Metaphysical Properties & Gem Stories

There are many interpretations of birthstones relating to many cultures and beliefs.  Some of the earliest mentions of the use of stones for identification and perceived powers date back to the old testament.

Exodus 28:15-21

And thou shalt make the rational of judgment with embroidered work of divers colours, according to the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen. It shall be four square and doubled: it shall be the measure of a span both in length and in breadth. And thou shalt set in it four rows of stones. In the first row shall be a sardius stone, and a topaz, and an emerald: In the second a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper: In the third a ligurius, an agate, and an amethyst: In the fourth a chrysolite, an onyx, and a beryl. They shall be set in gold by their rows. And they shall have the names of the children of Israel: with twelve names shall they be engraved, each stone with the name of one according to the twelve tribes.

Much has been suggested about the healing powers of gemstones.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is Latin for sea water. A member of the beryl family along with emerald, morganite, golden beryl, goshenite, heliodor, the yellow/green variation is chrysolite aquamarine. Pure beryl is colourless, impurities cause colour changes. Aquamarine is pigmented by iron. Eyeglasses in the 13^th century were constructed of beryl and rock crystal/quartz. Beryl is one of the gems collected for Aaron’s Breastplate.

Beryl is found on every continent in coarse-grain granite pegmatites, mica schists and limestone. Frequently located tin and tungsten ore deposits. Aquamarine is brittle and sensitive to pressure, Moh’s hardness 7.5-8. Natural crystals are hexagonal and long prisms, large crystals are frequently found. The preferred cut is square or long oval shapes with scissor cuts. Can be mistaken for topaz, kyanite, tourmaline, zircon, and glass. ‘Synthetic aquamarine’ is aqua coloured spinel.

Metaphysical

Key words          Cooling, soothing, enhancement of clear communication

Element              Water

Chakras              5^th Throat, 4^th Heart

Zodiac                 Scorpio

Birthstone          March

Sailors talisman to bring good luck, protection and fearlessness. Used in meditation to bring oneself to a calm alert stage of consciousness. One of the strongest gem energies to clear and activating the throat chakra bringing clarity in communications. Balancing excessive anger, fear and clearing emotional past. 

Diamond

https://www.gia.edu/diamonds

Diamond is the hardness of 10 on the Moh’s scale and can scratch all other gems. A simple trick to identify a diamond from cubic zirconia (cz), is to lay the stone on its’ table (the flat top) on a lined piece of paper. If the line bends it is a cz.

Metaphysical

Key words          intensity, radiance, sovereignty

Element              Storm

Chakras              4^th Heart, 6^th Third Eye, 7^th, Crown, 8^th-14^th Etheric (above the head)

Birthstone          April

Diamond lore varies from divinity to protection from snakes and of course to enhance love. Placing a diamond near the third eye is said to stimulate one’s inner vision and higher spirits. Diamond’s energy is thought to be stronger than all other gems. And capable of amplifying one’s emotions, so removing diamonds when in a bad temper is suggested. Uncut diamonds are thought to have enhanced energy stimulating and opening all the chakras, especially the crown and above. Enhancing inner vision and stimulating imagination. 

Emerald

Emerald is derived from the Greek smaragdos, green stone. One of the gems on Aaron’s’ Breastplate. Until the Colombian discovery in 1526, emerald was known as green sapphire. Spanish conquistadors stole the mines from the Incas. Colombian emeralds are superior to the ancient mines of Egypt. And is still the major source of emeralds today. Brazilian emeralds are a yellow-greenish but are often free of inclusions. Rhodesian, Tanzania, Zambia, and Pakistan emeralds became part of the gems used to finance wars.

Emeralds most often have eye visible inclusions. Many emeralds are treated with various substances to improve the colour and clarity. The common practise of oiling emeralds is used and is being replaced with polymer plastics. The first synthesis was completed in 1848. Synthetic emerald emits a short ultra-violet wave more than natural emeralds. Pleochroism: Natural vs Synthetic; natural Distinct, green, blue green to yellow green; Synthetic: yellow green, blue green.

Mistaken for demantoid, grossular and uvarovite garnet, diopside, dioptase, hiddenite, peridot, and green tourmaline.

Metaphysical

Key words          Love, compassion, healing & abundance

Element              Water

Chakras              4^th Heart

Zodiac                 Cancer

Birthstone          May

Romans wore emeralds as a symbol for fertility and the goddess Venus. Stone of Resurrection is Christian lore. Other lore maintains that emeralds cure a variety of diseases, assuages, fears, enhances persuasiveness and improves memory. Emerald is the gem which best represents an activated heart chakra. Traditionally linked to cure heartbreak loving others and oneself. It is thought to stimulate wealth and abundance by removing thoughts of inferiority. Helping to view all thing with acceptance and compassion.

Blue Lace Agate

Agate is derived from the Sicilian river Achates where agates where probably found. Blue Lace Agate is a blue periwinkle variety of banded Chalcedony from the Quartz family, with a Moh’s hardness 7. Agates have been found with Neolithic artifacts. Agates where the foundation of the stone cutting industry in Idar-Oberstein, Germany since 16^th century. Some of the best banded Blue Lace Agate gems come from South Africa

Metaphysical

Key Words         Communication, clarity, confidence

Element              Water

Chakras              5^th Throat

Birthstone         May

Zodiac                 Gemini

Metaphysically agates are generally a lower intensity energy with slower frequency vibrations. Agates are regarded as stabilizing and strengthening. Blue Lace Agate opens and clears the throat chakra, benefitting articulate speech and helps to build confidence. Instills clarity of thought, focusing intent of ideas and goals.  Assisting to communicate one’s thoughts, beliefs and truth. For persons who speak before thinking and are unable to stop talking, Blue Lace Agate balances the throat chakra. A gem for enhancing loyalty and trustworthiness, assisting in understanding the sanctity of secrets. An emotionally calming and centering gem.

Palm Fossil

A fossilized forest with palm tree-like plants was found by scientist in an excavation site, in Xinhang, Anhui, China. Dating back 400 million years and covering 2,700,000 square feet, larger than Grand Central Station. Previously only two fossil forest had been discovered in the U.S. and Norway. Lycopsid plants resembling todays palm trees, most of them reaching 10 feet high, the tallest being 25 feet.

Palm plants are found along coastal environments with warm temperatures remaining above the freezing mark, much like a mangrove forest. Coryphoid palms have been found in Olgiocene deposits of Ningming County, Guangxi, China, three species Chuniophoenix slenderifolia sp. nov., Livistona roundifolia sp. nov., and Trachycarpus formosa sp. nov. In 1997 a new species of fossilized palm from the Paleocene era, 65 million years ago, was found further north than previous thought possible, in Drumheller, south of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Pe-king University is studying the Xinhang and other Late Devonian forests. Research shows that early forests with significant biomass can store more carbon through photosynthesis and have more impact on CO2 decline than previously demonstrated.

Courtesy of Earth Sciences Museum, University of Waterloo, Canada

https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-sciences-museum/fossilized-palm-wood

 

Black Onyx

Onyx is a variety of Chalcedony. Onyx is like agate but has straight parallel bands rather than curved bands. Most black onyx is grey chalcedony dyed to remove the grey bands. The dyeing process is stable and has been used for centuries. Onyx can be traced back to biblical times being one of the stones on Aaron’s breastplate. Black gems where the height of popularity during Queen Victoria’s mourning period. Onyx has been carved for cameos for centuries.

Metaphysical

Key words          focus, inner strength

Element              Earth

Chakra:              1^st Root, 3^rd Solar Plexus, 6^th Third Eye

Zodiac                 Leo

Birthstone          July

Onyx is a stone of inner strength. Black Onyx is used to stimulate the root chakra with the feet. It is said to help gradually build up vitality. And is used to help one control focus. Romans carried amulets carved with Mars, the god of War. Believed to bestow courage in battle. Persians believed it helped epilepsy. English midwives used it the ease childbirth.

Hematite

Hematite is known by the trade name of Black Alaskan Diamond. Hematite has been found on Mars, ‘Mars Blueberries’. Magnetic Hematite is a synthetic material known as Hematine.

Hematite is derived from Greek ‘blood’. Coloured black to silver-grey, some varieties have reddish brown streaks. In the German gem cutting houses referred to hematite as Blood Stone, as the water ran red during the cutting process. An iron oxide, Hematite is found in the tailings of iron mines. Red Chalk writings by early humans were created with ochre. Red ochre clay with varying amounts 20-70% of unhydrated hematite, hydrated hematite creates yellow ochre.

Rich deposits of hematite have been mined since the Etruscan era 6^th century BCE on the island of Elba. The popularity of black gems and hematite jewellery rose during the Victorian era and was used widely in mourning jewellery. Hematite is used in the art form intaglio engraved gems and is also carved. The traditional red house paint in Sweden is Falu Red is created from hematite. Ground crystals are used to create rouge for polishing metals and gemstones.

Metaphysical Properties

Key words          grounding, make the spiritual physical,

Element              Earth

Chakras               Root (1^st)

Hematite is a powerful stone used to cleanse negative energy. It is thought to be the most effective stone for grounding oneself. Hematite’s grounding properties help in balancing the meridian system to the root chakra.

Lapis Lazuli

A stone of royalty and spirituality, it was unsurpassed in ancient times. Known as sapphirus until the Middle Ages. Lapis is Latin for ‘blue stone’. Lapis Lazuli was the stone of the Pharaohs and Emperors world over and is most likely the sapphire mentioned in the Bible. Catherine the Great decorated a room, walls, fireplace, doors and mirror frames. Chinese cherished it for carving.

Lapis Lazuli (Lazurite) is made up of several different minerals lazurite, sodalite, hauyne, calcite and pyrite.  Predominately royal blue with minor patches of white and pyrite inclusions. Most prized intense blue Lapis Lazuli comes from the far northeastern remote province Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Archeological evidence dates these mines to 8000 BC.  Russian Lapis has greater amounts of pyrite. Whereas Chilean Lapis is rich in calcite giving it a distinctly dull and dusty appearance. Recently finds of Mexican Lapis are blends of teal and blue.

Metaphysical

Key Words         Inner vision, truthful communications, royal virtues

Element              Wind

Chakras              5^th Throat, 6^th Third Eye

Planet                 Juniper

Birthstone          December

Was worn to protect from evil. Thought to aid in the path to self-knowledge and reflection. Wind element working predominantly on the third eye to aid in a deep inner journey.