• BABY
ITEMS •
Birth
Stones
By Gina Ritter
As a new parent,
or an old pro, there’s something wonderful about the allure
of a birthstone. What does it mean? What can we find with our
birthstone on it? Even children love to learn about their birthstones
and receive special gifts.
January Birth
Stone: Garnet
Garnet, usually noted as the color red, is actually the gem of nature with
its colors ranging from deep red to orange, yellow, and green. Only blue is
not found in garnet. Garnet is believed to be able to illuminate the night
and protect the wearer from wounds, ill health and evil.
February
Birth Stone: Amethyst
The word amethyst comes from the greek, meaning "not drunken” and
gem is purported to have originated when the god Dionysus took out his anger
on mortals. Read
a Balter Catalogue article on Amethyst.
March Birth
Stone: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a beautiful light blue-green stone whose name is derived from
the Latin, "beryllus aquamarinus", meaning resembling seawater or "aqua” meaning
water, and "mare” or sea. Since it’s the color of the sky,
it’s presumed heavenly or eternal and it’s also the color of water
with its life-giving properties, which also carried legend that aquamarine
was originally found in a mermaids treasure making it a sailor’s talisman.
Its light blue symbolizes sympathy, trust, harmony or friendship in a relationship
and is supposed to be the ideal gemstone for lovers or couples to give them
happiness and riches.
April Birth
Stone: Diamond
While you may think of a diamond as being colorless or yellow, they really
come in a rainbow of colors. Although they tend to be pale, they come in oranges,
greens, pinks and blues, pale to bright yellows, and several shades of brown
now being coined names like cognac and champagne. “Diamond” is
from the Greek "adamas,” meaning unbreakable or unconquerable. They
were believed to render poison harmless and to drive away insanity and bad
dreams.
May Birth
Stone: Emerald
The name Emerald was derived from French "esmeraude” which was formed
from a Latin root word meaning "green gemstone.” Like the garnet,
the Emerald is an Earth color, also linked to the Earth goddess and fertility. “Emerald
green” gained it’s named from this amazingly deep and beautiful
green color. In lore it was sacred to the Goddess, Venus, and interestingly
it’s been worn to ease the pain of childbirth! Emeralds promise good
luck, well-being and healing.
June Birth
Stone: Pearl
Pearls are an organic gem, formed by an irritation in a sea oyster or freshwater
mussels. Long ago, pearls were important financial assets, comparable in price
to real estate, as thousands of oysters had to be searched for only one pearl.
They were rare because they were created only by chance. Now setting a sea
shell piece in the oyster and returning them back to the water until they’ve
had a sufficient amount of time to make the pearl cultures them by man. The
Goddess Venus used pearls as a symbol of innocence.
July Birth
Stone: Ruby
When flawless, an extremely rare ruby is more valuable than a diamond; a true
emperor of the gemstones. Historically, the ruby is associated with royalty,
love and vividness, passion, and power. It was attributed to the power over
life and death, strengthening the heart, diluting poisons, and prevention of
blood loss. Red emanates warmth and a strong sense of life.
August Birth
Stone: Peridot
The Peridot is a light green color perfect for summer and said to rid night
terrors and bad thoughts with some healing powers for the liver. The Egyptians
used peridot and the ancient Romans coveted the brilliant green sparkle, naming
it “Evening Emerald”. Peridot is found in European Midieval churches.
September
Birth Stone: Sapphire
In ancient times the sky was believed to be “a gigantic blue sapphire
stone into which the earth is embedded.” Buddhists believe the Sapphire
brings purity & spiritual enlightenment. The Sapphire is found in all the
colors of the sky as well as greyish misty blue and all of the colors of the
sunset like yellow, pink, orange and purple; except for red. In fact, a red
sapphire is actually a ruby. Interestingly, a large percentage of the population
favors the color blue and it’s connected to sympathy and harmony, friendship
and loyalty. Sapphire blue is related to reliability, loyalty, faithfulness,
love and yearning and is, like aquamarine, a gem for couples and lovers. Sapphires
are also connected to identifying liars, protection from black magic, visions
and the ability to read the future.
October Birth
Stone: Opal & Tourmaline
In ancient Egyptian legend the “Rainbow Gemstone,” Tourmaline got
its amazing colors from heat while traveling to the sun on a rainbow. No two
are alike and it is thought to possess magical powers; especially in love,
stability, and friendship.
Opals carry a mystical
healing power according to the ancients, and can solve depression
and help find true love. When the zodiac sign bearer carries
an opal, his or her personality and positive characteristics
are amplified. Opal reflects changing emotions and moods of people
and our moods will choose the color of opal we prefer that day.
In the time of the ancient Australian aborigines, it is reported
that the creator came down to Earth on a rainbow, to spread peace
and where his foot touched the ground opals were formed in rainbow
colors. The Roman senator Nonius chose exile rather than surrendering
an Opal to Mark Antony.
November
Birth Stone: Topaz
Topaz is used for clear sight and to break the chains of magical enchantment,
protect the faithful against harm and increase strength. It’s said to
change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink, to be colored with
the golden glow of the mighty Egyptian sun god Ra, and rubbing or gentle heating
of Topaz electrifies it, causing it to attract small particles like bits of
paper or hair. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who also is the god
of the sun. It was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages. The word
Topaz comes from the Sanskrit "tapas"- meaning 'to glow'. Topaz is
sometimes colored amber gold, peach, warm browns and oranges, blues and rarely
pinks. Citrine is an alternative to topaz.
December Birth Stone: Blue Zircon
In the middle ages, zircon was said to aid sleep, bring prosperity, and promote
honor and wisdom in its owner. The name probably comes from the Persian word
zargun, which means "gold-colored," although zircon comes in pastel
blue, bright blue, green, and dark red, yellow, brown, and orange. Zircon is
also said to rid the user of bad dreams and spirits, grief, melancholy, and
sleeplessness. Zircon is often confused with the man-made diamond, cubic zirconia.
Gina Ritter is the owner and publisher of Natural
Family Online, as well as a freelance and fiction writer.
You may reprint this article by contacting her at GinaRitter.com
