Spiral-carved healing wand — Amethyst copper tube

A tapered wand, polished along its full length, whose weight and length have been balanced to sit comfortably in the hand.

A purple quartz whose shade runs from pale mauve to deep violet, often stronger at the tip of the crystal than at its base.

Symbolic reading. The stone of temperance for the Greeks — its name means "not intoxicated" — it has been credited since antiquity with calming the mind and clearing judgment. Crystal healing associates it with the third eye chakra.

The model. Amethyst copper tube.

Use & care. It accompanies moments of centering and meditation; some simply roll it between their palms. Store it flat so the point does not chip.

• Its color comes from traces of iron in the quartz, revealed by the natural radioactivity of the surrounding rock.
• A natural piece: shade, veining and dimensions vary from one example to the next

A decorative object for personal practice. It is no substitute for medical advice or treatment.