Sure, labradorite is beautiful. It’s moody, flashy and hard to ignore – with its stormy blues, electric greens and sudden veins of gold that catch the light. One shift in angle and it goes from dull grey to completely cosmic.
But, it’s also here with a job to do. And from frozen Canadian coastlines to ancient Japanese shrines, this shape-shifting stone has fascinated – and occasionally mystified – cultures for centuries.
So, let’s take a closer look at how different parts of the world have seen labradorite: not just as a pretty stone, but as a carrier of stories, spirits and serious energy.
In Canada, labradorite is the stone that stole the sky
Labradorite gets its name from the rugged coast of Labrador, where the Inuit peoples first discovered its strange, otherworldly flash.
Legend says the Northern Lights once lived inside the rocks along the shoreline. A warrior, seeing the lights trapped, struck the stones with his spear to release them back into the sky. But some light stayed behind, still flickering in the stone’s depths.
So, it’s safe to say that holding a piece of labradorite is like holding a captured moment of the cosmos – and acts as a reminder that even the wildest magic sometimes (and not very subtly) leaves a trace.
In Japan, labradorite bridges the seen and unseen
While labradorite isn’t native to Japan, stones with shifting colours and hidden depths have deep spiritual resonance there – especially within Shinto traditions.
In Shinto belief, natural objects often house kami (spirits), and shimmering stones were seen as gateways between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Today, Japanese collectors use labradorite for rituals that seek wisdom from ancestors or hidden forces.
In a culture that understands subtlety and transformation, labradorite’s quiet power fits right in – a stone for crossing thresholds without making a sound.
In Norway, labradorite is a (possible) viking secret
Did the Vikings definitely sail with labradorite tucked into their belts? Admittedly, and boringly, there’s no hard proof. But what we do know is they revered stones they called ‘sunstones’, using them to navigate even in dense fog.
Some historians believe feldspar minerals like labradorite could have been among these legendary tools, prized for their ability to refract and scatter light.
Whether or not labradorite helped steer Viking ships, it absolutely fits the vibe: bold, mysterious and always catching the light just when you need it most.
In India, labradorite is a shield for the spirit
In Indian spiritual traditions, gemstones are often seen as protectors of the subtle body – the energy fields that extend beyond our physical forms.
Labradorite, though not historically native, has become a modern favourite for shielding the prana (life force) against psychic intrusions and emotional clutter.
Practitioners value it as a stone of energetic integrity – one that doesn’t just absorb negativity, but helps deflect it altogether.
But, it’s still not the kind of crystal that soaks up your problems like a sponge. Labradorite has better boundaries than half the people you know – and it’s not afraid to use them.
In Madagascar, labradorite is the modern source of fire
Most of the labradorite circulating today (especially the richest, flashiest pieces) are from Madagascar. Which is why most of the labradorite we stock comes from there, as well.
Miners there refer to it as ‘the fire stone’, and it’s treated with deep respect. Some local beliefs hold that labradorite carries the energy of fire spirits – protective and powerful, but not to be taken lightly.
Today, it’s often used for protection, transformation and navigating new beginnings – making it a crystal for shaking things up, not smoothing them over.
So, if you’re going to work with labradorite, the message is clear: approach with purpose, or not at all. This stone does not appreciate half-hearted energy.