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“By her in January born,
No gem save Garnets should be worn.
They will ensure her constancy
True friendship and fidelity.” (Walker)
January- Garnet
Noah was said to have used a large Garnet in the ark for illumination because garnets were believed to keep travelers safe. Egyptians used garnets as an antidote to snakebite and food poisoning. This dark red gem, long associated with blood because of its color, is said to improve blood circulation, strengthen the heart, stop palpitations and spilling of the blood, heals inflammations, sexual diseases and hormone imbalances. In fact, Indian soldiers were said to use garnet bullets to cause bloody nonhealing wounds. Garnets were touted to prevent depression, aid hearing…avert thunderstorms and, as legend has it, garnets protect their owners from nightmares.
However, that is not all. This red, orange red, brownish stone, that varies from colorless to yellow, black, or any color except blue, can do. It’s known as the sex rock, inspires passion, sensuality, sexuality, romantic love, intimacy, positive thoughts, energy, recall past lives, career success, social popularity, and self confidence. Who would want to leave home without this jewel? No self respecting Celt, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Anglo Saxon, and Victorian would. They all wore and enjoyed this stone.
Garnets have been found in Africa, North America, South America, Europe and the Middle East and are a semi hard stone about 7 in hardness (the diamond being the hardest 10) and it resists breaking, chipping and cracking fairly well. It is the second and sixth anniversary gem. It is the official mineral of Connecticut (1977), Idaho (1967), New York (1969) Vermont (1991)
Rose Quartz
Rose Quartz is a sweet January stone and supposedly enhances all forms of love: self-love, mother love, caring kindness and romantic. This cute pink gem supposedly emanates with unconditional love, fosters forgiveness and tolerance, and is thought to balance ones emotions and opens the heart. Wiccans supposedly use Rose Quartz for forgiveness. It is the official mineral of South Dakota (1966). Its hardness is equal to 7 and is found in Brazil, Madagascar, Scotland, Spain and in the USA It is the anniversary stone of the second year of marriage.
January tidbits: Garnet is the Modern[1], Traditional[2] and Ayurvedic[3] stone. Emerald is the Mystical[4] stone. The January flower is the Carnation, meaning deep love, affection, happiness, fascination, and lasting fidelity. The Star Stones: for Capricorn -Ruby, Agate, Garnet. Planetary stone-lapis lazuli. Lucky charm-Ruby. Talismanic-Onyx. For Aquarius -Garnet, Moss Agate, Opal Amethyst. Planetary stone-Turquoise. Lucky Charm-Garnet. Talismanic-Jasper.
“The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind
Freedom from passion and from care
If they the Amethyst will wear.”
February Amethyst
According to the Greek legend, angered by a mortal insult Dionysius, god of wine, swore revenge and created vicious tigers to tear apart the next mortal that came his way. It was the lovely maiden Amethyst on her way to the Temple Diana. To protect her from the fierce claws, the goddess Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz. Realizing what he had done, Dionysius wept tears of regret over her, thus turning this precious stone purple.
‘Amethustos’ in Greek means ‘sober’ and therefore this gem is believed by some to prevent drunkenness, which may explain why wine goblets were often carved of it. Roman slaves were said to serve water in ‘amethyst’ goblets to drunken masters who only saw the reflected purple liquid as wine and were thus fooled.. Medieval bishops were known to use amethyst cups in serving wine to guests or used them to remain sober thus the amethyst became known as the ‘bishop’s stone.”
This beautiful bluish to reddish purple stone symbolized the virtues of humility, sincerity, peace of mind, and sincerity. In Tibet, amethyst was considered sacred to Buddha. The Catholic Church embellished their churches with amethyst because the gem was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolized piety. Leonardo Da Vinci claimed that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and intelligence. And who are we to question Da Vinci?
A busy healer was said to treat almost all afflictions as eye problems, hypoglycemia, dyslexia, headaches, blood sugar, enhancing mental healing, improving complexion, preventing baldness, treating and even dissolving blood clots. It helps imbalances, edginess, stimulates the third eye, and is an aid for mediations. It was even believed to counteracts evil spells if worn along with feathers and baboons’ hairs.
In the English Channel is the island of Sark who sold their amethysts as “Sark Stones.” The stones became so popular that the local deposits are now gone. However, these ‘Sark Stones’ are still being sold even though they are now imported from Brazil.(Walker)
Onyx
The Art Deco period of the 1920 – 1930’s was when Onyx enjoyed its greatest vogue. Because onyx was so functional in the geometric designs, it was used not only in jewelry but also in everything from ‘boxes, brooches to bookends, necklaces to knife ends’
Onyx was also popular in ancient realms dating back to Persia. In the thirteenth century, the “Books of Wings” said that onyx engraved with a camel or two goats would cause nightmares. The Magick of Kiram of 1686 claimed that the wearer of an onyx would make him invisible. How? I have no clue.
Christians and ancients alike believed onyx would help heal wounds, assist in childbirth and was used as a heart, kidney, nerve, capillary, hair, eye, and nail strengthener. An interesting note says it also could incite quarrels in married couples, yet others declare onyx’s objective thinking helps eliminate negative thinking, apathy and enhances strength, stamina, permanence, firmness, durability, and self-control. A Mexican white onyx is said to help one sleep and sharpen the wits of the wearer. In the Abby Church of St. Albans is a miraculous onyx with an image of the pagan god of medicine, Aeculapius.
When heated and dyed, onyx can be made an even darker black, but onyx is not just black. It is also brown, white and grey. Sometimes agate is mistaken for onyx because both are a layered stone. However, Onyx has straight colored bands and Agate has curved bands. Sardonyx, a stone made from layers of agate, white onyx, and red sard, is supposed to bring one good luck, friendship, happiness romance, stamina, creativity.
February tidbits: Amethyst is the 4th and 6th anniversary gift and is the symbol stone for the season of spring. Onyx is the gemstone for the 7th year of marriage and black onyx is the gem for the 10th year of marriage, but is not a star stone. Amethyst is the gem of Modern[6], Traditional,[7] and Ayurvedic[8] birthstone. Bloodstone is the Mystical[9] birthstone. The February flower is the Violet and Iris for their faithfulness, purity and modesty. The Star Stones for Aquarius (see January). For Pisces: the Star stone is rock crystal sapphire, amethyst, bloodstone; Planetary stone- aquamarine; Lucky charm stone- amethyst; Talismanic stone- ruby.
“Who in this world of ours, her eyes
In March first opens, shall be wise
In days of peril firm and brave
And wear a Bloodstone to her grave”
March Bloodstone
The name’ Bloodstone’ has been given to every red mineral out there including ruby, hematite, and carnelian. According to the Leyden Papyrus, the ‘world has no greater thing’than the Bloodstone because it was once thought to opens all doors, breaks down walls of prisons, and averts disasters. Christian traditions have held that, at His crucifixion, the blood of Jesus spotted the Bloodstone, thus giving this dark green jasper its red spots. Bloodstone was considered as an all purpose healer, purifier of bloodstream and bladder. However, in order for it to work, it must be kept under a pyramid or it will not cure anything. Yet, the Mexican Plague of 1576 was supposedly stemmed by victims simply holding this gem.
Bloodstones, also known as Heliotrope meaning “sun-turner,” are considered by some as an Earth symbol and are said to bring rain, abundance, alignment, organization, smooth energy flow, generosity, idealism, good fortune. In addition, “The Celestial Intelligencer of 1801 stated that Bloodstone ’so dazzles the eyes of men that the bearer to be invisible.’” (Walker) Aquamarine
Going on a cruise? Take your Aquamarine because it supposedly protects sailors and ships. “Aquas” means “sea water.” This gem is a blue-green variety of beryl that can also be yellowish, greenish or brownish. However, aquamarines are not just for travelers. It is good for meditation, cleansing, serenity, peace, prophesies, inspiration, tranquility. It helps get one in touch with the sea spirits and soothes sea phobias. For good measure, this gem supposedly cures insomnia, vascular diseases, and disorders of the neck and head, toothache, and cures impure thoughts of the”throat” (Walker).
We can’t stop here…Aquamarine is “the international symbol of hope, health, wealth, fidelity, and youth,.”(Wooden Skate) This busy little stone is alleged to help students study because it enhances concentration. Gotta college student?
Ancient aquamarines have been found to be engraved with portraits. One being of Julia, the daughter of the Roman Emperor Titus. And according to legends, it is the treasure of mermaids and can re-awaken love if worn in earrings because it is the symbol of beauty, honesty and loyalty.
One authentic and totally transparent specimen of an aquamarine, weighing in at 243 pounds, was purchased for $25,000 by a dealer from Idar-Oberstein. Maybe the buyer also owned a yacht and was planning to be at sea for a very long time. However, imitations of aquamarmine can be easily made of other materials as glass. So be careful.
March tidbits: Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and the flower is daffodil or jonquil. Their color yellow means affection, cheerfulness, desire, grants wishes, new beginnings, respect and sympathy. Aquamarine is not a seasonal stone but the anniversary stone of the 16th year. For March: Aquamarine is the Modern[10] stone. Bloodstone is the traditional[11] and Ayurvedic[12] stone. Jade is the Mystical[13] stone. The Sttar stones for Aries: Birth stone- bloodstone and diamond; Planetary stone-jasper, Lucky Charm stone-diamond, jasper, and bloodstone; Talismanic stone-topaz.
[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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