Appearance: Rainbow iridescent Mother of Pearl
Chakra: 2nd Sacral
Zodiac: Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, Aquarius
Country of Origin: Baja California. Abalone is also a common name for any of a group of small to very large marine gastropod mollusks in the family Halictidae.
Other Names: Haliotids Iris, Papua Shells (in New Zealand), Nacre, Mother-of-Pearl, Aulon, Sea Ear, ear shells, ormer in the UK, perlemoen in South Africa and, rarely, muttonfish or muttonshells in parts of Australia.
Healing Properties: Soothing, calming, peaceful; relieve anxiety, stress, insomnia; promote compassion, love; strengthen bones and teeth.
Abalone Shell (as well as most sea shells) is a “Bio-Crystal” meaning it is created by a biological organism rather than formed in the earth from inert minerals, like carbon or silicon. Shells are made of nacre (aka Mother of Pearl) which is Aragonite or Calcite crystals layered with proteins secreted by the sea animal.
As the abalone grows it deposits multiple layers over time creating bright rainbow iridescent colors when light refracts the stacked microscopic layers. Abalone is ideal for jewelry and has been worn for thousands of years by some Native Peoples as adornment, tools, currency and in sacred rituals. Some types of abalone are endangered and so are illegal to sell, so be careful of your sources.
Healing Energies
Abalone shell is fundamentally an expression of healing Ocean energy (that’s why we always feel better at the water’s edge) meaning that they can help connect you to that energy, even when you are on land! Using Abalone generates a feeling of peace, calm and being “right” with Nature. It has the ability to off load worries and cares, and transform negative energy into a positive uplifting mood.
You can use abalone as an inspiration for life’s journey with its ups and downs, and the courage to go on no matter the difficulty. Wear abalone for inspiration in healing relationships as it promotes communication and compassion. Its beauty is a reminder of life’s beauty, even when that beauty is not apparent. Abalone is ideal for wearing as inspirational jewelry.
Abalone Shells can be very soothing and bring great healing energy. Abalone Shells are believed to bring guidance, and calm emotions. They can help strengthen love within relationships and foster interpersonal harmony. They aid in releasing any negative feelings and ease stressful situations. If you use a calming stone, something to touch when stressed, abalone is a good choice.
For as long as abalone have been nourishing human appetites, their mother-of-pearl bearing shells have been sought after for their rainbow beauty and calming effects. Abalone are a type of mollusk, like clams and oysters, except inside their flat, one-sided, ear-shaped shells, abalone have tentacles and feet. These sea snails cling to rocks near to shore, and are often consumed by other marine species. The shell of abalone is extremely durable. Microscopic calcium carbonate stack like bricks stuck together by a layer of protein. The protein absorbs blows to the shell, while the brick formation of the calcium carbonate keeps the shells from shattering.
Animals like otters have to get creative when harvesting abalone. Otters have learned to use rocks to pry the muscular mollusks from their tidal homes and scoop them out of their shells. Many native cultures have sustained themselves for centuries by consuming raw and cooked abalone. Tribes’ native to the North American west coast used abalone shells as currency. Today in South Africa, abalone is still highly sought after, and their shells, which are known to have an especially colorful iridescence, are very valuable. While the North American west coast and South Africa are the two main sources for abalone, they can also be found along the coasts of New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Abalone properties connect a person to their highest chakras. Those associated with abalone are primarily the crown, third eye and heart chakras. The mother-of-pearl that lines the abalone shell, in tandem with the shell itself, are said to activate intuitive qualities like clarity in regards to situations, sensitivity and imagination. Holding abalone during cleansing rituals lends to a feeling of purity. Abalone is thought to have a divine energy, and using it with sage in the act of space clearing invokes the spirit of the ocean and uses your highest chakras as a conduit to the divine realm.
Along with its dreamy and ethereal aesthetics, the abalone shell meaning comes from its connection to the ocean and its healing, calming energy. When you come into contact with a small tumbled piece of abalone shell, you’ll find that it’s impossible to be upset about anything. Whenever you need security or protection, hold tight to this stone and imagine a wave of peace, beauty, love, and compassion to wash over you like a healing wave of the ocean.
The abalone shell healing properties help you to open and expand your consciousness, which can be very beneficial if you’re having relationship issues. A spiritual and mental shift is just what you need to look at a situation from a loving and compassionate perspective. Known as the “Ears of the sea,” abalone shell properties connect you to the energy of the ocean, reminding us to be loving and gentle with our loved ones.
The real game-changer in accessing the full healing power of crystals, including the abalone shell, is pairing your tumbled stone with an intention. The Abalone shell magnifies the energy around it, so when you have a specific intention, your words and thoughts are further amplified. First, meditate on what truly matters to you. The act of searching for a purpose is the beginning step in spiritual transformation. Also, consider the areas in your life that could use an upgrade; that way, your personal growth can reach its full potential. Lastly, be specific in setting goals and what you want to achieve and why.
This would also be the perfect moment to think about what action you should take to achieve your goals. A good place to start is with a setting an intention to go deeper into your meditation practice. In this case, your mantra could be, “I am living in the present moment.” When you connect the abalone shell meaning with your personal goal of being in the moment, it helps free your mind from the past and future.
I hope you enjoyed this post on the uses of abalone. It’s the first in a continuing series on crystals and stones. I’m working off of a long alphabetical list so if you have a particular stone you want to read about, let me know and I’ll put it on the short list!
Blessed Be
Sterling Knight