Lapis, also known as Lapis Lazuli, is primarily made up of the intense blue mineral lazurite and also contains gold toned pyrite and white calcite. Lapis is a stone with a long history. It has been used in adornment and everyday life for thousands of years by the Egyptians. In addition to using Lapis in jewelry, it was also ground into powder for cosmetic uses (the first eye shadow) and medicinal uses. A longstanding symbol of royalty, Lapis is all about power—inner power. Connected with the Third Eye (that is, our intuitive and psychic vision), this blue speckled stone might help expand awareness both inward and out and open the mind to new ideas. In the same vein, there's no keeping secrets with Lapis around, since it's all about promoting honesty and expression. It is a gemstone of total awareness that connects the wearer to a higher truth. Lapis Lazuli helps to foster verbal expression, opening and balancing the Throat Chakra. It provides wisdom and connects you to your spiritual guardians, shielding you from negative energy and returning any negative vibrations back to their source. Thought to aid in the alleviation of insomnia and depression, Lapis is also known for creating openness, truthfulness, and creativity. Afghanistan remains a major source for high quality lapis, but deposits can also be found in Chile, Italy, Argentina and the US.
