Septarian

What is Septarian?

Septarian is not a mineral but a rock: a concretion that formed in lime rich marine clay. Around a nucleus of organic material, often a shell or a small bone, sediment clumped together into a hard nodule. When the sea withdrew and the mud dried out, the interior shrank and cracks appeared. Mineral rich groundwater seeped into those cracks and deposited layer upon layer of Calcite and Aragonite. The yellow veins are Calcite, the brown edges Aragonite and the gray outer shell Limestone. With a hardness of 3 to 4 on the Mohs scale, Septarian is a soft stone that you handle with care.

Meaning and History of Septarian

The name comes from the Latin septum, plural septa, meaning partition or dividing wall. Geologists used it for the vein patterns that divide the nodule into segments, and the name stuck to the whole stone. In the trade Septarian is also called dragon stone, because the scaled surface resembles dragon skin. Unopened nodules are even called dragon eggs. The most famous example lies in New Zealand: the Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach are enormous septaria of more than two meters across. In the tradition of the Māori these are not stones but calabashes, eel baskets and food containers that washed ashore after the wreck of the canoe Araiteuru. Those stories color the meaning she carries today: Septarian is seen as a stone of keeping, carrying and patient building.

Physical Properties Septarian

On an energetic level Septarian is seen as a stone that lets your body land. She is heavy and dense, and many people experience that weight in their hand as a signal to slow down. Septarian is associated with an even flow of energy, from your feet to your crown, as though the different minerals in the stone keep one calm rhythm together. Anyone who feels rushed often notices that the breath deepens by itself with the stone in hand. Tension that settles in the shoulders and jaw can soften as well when you sit still for a while with Septarian on your lower belly. She is also connected with stamina: not the quick burst of energy, but the long breath you need to keep something going.

Please note: gemstones can offer support on an emotional and energetic level, but are never a substitute for medical or professional care. If you have any complaints or concerns, always consult your physician.

Septarian and Patience

Patience is the theme Septarian is most strongly connected with, and that is easy to explain from the way she formed. A stone that took millions of years to fill her own cracks asks you not to force anything. If you want to use that quality deliberately, hold a tumbled stone in your hand at moments when impatience rises, for example in a waiting room, in traffic or during a conversation that moves slowly. Place a freeform or sphere on your desk during a project that lasts longer than you would like, so that you keep her in sight all day. If you are waiting for a result or a decision, it helps to sit quietly for ten minutes in the evening with the stone in both hands and your attention on your breathing. If you wear Septarian as a pendant, that reminder to slow down stays literally close to you.

Spiritual Properties

Spiritually Septarian is seen as a stone that brings you back to the earth and back to yourself. She works in a grounding way without being heavy: where some dark stones mainly pull you downward, Septarian gives the feeling that you stand firmly and stay open at the same time. That suits her structure, because she unites soft clay, hard Limestone and clear Calcite in one whole.

What stands out is how often Septarian is connected with groups. In the literature she is known as a stone of cohesion, one that makes the atmosphere in a circle, a team or a family calmer. Anyone who speaks in front of a group or struggles to be understood can use her to put thoughts into words more calmly and clearly. She is said to temper the urge to interrupt or to hurry, which creates more room to really listen.

Septarian also has a protective side. She is seen as a stone that shields you from the restlessness around you and helps you stay calm when circumstances change. For people who quickly put themselves last that is valuable, because it becomes easier to stay with your own pace. And then there is the symbolism of the filled crack: Septarian counts as a stone of wholeness, reminding you that what was broken can grow together again, only not today.

How to Use Septarian?

• Wear Septarian as a pendant close to your body, so the grounding effect travels with you all day. In the Septarian collection you will find pendants, freeforms and tumbled stones.
• Place a freeform or sphere in the living room or somewhere a lot of talking happens. Septarian is valued for the calm atmosphere she brings to a shared space.
• During meditation, hold a tumbled stone in both hands and focus on the weight. That weight helps you land faster and wander less.
• Put a stone next to your planner or laptop for tasks with a long timeline. This way Septarian keeps reminding you that persevering achieves more than speeding up.

Beautiful Gemstone Combinations

Smoky Quartz

Smoky Quartz deepens the grounding effect of Septarian and helps you release heavy or tense energy. Where Septarian asks you to slow down, Smoky Quartz absorbs the irritation that often surfaces along the way. Together they form a down to earth duo for anyone who gets impatient while waiting.

Amazonite

Amazonite connects with the communicative side of Septarian and supports you in calmly saying what you mean. While Septarian gives you the steadiness to stand your ground, Amazonite helps you find the words without sharpness. This combination is pleasant for conversations with a lot at stake.

Aventurine

Aventurine is known for softening impatience and strengthening trust in what is growing. That makes her a logical partner for Septarian, who asks you to give processes their natural time. Together they support an attitude of waiting without becoming gloomy about it.

Properties

• Hardness (Mohs scale): 3 to 4
• Density: 2.6 to 2.9 g/cm³
• Composition: CaCO3 (Calcite and Aragonite) with Limestone and clay minerals, sometimes FeS2 (Pyrite or Marcasite) or BaSO4 (Barite)
• Crystal structure: sedimentary concretion without a single structure, with trigonal Calcite and orthorhombic Aragonite
• Color: gray to brown on the outside, with yellow Calcite, brown Aragonite and grayish white Limestone on the inside

Locations

• United States
• Madagascar
• Morocco
• New Zealand
• England
• Canada

Zodiac Signs

Taurus

Taurus resonates most strongly with Septarian, because both stand for steadiness and a pace of their own. People born under this sign dislike being rushed, and Septarian confirms that slow is also good. She helps the Taurus persevere without becoming stubborn.

Virgo

Virgo recognizes itself in the down to earth nature of Septarian. The stone supports this sign in not wanting to arrange everything at once and in letting go of mistakes sooner. She brings mildness to a mind that likes everything to be perfect.

Capricorn

Capricorn finds in Septarian a stone for the long haul. Her grounding effect helps this sign stay steady during paths that take years. She reminds the Capricorn to rest now and then along the way instead of steering only on the outcome.

Chakras

Root Chakra

The Root Chakra is the most important energy point for Septarian. The grounding effect of the stone is said to balance this chakra and strengthen your sense of safety. Many people therefore use Septarian exactly when they have lost a little bit of themselves.

Sacral Chakra

The Sacral Chakra is also connected with Septarian, because she likes to address the lower energy points together. Through this chakra she can help you reconnect with your feelings and your creative flow. In this way she supports a smooth current in your lower body.

Solar Plexus Chakra

The Solar Plexus Chakra is addressed by Septarian to nourish your confidence and inner strength. A balanced Solar Plexus Chakra helps you make choices from within yourself instead of from the expectations of others. Together with the Root Chakra, Septarian brings the lower chakras into balance.

Care

With a hardness of 3 to 4 Septarian is a soft stone that is also lime rich, and that calls for a careful approach. Do not clean her under the tap and do not leave her in a bowl of water either, because lime and water do not go well together. Instead, wipe her with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth and dry her thoroughly right away. Energetic cleansing works best with the smoke of Sage or Palo Santo. If you want to cleanse Septarian energetically, place her on a bed of Hematite Chips. To charge her, place her on a bed of Rock Crystal Chips or let her rest a night in soft moonlight. Short daylight is not a problem, but do not leave her for hours in bright sun, because the yellow and brown tones may fade over time. Store Septarian in a soft pouch, apart from harder stones such as Quartz, so her surface does not get scratched.

More information about the cleansing and charging of gemstones can be found in our blog "The cleansing and charging of gemstones".

Frequently Asked Questions about Septarian

What does Septarian mean?

The name comes from the Latin septum and refers to the partitions of Calcite and Aragonite that divide the stone into segments. Symbolically Septarian stands for patience, grounding and wholeness. She is seen as the stone for anyone who wants to let something grow slowly.

Can Septarian get wet?

No, it is better not to put Septarian in water. She contains lime rich minerals and with a hardness of 3 to 4 she is soft, so water can dull the surface. Wipe her with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth and dry her right away.

Can Septarian be placed in sunlight?

Short daylight does no harm, but do not leave Septarian for hours in bright sun. The yellow and brown tones may fade over time. Charge her in soft moonlight instead.

Which Chakra is associated with Septarian?

Septarian is mainly connected with the Root Chakra, because she works in a grounding way and strengthens your sense of safety. She also addresses the Sacral Chakra and the Solar Plexus Chakra. Together these three bring the lower energy points into balance.

Where is the best place to put Septarian?

Put Septarian somewhere you often want to come to rest, for example on your nightstand or beside your reading chair. In a living room or practice space she contributes to a calm atmosphere when many people come together. For work you can place her next to your laptop during tasks that demand a lot of patience.

Summary

Septarian is a sedimentary concretion that needed millions of years to fill her own cracks with Calcite and Aragonite. That is exactly what makes her the stone of patience: she asks you to slow down and give processes their natural time. She also works in a grounding way, supports clear communication within a group and offers stability when circumstances change. She is connected with the Root Chakra, the Sacral Chakra and the Solar Plexus Chakra, and with the zodiac signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Because Septarian is soft and lime rich, you care for her dry and store her apart from harder stones.

If you have any questions about Septarian, please do not hesitate to contact Kristalmeester. We are happy to help.