The Black Star of India
While diopside or chrome diopside is known for its deep green, star diopside is black (even greenish black).
Its chemical composition is CaMgSi2O6 . It is a calcium magnesium silicate with a hardness ranging from 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale.
It owes its name to the four rays present on its surface which are in fact inclusions of magnetite. This asterism makes it particularly unique and sought after.
Since it can exhibit such magnetism, star diopside is very popular for therapeutic use in metaphysical practice.
Star diopside can sometimes be confused with gemstones such as hiddenite, moldavite, peridot, emerald, idocrase or even sapphire.
Today, most star diopside comes from India where it is nicknamed the "Black Star of India ".
Smaller deposits of star diopside have been discovered in Austria , Finland , Madagascar , Myanmar , South Africa , Sri Lanka , and the United States.
Lithotherapy
You may find diopside referred to as the “ tear stone ,” as this stone is believed to induce tears, helping to relieve sadness and purify sorrows.
In lithotherapy, star diopside is often used to soothe people who may have childhood trauma, because it
promotes rooting in the present.
It is also useful during emotional shocks or to succeed in making an important decision. In meditation, this stone allows you to free the mind and take a step back.
Quote : “Life now unfolded before me, constantly and visibly, like the flowers of summer dropping petals in fan shape on an eternal ground.”
Sewda or diopside in the spotlight
You will find the star diopside in the center of my painting " SEWDA " (black in Maltese). I created this painting after returning from a shopping trip to India:
Dazzled by the palace of mirrors of the Amber Palace in Rajasthan, I returned with my head and heart filled with rich and warm colors. I wanted to sublimate the star stone of India "the black star" (the star diopside) by adorning it with a multitude of stones and crystal. to make it the most beautiful and richest of wall jewels.
Find my painting Sewda in my portfolio here:
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