Q & A
January
Garnet comes in many different colors. The name garnet is derived from the word pomegranate because the deep red varieties of the gemstone resemble the seeds of the pomegranate fruit. A green variety, called tsavorite, was found in 1971 in Kenya's Tsavo National Park. Garnet is believed to bring a sense of calm when worn.
February
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. The ancient Greeks associated the mineral with Bacchus, the god of wine. It was believed that wearing amethyst would keep the drinker sober. Perhaps the modern sentiment, that amethyst brings power to the wearer, derives from this sense of being clearheaded.
March
Aquamarine is the blue to a greenish-blue variety of the mineral beryl. Its name is derived from two Latin words: aqua, meaning "water," and marina, meaning "of the sea." Crystals can grow quite large, allowing the gem cutter to fashion sizeable gems. It is believed to represent unity.
April
Diamond is the hardest of all gemstones. They form deep within the earth and reach the surface through violent volcanic eruptions. Some diamonds are more than three billion years old, which is likely the reason that they represent endurance.
May
Emerald is among the most valuable of gemstones. This blue-green variety of beryl was once believed to heal ailments of the eyes. Colombian emerald mines are legendary and continue to produce the finest specimens. An emerald always brings joy to the wearer.
June
Pearl is different from other gems because it forms in the soft tissue of a living mollusk. Natural pearls are rare; most pearls are cultured by implanting a bead into the mollusk and letting the mollusk coat the bead with nacre for up to two years before the pearl is harvested. Wearing pearls is believed to bring clarity to the mind.
July
Ruby is esteemed among gems because of its rich red color. The most excellent examples come from Myanmar (Burma). In ancient times, rubies were believed to give the wearer strength and courage in battle. They are also considered a source of harmony.
August
Peridot is the gem variety of the mineral olivine. The most ancient source of fine peridot is a tiny island in the Red Sea known as Zabargad. Peridot has also been recovered from meteorites. It is believed to bring purity when worn.
Spinel comes in a painter's palette of colors: orange, intense "stoplight" red, vibrant pink, and all shades of purple, blue, and violet through the bluish-green. Fine specimens became the treasured property of kings and emperors. Spinel is believed to promote health.
September
Sapphire comes in every color of the rainbow, although blue sapphire is the most popular. Also prized is the rare pink-orange sapphire variety known as padparadscha, named after the color of a lotus flower. Sapphire represents loyalty.
October
Opal may exhibit a spectrum of colors called play-of-color. When this is set against a dark background, it is known as black opal. Australia is the source of most of the world's fine opal. Opal represents hope.
Tourmaline exhibits a wide range of colors. Bicolored and multicolored crystals are common. Sometimes crystals are green on the outside and pink inside; these are called watermelon tourmalines. Wearing tourmaline is believed to bring strength.
November
Citrine is the golden yellow variety of quartz. Most citrine is produced by heating amethyst. Brazil is its primary source, but it's also found in many African countries such as Zambia, Namibia, and Madagascar. Wearers of citrine may experience heightened awareness.
Topaz is widely known for its golden color, but it can also be found in blue and pink. Regardless of the color, it is believed to bring prosperity when worn.
December
Turquoise contains copper, which is the source of its blue or greenish-blue color. Many minerals, such as variscite, naturally resemble turquoise. Other minerals can be dyed to imitate it. Turquoise imparts peace upon the wearer.
Tanzanite (a variety of the mineral zoisite) was discovered in 1967 in northern Tanzania, which remains the world's only known source. Its velvety, purplish-blue color sets it apart from all other gems. Tanzanite is said to give its wearers balance.
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Why do some months have more than one birthstone
While differing traditions are often cited when a month has multiple modern-day birthstones, the more significant reason is that some gemstones are too rare and expensive, and others just aren't as popular.
What is The Origin of Birthstones?
The idea of a birthstone, a gemstone that corresponds to a person's birth month, is a relatively modern creation. However, its origin dates back to biblical times. Historians believe the twelve gemstones of the breastplate of Aaron corresponded originally to the twelve tribes of Israel. However, Josephus and St. Jerome, in the 1st and 5th centuries CE, respectively, began linking these gems with the signs of the zodiac. Presumably, each stone offered wearers special powers during the corresponding astrological period. Therefore, people tried to collect and wear all twelve gems throughout the year as talismans or for therapeutic benefits. The modern association of one gem to each month and the practice of wearing just the stone connected to your birth month arose between the 16th and 18th centuries. The list of so-called ancient or "traditional birthstones" originated in Poland during this time. In the United States in 1912, the National Association of Jewelers released a list of so-called "modern birthstones."
How do Traditional and Modern Birthstone Jewelry Differ?
Although the lists differ somewhat, romantic gem enthusiasts in Western cultures today commonly choose birthstones from both selections. While most contemporary consumers don't typically attribute unusual powers to these stones, the gems do have popular meanings and associations.
While traditional birthstones include a mix of transparent and opaque gems, such as opal, pearl, and turquoise, the current list features only transparent gems. Practically speaking, this makes it easier to mix different gems into one piece of modern birthstone jewelry. However, if you prefer the traditional look to the current alternative, choose one of the ancient stones for your jewelry.
-By International Gem Society
Whatever method you use to find the gemstone or stones that are right for you, the gift of these beautiful stones in your life may very well surprise you!
What is energy?
To understand what energy is it might help to understand quantum mechanics.
Now for a technical definition, Quantum mechanics is a theory of matter and energy that explains in particular how, energy is absorbed and released, in small quantities (or quanta), and that all matter displays both wavelike and particle-like properties, especially when viewed at subatomic scales. That definition was taken from the American heritage science dictionary, and only slightly edited.
So energy is in constant flux or in other terms, it's continually moving and changing, which can be seen when you look at it on teeny, teeny tiny levels. That's easier to understand, right dictionary?
Can you infuse energy into jewelry?
With the help of our ancient masters of the east, our native elders, and our shamans, we could decipher energy also as light. Light and energy all carry information in the form of frequencies. To understand how we could "infuse" energy into matter, we need to understand the definition of Quantum Mechanics.
If you observe matter on a quantum level, all matter displays both wavelike and particle-like properties. Quantum mechanics suggests that the behavior of matter and energy is inherently probabilistic and that the effect of the observer on the physical system being observed must be understood as being part of that system.
So energy is in constant flux or in other terms, it's continually moving and changing, which can be seen when you look at it on teeny, teeny tiny levels. Basically, what this definition is saying is that if you observe an item, it becomes possible for you to be a part of that item as one unit. You can influence the energy of the unit or group on how it will behave. Maybe oversimplified, energy is like a puppy full of potential who is eager to be told how to act and for you to take control, and the more work you put in, the better results come out of it. The same goes for a piece of jewelry that, in our case, can work as an anchor. The more often we fill it with positive intentions and goals, the better the outcome. With consistent practice and positive thought patterns in combination with meditation, you can hone in on your goals much more efficiently by the positive energy (that you infused on subatomic levels) emitting from your jewelry.