A favorite material of ancient cultures, amethyst has endured the ages as one of man's most prized possessions.  Amethyst ranges in color from a very light lavender to a deep violet shade of purple sometimes with slight hues of pink and red. Banded amethyst or cape amethyst may have lines of agate or chalcedony running through the amethyst. This may also be called chevron amethyst.  

The main Canadian source of amethyst is near Thunder Bay, Ontario where mining has taken place intermittently over the last one hundred years. Scientists believe the amethyst find near Thunder Bay to be over one billion years old. Amethyst is found worldwide and has the distinction of being the birthstone for February and the official gemstone of the province of Ontario.

In the Middle Ages it was believed that amethyst would protect one from drunkenness and protect crops from evil spirits, blight and locusts. Some believe that amethyst has calming and protective qualities and that wearing amethyst will increase inspiration and intuition. Whatever your beliefs, may you enjoy your piece of amethyst.

Worry stones are smooth stones with an indent that are said to ease stress and worry. Common to Buddhist meditation, it is said that a monk would start meditating with a smooth, round stone that would be rubbed with the thumb during meditation. Over the course of the monk's life, eventually an indentation would form, and this was a sign that the monk had reached enlightenment. Today, we sell these stones with the indentation already carved. Worry stones make the perfect gift for the worriers, the spiritual nomads, and will help focus those who can't seem to sit still.