido, so you may want to turn to it if you and yours suffer from fertility issues.
Likewise, if your sexual energy needs balancing, Carnelian may be your answer. Herein lies its link to our powers of creativity and so often referred to as the Artist’s stone, thought to stimulate all arenas of artistic abilities. Whether you are a dancer, writer, painter or singer, this stone can promote the creative spirit deep within. It promotes a sense of spontaneity and your inner child, helping to curtail any sense of self consciousness, unleashing your free spirit and your natural zest for life.
Because of its association with the voice, it is also called the Singer’s Stone. It stimulates our Throat Chakra, hence its connection to helping to build self-confidence and self-esteem, helping one find a true inner voice. Wear it if you have a big speech or presentation to give at work or school. And definitely wear it in your studio! Even though it is a warm color, it pairs great with purples and blues, so don’t shy away from it if you gravitate toward those cooler tones. One of my favorite stones to pair it with is Garnet, a deep purple stone, a rather serendipitous discovery one day when a strand of each lay against another on my workbench. I wouldn’t have paired them together, but it most definitely works, so you will see it often amongst my wares.
Check out these favorite designs featuring Carnelian: