Which gemstone is associated with your birth month? What powers does it have? How can you best harness its energy? Tatler’s expert Joyce Tsang helps demystify sapphires and their properties
Across the vivid tapestry of Asia, even with its diverse cultures, traditions, and beliefs, the enchanting sapphire—and all the colours it can come in—has been admired for their spiritual properties and mystical allure. More than just beautiful gemstones, sapphires are considered spiritual powerhouses, believed to offer protection, wisdom, and a connection to the divine. Many ancient Asian cultures associate the stones with celestial beings, and use them to open the mind up to spiritual insights and divine wisdom.
In Feng Shui, a practice that originated from ancient China and is still widely followed today, sapphires are used to attract wealth and success. They’re often placed in the “wealth corner” of homes and workplaces. In China, where sapphires were once exclusively worn by royalty, these gems have long been associated with wisdom and divine favour. The belief is that sapphires can help in spiritual enlightenment and in attracting divine blessings. They’re also used in traditional Chinese medicine, and are believed to have healing properties that help calm the mind and body.
Along with the Chinese, sapphires are also cherished among Indian communities, and are seen as a talisman that brings prosperity, wards off evil spirits, and promotes mental clarity.
See also: Birthstone guide for August: How peridots can help the wearer overcome anxiety and boost confidence
In Thailand, known for its thriving gemstone trade, sapphires hold a revered place as they’re associated with the Buddhist concept of enlightenment, which signifies truth, purity, and spiritual wisdom. It is also considered a “stone of wisdom” and helps its wearer on their to spiritual truth. Similarly, in Vietnamese culture, in which indigenous animism, Confucianism and Buddhism are intertwined, sapphires are believed to possess the power to calm the mind, enabling clear thinking and wisdom.
Across the archipelagos of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, where each culture has its own unique blend of indigenous and imported beliefs, sapphires are cherished as protective stones that shield against negative energy and harm. In Indonesia, sapphires are often incorporated into Keris, a traditional weapon, to provide protection and spiritual power to its wielder. In Malaysia, they’re used in traditional healing practices to enhance one’s spiritual energy. And in the Philippines, where beliefs are diverse and syncretic, sapphires are considered conduits of healing and divine blessings.
To understand sapphies and its properties better, we tapped into the knowledge of crystal expert and advisor Joyce Tsang, who runs Stone & Star, a crystal healing store and online portal.