What Are the Virgo Stones and Birthstones?

Short answer: the traditional zodiac stone for Virgo is carnelian, according to the list published by the gem expert George F. Kunz in 1913. Modern crystal traditions also commonly name lapis lazuli and jade for Virgo. Because Virgo runs from about August 23 to September 22, people born under the sign can also use the August birthstones, peridot, spinel and sardonyx, or the September birthstone, sapphire. Zodiac stones are a tradition rooted in astrology, not a property of the stones.

When is Virgo?

Virgo, Latin for "virgin" or "maiden", is the sixth sign of the zodiac. Under the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology, the sun passes through Virgo from about August 23 or 24 to September 22 or 23; the exact dates shift slightly from year to year. The sign is associated with Astraea, a figure from Greek mythology who was the last immortal to leave the earth, and in most myths Virgo is pictured as a maiden linked with wheat. It is an earth sign, along with Taurus and Capricorn.

What is the Virgo zodiac stone?

Zodiac stones and birthstones are different lists. Birthstones follow the calendar month; zodiac stones follow the astrological sign. In his 1913 book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, George Frederick Kunz gave a stone for each sign, and for Virgo that stone is carnelian.

Carnelian is a translucent orange to red-brown chalcedony, a fine-grained form of quartz colored by iron oxide. It rates about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, takes a bright polish and has been used for beads and seals for thousands of years. Much carnelian on the market is agate that has been heated or stained, which is common and usually acceptable when disclosed.

Carnelian also has a link to Virgo's August birthstones: sardonyx combines sard, a brownish red to orange chalcedony, with white or black layers of onyx.

Which stones are linked with Virgo today?

Modern crystal shops and guides often name these stones for Virgo:

• Lapis lazuli: a deep blue rock of lazurite with white calcite and gold pyrite flecks, mined in Afghanistan for more than 6,000 years. In crystal traditions it is associated with wisdom, truth and honest communication.
• Jade: jadeite and nephrite, tough stones prized for carving for thousands of years. In East Asian traditions jade has long symbolized purity, harmony and good fortune, and in modern crystal traditions it is associated with balance and kindness.
• Carnelian: the traditional stone, associated in crystal traditions with courage, motivation and creativity.

These modern pairings vary from source to source. They are traditions and personal choices rather than a fixed rule.

What are the Virgo birthstones?

Because Virgo spans two months, people often use the birthstone of their birth month as well:

• Born August 23 to August 31: the August birthstones are peridot, spinel and sardonyx; see the August guide.
• Born September 1 to September 22: the September birthstone is sapphire, best known in blue but found in many colors.

Lapis lazuli and sapphire share a deep blue, which makes lapis a popular, more affordable blue for September Virgos.

What do Virgo stones mean in tradition?

Virgo is an earth sign pictured as a maiden with wheat, and modern crystal meanings for the sign tend toward steady, earthy themes. Carnelian is linked with motivation and action, lapis lazuli with wisdom and truth, and jade with balance and harmony.

These are traditions and beliefs. Astrology has been recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, and there is no scientific evidence that zodiac signs or the stones linked with them affect personality or events. People enjoy zodiac stones as personal symbols and gifts.

How do people use Virgo stones?

• As jewelry: a carnelian ring, a jade bangle or a sapphire pendant makes a popular birthday gift.
• As a desk or pocket stone: a carnelian or lapis tumble kept nearby as a personal reminder.
• In meditation: as a focus object, as described in the meditation guide.
• As a set: some people pair their zodiac stone with their birthstone, for example carnelian with sardonyx or sapphire.

How do you choose a Virgo stone?

• For a traditional choice, pick carnelian, the Kunz zodiac stone.
• For deep blue, pick lapis lazuli, or sapphire for a September birthday.
• For green, pick jade, or peridot for an August birthday.
• For jewelry worn daily, sapphire, at 9 on the Mohs scale, is the most durable. Carnelian is about 6.5 to 7, and jade, at 6 to 7, is exceptionally tough. Lapis lazuli, at about 5 to 5.5 and softer where it contains calcite, suits pendants and earrings better than rings.

How do you care for Virgo stones?

• Carnelian: wash with warm, soapy water. Watch for dyed material, covered in its guide.
• Lapis lazuli: wash gently with mild soap and avoid harsh chemicals; watch for dyed lapis.
• Jade: clean with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals, which can damage the resin in treated jade, and avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners for treated or valuable pieces.
• Sapphire: warm, soapy water is always safe; ultrasonic cleaners are usually fine for untreated and heat-treated stones.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Virgo birthstone?

The traditional zodiac stone for Virgo is carnelian. By birth month, August Virgos have peridot, spinel and sardonyx, and September Virgos have sapphire.

What crystals are good for Virgo?

In crystal traditions, the most common choices are carnelian, lapis lazuli and jade. These are traditional pairings rather than proven effects.

What are the dates for Virgo?

About August 23 to September 22 under the tropical zodiac. The exact dates shift slightly each year.

Is lapis lazuli a Virgo stone?

Lapis lazuli is often linked with Virgo in modern crystal traditions. Its deep blue also echoes sapphire, the September birthstone.

Do zodiac stones have real effects?

There is no scientific evidence that they do. Astrology is considered pseudoscience; zodiac stones are enjoyed as traditions, symbols and gifts.

Sources

• Wikipedia, Birthstone (zodiac stones after Kunz, 1913): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthstone
• Wikipedia, Virgo (astrology): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgo_(astrology)
• Wikipedia, Astrology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology
• GIA, August Birthstones: https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/august-birthstones