Howlite was first identified in 1868 by Canadian chemist and geologist Henry How, who encountered the unfamiliar mineral in a gypsum quarry in Nova Scotia. The stone was later named in his honor by mineralogist James Dwight Dana. Because of its porous white surface, Howlite has long been dyed to imitate more expensive stones such as turquoise and red coral.

Howlite is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide mineral that typically forms as white, nodular masses within sedimentary borate deposits and evaporite formations. It is opaque, relatively soft at about 3.5 on the Mohs scale, and recognizable by the grey to black web-like veining that runs through its chalk-white body.

Because Howlite was only identified in the 19th century, it carries no classical mythology of its own; modern lore adopted it as a stone of patience and composure., A widespread modern belief holds that placing Howlite beneath the pillow absorbs restless thoughts and eases the mind toward sleep., and Its marble-like white body led practitioners to associate it with the calming, reflective qualities long attributed to the Moon.

I release the noise I have been carrying and let my mind settle into stillness. When frustration rises, I choose patience. When my thoughts race, I return to a slow and steady calm. I rest well, I think clearly, and I meet each moment with a quiet, unhurried mind.