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“She who from April dates her years
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone
Emblem for innocence is known”
April-Diamond
Diamonds are a paradox. This “King” of gemstones sets the standard of hardness for all gems because diamonds are 140 times harder than sapphires and 1000 times harder than quartz. According to Pliny the Elder, “It was an unconquerable force” (‘Adamas’ being Greek for diamond, meaning ‘unconquerable’). Diamonds repelled the blows that managed to move the anvil.
Yet, diamonds are made of the same carbon as pencil lead which is very soft. Graphite and charcoal are good conductors of electricity and diamonds are not. However, diamonds, graphite, and charcoal are all forms of the same carbon.
A claim in ancient times was that diamonds, rubies, and sapphires—when reduced to ashes—could serve as medicines. However, rubies and sapphires do not burn and diamonds do burn…but at 900 degrees C, at which time they are reduced to carbon dioxide gas—thus leaving no ash. (Walker) So much for filling that prescription.
Benvenuto Cellini once claimed that, if poisoned by enemies, one could be cured with diamond dust. If one could reduce diamonds to dust and did ingest the glittering powder, it would shred the stomach and intestines. So,whose side was he on? Another attribute is that diamonds have the ability of saving or breaking countries, helping win or lose wars, not because of their value but because of its mastering number of vibrations. Therefore, South Africa should vibrate as a world power.
Discovered 500B.C in India, diamonds were said to cure all brain diseases, pituitary glands, and draw out toxicities. Bishop Marbodus claimed that diamonds cured insanity. Rabbi Simeon ben Johanan declared that Abraham had a diamond that cured anyone who looked at it. But, when Abraham died, God sealed the gem in the Sun. (Walker)
Around 1502, this gem had been granted the powers to: disperse pain, fears, quell quarrels, help lunatics and those possessed of the Devil. If bound to the left arm, it gave victory, tamed beasts, helped with phantoms of the night, and nightmares. It counteracted sorcery and poisons. Now, Mary, Queen of Scots had a diamond to protect her from poisons and all other dangers…but not beheading.
Diamonds are not all white or clear (promoting clarity, higher purposes, and having the most healing properties), there is the black diamond (promoting the courage to face illusions), blue diamonds (strengthens will power, and inspires better health), pink diamonds (good for creative expression) and yellow diamonds (encourages consideration and thoughtfulness.) Depending on the impurities, they can also be brown, green, red, and gray.
Diamonds can supposedly make the wearer invisible, but not Mary Queen of Scots. And, it was once said that if a diamond were placed on the plucked, cooked, and salted carcasses of fowl, the bird came back to life and flew away. (Walker)
During the Medieval period, people did not know how to test for a true diamond except by seeing if the item could cut glass. If the stone could cut glass…the gem was considered a diamond. However, sapphires, beryl, topaz, zircon, spinel, quartz, and other stones can cut glass too. Oh, well for that myth.
Some claim that diamonds were splinters of shattered stars or ‘gifts from the heavens,’ and others claim that diamonds can mate and bring forth children and, if “watered by May dew, they would grow bigger.” A 19th century Scottish chemist J. B. Hannay claimed his invention of synthetic diamonds that he presented to the British Museum. Seventy years later, the crystals were tested a second time and determined to be actual diamonds. Later, Howard T. Hall ‘grew’ the first verifiable gem-quality diamonds, which are available today—but are more expensive than diamonds from Mother Earth.
Whether a shattered star fallen from the sky or artificially made, it takes approximately the removal of 50 tons of rock to glean a one carat diamond from the ground. That’s moving mountains for a such a small token of love that does not last forever. Over a course of millions of years, diamonds gradually decay into graphite. (Not coal as some mystics tout)
April tidbits: Diamonds are the Winter stone and the green diamond is a spring stone. The 60th anniversary is celebrated with the diamond as well as the 10th and the 30th. April’s Birth stone is diamond and the flower of April is daisy or sweet pea. April’s color is pink or purple, meaning blissful, curious, delicate, departure, lasting pleasures, playful, and tenacious. April’s Modern [1], Traditional[2], and Ayurvedic[3] stone is the diamond. Opal is the Mystical[4] stone. The Star Stones: For Taurus: the Birth stones are sapphire, turquoise, amber, blood coral, emerald; Planetary stone-emerald, aventurine; the Lucky charm stone- sapphire, diamond; the Talismanic stone-garnet.
“Who 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”
May-Emerald
“If the Diamond is the king of gems, the Emerald is the Queen.” (Wooden Skate) According to Helzburg Diamonds, the emerald has been the longest coveted gemstone in history. ‘Emerald’ came from Latin and Greek word ‘smaragods’ or ‘green stone’ and first appeared in the English language in sixteenth century from the French word ‘esmeraude.’
Emeralds were said to be Mother Earth’s favorite stone because it symbolizes the green clad earth. This green is the holy color of Islam and all the Arabian states bear this green in their banners symbolizing the unity of their religion.
Early sources say that emeralds were first found about 3000B.C. in Egypt and India. Emerald mines, or Cleopatra Mines as they were later called, were found by the Egyptian Pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 BC. And, up to 1937, the emerald was considered ‘one of the sacred stones of Atlanteans”
On the edge of a talismanic emerald, weighing 78 carats and was a very deep green, was a Persian inscription saying, “He who possesses this charm shall enjoy the special protection of God.” Even ancient writings in Hindu speak of this green gemstone granting healing powers, and good luck. Indian Maharajas and Maharanis adored and own many of these gems.
In Ancient Rome the caesars loved emeralds and dedicated them to Venus who wanted it worn on Friday. Hermes, the god of magic, was said to have composed the ultimate ‘Words of Creation’ on a famous Emerald Tablet.
Pliny the Elder stated “nothing is more intensely green and refreshing to the eye.” The Emperor Nero would have to agree because he used his emerald to watch the gladiator bouts more clearly. Maybe to place his bets better because emeralds are claimed to have psychic and clairvoyant abilities. However, emeralds also are claimed to help all mental illness, patience, and balance. Maybe Nero didn’t wear his often enough.
The Egyptian’s god Thorth had a tablet of ‘uat’ or ‘matrix of emerald.’ Rabbinic legend says that emeralds were one of the four precious stones given to Solomon from God. In addition, according to a biblical writer, when one looks at a rainbow through an emerald, the person will see the throne of God.
The Holy Grail was said to be carved from an emerald fallen from Satan’s crown during his decent. This sacred vessel, revered in Genoa as Sacro Catino, was proved later that it was only green glass as was the famous emerald of Reichenau Abby to the church from the Emperor Charlemagne 200 years later.
Ancient Incas and Azetecs worshipped emeralds as a holy stone. A huge emerald statue of Umina, the Emerald Goddess of Peru, was found during the Spanish Conquest of 1531 along with her daughters’ emerald statues that her priests had collected. Fray Reginaldo de Pedraza, a missionary priest, had them smashed. He claimed emeralds would not shatter, and that, if they broke, they were inhabited by devils and only fit for destruction. The statues broke very easily because emeralds are soft gems. Therefore, the missionary sold the gem shards in Panama for a huge amount of money. I just bet he did.
The earliest use of an emerald was by Theophrastus of the 3rd century B.C who prescribed the use for an emerald to rest the eyes and to make snakes go blind. In fact, Ahemd Teifashi of the 13th century Arabia said it would ‘dissolve’ snake eyes. By this time, emeralds were said to cure dysentery, ophthalmia, hemorrhage, and intestinal trouble.
During the 17th century, the list of emerald cures grew longer: promoting liver functions, stopping bleeding, strengthening memory, and curing venomous bites, malaria, blood poisoning and demonic possession. To current day, some claim that emeralds cure colic, heartburn, a multitude of diseases and diabetes. Women were believed to develop occult powers by wearing emeralds…after the age of menopause. Others claim it can improve eyesight, attract helium, and convert ordinary folk into descendents of royalty.
One of the largest emeralds on record is the “Mogul Emerald,” weighing 217 carats and measuring 10 cms high, was found in 1695. On one side is inscribed prayers and the other side were opulent flower ornaments. When auctioned off by Christie’s of London, it brought $2.2 million by an anonymous buyer.
May tidbits: Emerald is the Spring gemstone and is the gem for the 20th, 35th, and 55th anniversary. Agate is the stone for the 12th and14th (moss agate) anniversary. North Carolina has emerald as its state stone. May’s Birthstone is Emerald. May’s flower is the Lily of the Valley and the color for May is white, meaning complete life, humility, return of happiness and sweetness. The Birthstones: Modern[5], Traditional[6] stone is Emerald. The Mystical[7] stone is sapphire. The Ayurvedic[8] stone is agate. The Star stones for Gemni: Birthstone-agate, chrysoprase, pearl; Planetary stone-tiger eye; Lucky Charm stone- agate, emerald; Talismanic stone-emerald.
“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”
June- Agate
Arizona, Kentucky (2000), Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee (1969), and Washington claim the Agate as their state stone. And the list of varieties of Agate are even longer than the list of states: banded, blood, blue, Cyclops, grape, horsetail, milk pagoda, pom-pom, polka dot, scenic, Texas, tube, water, and zebra….. What a peculiar stone!! Why?
Legends have it that Agate guarded the wearer from all dangers and endowed him or her with a bold heart.”(Shgresources) Thus, it was a valued talisman in ancient times believed to quench thirst and protect from fevers. Persian magicians even used it to divert storms. Two to four thousand agate bowls collected by Mithradates, king of Persia shows just how this stone was revered.
One distinction about agate is the concentric rings that differentiate it from onyx’s parallel bands. Agates come in clear, purple, rose, black, yellow, brown, green, orange and is a porous stone that can be dyed easily and cracked.
Agates supposedly brings love, wealth, good luck, longevity, acceptance, courage, protection, harmony, generosity, strength, security and appreciation of nature. (The Pocket Reference Rock Book). In 1864, The Book of Saxon Leechdoms said that agate prevents harm from thunder, sorcery, demonic possession, poison, disease, drunkenness, and skin eruptions. Along with all, that agate protects children from falls, nightmares, prevents kidney and gallstones and helps define truth. No wonder why it’s so well liked.
Pearl
Pliny the Elder claimed long ago that “From the products of nature, the most expensive is from the sea—the pearl.” And since Venus came from the sea, it became her stone. While, in Southeast Asia, there’s a myth that if one pearl were kept with rice in a bottle stoppered by a dead man’s finger, the pearl would give birth to more pearls.
Along with the emerald, pearls have been called the Queen Gem (shgresources)” and became associated with the goddess of the moon or the sea as well as the goddess of love. The goddess Aphrodite Marina’s body sexually symbolized the ‘Pearly Gates of paradise’ from whose ‘pearls of wisdom’ were granted by her priestesses.
In Syria, the goddess was the Lady of Pearls. Later, in the Christian world, she became Saint Margaret whose name means ‘pearl.” Hindu brides are covered with pearls because Krishna adorned his daughter with pearls since he was believed the incarnation of the god Vishnu who was believed to create pearls.
Possibly the most famous pearl story involved Cleopatra who is claimed to have dissolved a pearl in wine and drank the wine in order to win a bet with Mark Anthony over who could host the most expensive party. She won. However, pearls will not dissolve in wine or vinegar. If the pearl had dissolved, Cleopatra would have died from the chemical poison the concoction created.
Pearls are thought to promote honesty, innocence, integrity, concentration, meditation, serenity, and wisdom. These, ‘tears of God’ were thought to aid the stomach, spleen, intestinal tract, and ulcers as well In 1750, Leonardus wrote that ‘bruised pearls’ when drunk with milk would heal putrid ulcers; with sugar they cured pestilential fevers. Even today, it is claimed by some that a powdered pearl will alleviate stomach ulcers thus being the most expensive antacid around.
Believed to help eliminate emotional imbalances and help one master their chakra may explain why many a bride is adorned with these jewels. Known for purity, pearls were believed to be conceived from the sky as dew and then swallowed by the oyster.
Thought to be white, pearls can be brown, silver, cream black or pink depending on the type of shellfish or because, if the sky was cloudy, the pearls were dirty; if the sky was pure, the pearl was brilliant. The rarest and largest black pearls come from the South Seas and Tahiti being 18-20mm in size but more commonly only 7mm in size. Pearls can be artificially colored or bleached to improve their appearance and value.
Ninety percent of the pearls today are artificially conceived on pearl farms. Because this is hard on oysters, ecology minded groups are now boycotting pearls as they do the fur industry. So much for pearls being pure and innocent.
Moonstone
Moonstones were called ‘Aphroselene’ by the Greeks after the goddess of love- Aphrodite and the goddess of the moon- Selene. By some mystics, moonstones are believed controlled by the moon because the gem supposedly waxes and wanes with the lunar phases.
The moonstone is regarded in India as a sacred stone that will bring good fortune especially to lovers and could bestow prophetic powers if kept in the mouth during a full moon. Indian gem dealers would display moonstones on a yellow cloth because yellow is the sacred lunar color. In Europe, during the crone’s time of the waning moon, this pale silky gem was believed to foretell the future. Even today, some tout that this stone can tell ‘all that has been and will be.” (Walker)
Moonstones are colorless, white, yellow, orange, or gray but always bearing a pearlish or blueish sheen. They are said to protect travelers especially over water, realign the spine, help with childbirth balance the monthly hormones of the menstrual cycle, treat cancer, edema, ulcers, and emotional problems and if hung on trees, moonstone will increase the yield.
June tidbits: Both the pearl and moonstone is a winter season stone. Pearl is the 1st, 3rd, 12th, anniversary gem. Moonstone is the 13th. Rose or Honeysuckle is the flower. Color is red, white, pink, or yellow, which stands for happy, friendship, love, strong and beautiful. Birth stones: Modern[9] stone- pearl and moonstone; Traditional[10] stone-alexandrite; Ayurvedic[11]-pearl; Mystical[12] stone-moonstone. The Star Stones for Cancer is: Birth stone- emerald, moonstone, pearl, ruby. Planetary stone- rock crystal; Lucky charm stone-emerald, agate, chalcedony; Talismanic stone-sapphire.
[1] Modern Birthstone is the official lithe American National Association of Jewelers and was adopted in 1912 It is the official list in the United States.[2] Traditional Birthstone list contains older stones that are sometimes combined with the Modern list. This reflects the societal stones tradition going back to 15th century. [3] Ayurvedic Birthstones list is from the Ayurvedic Indian Medicine used for over a thousand years [4] Mystic birthstone is from the Tibetan origin from over a thousand years ago. [ For references- see 'Other Precious Gems'
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