Published October 2015  •  Updated February 2024  •  Read Time: 5 minutes
Serpentine is a general name given to a family of 16 closely-related soft green minerals.  Sometimes these minerals are called by their scientific name, like Lizardite, while others have marketing names like Infinite and Healerite.  Sometimes these marketing names help identify a specific deposit, while other times they simply drive sales.  It is easy to carve and polish, in fact it was used to make one of the oldest human figurines over 30,000 years ago! Serpentine is a wonderful stone for meditation and chakra healing.  It can be use to awaken the kundalini serpent, and to explore topics as diverse as cleansing, sex and trauma.

Infinite

Serpentine Meaning

Spiritual Healing Properties

Serpentine is a phenomenal meditation stone, both grounding and elevating. It cleanses and aligns the entire Chakra field and opens up psychic channels. It is one of the best stones for exploring Kundalini energy and creating pathways for that energy to rise. Serpentine connects the heart and mind to the natural world and teaches patience. It is particularly useful for “Old Souls” who use earth magic for large-scale healing rituals.

Metaphysical Properties Serpentine
Chakra All
Element Earth
Numerology 8
Zodiac Gemini

Emotional Healing Properties

Serpentine has an exceptionally soothing energy. It gently helps us to release fear, particularly of change and the unknown, so we can be hopeful for the future. It also reveals how we can honor our own needs and desires, without feeling guilty. Serpentine encourages us to explore and develop healthy personal boundaries. It is particularly good for women who are healing from sexual trauma, or children who have experienced abuse. It reduces the strain of emotional manipulation, and replaces it with a desire to be honest and real. It also shows us that when approached correctly, sensuality and sexuality can be a pathway to peace and contentment.

Mental Healing Properties

Serpentine is a wisdom stone, which urges us to live in peace and make healthy choices. It encourages us to actively work to resolve conflicts, rather than negatively engaging or ignoring problems. It reminds us that we each have responsibility for our own lives and how our lives affect the larger world. This being so, we are called upon to become a little bit wiser and kinder every day.

Physical Healing Properties

Serpentine is a valuable healing tool for treating disorders in all areas of the body. In particular, it is used by metaphysical healers to treat diabetes and hypoglycemia. It is also said to reduce reduce cramps and menstrual pain, as well as emotional mood swings related to PMS. Serpentine is also believed to help heal sexual dysfunction and increase fertility.

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Serpentine Mineralogy

Where does Serpentine come from?

Serpentine is so widespread that deposits are found worldwide. The major mining operations are located in Afghanistan, Canada, China, England, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, and the United States.

Mining and Treatments

Serpentine is heavily mined, for both industrial and decorative uses. For example, Chrysotile is a white Serpentine mineral that is the most important asbestos mineral, while “Serpentine Marble” a beautiful green Serpentine ore rock is mined as huge slabs and polished to a high sheen.

All Serpentine is natural, enhanced only by cutting and polishing.

Serpentine Placeholder
Serpentine

The Environmental & Social Impact of Crystals

Your crystals should have a healing energy that is clean, powerful, & makes a positive difference.

Mineral Family

Serpentine is a general name given to a family of 16 distinct hydrous silicate minerals. Some are rich in iron or aluminum. Others are rich in magnesium or calcium. Others in manganese, lithium, nickel, or zinc. All varieties of Serpentine are Silicates.  Silicates are minerals which contain the elements Silicon (a light gray shiny metal) and Oxygen (a colorless gas). Together, these two elements form a tetrahedron – a shape similar to a pyramid – with a Silicon atom in the center and Oxygen atoms at each of the four corners. These tetrahedra connect with other chemical structures, in six different ways, to form various minerals and rocks. There are six main groups of Silicate minerals, and these main groups are further subdivided into secondary subdivisions, such as Quartz and Feldspar.  Serpentine belongs to the phyllosilicate group, whose tetrahedra connect at three corners to form hexagonal rings.

Serpentine’s energy works well with its family – other phyllosilicate minerals.  Try it in combination with ApophylliteCavansite, Chlorite Quartz, ChrysocollaFuchsiteKammererite, Lepidolite, MuscovitePetalitePrehnite, and Seraphinite.

Serpentine Formation and Crystal Associates

Serpentine is a secondary mineral, meaning that it is formed by the chemical alteration of another mineral, such as Olivine. Serpentine typically occur as masses of tiny, inter-grown minerals.

Serpentine’s energy works well with its “friends” – crystal associates formed in the same geological environment.  Try it in combination with Bornite, CalciteGrossular Garnet, and Magnesite

Mineralogy Serpentine
Chemical Formula (Mg,Fe,Ni)3Si2O5(OH)4
Cleavage Perfect, but not visible
Color Green-yellow
Crystal System Monoclinic
Form/Habit Massive or pseudomorphous
Fracture Conchoidal to splintery
Hardness – Mohs Scale 2.5-5.5
Luminescence Yellow (long and short waves)
Luster Sub-vitreous to greasy, can also be resinous, earthy, or dull
Mineral Family Phyllosiliocates
Specific Gravity 2.44-2.62
Streak White
Transparency Semitransparent (rare), opaque (common)

History of Serpentine

The name Serpentine refers to this molted green rock’s resemblance to snake skin. The comparison is especially clear when the green minerals are interlaced with magnetite. It is found in large deposits all over the world, it can be easily carved, and many varieties will take a bright polish. As a result, it has been a prized stone for millennia and is included in virtually every known lapidary, texts which describe gemstones and their powers. Some of the most ancient traditions concerning Serpentine date back to the very dawn of human civilization and probably originated long before that!

The oldest known Serpentine carving, the Venus of Galgenberg, was carved c.30,000 BCE. It was found in 1988 near Stratzing, Austria. The Venus of Galgenberg is thousands of years older than the Venus of Willendorf, the most famous female figurine of the prehistoric world, which was also found in Austria. The purpose of these figurines remains unknown, but is a source of much conjecture.

Venus Of Galgenberg, Serpentine

Venus of Galgenburg

Serpentine was also used to make carvings in the ancient world, and museums around the world contain beautiful specimens. Some of the most famous belong to the Minoan Civilization (3000-1100 BCE), which was located on the Island of Crete. This ancient civilization carved bowls, cups, and vases out of the green stone, such as the beautiful Chieftain Cup, which shows a prince receiving skins after a successful hunt.

Since Roman times, Serpentine has been said to offer protection from sorcery and disease. Peasants, particularly in Italy, wore carved amulets made of Serpentine to protect against venomous snakebites. There are also stories about Serpentine being used to carve “Fright Stones,” which were amulets carved with ugly faces, and were said to drive away frightening things.

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