One of August's Birthstone - Peridot

One of Augusts’ birthstones is the beautiful green peridot which has been a favorite since ancient times. 

An ancient legend states that peridot crystal found in volcanic ashes are the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Peridot has been cherished for over 4000 years and together with the emerald was one of Cleopatra’s favourites. Cleopatra thought both the peridot and the emerald slowed aging and granted eternal youth. 

 

The Romans called the peridot the evening emerald because its green color did not grow dim at night but was still visible by candlelight. Some peridots which are over 200 carats in size decorate the shrine of the three magi at the Cologne Cathedral.

Peridot is regarded as a powerful protective stone protecting against evil spirits.  Peridot is also believed to have commanding magical powers bringing the wearer power, influence, and success by enhancing  prosperity and growth. 

The traditional metaphysical properties for the peridot are fame, dignity, and protection. It also helps to prevent outside influences from affecting alignment and balance and openness. Peridot provides strength and physical vitality.

The peridot symbolises love and it is thought that peridot pendant worn over the heart will attract love and happiness into your life as well as truth, faithfulness and loyalty. It emits a warm welcoming energy working on both the heart and solar plexus chakras. It helps the wearer to find internal happiness and over come anger and jealousy. Peridot can  be used to heal tension in a relationship, hurt feelings and bruised ego. It amplifies vibrational energies and installs a positive emotional outlook.

Peridot also has strong healing properties, helping to provide muscle relaxation and reduce fear, anxiety, nervousness and to protect against nightmares.  The healing properties of the peridot relate to diseases of the lungs, lymph, breast, liver, sinuses and adrenal function.

Peridot crystals form deep inside the Earth and it is only brought to the surface by volcanoes. It is particularly prevalent in the volcanic parts of Hawaii. Similar to emeralds, peridot only comes in green with color from yellowish green to brown, but most customers prefer the bright lime greens and olive greens. As August's birthstone, they make fabulous jewellery and engagement rings.

 Wear a Peridot or for thee,
No conjugal fidelity,
The August born without this stone,
`Tis said, must live unloved alone.

July’s Birthstone – Ruby

July’s birthstone is the ruby whose deep red glow signifies love and passion. 

July's birthstone, the ruby has been one of the most treasured gems throughout history. Their glowing red color was thought to be due to an inextinguishable fire within, whilst others thought it was a drop of the heart blood of Mother Earth. 

Rubies are one of the most stunning stones available and are relatively rare. The ancient Hindus in India called it the "Rajnapura" or King of Gems and many still call it that today. The Greeks referred to rubies as the mother of all gemstones and the Romans called it a flower among stones. Considered to have magical powers due to the stones deep red glow, rubies were worn by nobility as a way to ward off, and warn of, approaching evil.

 The name ruby is from the Latin word, rubeus which means red.  In the Middle Ages rubies were used as a protection against the plague. The myth was that if the color of the ruby became darker, the wearer would flee into isolation and only return home when the stone became lighter again.

Its deep red color of the ruby was associated with courage and power and was used to overcome fear. It is known to enhance energy and induce generosity and to bring prosperity and success to the wearer. Rubies are associated with vitality and deep feelings. They awaken the senses, rouse the imagination, and are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in love. 

 From a spiritual standpoint, the ruby is the heart chakra helping to balance love and spiritual endeavours.  Rubies relieve stress, improve emotions, raise self-esteem and encourage confidence. They bring love, loyalty, courage, integrity, devotion, loyalty and happiness. They also help to minimise negative thoughts and inspire stamina, vitality and strength as well as re-energize after exhaustive activities.

Healers have used rubies since for thousands of years to cure ailments, such as indigestion, blood disorders and infections. Hey are used to build up neurological tissues particularly around the heart and is good for equalising the blood sugar levels. They are a good stone for removing blocked energy pathways in the reproductive system and helps to prevent miscarriages.

Rubies are a variety of the gems belonging to the corundum species and have the same chemical structure as sapphires. In fact, it is so similar in structure to a sapphire that a ruby can be identified as a red sapphire. A fine-quality ruby is extremely rare, and the color of the gem is most important to its value. The most valued color is a medium or medium dark vivid red or slightly purplish red. If the gem is too light or has too much purple or orange, it is called a fancy-color sapphire. Star rubies are particularly beautiful.

 A ruby is harder than any natural gemstone except for the diamond. It is durable enough for everyday wear and so it makes an exquisite engagement ring and ruby jewellery makes a passionate gift for a loved one. There’s no better way to demonstrate your love than by giving a ruby in celebration of a July birthday. It will be cherished forever. 

The glowing ruby shall adorn,
Those who in July are born;
Then they'll be exempt and free
From love's doubts and anxiety

The Fourth of June’s Birthstones - Alexandrite

The fourth of June’s birthstones is the magic stone, Alexandrite. 

The magic of alexandrite lies in its ability to change color and transform from emerald by day and ruby by night. It is light red or purplish red in incandescent artificial light and emerald green or blue-green in daylight or under a fluorescent light. Some varieties of alexandrite are yellowish to pink or orange in daylight and a raspberry red by incandescent light.

As far as gemstones go Alexandrite is a relatively modern gem, first discovered in Russia in 1831 during the reign of Czar Alexander II after whom it was named. This is probably because it is only rarely found in nature.Alexandrite was a treasured gemstone with Russian royalty and aristocrats bringing them good luck and good fortune. Because Imperial Russia’s primary colors were red and green it naturally became the national stone of tsarist Russia.

Alexandrite is an extremely rare variety of chrysoberyl with a complex chemical makeup which is responsible for its color change abilities. Alexandrite can only form when aluminium and beryllium combine with trace elements like iron, titanium and, most importantly, chromium in its crystalline structure and the likelihood of this occurring naturally is fairly doubtful.  Due to its rarity, jewellers tend to use synthetic, man-made versions of this enchanting gemstone.  

 

Other than Alexandrite, there are two other varieties of chrysoberyl are - ordinary chrysoberyl is yellow-to-green; and cat's eye otherwise know as cymophane.

 

Alexandrite helps to balance one’s emotional state, provide confidence, increase self-esteem and bring about change. Alexandrite brings spiritual growth, happiness, success, and intensifies feelings of love and sensuality. It has been used as a stone of manifestation and good fortune, joy, and creativity.  It is used to cure diseases of the central nervous system, spleen and pancreas.

Alexandrite is such a special stone because it bestows both an uplifting and ennobling energy. In its highest aspect, alexandrite one of June’s birthstones, symbolizes freedom, joy, and regeneration. June's birthstone, alexandrite makes the perfect gift.

The Third of June's Birthstones, Agate

The third of June’s birthstones is agate which has a great many powers.

 In fact agate is believed to be the most powerful of all stones. Some of the many powers it is known to bestow are good luck, love, truthfulness, courage, bravery, strength, longevity, acceptance, protection, balance, harmony, generosity, security, persuasiveness, agreeability, congeniality, compatibility, creativity and honesty. It is also associated with abundance, wealth, and in particular the acquisition of wealth.  

 

Agate a birthstone for June is one of the most ancient stones used by man for hard-stone carvings. It has been recovered from a number of ancient sites such as from an archaeological dig at the Knossos site on the island of Crete. This finding linked it to the Bronze Age Minoan culture. Agate was given its name by the Greek philosopher, Thepphrastus who first discovered agate on the shores of the Achates River,  between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

 Agate is a silica or chalcedony found in volcanic rocks. It is characterised by its fine grain and bright and variable colors.

Agate is a potent emotional healer helping the wearer to distinguish truth and understand circumstances beyond their control. Agate is known to improve memory and concentration, improve stamina and insure lovely dreams. Agate stimulates analytical capabilities, precision in analytical work and other hidden natural talents and appreciation of nature. It enhances personal courage, improves self esteem and protects against danger.

Agate is associated with outstanding protective and healing energy especially moss agate which is an earth stone believed by ancient peoples to be one of the  most potent of medicines. Health wise agates can help to cure problems in the stomach area, the colon, the circulatory system, the pancreas and blood sugar imbalances.

 The third of June's birthstones, agate makes beautiful jewellery and an amazing gift.

  

Who comes with summer to this earth,
And owes to June her hour of birth,
With ring of  agate on her hand
Can health, wealth, and long life command.

The Second of June's Birthstones- Moonstone

 

The second of June’s birthstones is the moonstone 

Moonstone got its name from the Roman natural historian Pliny, who wrote that moonstone's appearance changed with the phases of the moon.Romans believed that moonstone was created from solidified rays of the moon which entrapped a spirit inside bringing good fortune and the ability to foretell the events of the future.  In India it is revered as a sacred stone. The Romans and Greeks associated Moonstone with their lunar deities and it is the lucky stone of the goddess Diana.

The energy released by a moonstone is balancing, introspective, reflective, and lunar. It transforms life on all levels - physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Its powers are strongest during a full moon arousing tenderness within oneself and bringing happiness wherever it is found.

Moonstone is the stone of love and eroticism and is used as a fertility stone. Moonstones bring success and acceptance in love and have the power to reunite lovers who have quarreled.  And health wise they protect against cancer, kidney disease, and dropsy. 

Moonstones were once called the "travellers stone" it was worn for protection against the dangers of travel and are especially protective of those who travel by night or upon the water when the moon is shining. Moonstone is also a talisman of good fortune, bringing luck  in business. However if you want moonstone to bring you good luck, it needs to be kept wrapped up in a yellow cloth and carried in your pocket.

The physical properties of moonstones are amazing. They demonstrate a floating play of light called adularescence which moves across the surface as a line when the light varies. These lines appear as a multi-rayed star or as a cat's eye. This visual phenomenon is caused by the diffraction of light from within a microstructure comprised of regular feldspar mineral layers. 

The second of June's birthstones, Moonstones come in a wide range of colors such as white, green, blue, peach, grey, brown and champagne and a prismatic variety known as Rainbow Moonstone. They make fabulous gifts.

The First of June’s Birthstones – Pearls

June’s Birthstones  – Pearl, Moonstone and Agate

Those lucky enough to be born in June have a choice of four different varieties of June’s birthstones 

Pearls, Moonstone, Agate & Alexandrite

1.  Pearls

The first of  June’s birthstones, pearls symbolise a woman’s purity, chastity, integrity and all round perfect beauty.  It is also linked with charity, loyalty, truth, faithfulness, friendship and love and is therefore the perfect gem for wedding accessories.

Pearls are produced by oysters and an ancient Arab legend tells the tale that pearls are formed when dew drops filled with moonlight fall into the sea and are ingested by oysters. The ancient Greeks thought that pearls were the hardened tears of happiness from Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

Since ancient times, pearls have been worn as a form of adornment by royalty and celebrities alike. They were one of the most admired gemstones of the Roman Empire and then in Tudor England. The 1500s were known as the pearl age because when  Spanish explorers discovered the New World, they also discovered prosperous pearl fisheries run by Native Americans in the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi River Basins, as well as in the Atlantic Ocean.  This New World became known as the "Land of Pearls” when large numbers of pearls were sent back to Europe.

Akoya Pearls

 
Pearls have a shiny, creamy texture with a delicate iridescent reflection. Unlike other gemstones, they do not require faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. But because they are so delicate pearls need special care to keep them beautiful and lustrous. For instructions on the Care of Pearls Read My Blog 17/8/2014

Tahitian Pearls

The traditional metaphysical properties associated with pearls are modesty, chastity and purity. They enhance personal integrity and help calm the mind. Associated with courage, pearls are thought to warn people of imminent disaster. A pearl’s  healing properties relate to diseases of the heart, spleen, stomach, intestine, ulcers and emotional imbalances.

South Sea Peals

 Since the early 1900s commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls has almost completely replaced natural pearls in the marketplace. The most popular saltwater pearls are Akoya Pearls, South Sea Pearls, Tahitian Pearls. Saltwater pearls are very beautiful and quite valuable. The market is however flooded with Freshwater Cultured Pearls which are produced en masse in China and are very affordable.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls

 Who comes with summer to this earth
And owes to June her hour of birth
A pearl should wear against her skin
Who's innocence many a heart shall win

May’s Birthstone – Emerald

May’s birthstone is the beautiful emerald which is the symbol of rebirth, fertility and love.  

May's birthstone - emerald, is thought to grant eternal youth to the wearer and for this reason, it was one of Cleopatra’s favorite gems. She thought she could achieve eternal youth and beauty by reflecting the most precious emeralds on her skin. The Ancient Romans dedicated the emerald to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Throughout history emeralds have been treasured by all cultures and civilisations.  Emeralds stand for maturity and were the stone of divine instinct for the Greeks. They symbolized hope and development and provided protection to travellers.

 Today, it is thought that emeralds signify wisdom, growth, and patience. Emeralds are also associated with loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The abundance of the life force associated with the emerald, empowers the wearer with foresight into the future, and good fortune.

The traditional metaphysical properties given to the emerald are memory, clairvoyance and faith. Emeralds improve psychic and clairvoyant abilities, giving the wearer a keener insight into dreams. They are also used as aid in meditation.

 Emeralds have many healing properties which help health problems relating to circulatory and neurological disorders as well as conditions associated with the eyes, fertility, the spine and headaches. Precious green emeralds have the power to heal both the mind and the body and are known to boost mental capabilities.

Emeralds come in wide range of wonderful green tones. The finest emeralds possess not only a pure verdant green, but also a high degree of transparency to be considered a top gem. Yellow and blue are the normal secondary hues found in emeralds but only gems that are medium to dark in green tone are considered to be emeralds.

Learn more about the qualities of emeralds 

Emerald was derived from the Greek word smaragdus, meaning green. It was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C and Emeralds from the Red Sea area were the foundation of the wealth of the Pharaohs. The Inca civilisation also utilized emeralds in their art, but unfortunately many of these were stolen by the Spanish and taken back to Europe.

May's birthstone, the emerald, makes wonderful jewellery and is the ideal gift  for your loved one. Treat your fiance as a royal with an exquisite emerald engagement ring  - she is after all your princess. 

 

Who first beholds the light of day
In spring's sweet flowery month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and happy wife

April’s Birthstone – Diamonds

April’s Birthstone – Diamonds are of course

   the symbol of everlasting love. 

 They are revered by lovers and are according to Marilyn Munroe,”a girl’s best friend”. The fact that "Diamonds are forever" was reiterated in Shirley Bassey’s song of the same name. These days diamonds are most often associated with engagement rings but throughout history they have meant a lot more than that. 

Diamonds are cherished for their brilliance, elegance, purity and toughness and are considered to be magical stones of great power. Ancient Greeks wore diamonds into battle on their shields to give them courage. In India diamonds were once considered to be invincible stones of virtue and justice, symbolizing personal qualities such as wisdom, enlightenment, purity and clarity. They give the wearer power, enhance relationships, increase inner strength, and help to preserve peace.

Of all stones, diamonds have the most remarkable history, and are marked by stories of fame, misfortune and murder. Diamonds are said to be the king of all gems, the hardiest of all precious gems known. In by gone periods diamonds were only to be had by kings, royals and wealthy nobles.  In Sanskrit, the diamond is called vajra, which means lightning, and in Hindu mythology, vajra was the weapon of Indra, the king of gods.

 

Diamonds grant protection to the wearer and have strong healing powers especially related to diseases of the brain and pituitary glands. They were reputed to draw out toxins and were once used as a remedy for poison. From a metaphysical point of view, because the diamond is the hardest and the purest of all the gemstones, it is thought to help to clear the mind and eradicate negative thoughts. Its metaphysical properties provide balance, clarity and abundance.

Ranging from sparkling colorless diamonds through to fancy-colored diamonds in faint to vivid hues of yellow, red, pink, blue, and green, they are all natural, rare and truly exotic gems of the earth.

Learn more about the qualities of diamonds by following this link.

April’s birthstone - diamonds are the perfect gift for a loved one. And diamonds don’t have to be just in the form of a  diamond engagementring. Both men and women love diamond necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Lucky for those born in April who can claim diamonds to be their birthstones.

  She who from April dates her years,

Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone,
Emblem of innocence, is known

March’s Birthstone – Aquamarine and Bloodstone (Heliotrope)

March’s Birthstone – Aquamarine and Bloodstone (Heliotrope)

 

There are  two gemstones associated with March’s birthstone, the aquamarine and bloodstone which is otherwise known as Heliotrope.

 Aquamarine

 

 

March’s birthstone, the aquamarine, brings peace, tranquillity, youth, hope and health. It is whispered by romantics to bring pure love and promote faithfulness, courage and friendship. The magic of the aquamarine is that it warns against phoney friends. The stone changes from light to dark indicating who is true or false -  when the Aquamarine becomes almost white beware of the person you are with.

Aquamarine encourages a gentle nature and personality in the wearer. The serene color of aquamarine cools the temper, encouraging the wearer to remain calm and level headed. It also protects against anxiety and relieves fear thus helping you to carry on with a normal life if you are under stress.

From the Latin word aqua marina “water of the sea”, the aquamarine has particular relevance to sailors, providing them with protection, as well as to guaranteeing them a safe voyage.  Early sailors used aquamarine good luck charms etched with the likeness of the sea god Neptune to protect them against ocean dangers. Aquamarines are often associated with mermaids who legend says also protect sailors.

 

  

 The aquamarine’s metaphysical properties include awareness, quick response and the resolve of communication problems. Its healing properties help to prevent stress-related illness, release fear, calm nerves, and bring mental clarity. It is also protects against diseases of the liver, throat, stomach, jaw, teeth, eyes, and ears. Just soak the aquamarine in water and then drink it to benefit from all of its healing powers

Aquamarines have been a favourite with royalty and  are often found in tiaras and other crown jewels.

 

 

Princess Diana and the Queen wearing a magnificent aquamarine tiara

Aquamarine is usually light blue in color but can range from a greenish blue to blue-green. As a rule, the in larger stone the more intense the blue color.  March’s birthstone, the aquamarine is a perfect gift and makes a really impressive engagement ring.

 

 



 A March born shall always be
Soothed by Aqua, gem of sea
This mermaid's treasured stone you wear
Will bring happiness, love, affection and care.

 

March’s Birthstone, the Bloodstone

 

 

The other of March’s birthstone, the bloodstone made from the mineral heliotrope. Bloodstone is a dark-green chalcedony jasper gemstone with flecks of dramatic red spots of iron oxide which look like specks of blood. Obviously this is why it is called bloodstone. It is called the martyr's stone as legend says that it was formed when drops of Jesus Christ's blood stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. 

Bloodstone is a very ancient stone used by the Babylonians to make seals and amulets. It was worn by Babylonian soldiers into battle because its energy was supposed to open doors, win the advantage and boost courage in the midst of battle. It gave physical strength to the wearer and if injured it helped to stop bleeding.



 

Bloodstone has many healing powers and is especially helpful for blood disorders and blood circulation. It is an all purpose healer and cleanser, purifying the bloodstream and bladder as well as strengthening all the blood purifying organs. They are also used to help with stomach and bowel pain.

March's birthstone the bloodstone is considered to be a good luck stone for businessmen and women. Its green color represents the green of money and the abundance of new growth in the spring. The red flecks sparkle like currency and symbolises the flow of money similar to the flow of blood as it circulates through your body. A perfect gift.

 Who in this world of ours their eyes   
In March first open shall be wise,
In days of peril firm and brave,
And wear a bloodstone  to their grave.

February's Birthstone - Amethyst

February’s Birthstone – Amethyst

 

 

 

February’s birthstone is the amethyst which symbolises stability, peace, balance, courage, inner strength, sincerity and gives the person a calmness of character. if you wear an amethyst you will be urged to develop the  highest, the purest goals in humanity. Your relationships will be strengthened and you will receive the courage to achieve your goals.
 

Amethyst is derived from the Greek word amethyein, which means not drunk. Ancient Greeks wore amethysts to protect against drunkenness, evil thoughts, black magic and homesickness. Historically, amethysts have been linked with various myths, legends, religions, and cultural beliefs.  Throughout the middle ages English and European ceremonial dress was decorated with amethysts particularly as a sign of royalty because during this era only royals were able to wear this gem. The finest amethysts worn by royalty were found in Russia. 

 

 

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

 

Amethysts are used during meditation and to bring inner peace, balance, courage, and inner strength. They are used in India by Buddhist monks to help them meditate because they can bring psychic insight, spiritual opening and internal surrender as well as stimulating the third eye. Amethysts have calming energy that can control the emotions and provide mental clarity. It is said amethysts keep the wearer clear-headed, quick-witted and peaceful.

 

Amethysts have several healing powers and are used particularly to help with withdrawal symptoms from any sort of addiction. In fact the amethyst is often called the sobriety stone because it is alleged to thwart drunkenness and it helps to treat alcoholism and other types of addictions. Amethysts can also provide relief from headaches, insomnia, edginess, arthritis and provide pain relief. They are also helpful in regulating blood sugar imbalance, circulatory system issues and provide general healing powers.

 

From a protection point of view, February’s birthstone –the amethyst attracts justice and provides protection against burglars and thieves.  They ward off danger and protect the wearer from violent death.

The amethyst gemstone is made of quartz.  Its color is usually a beautiful blend of violet with red and a range of color from pale lilac to deep purple. A rarer variety of amethyst, called prasiolite is green February’s birthstone – the amethyst provides the wearer with tranquillity and is the ideal gift for someone who needs a sense of calmness in their lives. They make amazing engagement rings.

 



 

"The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they an amethyst will wear."

January's Birthstone - The Garnet

January’s Birthstone – The Garnet

January’s Birthstone is the Garnet. Garnet is the stone of commitment to a purpose, to others and to oneself. These extraordinary gemstones symbolize, consistency, loyalty, truth, purity, faithfulness and friendship. If you wear a garnet you are guaranteed to get love and devotion from those you love. Garnets make you more popular and give you more self esteem. The garnet is a sign of eternal lifelong friendship and trust and is therefore the perfect gift for a close friend.

Garnets are also enriched with loving powers and so you can use them to enhance romantic love, passion, intimacy, sensuality, sexuality and intimacy. Also wear them to keep yourself safe during travel.

In India the garnet is called the “Kundalini fire” or the fire of eternal metamorphosis and is revered as a sacred stone in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Mystics believe that garnets enlighten dark souls and bring wisdom and hope to people, thus increasing the chances for a successful life. From a humanitarian point of view it also arouses the compassion to help others. 

The metaphysical properties associated with garnets are awareness, commitment, regeneration, insight and the removal of negativity. They have the power to monitor and adjust the flow of energy, rebalancing the energy field around the physical body giving wearer more energy. 

The healing properties associated with garnets which is known as the stone of health, provide healing for conditions relating to the blood, heart and lungs. When worn on the body, January's birthstone, the garnet helps to prevent skin diseases and protect against wound infections. It also guards the wearer from having bad dreams.

Garnet gets its name from granatum, meaning seed. Garnets look like pomegranate seeds.  Egyptians used garnets in jewellery as far back as 3100 BC. The bourgeoisie in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe used them as good luck charms.

Amazingly garnets come in a rainbow of different colors, ranging from the  dark brown-red to rosy-red most of us associate with garnets through to  orange-red and green. The most valued of the garnets include the deep red of the pyrope garnet and the vibrant green of tsavorites. January's birthstone  the Garnet, the gem of faith, is both versatile and affordable. Get yours today.

 

"By her who in this month of January is born
No gem save garnets should be worn;
They will ensure her constancy,
True friendship, and fidelity"