Opal

In Sir Walter Scott's novel Anne of Geierstein, the heroine wore a magical opal whose color changed in response to her moods and environment. The opal got wet, turned black, and Anne died. From this fictitious episode arose the false belief that opal is bad luck. Fortunately, Queen Victoria loved opals. She broke the myth by giving opals as presents to members of her family and court.

Still, various misconceptions about opal linger in the minds of the general public. Here is the truth:

It is perfectly safe to wear opal even if it is not your birth stone. You can buy opal for yourself, it need not be given to you in order to ward off bad luck.

Opal consists of amorphous (non-crystalline) silica spheres surrounded by water. Gem-quality opal occurs when the spheres are just the right size and are spaced just the right distance apart. Then the spheres refract light in many pure, shimmering colors. The ancient Romans called opal "the queen of gems" because it held the colors and powers of all gems.
Opal metaphysical properties include the ability to render the wearer "invisible"; an opal wrapped in a bay leaf will let one pass unnoticed. The water in opal (5 to 30 per cent) links it to one's emotions; wearing opal amplifies and preserves whatever emotional state one is in. Therefore it is important to calm anger and get happy before donning opal. Meditating upon the beautiful opal itself can help one get into the right frame of mind.

Opal's full-spectrum colors resonate with the vibrations of all the chakras. Therefore opal is the Swiss Army knife of healing. From the grounding root chakra to the liberating crown chakra, opal is the best stone a healer can have. It is particularly good for the eyes.

Over 90% of the jewelry trade's opals come from Australia. But opal occurs also in Peru, Ethiopia, parts of Europe, and in Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho in the United States.

"Fire opal" is the rarest and most costly form, exhibiting an ever-shifting full spectrum from red to violet. White or crystal opal is also popular; its colors are primarily blue and green. Black opal occurs on a matrix of very dark ironstone which makes the colors of the opal stand out or "pop" brilliantly.