Given the big beautiful roundness of the letter O, a line encircling a whole lot of nothing, and knowing that tarot’s Fool is numbered 0, I was tempted to say I had nothing for today. But of course that’s not true. Yesterday I talked a bit about gathering with some pals and add that to Fool’s 0 and we come up with today’s topic:
O is for Opals.
A little word play suits Fool. And opal seems to me like a perfect stone for Fool. Fool is transparent. People may be apt to dismiss Fool as unsubstantial and worthless, but there are depths and fire and sparkle all right there out in the open to be seen.
Opal is the only gem mineral that is not crystalline, it is amorphous. Amorphous is a perfect Fool characteristic isn’t it?
I think opals message is there is beauty within all things. Explore depths. Expect the unexpected.
Pliny, 2000 years ago, remarked about the opal:
”There is in them a softer fire than the ruby, there is the brilliant purple of the amethyst, and the sea green of the emerald – all shining together in incredible union. Some by their splendor rival the colors of the painters, others the flame of burning sulphur or of fire quickened by oil.”
Here’s a peek at some of my opal jewelry.
The pink stone is known as Peruvian Opal. It’s really silicified palygorskite containing a small amount of opal.
My grandmother likely wouldn’t be too pleased with my collection as she firmly believed opals were unlucky. There are decidedly firm camps on either side of the luck camp regarding opals, and I think perhaps that’s another one of the teachings opal has to offer. We all look at things differently and hold firmly to our stories.
The name opal comes from the Sanskrit upala, which means precious stone. Opals are somewhat delicate stones. They are rather soft on the Mohs scale and contain a fair amount of water. Perhaps this is a reminder to hold what is precious to us with some care and gentleness.
Most of all I think opal reminds us to allow our inner fire to shine outwardly and be seen. Fool has no problem with that.
What about you? Love opals? Or think they’re unlucky? Allowing your inner fire to be seen? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I think I’ve also heard that opals are unlucky. One of those stories. Yours are beautiful and I imagine a joy to wear these delicate orbs. Their light really does shine through even in the photographs.
Thank you Deborah and I’ll go with you and Pliny in your view of them.
Yep, I think Pliny called it correctly. 🙂
I think opals are delightful, in the same way as your post is about them. Wonderful art work to boot. I’m glad I found you before the end of A to Z. O presented a challenge for me as well. In the end I re-vamped last year’s O post because I’m very fond of the word I used. I write about the ruby in my novel and include some gathered wisdom. The depth in your Pliny quote reminds me to look into them even further because people need to know the numerous qualities and powers of stones and that knowing will strengthen my story.
I’m delighted you stopped by Stephanie, and I certainly look forward to the release of your novel.
I heard about Opal but you just gave me so much more information. I’m familiar with Sanskrit words but learnt a new word thanks to you. It’s amazing how we all have different beliefs in regards to so many things in our lives. For instance I was brought up being told that stones, gems etc have no power at all. They’re just ornaments and hold no meaning at all. Well I honestly have no interesy in them but I do appreciate people who do and how passionate they are about it. Some of my acquaintances believe in the power of stones that symbolizes the 9 planets and rings are made with 9 embedded stones which is believed to rewarding inso many areas of their lives:)
It delights me that we’re all unique expressions.
Hi Deborah … Opals are meant to be unlucky aren’t they … but I love the look of them and have one inherited from my mother. I love the settings you’ve had made for yours, while the pink one is extraordinary and interesting to know about its origins. Pliny does describe them so well doesn’t he ..
It does seem that stones have healing powers … and re Opals .. there are huge mines in Australia .. where the miners live underground – a whole community and tourist attraction … I’d love to visit and see Opals being mined as such .. Cheers Hilary
Actually Hilary the unlucky/lucky perspective seems pretty evenly weighted. How fascinating about the underground mining community! The green opal to the right in my photo is Australian and when I first saw it I was totally mesmerized – I’d never seen an opal that color before. Hope you get to visit that mine someday.
I used to love opals but now I have some unpleasant memories associated with them… could that be the luck thing? But if I let go of the memories story, then I still think opals are beautiful.
Here’s to releasing the story Tat and enjoying opals for their inherent beauty.
I heard that if you are wearing an opal from someone who loves you, it brings luck and good fortune. If you are wearing an opal from yourself or from an enemy, you will experience bad luck. Mostly stories of luck and symbolism of gems are carried over from ancient times.
Well it is always wonderful to receive jewelry from someone you love, but I like buying myself jewelry as well. So I must be in the middle camp, riding between good and bad luck.
And yes there are some very specific historical stories which have fueled the opal’s reputation luckwise.
today i met a lovely pink peruvian opal who seems happy to be journey with me at present and we are having a lovely chat with no words as i brought home with me.
no idea about ‘lucky/unlucky’ as not my thing but would suggest the ‘unlucky’ opal camp are not aware of/flowing as intended with somethings…or maybe a necessary uncomfy patch the opal is softly soothing (any opal not just pink pkite ), or maybe opal is ready to move on…..
ask and be open to what is there
Oh how lovely Claire that you’ve found a pink peruvian opal – making new friends is such a fun and sweet thing isn’t it?
I agree with you in that I don’t subscribe to things being lucky or unlucky. I think it always serves us to listen carefully.
Thanks for stopping by.