Originating from the remote mines of Afghanistan, Lapis Lazuli, which is quite often also referred to as just Lapis, is a metamorphic rock found in shades of celestial blue laden with flares of gold. It is used as a semi-precious stone due to its intense blue colour. It is a glorious culmination of minerals like lazurite, calcite, and pyrite and was greatly treasured in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt China and so on. What makes the stones that much more special are the unique and unidentical golden flecks found in them, caused by the presence of Pyrite, a naturally occurring iron disulfide mineral. Due to the variations of the chemical properties, the colours of the stone can range from a dazzling greenish blue to a stark violetish blue. The Etymology of Lapis is quite interesting in itself. Lapis is the Latin term for "stone" and lazuli is the genitive form of the Mediaeval Latin lazulum, which means "sky" or "heaven"; hence, this is a "stone (of/from) the sky" or "stone (of/from) heaven".

However, more than anything what trumps someone about these vivid stones is their symbolic meanings and healing properties. The ancients believed that the stones possessed mystical powers and divine connections, and hence used them in creating prolific statues and artistic products, rituals, jewellery and even in the adorning of tombs for pharaohs. Throughout history, the semi-precious gems are known for their wisdom, strength, protection and luck. Besides this, they are lauded for their healing powers as well, acting as a talisman for mental clarity, spiritual growth as well as emotional balance. Mentally, they are supposed to improve mental clarity, cognitive function, and problem-solving skills. Lapis lazuli promotes emotional serenity and harmony, reducing anxiety, tension, and depression. And spiritually, they promote communication and self-expression by aligning with the throat chakra, enabling people to speak their truth with clarity and conviction.