Druse agate, Agate with druse

Effects

Agate is a stone of intellectual, physical, and emotional balance.It connects energy, has a calming effect, boosts self-confidence, improves concentration and analytical skills. Agate encourages the wearer to express themselves boldly and overcome prejudices, heals anger and resentment, transforming it into courage. It removes tension from past experiences. On a spiritual level, agate increases awareness, encourages reflection and acceptance of events, and promotes spiritual development. Agate supports those who long for their family home, have trouble falling asleep, suffer from nightmares, experience doubt, depression, internal tension and stress, feelings of bitterness and aggression. It helps with relaxation. At the same time, it strengthens self-confidence, endurance, perseverance, world perception, creativity, sense of security, logical thinking, accuracy, concentration, expression of emotions, positive attitude towards the body, joy, trust, optimism, courage, inner stability, mental maturity, tolerance, and memory.

Agate occurs among extrusive rocks in the form of geodes, as well as among sedimentary rocks. They were formed during the process of lava solidification. The resulting voids were gradually filled with solutions containing silica. Interruptions in the supply of solutions and their changing chemical composition caused the different colors of individual layers. In Poland, the largest and richest agate deposits are found in Lower Silesia, in the Kaczawskie and Izerskie Mountains (northern Sudeten basin) and in the Kamienne Mountains (central Sudeten basin), mainly near the towns of Nowy Kościół and Płóczki Górne.

Application

In ancient times, it was used to make amulets and seals: Babylonian and Persian seals, Roman and Greek signet rings, cameos and gems, miniatures, and to decorate altars and vessels. Brooches and pendants are still made today. Agates were commonly used in Baroque art – boxes, snuff boxes, amulets, signet rings, small objects, even furniture, e.g. King John III's secretary desk inlaid with agates (Wilanów).Today, they are popular in jewelry – cabochons, beads (balls), plates, and artistic sculpture. Agate dyeing techniques are also used.