Not to alarm you but if you have purchased selenite for your crystal collection what you most likely have is satin spar. The good news is that they both have the same calming and cleansing energy to them! Selenite and satin spar are both from the gypsum family however they are crystalized differently. Desert rose and alabaster are also from the gypsum family.
Selenite is rarer and more expensive. Selenite is mostly transparent and forms in "plates" or "windows". Selenite can be found as colorless, white, gray, brown, beige, orange, green, pink, yellow, and light red. It's commonly found in the deep caves of Mexico, Morocco and Madagascar. Selenite was named after Selene the Greek goddess of the Moon, meaning the stone of the Moon. The name was given to the mineral by the Swedish scientist J.G. Wallerius (1709-1785).
Satin spar is fibrous and silky. It is not as transparent as selenite and is generally found in a white with a milky or pearly color but it can also be peach or orange. Satin spar is much more plentiful than selenite. Fibrous satin spar can also exhibit chatoyancy, or a ‘cat’s eye’ effect, that selenite does not. Satin spar can be carved and you will find it in many shapes including wands, palm stones, rulers, towers, and more. Satin spar veins occur in rocks overlying evaporites in the Amadeus Basin, Australia; Appalachian Basin, USA; Cheshire Basin, England; Elk Point Basin, Canada; Palo Duro Basin, USA; Paradox Basin, USA, and Zechstein Basin, England (source GeoScienceWorld.org).
Both selenite and satin spar are rated a 2 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, which means that they are very soft and easily scratched. The Mohs Hardness Scale is used as a convenient way to help identify minerals. A mineral's hardness is a measure of its relative resistance to scratching, measured by scratching the mineral against another substance of known hardness on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
With both selenite and satin spar being so soft they are NOT water safe! Some people like to cleanse their crystals with water. Unless you want to dissolve your selenite or satin spar do not place it in water. Selenite and satin spar are known as one of the few crystals that don't need to be charged or cleaned and in fact these crystals cleanse and charge other crystals. It's a good idea to place your new crystals on a selenite/satin spar plate, in a bowl, or clear them with a wand. These crystals naturally transmute negative energy. However, you may feel like your selenite or satin spar needs energetic fine-tuning now and again. I suggest bathing them in moonlight or clean with a soft dry cloth.
The metaphysical properties of selenite and satin spar are essentially the same. They operate on a very high vibration. They are connected to the third eye chakra, crown chakra, and soul star chakra. Both are calm and soothing and promote a sense of peace and tranquility. They lift awareness to higher planes to connect with spirit and angelic guides. They clear out stagnation and enhance personal growth. They are ideal for meditation and spiritual work. They are also used by Reiki practitioners to cleanse and balance the body, while amplifying the energies of the other crystals used in the practice. They are great for activating crystal grids. They are popular crystals when it comes to cleansing and clearing the home or office space. They dispel negative energy and enhance clarity, focus, and create a sense of calm.
I have a selenite wand that I like to "brush" or "sweep" my body with it the morning and at bedtime. Essentially, you hold the selenite or satin spar in your hand and starting from the top of your head sweep all the way down your body. Repeat this all the way around (front, left, right, back) your body. It can be done in 30 seconds or you can continue to sweep around your body until you feel the energy has cleared.
While satin spar can be and is most often called selenite, selenite can't be called satin spar. 99% of the time sellers will list satin spar as selenite. Even if they are fully aware that what they have is satin spar. It is not to deceive anyone it is just that most people refer to satin spar as selenite. It's like saying "Please hand me a Kleenex" when you want a tissue. Even though it may be a store-brand tissue, you refer to it by a (brand) name that has become interchangeable with "tissue."
I hope this has cleared up some questions that you have about selenite vs satin spar. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.
*Originally posted on August 12th, 2022