Tilt this slice slowly and a hidden flash of blue, gold or even purple slides across it.

Labradorite is a grey feldspar with a trick called labradorescence: light bounces between thin inner layers and comes back as a glowing flash of colour. This slice is polished on top so the flash shows clearly, with rougher edges left around the sides. It's named after Labrador, here in Canada, where it was first described.

There's a lovely old legend from Labrador that says the northern lights were once trapped inside these rocks. People traditionally link labradorite with protection and intuition. Mostly, they just can't stop tilting it to find the flash.

How to use it

• Tilt it under a lamp to find the flash
• Keep it on a desk as a worry stone
• Add it to an altar or crystal shelf
• Show it off to a friend who's never seen one

Care: Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth, and keep the polished face from rubbing against harder stones.

The details

• Stone: Labradorite
• Weight: 61g to 120g
• Unit size: 1 3/4" to 3 1/4"
• Thickness: 3/8" to 1/2"
• Sold as: Single piece
• Country of origin: Madagascar
• People pick it for: Protection, Intuition, Self-Esteem
• Chakra: Third Eye, Crown