I've missed you! I've been very busy lately with the arrival of spring and the shop, and I wanted to take a moment to thank you. For coming in and shopping, reading these discussions and telling others about me and Enchantments. It's working!! We're getting more people stopping by and supporting us by allowing us to fulfill their magickal needs. In turn it's looking much better that with a slight tweek here and a twitch of the nose there, we may be staying in business in our quaint little town of Manchester, CT New England. I have you to thank and I do, sincerely and deeply.
For tonight's discussion I want to discuss the magickal uses of stones, crystals and minerals. This topic will cover a few discussions over the next week or so, the topic of which could cover vast volumes, but we'll keep it simple and easy and covered over a few discussions. The concept is the magickal benefits to be had from carrying, wearing or using natural stones, crystal, minerals even metals such as gold, silver, copper. We already are familiar with this practice, it really isn't that uncommon when you consider jewelry. The first pieces of jewelry worn by humans is believed to have been worn for the magickal properties of the metal and of the stones contained within a piece of jewelry. Over history great significance has been attributed to pieces of jewelry as famous or infamous as the Crown jewels and the Hope diamond, and magickal significance is attributed to wedding bands and engagement rings.
Early man wore stones to ward off evil, keep one safe from harm, attract and bring in prosperity, love, healing or other necessary, desired results. Today everyone has birthstones associated with their date of birth, and incidentally each sign has more than one birthstone. Did you know that? If you aren't wild about the one you were given you might wish to look into the other stones associated over time with your birthday.
Traditionally, birthstones were attributed to their respective month by societal rules. Each culture had their own traditional birthstones and then as now, there were more than one list of differing stones considered the true list. Many in our culture come from the Polish and the December stone of turquoise is an example fo this. The other poplar surce for birthstones in English speaking societies was the Gregorian calendar which has poems for each month referencing a birthstone.
Tiffany & Co published the following poems in a pamphlet they passed out to customers in 1870 and attributed these 'Gregorian poems' to author unknown. Regardless of authorship these little poems tell us much about the traditional birthstones and the characteristics of the person born during that month.
By her who in January was born No gem save garnets shall be worn They will ensure her constancy True friendship and fidelity. The February born shall find Sincerity and peace of mind, Freedom from passion and from care, If they, the amethyst will wear. By her who in March was born No gem save bloodstone shall be worn They will ensure her constancy True friendship and fidelity. She who from April dates her years, diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears For vain repentance flow. Who first beholds the light of day In spring's sweet, flower month of May And wears an emerald all her life Shall be a loved and a loving wife. By her who in June was born No gem save pearls shall be worn They will ensure her constancy True friendship and fidelity. | The gleaming ruby should adorn, All those who in July are born, For thus they'll be exempt and free, From lover's doubts and anxiety. Wear a peridot or for thee, No conjugal fidelity, The August born without this stone, `Tis said, must live unloved; alone. A maiden born when autumn leaves Are rustling in September's breeze, A sapphire on her brow should bind; To bring her joy and peace of mind. October's child is born for woe, And life's vicissitudes must know, But lay an opal on her breast, And hope will lull those woes to rest. Who first comes to this world below In dreary November's fog and snow, Should prize the topaz amber hue, Emblem of friends and lovers true. If cold December gave you birth The month of snow and ice and mirth Place on your hand a turquoise blue; Success will bless whatever you do. |
—Gregorian Birthstone Poems
Over history, everything seems to get a make-over. Anniversary gifts are revamped and modernized after a few decades and the same holds true for birthstones.
The most current, commonly known birthstones for the past 50 years or so are as follows:
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Pearl
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Opal
November - Citrine
December - Blue Topaz
This above list is just one of the various lists available from jewelers, web sites and published works and not surprisingly they all differ from the other if only slightly.
But if you dislike the birthstone you believe to be yours, or perhaps would enjoy more than one!, check out my compilation of all birthstones associated with each month for the past several hundred of years. I've used several lists from various cultures and eras. There's a bit of overlap, as stones were shifted in some cases from one month to another. Pick the one you like, or be daring and wear more than one from your birth month. Like all of our magick, it's up to you to determine what's significant to you. Wear or use the stone that suits you and then search out the stones specific magickal properties to see how that stone can really assist you in your day to day life. More on the magickal properties of the stones in our next discussion.
January - Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19th - garnet, emerald, aquamarine, fossils, jet
February - Pisces Feb 20 - March 20th - amethyst, bloodstone, pearl, sugilite
March - Aries March 21 - April 19th - bloodstone, black jasper, aquamarine, jade, garnet, ruby
April - Taurus April 20 - May 19 - sapphire, diamond, black sapphire, opal, emerald, jade, lapis lazuli
May - Gemini May 21 - June 21 - Agate, emerald, sapphire, aventurine
June - Cancer - June 22 - July 22 - emerald, cat's eye, turquoise, agate, alexandrite, moonstone, pearl, beryl, moonstone, sapphire
July - Leo July 23 - August 23 - onyx, ruby, amber, carnelian, diamond, topaz
August - Virgo Aug 24 - Sept 22 - carnelian, sardonyx, moonstone, topaz, peridot, diamond, sapphire, agate, aventurine, onyx
September - Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22 - peridot, chrysolite, sapphire, agate, moonstone, chrysoprase, lapis lazuli, turquoise
October - Scorpio - Oct 23 - Nov 22 - beryl, opal, aquamarine, tourmaline, jasper, kunzite, spinel, tourmalated quartz
November - Sagittarius - Nov 23 - Dec 21- topaz, pearl, citrine, amethyst, sugilite
December - Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 20 - ruby, bloodstone, blue topaz, turquoise, onyx, apache tear, hematite, onyx, zircon, lapis lazuli
The concept of a birthstone(s) associated with every month is familiar to most people, but did you know that the day of the week you were born also has its associated birthday stone? I know! Here's yet another chance of getting a stone you really like, or adding to all the ones you already have. My birthday is in August, I'm a Virgo and I think that's the month/sign with the most stones! I love my stones, and whereas peridot never really did it for me, most examples are poorer quality yellowish green of an unattractive hue I was very happy to learn that diamond is one of my choices. So, I choose to wear diamond as my birthstone and it seems to be working out well. So, let's see what stone is associated with the day of the week you were born on. If you don't know do a search on the Internet and put in Calendar days for 19??, your year of birth. I was born on a Wednesday so let's see what my stone is:
Monday - Pearl
Tuesday - Garnet
Wednesday - Emerald
Thursday - Topaz
Friday - Diamond
Saturday - Blue sapphire
Sunday - Ruby
I've always loved my stones and from a very early age was always to be found with rocks in my pockets. It's still the same! Diamonds and Emeralds, I like those choices. They are very magickal stones and I like that also. We'll talk soon about the magickal properties of the stones and how they can be used. Until then,
Peace and Happiness
Please check out my newest blog The Life and Recipes of a Medieval Cook @ http://thelifeandrecipesofamedievalcook.blogspot.com
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
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