Lapis lazuli

Lapis lazuli is an opaque stone of deep blue, often crossed by golden pyrite veins and white calcite spots. Composed mainly of lazurite, pyrite, and calcite, it is mined primarily in Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia. Historically, it was considered the stone of the gods in ancient Egypt, used for amulets and blue pigments for pharaohs. Its deep color resembles the starry sky, a symbol of wisdom and divinity. In the Middle Ages, it was ground to create ultramarine, the most expensive pigment of the time, reserved for depictions of the Virgin Mary. Its energy is linked to the search for inner truth and connection with the sacred.