MONDAY’S MUSINGS: Nuances Of Labradorite

I love nuances. The subtle layers of meanings or even alternate meanings of things. Like Labradorite.


Labra—what?

Is that a dog or something? 


Oops, wrong visual.

It falls into a something category. It’s a gemstone. An unusual one. 

Once upon a time, as legend has it, a northern hunter was stalking game on St. Paul Island, when he came upon a stone and earth bank. In it was a multitude of dazzling colors. He stabbed it with his spear and was amazed at the flow of beautiful colors escaping from the dull bank. Try as he might, he couldn’t release all the colors and that made him sad. Still, he rejoiced for those brilliant colors that did escape. The colors were grateful and forever more show their gratitude by decorating the night sky with radiant displays of color. 

And that, my friends, is the tale of how we got the aurora borealis.

Joshua Strang

And Labradorite.

Labradorite in the rough.

Labradorite is a spectrum or or translucent feldspar and falls into the category of what is known as iridescent gemstones. It means a gem displaying rainbow-like colors. The iridescence is caused by the reflection of light from the gem. Opals are and iridescent stone. Mother of Pearl is another example of iridescence.

Finnish Spectrolite

Another name for Labradorite is Spectrolite. The Finnish have dibs on the most brilliant and sought after forms of Labradorite. The gem takes its name from where it was found in the 1700s in Labrador. But it can be found in India, Madagascar, Newfoundland, and Russia.

Why am I interested in Labradorite?

Because it is also thought to be a stone of power (just as last week’s Heliotrope was), which is of particular interest to me for a series of stories I’m writing. It just so happens one of my main characters wears a pair of favorite earrings and they’re made from Labradorite.


I didn't even realize she wore earrings and I’m writing the story (Don't you just love it when characters do that to you?). I happen to take a nap and in that between state of sleep and awake, I saw her with a pair of earrings and knew her mother gave them to her. I went searching through my research and bingo! There they were. Funny how things work out, isn’t it? And it made me chuckle when I realized another facet of mystical meaning for Labradorite. 


It’s called a stone of destiny.

Labradorite is supposed to allow you to see through illusions and determine the actual form of your dreams. Its power gives the holder perseverance, strength, and enhanced intuition when experiencing conflict and change. 

I love it when research plays out.

Gemstones come with many layers of meaning beyond the obvious and Labradorite is no different. Now you know some of the mystical nuances of the stone beyond what it is and where it's found. J