Onyx

Roman mythology has it that whilst the goddess Venus slept her son, Cupid, cut her fingernails and scattered them across the earth. But because they were part of a deity these clippings did not die, like a mortals would, but instead changed in to the gem stones, onyx.

Onyx is a type of quartz which comes in a range of colours, though is must famous as black, and like rose quartz has a hardness of 7. The name itself is from the Greek meaning claw or nail and the crystal has been has been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians.

Onyx has a wide range of uses from jewellery; it is often the background to cameos, to building materials such as tiles.

On a mystical side the stone symbolises strength, giving you self confidence and letting you believe in your own decisions. Use it to help you follow your instincts when making difficult choices or to help keep your resolve when trying to break bad habits.

Onyx is connected to the Root chakra and is the birthstone of February or the stone of the 7th wedding anniversary. Not bad for some celestial nail clippings!