Unlike some of its gemstone cousins, the symbolic meaning of the moonstone requires very imagination to figure out: The very name and signature coloring of this stone clearly indicate its connection to the moon, and things don’t get much more complicated from there. It was once believed that the luster of the moonstone would wax and wane, mirroring the phases of its counterpart in the heavens. The moon itself has also been held as a romantic image throughout time, and consequently, the moonstone was believed to function as a talisman and love charm.

Certain cultures assigned the moonstone more specific significance: The ancient Romans associated it with the goddess Diana (fitting, since she was the goddess of the moon), and in India the stone has long been held sacred and is believed to bring good fortune to the person who possesses one.

On a slightly more esoteric level, there is a connection between the moonstone and powers of heightened intuition and clairvoyance. Since the moon itself has been connected to such powers, perhaps it’s not surprising that a moonstone would function the same way. One tradition holds that by placing a moonstone into a person’s mouth, that person would be able to foretell the future, and thus be able to judge the value and predict the consequences of planned undertakings.