Topaz shines brightly as the subject of this month’s twelve foundation stones article. It comes in the full spectrum of color, from rich chocolate brown to soft lilac and everything in between. Topaz is like a genie in a gemstone package, with powers to manifest your heartfelt wishes and bring a windfall of positive blessings related to love, wealth, success, luck, and joy.

Many ancient cultures across the globe believed in the healing energy of crystals, incorporating them into their medicine, rituals, and daily spiritual routines. The power of gemstones has been recognized in many religions and religious texts, and Christianity is no exception. You can find references in the Bible to the use of stones, and perhaps the most interesting one is found in the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation is an enigmatic read, filled with visionary accounts of the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. The final two chapters, 21 and 22, are said to metaphorically describe the heavenly realm, and it is where we find mention of a future holy city. This city made of gold was described as having twelve stones in the foundation.

What are the Twelve Foundation Stones?

Revelation 21:19–20 reads, "The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst."

There’s debate among experts today about the accuracy of this list of foundation stones. This is because the ancient names of gemstones don’t correspond with our modern mineral classifications. Instead of categorizing gemstones based on their crystalline forms and composition, like we do today, in ancient times stones were named based on their color, place of origin, or how they were used.

The International Gem Society published this list of the twelve foundation stones as the one they believe is the most accurate and correct version: garnet, amethyst, jasper, diamond, emerald, agate, turquoise, carnelian, chrysolite (peridot), beryl, topaz, and ruby.

Each article in this series will cover the geological properties, historical uses, and metaphysical qualities of one foundation stone. This month’s article is a deep dive into the ninth foundation stone, topaz.

Topaz: Topaz is a member of the silicate family with a chemical composition of aluminum, silicate, fluoride, and hydroxide. It has an orthorhombic crystal structure and often forms striated and prismatic crystals, sometimes with well-defined pyramidal terminations.

Topaz is a favored choice for use in fine jewelry due to its hardness, luster, and color range. Coming in at an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, it is the hardest of all silicate minerals. Topaz has a vitreous (glass-like) luster that makes it visually appealing. Many topaz specimens also have a quality called pleochroism, which means the stone can radiate different colors depending upon which angle it is viewed.

You can find topaz in almost every color imaginable. The natural color variations in topaz are due to trace impurities or defects in the crystalline structure. The gemstone industry sometimes uses heat, radiation, and metallic coatings to enhance the color of topaz. Here is a list of some of the most popular colors and types of topaz sought out by collectors and the metaphysically minded: White/Clear Topaz, Imperial Topaz (golden), Blue Topaz, Pink Topaz, Purple Topaz, Sherry Topaz (yellowish brown to orange), and Mystic Topaz (metallic rainbow).

Topaz is the November birthstone. Blue Topaz is the 4th anniversary gemstone, and Imperial Topaz is the 23rd anniversary gemstone. In 1969, Blue Topaz was named the Texas state gem. The largest Blue Topaz ever found in North America comes from Mason County in Central Texas, discovered in 1904.

Historical Uses

There are two theories about the origin of the name, topaz. According to Pliny the Elder (the first-century Roman author), the name comes from Topazios, an island in the Egyptian Red Sea where Peridot was mined. Before modern minerology, the peridot mined there could have been misidentified as topaz. Alternatively, others theorize that it comes from the Sanskrit word topas, which means fire and reflects the ember-colored hues found in certain topaz stones.

Ancient Egyptians believed the fiery, golden colors in topaz represented Ra, the sun god, who they believe bestowed the stone with qualities of vitality, power, and protection. Ancient Greeks and Romans also perceived topaz as a stone that provided strength and protection from injury and that it had a connection to Apollo, the sun god.

According to Hindu cosmology, Topaz symbolizes Jupiter and is included in the Navaratna. The Navaratna is a Hindu talisman that contains nine gemstones, each representing a planetary body. It symbolizes the harmony of universal forces. The Hindus used topaz as a protection stone against fires. They also believed if you wore a topaz pendant above the heart, it would provide you with longevity, beauty, and brilliance.

In Southern Africa, topaz is regarded as a sacred stone that was historically used in shamanic ceremonies to connect with the spiritual dimensions and deceased loved ones. It is known to them as a stone that improves health and wealth. They also developed a practice of carrying topaz during travel for its protective qualities.

Topaz was used in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era for a variety of purposes. It was thought to break curses and magical spells. It was seen as a remedy for anger and sadness. Wearing it could beget great wisdom and intellect. To gain favor with kings and noble people, one should acquire a topaz with a falcon carved on it.

In times past, topaz was perceived to have many medicinal applications. It was believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and to stop nosebleeds when placed in the nose. Another topaz prescription to stop bleeding was a beverage made of powdered topaz and rosewater. To heal asthma, burns, hemorrhage, and insomnia, it was recommended to drink wine mixed with powdered topaz.

Saint Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century mystic writer, shared an interesting protocol for failing vision that involved making an elixir with topaz and wine. She suggested placing topaz in wine for a three-day period. On the third evening, the procedure was to gently touch one’s eyes with the wine-soaked topaz. For the next five nights, the patient should then rinse their eyes with the energetically infused wine.

In the 15th century, a Roman physician had a special topaz that was previously owned by two popes. It was reported that this topaz had healing powers for those suffering from the plague. According to the story, touching the topaz to the sores was all it took to cure them.

Metaphysical Properties

Topaz is treasured today due to its plethora of desirable energetic qualities related to manifesting an enriched life. While each type of topaz has its own unique metaphysical properties based on the colors and trace minerals, there are some properties that are universal among all topaz stones.

Topaz still has a reputation for being a stone of love, good luck, and success in all endeavors. It is a wish-granting stone. According to crystal expert Melody, topaz has both positive and negative currents that run through the ends and facets of the stone. These alternating currents can help you project a request into the universe for manifestation and attract the desirable results into your personal reality. Therefore, it is recommended to incorporate topaz into any work you do with affirmations, creative visualization, and meditation related to manifesting any specific desire.

Topaz has a sunny and empowering vibration that is healing to the emotional body. It is recommended to help release stress, tension, anxiety, and anger. Topaz is an uplifting force that counteracts sadness, depression, and negative moods. It instills confidence, joy, creativity, and a greater sense of self-worth. It can also stabilize the emotional body in the aftermath of difficult situations.

Topaz also has some noteworthy spiritual benefits. It expands spiritual awareness, deepens wisdom, and can activate a spiritual awakening process. Topaz can heighten psychic senses, such as intuition, clairvoyance, channeling, and telepathic communication. It retains its ancient reputation as a protection stone, and it can also assist with grounding and centering.

Topaz is still regarded as an important healing stone. It has an energizing effect that can boost metabolism, the immune system, the nervous system, and any sluggish areas of the body. It is known to strengthen the digestive system and assist in the assimilation of nutrients. It has also been used to assist in the healing of eating disorders, especially if the pattern comes from other lifetimes. Its reputation still stands as a stone that can reduce inflammation and combat insomnia.

Here is a brief list of the metaphysical properties of the most popular types of topaz:

• White/Clear Topaz: a stone of spiritual and cosmic awareness. It activates the crown and etheric chakras, promotes deep spiritual cleansing, and strengthens psychic gifts—especially clairvoyance and clairsentience.
• Imperial Topaz: a stone of ascension, manifestation, achievement, and energy. It acts like a battery to recharge all systems. It can connect you to divine realms and your spirit team. It helps you to achieve high-level goals, remove limitations, and attract all the resources you need to succeed.
• Blue Topaz: a stone of the mind, communication, and peace. It sharpens the mind and mental processing while enhancing verbal expression, public speaking, and creativity. It brings you to a state of inner peace that is conducive to meditation.
• Pink Topaz: a stone of hope and heart. It heals the heart from past hurts and can help attract true love and romance into your life. It promotes openness, vulnerability, and emotional integrity.
• Purple Topaz: a stone of spiritual abundance and transformation. It fosters a flow of giving and receiving, empowers prayers, and can activate the kundalini energy. Purple Topaz assists in decision-making and can protect you from negative people.
• Sherry Topaz: a stone of stability and trust. It helps you to build solid foundations in relationships and business, offers protection, and balances the emotions. It can attune you to nature spirits and the magical realms of Earth.
• Mystic Topaz: a high-vibration stone of multidimensional access. It helps you to manifest your highest spiritual visions and mission, see your inner riches, and access your past life knowledge and gifts. It releases tension, cleanses your bio-system, and activates your spiritual powers.

Bright topaz shines its grace, magical powers, and a rainbow array of colors into the foundation of the heavenly city. It carries the benevolent touch of the creator, empowering positive outcomes to manifest into earthly reality. Stay tuned for the final article in this series, which will dive into the history and properties of the fascinating foundation stone, chrysoprase.