The Meaning of Gems

Agate-The agate is one of the oldest healing gemstones recorded in history. Ancient Babylonians used Agate to ward off storms. Agates with banded colors were placed on the head of a sleeping person in order to give them rich and colorful dreams. As healing gemstones today, Agates are used to help with an upset stomach. It is also said to give perspective and to help a person accept his or her emotions. Amethyst- dates back to early Greek Mythology. The god Dionysus was greatly angered by a mortal that refused to acknowledge him. He decided to take out his wrath on all people who refused his gifts of wine and drunkenness. He soon spotted a young virgin named Amethyst who was unfamiliar with wine and detained her. He then summoned two tigers to devour her and sat back with his wine to watch. The youth cried out to the goddess Diana and she had pity on her, turning her into a pure white stone in order to save her. Dionysus then saw the evil in what he was about to do and started to weep. The tears dripped into his wine goblet and then spilled out into the quartz. The stone absorbed the color from the wine and was turned purple, creating the stone known as Amethyst. Due to this myth, Amethyst has traditionally been worn to ward of drunkenness. It is also used today as a dream stone to treat insomnia. Carnelian-Most of the myths surrounding the healing gemstone Carnelian come from Egyptian and Hebrew cultures. The Egyptian goddess Isis was said to protect the dead with a Carnelian amulet named Thet. In Hebrew culture, the Bible describes the Breastplate of Aaron as being set with a Carnelian stone. Today, some believe that Carnelian gives energy, guards against poverty and calms the temper. Citrine - From the earliest of times, citrine was called the "sun stone" and the gemstone was thought capable of holding sunlight and useful in the protection from snakebite. Its color was associated with gold and it became known as the merchant’s stone. It was thought to improve communication and to attract wealth. To the Romans, it was the stone of Mercury, the messenger god, and it was used for carving intaglios. The color of the solar plexus chakra is yellow, so citrine is associated with this chakra. It is thought to have a positive influence that can relieve backache, and combat depression and problems with the liver, spleen, digestive system and the bladder. Some believe that the gemstone can help promote prosperity. Emerald - The vibrant green stone is a sage stone. Emerald revitalizes us and restores balance. It heals old wounds. When we're confused or troubled, it helps us cut through to the truth. Don't wait until you're completely frazzled by life. Do the wise thing- wear emeralds today, tomorrow and always. Garnet-The pomegranate is used in much of Greek Mythology and many believe that it is used in association with the garnet. In ancient cultures, garnet was associated with fire and illumination. It was said to contain enough energy to light the night sky. Garnet is believed to have been hung to light the path inside of Noah’s Ark. Eastern Indians used to rub garnet on themselves to obtain a “glowing quality” to their skin. Garnet has always been considered insurance for travelers against misfortune. Likewise, some believe that it is useful in warding off bad dreams and as protection from theft. The stone is thought to attract love and soul mates and to enhance creativity. Jade - For a sense of the spiritual value of jade, look into the face of a great carved Buddha. In that face is deep, enduring peace and strength. Green jade promotes that kind of strength. It offers physical and emotional well-being, especially during unpleasant or difficult situations, by helping us feel more grounded. Though we may not be able to change the situation, jade can help us accept and deal with it sanely. Lapis Lazuli-Ancient Egyptians used to bury a scarab made of Lapis Lazuli with their dead, believing it would offer protection in the afterlife. They also wore Lapis as a symbol of truth. Many very early cultures valued it more than gold. Some believed dreaming of Lapis meant that the person would find everlasting love and faithfulness. As a healing gem, Lapis is thought to bring clarity of mind and to open up many of the chakra centers. Malachite - Malachite probably derives its name from either Greek malhe, meaning grass for its green color or Greek malakos, meaning soft because the stone lends itself well to being carved. With its concentric, eye-like rings of green that mimic the eye of a peacock feather, this stone has captured the imagination of many cultures for ages, and has been described by poets as spring grass swaying in the wind. The first culture to use malachite for adornment was ancient Egypt around 4,000 BC. The Egyptians used malachite as an ornamental stone in jewelry and art. The stone was imported from King Solomon's infamous copper mines on the Red Sea. Archeologists have found Egyptian tomb paintings using malachite gemstones that had been ground into paint that colored the walls. It was also ground into a fine dust and mixed with galena, a thick paste used to make kohl, on slate palettes to be painted onto eyelids as a cosmetic and talisman against evil. Vivid green malachite kohl is believed to be Cleopatra's favorite cosmetic, and she was buried with a large vase of it for use in her afterlife. Malachite also played an important role in European paintings during the Renaissance period of the 15th and 16th centuries as a pigment for paints and dyes. It is believed that many of the green colors found in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel painting were painted with malachite-based oil paints. One of the most common uses of malachite from the medieval through the Victorian times was to hang small pieces of malachite dangled from baby cribs and children's beds to help keep evil at bay, and to help children have peaceful sleep. It was the Russian Romanov dynasty, however, that really made malachite synonymous with outlandish luxury. High quality malachite, discovered in 1635 in the foothills of the Urals, had become very fashionable for jewelry by 1820 and was frequently paired with gold and diamonds. In 1835, a malachite boulder of the highest quality was discovered that would take 21 years to unearth and bring to the surface. Slabs from this 260-ton gem were used to adorn the interior of two Russian palaces; creating malachite pillars, columns and encased walls. This same boulder also supplied enough malachite to encase eight of the ten huge Corinthian columns that support a two-hundred foot tall gilded altar in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia. Malachite is the essence of joy and is known as the "stone of transformation" because it helps reveal and heal emotional pain by absorbing the pain into itself. It is especially helpful in bringing ease during times of change and gives the insight needed for personal growth. Malachite has been traditionally used to ward off danger and fight illness. It has been said to protect against falling and has been wrapped over bruises and broken bones to help with tissue regeneration and healing. Malachite tends to draw negative energy and disharmony into itself. Periodically recharge your malachite's energy by placing it on a clear quartz cluster, then rinse with cool, clean water. Overall, malachite is said to bring harmony into one's life. Wearing it can assist in the manifestation of the heart's desire and strengthen intuition. Obsidian - has a long history. Stone Age people used it for weapons and implements. Native Americans formed it into arrowheads, and the Incas used it for weapons, mirrors and masks, before, finally, it was used to create beautiful jewelry. Obsidian is a powerful stone that reminds us that birth and death are simultaneously and constantly present, one within the other. It has always been associated with guardian spirits that watch over us. Earlier peoples drew on that protective power in weapons they made from obsidian. Today people who wear it often speak of a sense of protection. Mahogany obsidian, in particular, is said to increase sexuality and sensuality-- the sense of touch, especially. It's as if the memory of the volcano's eruption, connected with its birth, is at the core of this gemstone's tremendous power. Opal - The name "opal" comes from the Sanskrit word for "upala," meaning precious stone. In Indian mythology, the virgin Goddess of the Rainbow was turned into an opal by the Mother Goddess because she was being chased by suitors Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. During Roman times, the Latin word "opalus" came into use. It is said that precious opal, with its display of fire, can spark creativity, and that the "dance" of its fire can help people enjoy their lives. The light-colored stones have long been associated with helping people become less visible to others and also in improving eyesight. The gemstone has been associated with the sacral chakra, imbalances of which can cause problems with addictions. Some believe that opal can help moderate and harmonize sexual desires. Pearls - are one of the earliest gemstones found by prehistoric man, most likely along the coastline of India. They've been used for personal adornment and coveted by peoples throughout the globe for thousands of years. Ancient myths tell of pearls being formed when oysters opened their shells, rose to the water's surface and were seeded by the early morning rays of sunlight and drops of dew. Some healers use pearls to help balance body rhythms and hormone levels with lunar cycles, and to harmonize human beings with the natural world. The inner glow (orient) of pearls is thought to tap inner-wisdom and nurture love. Pearls are also believed to signify innocence and faith. Peridot - The popularity of this most beloved gemstone of the olivine group reaches back to the Middle Ages when it was brought to Europe by the crusaders. During the Italian Renaissance and the baroque period, the most creative periods in history, it appeared everywhere in jewelry and religious objects all over Europe. Peridot has been used traditionally to heal bruised egos, lessen anger, and prevent jealousy. Ruby - The queen of gems, deep red ruby is the rarest and most valuable of gemstones. Rubies have been so loved by royalty, they have always included them in their insignias and famous jewelry, but rubies actually have humble beginnings. Most deposits are still worked in the primitive way they've been worked for centuries. They are panned from rivers and picked out by hand from the other minerals around them. Sapphire - Since medieval times, sapphire has been associated with the majesty and tranquility of the heavens. It was thought to dispel evil thoughts and to bring peace and amiability to its wearer. The stone is associated with Abraham in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The name sapphire comes from the Greek (for blue), and as late as the Middle Ages, the word applied to lapis lazuli. From Antiquity, gemstones have been thought to possess mysterious powers. Sapphire is said to enhance creativity and to focus purity of thought. It is known as the stone of new love and commitment and is claimed to be useful in encouraging faithfulness and loyalty. Because of its blue color, it is associated with the throat and brow chakras - where energy imbalances are said to cause sore throats, headaches and nightmares. Topaz - Its name probably comes from an island in the Red Sea, formerly called Topazos. Blue topaz (a treated form) is tremendously popular and is a wonderful substitute for the rare and expensive aquamarine, with which it is often confused. Because topaz has always been associated with compassion and communication, it's a wonderful stone to wear when you need to "build bridges" between yourself and other people. Blue topaz, in particular, helps you have more control in touchy situations. For one thing, it develops curiosity and humor. For another, it heightens your competence without making you seem dominating. Turquoise - Turquoise, a stone ranging in color from blue to green to yellow, is filled with wonderful patterns of brown and black matrix that are composed mainly of copper deposits. Although turquoise has captivated man's imagination for centuries, no one is sure exactly when it was discovered. Prehistoric people used and prized it for its blue-green colors because carved pieces have been found in burial and archeological sites spanning the globe. The beauty and history of turquoise is hard to match! Steeped in history and intrigue, it is truly a captivating stone. It has been used in religion, art, trade, treaty negotiations and of course as treasured jewelry to many kingdoms and peoples. Whether you study ancient Egyptians, Chinese Dynasties, Aztec Mythology or Native American people, it seems clear that turquoise has always been and always will be considered a stone of life, beauty, and good fortune. No claims are made. These alleged powers are gathered from writing, books, folklore and various sources.