Crystal Education Series: Part 1 – Moonstone and Opalite

Hey Gorgeous Soul,

Something that really irks me about the world of Crystals is when I see synthetic, or man-made, crystals and gems being sold as the real stone, or another stone entirely. A few cases of this have come into my space recently which have inspired me to write this post and put together an educational series that you can refer back to when purchasing your beloved crystals. It’s not typically something that I talk about, but I feel like this time, I need too. Over the next few days, I will cover some of the common crystals/gems that are sold, and some other instances where certain crystals are dyed and sold as others (if you’re thinking Turquoise… you’d be correct!)

If you are as passionate about your crystals as I am, then follow along and be sure to refer back to this series from time to time to ensure that you are making empowered and informed purchases. And hey, if you are purchasing crystals from somewhere and you know that they are selling synthetic, or altered, crystals as the real deal… call them out on it!

To kick things off, I am going to talk about Moonstone and Opalite. And no, they’re definitely not the same stone.

DISCLAIMER: Before I jump into things, I want to make it very clear upfront that my intention for this series is not to bash man-made/synthetic crystals. I do not have an issue with synthetic/man-made crystals, I respect all who love them and subscribe to their properties. My only issue is with those who sell man-made/synthetic crystals under the guise that they are the real thing.  My intention for this series is to educate those who are interested in crystals as I believe that everyone has the right to make informed and empowered decisions, about anything, and having the right information about things, enables this to happen. If you find yourself irked or offended by my words, I ask you to perhaps understand what within yourself I have triggered.

The Truth about Moonstone and Opalite

It really saddens me to see Opalite being more and more commonly sold as Moonstone and in some cases Opal, when this stone couldn’t be further from the real thing. If you have ever worked with Moonstone, you’ll know what I mean!

Opalite is a man-made, glass stone that has a milky, iridescent surface, with a yellow-blue glow to it. It is made from Dolomite and metal to create its opalescent appearance. Natural Opalite can occur very rarely when volcanic ash is fossilised. Rare specimens have been found in Africa and Brazil.

Opalite is also commonly sold as;
– Moonstone
– Tiffany Stone/Opalised Fluorite
– Ice Cream Opal
– Opal
– Purple Opal
– Opal Moonstone
– Sea Opal

Healing Properties

Opalite is said to:
– activate the Third Eye
– enhance communication on a spiritual level
– balance yin-yang energies and align them with the Higher Self
– boost self-confidence and enhance self-worth
– help resolve hurts from old wounds
– encourages persistence
– improves strength and personal willpower
– activates all Clairs
–  and the list goes on…

In all honestly, researching the healing properties of Opalite for this post was harder than I had anticipated. Opalite information is vast in its availability, however, it was damn hard to find a consistency in the healing properties. They all seemed to differ and list different properties.

In my years of working with and learning about crystals, I have had many a conversation with others about this very topic – and we all seem to hold a similar feeling about it. Moonstone is probably my favourite crystal, ever! And even as a young girl, I was able to spot when the Moonstone in the shops wasn’t really Moonstone, often confronting the shop assistant/owner. Many reputable crystal shops/sites that I work with and respect, typically don’t keep information about Opalite on their sites and don’t stock Opalite to see either. In fact, the Crystal Store that I buy a large portion of my crystals from keeping one single Opalite bracelet in her store purely for educational purposes, with a very clear sign next to it that read, “This is NOT Moonstone”. None of the crystal books that I have had, replaced and replenished, over the years list Opalite either.

Moonstone, on the other hand, has long been associated with the energy of the moon and its affiliation with Goddess energy! Moonstone is both a powerful healer and a gentle calmer.

Moonstone is a feldspar-based crystal that comes in a variety of colours, many showing a blue-colour flash.

Moonstone is found in white, peach, cream, yellow, brown, blue, green, and the commonly loved, rainbow colour variants. Not all moonstone holds the gorgeous blue flash that we associate with Moonstone, however, this stone has some pretty special healing properties. Moonstone is a wonderful crystal for women, especially young girls who are making their transition into womanhood, as it helps connect with the Sacral, feminine energies and encourages one to trust and fully step into their intuitive power.

Moonstone can be used to;
– balance, activate, stimulate and enhance Goddess energy
– release energy blocks
– promote wisdom, passion, insight, and creativity
– promote a youthful nature
– promote confidence and peace of mind
– break cycles/repeated patterns.

How to tell them apart

Holding the two together, the difference is really rather obvious. However, if you are not able to, here’s a quick reference guide on identifying both (see images below for reference):

Opalite:

Colour: Opalite has a very obvious blue-hue with a yellow/orange glow when held up to direct light. This glow is less obvious indoors but is still visible.

Appearance: Opalite has a very milky, flawless appearance, and is completely transparent when held up to light (whether natural or artificial).

Moonstone:

Colour: Colours vary, however, common Moonstone is typically white, cream, beige, or stone coloured with black blemishes in the stone of natural, unpolished specimen. The blue flash is obvious in polished Rainbow Moonstone varieties.

Appearance: Moonstone has a very obvious dense, ‘stone’ appearance, with the flaws of the stone (natural cracking) being very noticeable. Depending on the cut and size of the stone, most Moonstone will be translucent when held up to natural light, with the natural flaws visible.

You may be asking, “Well, what does it matter?”
I’ll leave you with this…

If you really wanted a pair of Diamond earrings, and you searched and searched until you found the perfect pair. You made your rather pricey purchase, only to find out when you got home that your beautiful Diamon earrings were, in fact, Cubic Zirconia, or worse… glass.

My next post will be on The Truth about Goldstone and Sunstone. See you then!
Kerry. xx

P.s. If you found this post beneficial and informative, feel free to share it and help me spread the word! The more people we get talking about this topic, the better chance we have to put an end to it! Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook or Instagram so that you don’t miss out on any of my posts and daily education! <3

If you’re interested in learning more about Crystals, you can check out this link!