Special Edition #1: June Birthstones!
This is going to be a special gemstone symbolism discussion covering June birthstones. Why? It's because it's my birthday and I want to talk about shiny rocks. So now, it should be noted that June doesn't only have one gemstone it actually has three. One of which I already covered.
Now, I have already covered a majority of this stone in my Ardyn Izunia and Alexandrite discussion. However there is some information that I did forget to fill out from my crystal book. I initially missed this info as in Judy Hall's The Crystal Bible, Alexandrite is under the page about Chrysoberyl. So let's talk about Chrysoberyl stones for a moment.
Chrysoberyl are a form of Beryl gemstones, considered a stone of New beginnings. It brings compassion and forgiveness, generosity and confidence. Psychologically, Chrysoberyl strengthens self-worth and releases outworn energy patterns. Mentally, the stone helps you to see both sides of a problem or situation and to use strategic planning. This category of stones in the emotions department helps encourage forgiveness for those that have perpetrated injustices. Now, Chrysoberyl normally in crystal healing is used with other stones, as it supports self-healing.
Now onto Alexandrite itself. Noted in the Crystal Bible, it is noted to be a stone of contrasts. Opening intuition and metaphysical abilities, creating strong wills in people and personal magnetism. In regenerative abilities, it rebuilds self-respect and supports rebirth of the inner and outer self. It centers, reinforces and realigns; mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. It brings about joy, expands creativity, expedites change and enhances manifestation. Alexandrite is also an emotional soother as it teaches how to expend less effort. The stone also brings about stimulation to imagery, including dreams and the imagination.
Now that I've finished talking about Alexandrite a bit further. With Alexandrite being a more modern addition to the June birthstone list. Let's move onto the next June Birthstone.
Our second gemstone we're talking about is the Moonstone. Now, it should be noted that moonstone does have multiple color variations but for this post I will only cover the general info about the stone. We'll save the specific colors for another time.
Moonstone is another stone called the "stone of new beginnings". However compared to chrysoberyl, Moonstone is very strongly connected to the moon and intuition. The most noted effect is it's ability to calm emotions. Moonstone can make the conscious the unconscious and promotes intuition and empathy. It also encourages lucid dreaming, even more so around the full moon. Now moonstone has been noted to traditionally be used for psychic ability enhancement and develop clairvoyance.
Psychologically, moonstone calms overreactions to situations and to emotional triggers. Being connected to the moon, this stone contains a higher amount of feminine energy as it helps with the balancing of male-female energy.
Mentally, Moonstone opens the mind to sudden and irrational impulses, serendipity and synchronicity. However it can also induce illusions in response to wishful thinking.
In the emotional aspect, this stone is a soother for emotional instability and stress as it stabilizes emotions. It also improves emotional intelligence. Providing deep emotional healing.
Physically, it affects the female reproductive system aka the vagina and menstrual cycle. mainly by alleviating menstrual related tension and dis-ease.
Moonstone according to the Gemological Institute of America website, is connected to both the Roman and Greek Lunar deities. Meaning that it represents Selene, Artemis and Diana. While in Hindu mythology, it is claimed that moonstone is made of solidified moonbeams. This stone is often associated with love, passion and fertility; along with bringing good luck.
So Moonstone's historical prevelance is with the great designers of the Art Nouveau era in the 1890s-1910s, more specifically Rene Lalique and Louis Comfort Tiffany in their fine jewelry collections. It had a resurfacing with the 1960s flower child movement and with the New age designers of the 1990s.
Our second stone is covered and now onto the last one.
The last stone I'll be covering is pearl. Now, it should be noted that pearl also comes in multiple colors. I will only cover the general info. However, this stone doesn't have a page dedicated to it in the crystal book I have, so I will mainly be using the websites for the Gemological Institute of America, Ouros Jewels and the International Gem Society for this section.
Pearl is another gemstone that is actually organic just like Amber and not a mineral based gemstone. However, Pearl actually comes from both saltwater and freshwater mollusks. Mollusks secrete a substance known as nacre and it forms around an irritant that entered the creature. Humans have figured a way to cultivate pearls but discussing about the Pearl industry is another time and requires further research.
Pearls just like Moonstone have a strong association with the moon. As in Vedic texts, pearls are born from earth's waters, heaven's powers and fertilized with a flash of lightning. However in the west, they are a symbol of Aphrodite/Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. While in some other mythologies, they represent tears shed by the gods.
Pearl is strongly connected with purity, humility, innocence, wisdom and calmness. As their metaphysical quality is about emotional balance and the promotion of personal growth. They are also considered a symbol of wealth. Along with being associated with the water due to it's origins.
It's benefits in healing are noted in different cultures. In the Atharvaveda texts, pearls were said to bestow long life and prosperity. While in China, they were gifted to brides for fertility. Along with being associated with dragons.
Pearls are the oldest known gemstone as we have records that dated back to at least the 13th century CE. Maybe even used during ancient Greece for brides.
With that our June Birthstones have been covered. since that's done, I'm off to go have some birthday cake and play some video games.
