Shangaan Amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz – it is a relatively common mineral found in many locations around the world. It is a sibling of Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Citrine, and Clear Quartz.

Energetically, Amethyst is said to be soothing emotionally and mentally, bringing calmness. It is said to enhance meditation and spirituality, and to be protective to a wearer. It’s name comes from the Greek word amethystos, which means “not intoxicated” – it is said to work against drunkenness.

Shangaan Amethysts are mined in Zimbabwe, by members of the Shangaan tribe. It is mined in small, above-ground pits, using hand-held tools.  Most Shangaans are scepters or scepter heads (scepters whose base rod have broken off at the base of the head), many have hematite flakes/specks (harlequin quartz) and many are enhydros (moving air bubbles in encapsulated water). Shangaans frequently display internal phantoms, and some display fenster/skeletal quartz characteristics. Elestial Shangaans also occur – elestial scepters are beautiful but somewhat rare.

Energetically, Shangaan Amethysts are said to be an especially high-vibrational variety of amethyst – this is seen in the wide variation of features as described in the previous paragraph. While scepters tend to be more masculine energetically, scepter heads, in which the scepter rod has broken off at the base of the head, are more feminine in energy and are therefore more balanced. Fenster and elestial quartz are said to be high vibration varieties of clear quartz and when these formations occur in amethyst, the frequencies are further enhanced. The presence of water (enhydros) also enhance the feminine energies, which includes working with emotions and whatever else may have been previously hidden. And the presence of hematite enhances the grounding of all of the above into the physical plane. Shangaan Amethysts are said to be powerful shamanic tools, useful for deep meditations and journeys, protection, and to connect with guides.