Pretty and plentiful, rose quartz is frequently a collector’s first foray into the world of crystals.
And why not? It’s equally stunning in raw clusters and glossy spheres, signifying all things love.
Still, rose quartz isn’t all about sweet nothings and good looks. Let’s dive deep into the origins and meanings of this crystal.
Rose quartz is a type of silica mineral quartz. The planet is covered in quartz; only feldspar is more common. It can be found in the quartz cores of pegmatites and other igneous rocks, where it forms at high temperatures.
This type of quartz gets its pink color from trace elements like manganese, iron, and titanium. It’s macrocrystalline, so the naked eye can see the structure making up the crystal. The same is true for rose quartz’s family members, including amethyst, smoky quartz, and citrine.
It also rates a hearty 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it easy for jewelers to work with.
Being so plentiful, quartz can be mined in most places. However, some of the highest-quality concentrations occur in the United States, Brazil, India, Egypt, and Madagascar.
Rose quartz is as economical as it is beautiful. The exact price will vary depending on the color, clarity, and weight. A modest quantity of the finest rose quartz can cost thousands, but it’s easy to find attractive, useful pieces for much less. A polished palm stone, for instance, can be had for $10 -$20.
With rose quartz naturally occurring all over the world, it has a rich and storied history. Each culture, during various ages, had different purposes for the stone.
As for exactly when humans began mining and using rose quartz, the earliest evidence dates back more than 9,000 years. Rose quartz from approximately 7000 BC was found in Iraq, the northern portion previously known as Mesopotamia. The Assyrians inhabiting the area crafted it into beads, knowing it would make excellent jewelry.
There’s reason to believe rose quartz was beloved by Ancient Egyptians as well, who established their society roughly 5,000 years ago. It may have been instrumental in skincare, as Egyptian women were said to use it for face masks. Today, people still use tools made of rose quartz to perform facial massages and drain the lymph, perhaps not even realizing that they’re engaging in an ancient practice.
Early Romans were known to love their rose quartz as well, etching carvings onto quartz to create personalized seals indicating ownership. It’s a practice they may have picked up from the Assyrians.
All of these old civilizations are also rumored to have used rose quartz for talismans, calling in all types of healing. Even up into the Middle Ages (about 1,500 years ago), rose quartz was considered medicinal, whether added to a tincture or fashioned into an amulet.
We’ll discuss the modern physical, emotional, and metaphysical properties associated with rose quartz in a moment. For now, one of the most interesting pieces of rose quartz history is its role in Greek mythology.
First, there are tales of Eros, the god of love. He brought forth the stone as a gift to attract and expand love, a purpose that endures to this day. To illustrate this even further, the Romans called this same god Cupid, the familiar cherub with a bow and arrow who could make humans fall in love. It’s said that his arrows were tipped with gold and silver, but one can imagine rose quartz made its way into the mythical quiver as well.
Then there are stories that not only expand on the stone’s purpose but how it got its color.
In this tale, Ares, the god of war, is in a relationship with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Aphrodite was also having an affair with Adonis, the god of fertility, which naturally made Ares quite jealous.
As the god of war, Ares transformed into a wild boar and slayed Adonis. Aphrodite, in a hurry to tend to her wounded lover, accidentally cuts herself. This blood mingles with Adonis’ and drips onto some quartz, dyeing it pink. Zeus, the god of the sky, remedied the situation by allowing Adonis to leave the underworld and visit Aphrodite for half of the year, every year.
Thus, rose quartz came to represent the type of love that transcends death, not the jealousy and violence that threatens it.
In some retellings, the lovers’ blood becomes flowers. But thousands of years later, rose quartz has retained all of the meanings it gets from the myth, making it a version people come back to again and again.
Heartbreak, nurturing, trust, grief, affection, loneliness, and romance. Love is the root or the remedy to so many parts of the human condition, and rose quartz represents this. Overall, it is intended to heal wounds and strengthen love and compassion.
Let’s break down the emotional and physical.
The circulatory system carries blood to and away from the heart, and since we could easily consider rose quartz the Heart Stone, it’s associated with all things vascular.
In addition to healthy circulation, it is said to support the natural toxin removal process, giving credence to the centuries of women who have used it for healthier-looking skin.
Considered a healer on every level, rose quartz is also a popular gift for those recovering from an illness. Some also consider it a strong fertility stone for healthy, successful pregnancies.
While you might be tempted to use rose quartz as a sort of love spell, attracting a crush, what rose quartz is really known for is increasing self-love. If you are prone to emotional states that involve self-criticism, hopelessness, timidity, and feelings of unworthiness, rose quartz asks you to move onward and upward.
Ultimately, it’s the increase in self-love that does the “magic,” mending broken hearts and drawing people who are meant for you into your life.
Of course, healing is rarely as pretty as a pink gem. Finding emotional balance and stability means experiencing the full extent of the current imbalance. So, while rose quartz can be sweet and lighthearted, it’s a stone of transformation, keeping your eye trained on your highest self as you do tough inner work.
The metaphysical properties of rose quartz can teach us a lot about how love doesn’t just transcend life – it’s the source of it. In fact, it’s helpful to think of rose quartz as the maternal energy that soothes and nurtures an often unforgiving universe.
One important quality of a mother’s love is that it is unconditional. We’re not just talking about love when we work with rose quartz; we are talking about limitless love.
In daily life, the presence of rose quartz can symbolize a clearing of conflict, whether that be among close family at home or contentious coworkers in the office. In fact, it’s even better to have it around after tensions have peaked and someone’s really blown their top, just to restore a little peace and harmony.
To that end, it’s also a good stone for restful sleep, especially if you find yourself having too many nightmares.
If it’s love without limits you want or just a little more peace, there are so many ways to get the healing benefits of rose quartz. A few of our favorite ideas:
Rose quartz corresponds to the heart chakra. Usually, one would expect that a green stone would be preferable since this chakra is green, but it’s best to maximize the effect with the stone that handles all matters of the heart.
To clear, tone, or open the heart chakra with rose quartz, lie down flat on your back. Place a small piece of rose quartz comfortably at the center of your chest.
To begin, close your eyes and review everything in your life that you’re grateful for. Once you have a clear and present feeling of gratitude, begin visualizing a green lotus at the center of your chest.
As you focus on that feeling of gratitude, picture 12 petals unfurling from the center of the lotus in your chest as it begins to glow a brilliant springtime green.
Now begin expressing gratitude for your desire being fulfilled, whether it was clearing out a blockage or creating a deeper connection with the heart space. As you do so, visualize iridescent pink light from your rose quartz flowing into the chakra and assisting it, helping the green lotus glow brighter.
Rose quartz is associated with the planet Venus, which rules Libra and Taurus. Anyone with a Venusian sun sign or domiciled Venus can benefit from it.
Those with Libra as their sun or Venus may find that rose quartz refines their already-prominent romantic charms and ability to be a good listener. More than that, its focus on self-love can help Librans find more confidence in their decisions and increased happiness outside of having a partner.
Tauruses, meanwhile, can use rose quartz to alleviate some stubbornness, finding a more balanced perspective with an open heart. As a reward, it can enhance some of their positive key traits, such as creativity and calmness.
Rose quartz is a birthstone for the month of January, an alternative to the traditional red garnet.
Rose quartz is an incredibly kind gift from friends and lovers alike. It’s often given to those in need of compassion and healing, both physical and emotional. Rose quartz also symbolizes unconditional love, letting the recipient know they have the giver’s heart.
Any rose quartz that attracts you is worth having, but there are a few special considerations to be made if overall long-lasting quality is your priority.
First, there is the color, and this can ensure that your rose quartz is authentic. Rose quartz can come in any range of pink shades, from the softest, lightest baby pink to more vibrant cotton candy. They also come in many levels of opacity, from almost translucent to almost completely saturated.
What to be mindful of here is that if there are any cracks or crevices on the stone (not always necessarily a bad thing), the color isn’t darker there. It’s pretty rare, but some sellers dye stones to mislead buyers about the true color or even what type of stone it is.
Additionally, note the size and number of inclusions. Inclusions are contrasting mineral deposits inside of a stone. They can look like internal cracks, bubbles, or even a whole other crystal. While these are normal and may even increase the appeal or value of a stone, too many inclusions or larger inclusions could make the host more prone to breaking.
Although this planet contains massive quantities of quartz, rose quartz is anything but common. While it offers unconditional love, it knows that healing must happen first. Its maternal energy is there to calm you during the process, a steady reminder that there is confidence and compassion to be gained from the universe’s challenges.
