https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news.atomAudacieuse by Alice - News2023-03-11T06:06:08+08:00Audacieuse by Alice https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/clinohumite-gemstone2023-03-11T06:06:08+08:002023-03-11T06:06:08+08:00Clinohumite GemstoneAlice Koh
By Alice Koh [For educational purposes only].
Clinohumite is a gemstone quality of a magnesium silicate chemical formula with a monoclinic, granular, prismatic crystal structure. Clinohumite colour includes various shades of yellow, red and orange accompanied by secondary tones of light to dark-brown. Golden yellow to orange material is considered most desirable and can be quite vibrant.
Clinohumite has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale which makes it hard enough for any type of jewellery. Nonetheless, since it is extremely rare, any clinohumite cut and shape will need to be custom designed and made.
Clinohumite is an elite gem collectors' crystal. It has a refractive index ranging from 1.629 to 1.674 and a density ranging from 3.13 to 3.75. It has a unique basal cleavage. Clinohumite can occur transparent to opaque, but only the transparent and translucent materials have value as gemstones. Visible inclusions are quite common; eye-clean specimens are rare. Impurities in clinohumite include aluminium, manganese and calcium. It also has a dull, glass-like to resinous luster.
Clinohumite is a very rare mineral which is very hard to find as a gemstone; carat gemstones exist but only in private collections.
Clinohumite is part of the humite group of minerals which also includes norbergite, chondrodite, humite and clinohumite. However, only chondrodite and clinohumite are known to produce gemstone quality deposits. This humite group is named after the well-known English mineralogist Sir Abraham Hume (1749-1838).
Clinohumite was first discovered in limestone blocks that had erupted from Mount Vesuvius near Naples, Italy in 1876. Then in 1980 other deposits were found in the Pamir Mountains. Another deposit was found in the Taymyr Peninsula in the Far North of Russia in 2000. In 2005 a most recent deposit was found in the Mahenge Plateau in the Ulanga District of the Morogoro Region of Tanzania, Africa. Other notable sources include Pargas in Finland, Llanos de Juanar in Spain and in the United States. Clinohumite has been found in New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Clinohumite is a collector's gemstone. However, lower quality translucent clinohumite gemstones are usually cut en cabochon.
Clinohumite is not known to be treated nor enhanced in any way.
Clinohumite is similar chemically to Serpentine. Serpentine is aso a magnesium silicate.
Clinohumite's golden yellow and orange-red colours give a boost of energy to the wearer. It is also considered a happiness crystal that helps to release stress and gives power to the wearer. It is a revitalizing and energizing crystal. Clinohumite is said to be excellent for depression.
These beautiful golden yellow gemstones are said to be pieces of the sun. The people of the Pamir Mountains have used clinohumite as amulets and were given as gifts in weddings and births. They were also placed in cradles and tombs as stones of protection. Many Clinohumite gemstones are passed from one generation to the next.
To cleanse your unique clinohumite gemstone, wipe it with a soft cloth or brush using mild soap and rinse it with warm water. Make sure to remove all soapy residue.
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https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/multicolour-gemstones2023-03-01T05:43:58+08:002023-03-01T05:43:59+08:00Multicolour GemstonesAlice Koh
By Alice Koh [For educational purposes only].
Multicolour gemstones display multiple colours in a single stone. Ammolite, fluorite, andalusite and tourmaline are just few examples.
AMMOLITE
Ammolite is one of the rarest and one-of-a-kind gemstones in the world. It is an organic gemstone like pearls and amber. It is formed in a biological process instead of a mineral process like most gemstones. It comes from the fossilized remains of ancient shells of ancient sea creatures known as ammonites. Ammonites are a type of mollusk that went extinct at around the same time as the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. The shells of ammonites are made of aragonite, the same material found in nacre, abalone and pearls. It is extremely rare as it can only be found in Alberta, Canada.
Ammolite is iridescent which means that it exhibits a gorgeous display of colours.
Ammolite can display three to four colours such as red, green, blue and violet and these colours are visible from all angles.
Ammolite is protected by a hard backing of dark shale to make it harder and durable. Sometimes this ammonite doublet has a triplet protection by adding a transparent cover laid on top of the ammolite gemstone.
Ammolite has a hardness ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 on Mohs scale which without the doublet or triplet protection it would be too soft for use in jewellery.
FLUORITE
Fluorite is known as the "most colourful mineral in the world."
It comes in brilliant colours such as blue, green, yellow, purple, pink, brown, orange, in one single stone. The rare colour-change fluorite comes in blue, purple and milti coloured.
Varieties of flourite that have particular colours or patterns include: Blue John - (also known as Derbyshire Spar) is a semi-precious mineral, a rare form of fluorite with bands of a purple-blue or yellowish colour. It is found only in England.
Chlorophane - exhibits green thermoluminescence when heated.
Fluorite is not enhanced or treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour.
Fluorite deposits are found in Brazil, India, France, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Russia and the United States.
Blue John is mined in limited quantities in Derbyshire, England but a similar fluorite gemstone has been discovered in China.
Fluorite had a hardness of 4 on the Mohs scale which makes it very soft for use in jewellery.
ANDALUSITE
Andalusite is a clear and bright gemstone which changes in colours as it moves from one angle to another. It comes in shades of brown, yellow, orange, red and gold.
Andalusite is an aluminum silicate mineral named after the Spanish province of Andalusia. It is a polymorph with two other gemstones - kyanite and sillimanite. Polymorph means that they share the same chemical make-up and ingredients but have a different crystal structure.
Most Andalusite tend to be a greenish-brown colour but display flashes of orange, pink or red when turned from angle to angle
Andalusite is not known to be treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour.
Andalusite can still be found in Spain, but also in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia, South Africa and the Inyo Mountains of California in the US.
Andalusite has a hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale which makes it durable enough to be used in all types of jewellery.
TOURMALINE
Tourmaline comes from the ancient Sinhalese (from Sri Lanka) "THORAMALLI" which means a mixed coloured stone.
Tourmaline is a complex crystalline boron silicate mineral which owes its variety of colours to the presence of additional minerals such as sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, chromium, vanadium, fluorine and copper.
Tourmaline occurs in every colour of the rainbow in deep reds, pastel pinks, dark greens, vivid yellows and vibrant blues and also in combinations of 2 or 3 colours; rarely is it colorless. Though it can be found in a myriad of colours, it is more common in black to bluish-black. The blackish stone is called schorl and this variety accounts for 90% of tourmalines in nature.
Tourmaline has a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent to opaque with a glass-like luster. Cat's eye effect in tourmaline is very rare. If found, it usually only occurs in large crystals and they are most likely to be in green or pink and can exhibit strong pleochroism. Pleochroic means that it can change colours when viewed from different angles.
Tourmaline promotes healing and brings balance to the soul. It is often referred to as a stone of wisdom as it inspires positive attitude and stimulates creativity and learning.
Tourmalines is not known to be treated in any way.
Tourmaline is sourced from Brazil, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Tanzania and Madagascar.
Tourmaline is the official birthstone of October. It is the traditional gemstone to celebrate the 8th wedding anniversary.
LABRADORITE
This rare beautiful stone changes colours before your eyes from reds, blues, purples, yellows and other colours. Few gemstones are as stunningly beautiful as labradorite.
Labradorite comes from Labrador, in Canada where the Inuit people believed that the Aurora Borealis was trapped within the Labradorite rocks and this transformed the stone into a rainbow-like magical dance of colourful lights.
Labradorite is like a prism. As light passes through its many thin aggregate layers of the stone, different wavelength of the light strikes a different layer and each layer reflects different colours of light. This unique dispersion of light creates the lovely dance of colours.
This play of colours is called the schiller effect, also known as labradorencence, aventurescence and adularescence. Opals and fire agates also have this schiller effect but they differ so much from labradorite that each of these stones can be catalogued very easily.
Labradorite comes in a variety of colours such as dark grey to grey-black, colourless, orange-red and brownish with colourful iridescence. It is often found in the deep blue range of colours.
Its hardness is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale which means that it is hard enough for any type of jewellery.
Labradorite is of the magical feldspar family which also includes spectrolite, rainbow moonstone and moonstone.
Labradorites can display many colours you care to imagine but blue, green, yellow or red are most likely to appear. More rarely, purple, gold, teal and orange are also displayed. It is not treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour.
Labradorite is mined in Canada as well as Madagascar, Russia, Australia and the United States while the fine spectrolite version comes from Finland.
PIETERSITE
Pietersite was named after Sid Pieters who discovered it in Namibia in 1962. Today "Pietersite" is a general term used to describe dark blue-grey breccia aggregate made up mainly of hawk’s eye and tiger’s eye.
Pietersite is a trigonal, fibrous aggregate crystal structure. It is a pseudomorph of quartz. It began as a crocidolite but over the years the crocidolite fibers are replaced by quartz. It is made up of both tiger's eye and hawk's eye breccia aggregate in its varying degrees of alteration.
Pietersite is easily identified by this unique chaotic cat's eye effect, caused by brecciated crocidolite inclusions. Depending on the density of crocidolite inclusions, pietersite can have the appearance either gray-blue, orange-brown or an equal mixture of the two.
Pietersite colours include blues, rusty reds, golds and browns. The blues range from light blue to a dark midnight blue colour.
Pietersite has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that it is durable and resilient for everyday wear. It is opaque and displays a gorgeous silky luster. It has a moderate to strong green and white fluorescence.
MYSTIC QUARTZ
Mystic Quartz is called thus because its gorgeous rainbow colours of green, blue and purple are something magical, mysterious, mystical and bewitching to behold. Mystic quartz is not gemstone per se but an enhanced colourless rock crystal.
Mystic quartz first made its appearance in the gemstone market in 1998. It is a natural colourless or white quartz also known as rock crystal that has been enhanced or coated to give it a unique rainbow colour effect. This enhancement is not permanent.
A clear thin coating is applied to colourless quartz resulting in an infinite combination of unique colours. Mystic quartz is very kaleidoscopic which makes the stone unique and fascinating.
Two of the most popular varieties of mystic quartz include the pink mystic quartz and the deep blue mystic quartz variety.
The magical colours in mystic quartz change as soon as you tilt the gemstone. What sets mystic quartz apart from other gemstones is that every single colour imaginable can be seen in this one quartz.
Mystic quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which makes it flexible and durable for any type of jewellery.
Rock crystal empowers and invigorates the wearer both in his or her self-confidence and self-love. It helps the wearer to rid of all forms of negativity and offers a powerful protection from harmful energy fields.
AGATE
Agate gemstones have been used in jewellery since ancient times. It was considered a very spiritual gemstone used in seals and amulets.
Agate comes in colours such as blue, red, lilac, pink and yellow. They can be found in a variety of lovely patterns, stripes and bands.
Agate is of the banded chalcedony quartz species.
There are many varieties found in agate such as:
Blue Lace Agate
Sardonyx
Moss Agate
Fire Agate
Agate is often not treated except green and yellow agates which are dyed to create a desired even colouring. This dye is safe and does not wash away or fade.
Agate like all quartzes, has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which makes it suitable for all types of jewellery.
Agate is a mystical birthstone for September. It is also the gemstone gift for the 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries.
FIRE AGATE
Fire agate comes with a gorgeous iridescence and round bulges often described as botryoidal which means it is shaped like a bunch of grapes.
Fire agate has a dark brown to black body upon which a rainbow of colours is exhibited. Colours such as red, gold, green and blue come out like a prism. Other colours include purple, orange and yellow.
Fire agate is a type of chalcedony which in turn is a kind of quartz.
Fire agate is not known to be treated or enhanced in any way. It is rare and can only be found in the south western parts of the United States and in northern Mexico.
Fire Agate has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which makes it suitable for all types of jewellery.
BLACK OPAL
Black opal is just one of the many varieties of opals. Other varieties of opals include white opals, boulder opals, fire opals, pink Peruvian opals, hyalite opals and many, many more.
Black opal is the most valuable and one of the most well known of the opal family. It comes with a dark background, displaying the play-of-colour phenomenon and its kaleidoscopic rainbow of colours.
Other famous opals include:
White Opals Matrix Opals Fire Opals Hyalite Opals Cat's Eye Opals Boulder Opals
The red and orange colours in black opal is rarer and more expensive than blue or purple colours.
To darken the background of opal in order to bring out its colours, a couple of methods are used. One is to submerge the black opal in a solution of sugar and then acid. The other way is to smoke it.
Almost all black opals are mined in Lightning Ridge, in northern New South Wales in Australia, also in Ethiopia in North East Africa.
Black opal ranges from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale which makes it a bit fragile for rings and bracelets unless it is placed in protective settings.
Black opal is the birthstone of October. A black opal is the traditional gemstone gift for the 14th wedding anniversary.
BOULDER OPAL
Boulder opal is also one of the most famous of the opal gemstone family. It is called such because it is still attached to the host rock in which it is formed.
Every boulder opal is unique in both shape and colour. Boulder opal displays many different colours of the rainbow that dance before your eyes.
Two of the main colours in boulder opals are red and blue. Other colors include orange, green and purple.
Boulder opal is not treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour.
All boulder opals come from central Queensland.
Boulder opal has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a bit soft, but the attachment to the host rock makes it much more durable.
Boulder opals is the birthstone of October and the traditional gemstone gift for the 14th wedding anniversary.
JASPER
Jasper means spotted stone. It is found in patches of colours, contrasting swirls and lines across the surface of the gemstone with light and dark patches in different colours.
Jasper comes in colours such as brown, red, honey, bright orange, yellow or a mixture of different colours.
Jasper is composed of iron that causes the earthy colours, manganese that brings in blue tints and clay that creates the yellow tone.
Jasper is a type of chalcedony which is a type of quartz. It is a microcrystalline quartz which means that the crystals are too small to be seen with the naked eye. It is opaque in its transparency.
Jasper is not known to be treated in any way.
Jasper is sourced from India, Australia, Venezuela, Russia, Brazil and Uruguay. Madagascar and the islands of Indonesia provide fantastic multicoloured jasper gemstones.
Jasper has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which makes it suitable for all types of jewellery.
Jasper is a traditional birthstone for March.
Here are other multi-coloured gemstones not included in the photo:
CHRYSOCOLLA
Chrysocolla is of a greenish blue colour. However it can also be found with quartz, chalcedony, malachite, azurite and even opal which can create a whole rainbow of other colours as well as intriguing patches and patterns.
It is the mineral copper that creates the greenish blue colour in chrysocolla.
Chrysocolla began as a sort of gel that hardened over time composed of copper silicate. It is usually combined with other minerals such as turquoise, quartz, malachite and others which not only creates interesting patterns and colours but also makes it durable enough to be used as a gemstone.
Chrysocolla is not treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour.
Chrysocolla is usually mined in Southern Israel but can also be found in Australia, Russia, the USA and Mexico in North America, Chile and Peru in South America.
Chrysocolla has a hardness ranging from 2 - 4 on the Mohs scale which makes it very soft for use in jewellery but the inclusion of quartz and chalcedony in its physical make-up usually strengthens this gemstone considerably.
PRECIOUS CORAL
Coral is an organic gemstone like ammolite. This means that it has a biological origin.
Other organic gemstones include:
Amber Ammolite Jet Ivory Pearl
Note, coral is not the same as fossil coral. Precious coral is derived from natural coral found in deep waters in tropical reefs. Fossil coral is the product of millions of years from the skeletons of natural coral replaced by agate. Thus it is more of a chalcedony variety than of precious coral.
Coral can be found in pink or red colours, with salmon or orange variations in some specimens. Some waters can create gold, white, blue or black coral but this is incredibly rare.
Coral colours can fade over time if exposed to heat or direct sunlight so it should be kept tucked away when not being worn.
Coral jewellery has been worn by humanity since ancient times. It was endowed with spiritual powers and often used as amulets to protect the wearer from evil.
Coral is not treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour.
Precious coral is sourced from Italy, Australia, Egypt, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan and Hawaii.
Precious Coral has the hardness ranging from 3 to 4 on the Mohs scale which makes it quite soft for use in jewellery. However necklaces, pendants, brooches and earrings will have no problem.
FOSSIL CORAL
Fossil Coral is a one-of-a-kind gemstone in appearance and its creation. It took millions of years for a fossil coral to be created.
Fossil coral can be found in a range of colours, from white to brown, to reddish and pinkish colour.
Fossil coral is not an organic gemstone. Over millions of years the primary biological material was replaced by cryptocrystalline quartz commonly called agate. Thus, fossil coral is also called ‘Agatized Coral’.
Fossil coral is a quartz which was formed over millions of years while precious coral is a gemstone quality variety of natural coral.
Fossil coral is a mixture of coral and agate. Hence, it carries the metaphysical properties of both precious coral and agate. A grounding protective gemstone.
A small flower-like shape decorates the surface of the better examples. Attractive patterns of bright yellow, red or orange colours are most valued.
Fossil coral is not known to be treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour.
Fossil coral has been used as amulets since ancient times. It is found on beaches or climbing cliffs in the United States and Indonesia. The state of Florida in the United States has declared fossil coral its official 'Florida State Rock'. Indonesian fossilized coral is considered to be the most desirable and unique.
Fossil coral has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7 on Mohs scale which is harder than precious coral and thus suitable for all types of jewellery.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/on-the-tarot2023-02-21T05:54:48+08:002023-02-21T05:55:34+08:00On the Tarot:Alice Koh
by Alice Koh
To: Our beloved teachers, both past and present, who are also like our spiritual fathers and spiritual mothers. I fall on my knees, and kiss your feet and await your blessings.
I was asked my opinion regarding the Tarot. I looked into the matter and discovered a uniformity which gave me a straightforward reading which I will discuss here.
Note: in explicating the Tarot cards, I obtained Paul Foster Case, The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages [First Color Edition], and look at the Tarot deck published there. Following the suggestion of the great Master P. F. Case: to use our intuition and to rely solely on the dictums of such, unless stated, the interpretations that follows are entirely mine. Another book that I highly recommend is the classic: Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A E Waite. As a final point, unless indicated, all emphasis are also mine.
I will not begin with The FOOL, but rather with the DEVIL. Because it is through him that the other cards will make sense. But why the DEVIL: and here is the fuzzy logic of mine that I used to interpret the cards, because on the deck of cards the Devil is number 15 which in Gematria equals the name of YAH (i.e., the name of God).
The DEVIL
First, let us look at the number 15: it is the number of YAH (Yod, He). Add them up: 1 + 5 = 6, which according to Biblical numerology is an imperfect number: the number of man. For on the sixth day Man was created (which include the woman).
Second, the devil is depicted as a monstrous fellow with a goat’s face, human torso, and has eagle’s claws as feet. (Note: statues of Jupiter Ammon are personified as having a human body with the horns of a ram at the head; [Alexander the Great is painted wearing the horns of Amen-Ra, in the Quran he is known as the Horned One.] Horns in ancient times signified divinity and Power). Moreover, The devil card is an identical image to the Knights Templar's Baphomet with the exception that Baphomet, below his stomach it has the Cross and the Caduceus of Hermes, both represent the Phallus, the reproductive forces in man, and the source of his divinity or his Foundation:
Genesis 24:2 Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth. בַּֽיהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ bayhwâ ’ĕlōhê haššāmayim wē’lōhê hā’āreṣ BYHVH (28) ALHI (46) HShMIM (395) = 441 UALHI (52) HARTz (296) = 348; total: 817 = 16
Also notice that in the cross or + symbol we obtain the letters L. V. X: LIGHT. Here, therefore, the cross represents EVIL and the Light is the light of Hades. He is also represented with the ears of a donkey. Now, IAO or IEO (i.e., Yah was the same as Iao, Iacchus, and Bacchus of the Greeks), well, Iao which is another pronunciation of the word Y a H V H, in Egyptian it means donkey. And yes, the donkey was worshipped in ancient Egypt under the name of SET (Typhon), the Red colored Demon. (Source: The Right Honorable SIR W. DRUMMOND, THE OEDIPUS JUDAICUS, a most excellent book which I recommend everyone to read).
Mark 11:7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 11:9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple.
A non-Jew cannot enter the temple: Paul was almost murdered because the Jews believed that he brought a Greek inside the Temple (Acts 21: 27-29 [read also, Revelation 22: 15 where non-Jews are referred to as dogs]); however, a donkey can enter the temple. What does this tell us? That the Donkey was considered sacred to the Jews (see the book of Judges: 5: 10; 12: 14; 15:16). Today the Jews are still waiting for their Messiah-El (the Anointed of El) whom they say will enter the East Gate of the Temple riding a white donkey (c.f., Judges 5: 10). Furthermore, there are two Messiahs, one will be born of the Tribe of Judah (and he will be known as ben Jehudah, or the son of Judah) and the other Messiah will be born of the tribe of Ephraim (The Oedipus Judaicus). Here is another way of putting it: Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David (or Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David). Michael Hoffman, however, in his magnum opus JUDAISM DISCOVERED, says that today the majority of Jews think of the Messiah as being the Jewish Race itself.
In addition, in some Tarot cards The Devil is depicted as having fish scales on his upper legs and stomach.
1 Samuel 5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the fish part had been left upon him.
What this represents then is the Zodiac sign of Capricorn: the Merman DAGON. Here, however, the devil has breasts, meaning, that he is both male and female.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Notice, too, that in the name of Y H V H we find the male and female idea: that is, YAH (male aspect of God) + HAWAH or Eve (female aspect of God). Istar also identifies herself to be male occasionally and in a Sumerian incantation text she declares ‘I am a woman, (but) verily I am an exuberant man’. Istar of Nineveh was worshipped in a bearded form, despite being female and in a hymn to Istar under the name Nana reads ‘I have a beard in Babylon, still I am Nana.’ [Source: Megan Hollie Caroline Lewis: Warrior, Lover, Queen, Mother: The Goddess Istar and Her Relationship With Humanity].
He is a goat-man or PAN-Theos: the all-devourer and the all-begetter (whose numerical value 131 is the same as the Demon Samael; this of course is according to A. Crowley in his "Book of Thoth"); but he THE DEVIL also has wings, that is, he is the ruler of the air; and not to mention, fish scales: this means that he is also ruler of the oceans: that is, god of this earth. He also holds in his left hand a torch. He is Master of the Air, of the Earth, of the Waters and of FIRE. Compare to the demons, he is a GIANT, a TITAN. His right arm is raised as in an OATH, and or a benediction. He is the Father of the Temple! His altar is not a perfect square.
There is a female and male demon chained to him. The female demon has on her tail GRAPES. Perhaps the forbidden fruit.
He has a pentagram on his forehead. This pentagram represents the planet Venus: the Morning Star.
But let us continue with the fuzzy logic of mine in regards to Y H V H … now, if Y H equals 15; H V H which is the name of HAVAH (Eve) equals 16. 5 + 6 + 5 = 16. 1+ 6 = 7. If Yah which is 15, adds up to 6 which is an imperfect number, Eve, on the other hand adds up to 7, which is, according to Biblical numerology, a perfect number. [Note: 7 + 6 = 13 which is the card of DEATH which we will discuss later]. [Notice, too, the beauty and predictableness of The Name (Ha-Shem): Y H = 15 = 6; H V H = 16 = 7; Y H V H = 26 = 8; now, 6 + 7 + 8 = 21 and 21 = YHV or YAHU which points to number 3. YAHU (IHV) which = 21 becomes HIV, HAYU from Genesis 6: 4 hannəfilîm hāyû ḇā’āreṣ, There were giants in the earth. Here Hayu points to The Nephilim (or, Ha-Nefilim) who WERE in the earth and also "after" that! (Also notice the following sequence of numbers: 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 26. We believe that the next number sequence is: (4) + 5 + 6 +7 +8 which equals 30, the number of SIN, the Moon God; also, of Father Jehovah. The numeral sequence follows: 3 to 8 = 33, 2 to 9 = 35, and 5 to 9 = 35; 35 + 1 = 36* (and the sequence ends here!); and, 36 = 3 3 3; now the sum of the numbers from 1 to 36 is 666 [Source: The Canon by William Stirling]). The ’ehəyeh or Ehyh the I AM in Exodus 3: 14 also equals 21. So, how will The Name sequence continue? First, we begin with Yod (Y, I) which equals 10 (and 1), then with Aleph (A) which equals 1 which also equals IA (Yah); Yah Elohim = 101 = 2; Jeremiah 1: 6: Ah, Lord Jehovah (AHH ADNI IHVH), ahh = 11 Adni = 65 + 26= 102; Ah Jehovah Elohim = 123. Spirit of God, Ruach Elohim (RUCh ALHIM) = 200, 6, 8, 1, 30, 5, 10, 40 = 300. Father Yah, Abayah (ABA IH) = 19; Father Jehovah (ABA IHVH) = 4 + 26 = 30. Father Elohim (ABA ALHIM) = 4 + 86 = 90. Jehovah Elohim = 112 = 4. Isaiah 26: 4, for in Jah Jehovah is the Rock of times indefinite: Jah Jehovah = 15 + 26 = 41. Exodus 34:6: Jehovah, Jehovah = 52; Jehovah Tzabaoth, Jehovah of the Hosts (IHVH TzBAVTh), 26 + 107 = 133 = 7. El Elohim = 117 = 9. Baal-Yahu: 33 + 21 = 54. In Deuteronomy 6: 4 we read: šəma‘ yiśərā’ēl yəhwâ ’ĕlōhênû yəhwâ| ’eḥāḏ. Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. Yah AChaD equals 28, i.e., 15 + 13, and 28 equals 10. The One God, El Achad [AL AChaD] = 31 + 13 = 44. The Elohim of life [ALHIM (86) ChIIM (68)] Elohim Chaiim (plural) = 154. Amen (AMN) = 91 = 10. Jehovah Adonai (IHVH ADNI) also = 91. The Elohim (HA-ALHIM) = 91. Yahoshua (Jesus) = 326 = 11; Adonai (ADNI) = 65; "the temple” Ha-yekal (HIKL) also = 65. Jehovah AChad = 39 = 3 + 9 = 12; Jehovah-El or God Jehovah = 57 = 12; Deuteronomy 4: 38: Jehovah Hoa Ha-Elohim, (IHVH HVA HALHIM), Jehovah, He is the Elohim = 129 = 12. [Note: Y’hwh in Arabic is pronounced Ya-huwah and it means Yah Himself. (Source: IBN ‘ATA’ ALLAH, Traite Sur le nom Allah. Translated by Maurice Glotton)]. El Shaddai (AL ShDI) = 31 + 314 = 345. Elohim (ALHIM), 86. Holy, holy, holy, Jehovah of the Hosts! Isaiah 6: 3; Qadosh, Qadosh, Qadosh, Jehovah Tzabaoth; (QDVSh, QDVSh, QDVSh, IHVH TzBAVTh) = 1230 + 133 = 1363 = 13. (This phrase is repeated in Revelation 4: 8). The Living God, Elohim Tzabaoth = 193. Hallelujah, [Shine Forth, Oh Yah!] is HLL + u + YH = 65 + 6 + 15 = 86 = 8 + 6 = 14. Elohim Gibor, the Elohim of Strength, (LHIM GBR/GBVR) Elohim (without the The or Ha = 85; Gibor = 3 2 5 200 = 10 or 210; that is, with the U in Gibor, Elohim Gibor = 295; without the U Elohim Gibor = 95 which equals 14.
* In the book Magic and Divination, and Demonology among the Hebrews and Their Neighbors, by T. Witton Davies, I find the reference to the number 36. It says that: The human body was divided [among the Egyptians] into thirty-six parts, and over each of these a deity presided. To keep on good terms with the respective deity was to preserve the part well. This is brought out in chapter xlii, of the “Book of the Dead,” [&c]. Here I will quote from the Egyptian “Book of the Dead”:
Spell 42: Spell for warding off the harm that is done in Heracleopolis: 2. My hair is (that of) the Deep [Nun]; my face is (that of) the Disk [Ra]. My eyes are (those of) Hathor; my ears are (those of) Upwawet. My nose is (that of) the Presider over Xois; my lips are (those of) Anubis. My teeth are (those of) Selqut; my (neck) is (that of) the divine Isis. My arms are (those of) the Ram the lord of Mendes; my chest is (that of) Neit the lady of Sais. My back is (that of) Suty; my phallus is (that of) Osiris. My flesh is (that of) the Lords of Kheraha; my breast is (that of) the Great of Dignity. My belly and my backbone are (those of) Sekhmet; my buttocks are (those of) the eye of Horus. My thighs and my calves are (those of) Nut; my feet are (those of) Ptah. My (fingers and) toes are live cobras. [Not one of my members] is without a god. (NOTICE: "my phallus is (that of) Osiris and my buttocks are (those of) the eye of Horus.")
3. Thoth is the magical protection of my whole body; I am Re every day.
(The Book of the Dead or Going Forth by Day: Ideas of the Ancient Egyptians Concerning the Hereafter as Expressed in Their Own Terms. Translated by Thomas George Allen).
And here is one of those beautiful expressions that in searching for The Name I was able to find: notice the number sequence:
Three times Holy, Qadosch Qadosh, Qadosh, (QDVSh) = 100 + 4 + 6 + 300 = 410 (410 x 3 = 1230). Ah, Lord Jehovah (AHH ADNI IHVH), ahh = 11 Adni = 65 + 26= 102. Ah, Jehovah Elohim (AHH ALHIM IHVH) = 123 God Almighty, El Shaddai (AL ShDI) = 31 + 314 = 345. Or: Qadosch Qadosh, Qadosh, Ah, Jehovah Elohim, El Shaddai!
Please note: Shem ha-meforash, the name made known, can also be translated as the name made hidden. For example, The Alphabet of Rabbi Akiba says. God sits upon a throne of fire and around him stand the ineffable names, Shemoth meforashim, like pillars of fire. Here the unutterable indescribable name is in the plural; therefore, the Shem ha-meforash does not mean anything. The Shem ha-meforash is a joke to keep the Goyim from truly investigating and pronouncing the true and sacred name of God. In the article Names of God in Judaism we find the following statement: The seventy-two-lettered name is derived from three verses in Exodus (14:19–21) beginning with "Vayyissa", "Vayyabo" and "Vayyet" respectively. Each of the verses contains 72 letters, and when combined they form 72 names, known collectively as the Shemhamphorasch. Note that the Shemhamphorasch is not a name whose numerical value is 72, but a verse that contains 72 letters which form 72 names. Besides the 72 letter name there are also the 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 32, 42 and 60 letter names. Yet, there is a name whose numerical value is 72: Let us find out, shall we? Baal = Beth + Aleph, Lamed = 33 (Living-creature: Chaioth (ChIVTh) = 8, 10, 6, 9 also = 33). BAL also becomes Beth-El (The House of El) בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל (BIT-AL) = 2, 10, 400, 31 = 443. Now, remember that 36 = 3 3 3 which is half of 666? Well, Baal-Judah = 33 + 30 = 63. Lord Prince: Baalzebul: Baal (BAL) Zebul (ZBL) = 39 + 30 = 72. And there you have it.
By the way, Ayin (OIN) means Eye, also it is the letter O in the Hebrew Alphabet and it equal 70 (the Sanhedrin). BELIAL (BLIAL) = 2, 30, 10, 1, 30 = 73. Beast, Chioa (ChIVA) = 25. (Notice the similarity between Ch-IH [23] or Chiah [living] with Beast ChIVA [25] and Living-creature or Chaioth ChIVTH [33]). Luz or Luza (LSA) = 30, 300, 1 = 331 + Baal = 33, or, Baal-Luza (i.e., Belus/Luzbel) = 364. The name The Satan (HShThN) also contains the number 364. What does this mean? That The Lord of Luz (Gen. 28: 11-20) is the same as The Satan. Remember that the god of Jacob is not the same as the god of Abraham; for Jacob says, IF … THEN shall the LORD be my God (Gen. 28: 21; C.f., Gen. 48: 3, 15; & Exodus 6: 3. Consequently, there is The Elohim, Jehovah and El-Shaddai). Furthermore, divide 364 by 13 and you get 28; that is, exact 13 months of 28 days each. Now, multiply 4 seasons times 13 months and you get 52 weeks (which is the equivalent of Jehovah Jehovah [26 + 26] and Ben [BN 2 + 50] or Son; also, 7 x 52 = 364: that is, seven days and 52 Sabbaths in a year). A year composed of 364 days made up of 52 weeks. 52 weeks x 7 days = 364 days; 364 divided by 28 (month) = 13 [thus, originally there was a year of 13 months and not 12]. & 7 x 13 = 91. Note: Why is Ben (BN) which = 52 sacred: 9 months x 29 days = 261. 260 divided by 5 = 52. The Babylonians, therefore, had their astronomical computation wrong; and the people of ancient Mexico had it right. It takes 52 weeks, each week of five days, for a human child (SON) to be born. This is why this number is so sacred, also the name which refers to: The Son of God. It is obvious, then, that 364 is a sacred calendar number. And here is where things become interesting: Shedim (ShDIM) which stands for Demon = 300, 4, 10, 40 = 354: that is, a lunar year of 354 days of 12 months and each month made up of 29.5 days. Almost 30 days which would then equal to Aba-Jehovah (Father Jehovah) whose numerical value is 30. One last one: Yah Qaran (IH QRN), the horn of Yah [15 + 350] = 365. We think the reasons why these sacred numbers became EVIL, well, the words of Jeremiah 10: 2 comes to mind: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. In other words, 354, 360 + 5, and 354 are astronomical sacred numbers that had to do with the heathen nations.
Further Note: people think that if 666 is the number of the beast, it follows that 777 is the number of heaven: WRONG! Notice the symbol for the Hebrew letter Vau (U/V/W): ו, yes, it is very similar to the number 7. Thus, when Aleister Crowley wrote his Liber 777, he was not thinking of the number of heaven, but he was thinking of the Hebrew letter Vau. Remember that Vau not only is the V, U, and W but also the number 6. Thus, Volks Wagon, or V VV in Hebrew is equivalent to 666 (VFF, VSS also amounts to 666: F is the six letter of our alphabet, and S = the number 60; the word Ben [son] is also written V V). Thus, 777 or the triple Vau equals 666. Consequently, Liber 777 actually means Book 666.
But to continue with the name of Eve which equals 16: now, looking for the number 16 on the Tarot deck, what do we find? The TOWER.
And what does The TOWER illustrates? The FALL of Man and Woman from a tower, also known as the House of GOD. That is, the Garden of Eden. Notice that they are violently thrown from the House of God and the weapon used was a FIRE from HEAVEN, which is, lightning.
Job 1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Another name that we find in Y H V H is the name of YAHU or 10 + 5 + 6 = 21. And what do we find in card number 21? The card entitled The WORLD, also called The UNIVERSE.
It is the throne of God as described in the book of Revelations.
Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Many say that it is a young maiden that is being depicted in this card; however, look carefully, the face is that of a very feminine young man, with breast; notice that the private parts are hidden (just like in the crucifixion of Jesus, his private parts are also covered with an apron; Jesus, too, is depicted as having long hair as that of women which in the book of Acts Paul condemns: 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But this can be easily explained: the long hair represents the rays of the sun). God, Yahu, then is depicted as a beautiful young androgynous hermaphrodite. There was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. Fits perfectly how the card is illustrated. (Remember that this card is called The World, which in Hebrew is Ha’ Olam which is another title of god: the four beasts represent the four zodiac signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpion [the Eagle] and Aquarius [Man. Yes Man is considered a beast; Man was created on the sixth day along with the other animals: zoo]). Thus, god, who like the Egyptian god Atum or Aton, is both male and female, sits in his throne as King of the Universe.
This card is very similar to the tenth card called The WHEEL OF FORTUNE: on this card we have the Four Holy Beasts of Ezekiel and the book of Revelation: [representative also of Judas the Lion (Leo)/ East /(Gen. 49: 9); Ruben the Man (Aquarius)/ South (Gen. 49: 4); Dan (Judge) the Eagle or (Scorpion), the North (Gen. 49: 17: here though Dan is symbolized as a Serpent); and Ephraim the Ox (Taurus)/West (see, Gen. 49: 3-27, though Ephraim is not counted among the12; see also, Numbers 2:1-25)], plus a Sphinx on top of the wheel, and the wheel is rotating: from left to right, and not as many believe from right to left. They think that the wheel rotates from right to left because it makes up the word Tarot; however, we notice that it makes more perfect sense if the wheel rotates from left to right which instead of the word Tarot it makes the word TORA (which in Hebrew means LAW). But what Law? The Law of Karma, the Law of cause and effect. Note: TOROT is plural for Torah.
We find the word Tora also in card number 2 entitled The HIGH PRIESTESS. She sits in the middle of two pillars, the same pillars found in Solomon’s Temple (read, 1 Kings 7: 21): the right pillar has the Hebrew letter Yod (Y/I/J) which stands for Jachin (painted white); and the left pillar has the Hebrew letter Beth (B) which stands for Boaz (painted black). The colors black and white stand for Hope and Chaos, Light and Darkness, Good and Evil. And she sits in the middle of them. She thus sits in the middle of the Temple having on her lap a scroll with the word Tora printed on it: (that is, LAW which to Jews points to either the four books of Moses [Deuteronomy excluded] and the Talmud). The Law then becomes the weighing balance of good and evil. Tora also sounds like the Latin word Taurus (Spanish for Toro, Bull). Maybe this is the reason why the High Priestess is depicted as having horns similar to the Egyptian goddess ISIS (the horns are telling us that she is a divine being). Isis is the Great Dea Multimammia (the big breasted goddess), the Great Virgin Mother (magna mater), whose symbol was the Cow and the Moon, who suckled baby Horus in her lap (note: to the Egyptians, the Moon was both male and female: Yah was the male god). The Devil is also depicted as one having horns. The POPE, too, has a horned Bull throne. The WORLD and the WHEEL OF FORTUNE both have the BULL depicted on them. The Bull points us to the Zodiac sign of Taurus, which the POPE represents.
And now we come to the whole number of Y H V H which equals 26 (note: AH, YAH [AHH IH] also equals 26 [11 + 15]). 10 + 5 + 6 + 5 = 26. Add 2 + 6 and we get 8 which is the symbol for eternity. Now in the Major Arcana there are only 21 cards + the FOOL which equals 22. The FOOL is numbered ZERO. Which does not count, however, it is the beginning of all things. So, if 21 is the world, what card equals 26 not taking into account The FOOL? 22 = The Magician, thus, 26 is The HIEROPHANT or The POPE.
And we return again full circle to The DEVIL. Here The POPE is depicted also as a GIANT, a TITAN, giving his blessings to his followers, but now he is in human form, sitting as a GOD in the House of God. He is master of the KEYS which are placed at his feet: Keys to the House of God. He is crowned as a KING: ADNI MLK, or as Adonai Melek: LORD KING. (Note: Adoni is Phoenician, whereas Adonis (the Hunter) is Greek, in Hebrew we have Adon which is singular and means Lord, Adonim is plural (Lords), and Adonai means My Lords, and all of them points to a god [the Sun] and the Gods [Elohim]; see, Exodus 4: 10 where we read, “And Moses said unto Jehovah, O my Adonai”]). He is Abimelek: the Father King. Notice that we cannot distinguish the sexes of his followers; we assume that they are both males, but here we are assuming. They no longer need to be chained, they submit to HIS WILL gladly. [Note: Demon = Shed; Demons = Sheddim; thus, Sheddai = El of My Demons? Or, God of the Demons?]
In Demonology and Devil-Lore, we read the following:
Aberin Kadescha Papa which means Our Holy Father the Pope = 666. [Luther who was a Catholic priest and later became a POPE to the Protestants his name also equals 666]
The Mussulman modification of the notion of the Antichrist is very remarkable. They call him Al Dajjail, that is, the impostor. They say that Mohammed told his follower Tamisri Al-Dari, that at the end of the world Antichrist would enter Jerusalem seated on an ass; but that Jesus will then make his second coming to encounter him. The Beast of the Apocalypse will aid Antichrist, but Jesus will joined by Imam Mahadi, who has never died; together they will subdued Antichrist, and thereafter the Mussulmans and Christians will forever be united in one religion. The Jews, however, will regard Antichrist as their expected Messias.
His name will be Armillus (Isa. 11: 4).
(Demonology and Devil-Lore Volume II by Moncure Daniel Conway, Chapter XXI, ANTICHRIST.)
In Paul Foster Case, The Tarot, we also read:
The name for the Serpent which tempted Eve is NChSH, Nachash , and the number on this word is 358, the value of MShICh, Messiah.
(Taken from: Paul Foster Case, The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages. XIX, Key 15: the Devil (Ayin).)
The above is not that farfetched:
Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Here the Son of man, the Messiah, is described as being one and the same as the Copper Serpent that Moses made in the desert.
But lets say that The FOOL is taken into account, and number him with card 22, this means that card 26 is not The POPE but The EMPEROR. Which is a fitting description of Y H V H: that is, he sits as the sole KING in his throne.
The EMPEROR whose card is number 4 in the Tarot, sits in his throne and he is emphasized like Daniel designates him:
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
That is, his hair and beard are White as wool.
In his left hand he carries the Ankh of the Egyptians which was the symbol for Eternal Life.
In his right arm he carries the globe: that is, The EMPEROR as King of Eternity and King of the Universe. His right arm makes a triangle [notice the globe inside the triangle: the triangle symbolizes the Spirit]. Unlike the Devil he sits in a perfect square throne. His legs form a Cross. The square signifies the Earth and a PRISON: e.g., the House of God, i.e., the Ark of the Covenant was in the form of a square (Gen. 25: 10). The Altar, too, was in the shape of a square: Exodus 27:1 And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare; what's more, the altar of burnt offering, too, is foursquare: Exodus 38:2 And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass. Finally, the Temple of Ezekiel is also Square: read, Ezekiel 40:47; 41:21; 43: 10-11; 16-17; 45:2; 48:20, also, the holy Jerusalem is foursquare: Revelation 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, etcetera. GOD WAS THEREFORE IMPRISONED IN A BOX!* * Solomon is said to have imprisoned 72 demons in a vessel; then, threw such a vessel in a lake of Babylonia only to be found by some idiots who opened the vessel and let out all the demons:
These be the seventy two Mighty kings or Princes wch Salomon commanded into a vessal [vessel] of Brasse wth their legions, of whom Belial Bileth [Beleth] Asmoday & Gaap wear the Cheefest, & it is supposed it was for their pride, for Salomon never declared why he thus bound them; & when he had bound them up & sealed ye vessel, he by ye divine power cast Them all into a deep lake or hole in Babilon [Babylon], & the Babilonians [!Babylonians] woundering to see such a thing there, they went wholy into ye lake to brake [break] ye vessel open, suspecting to find a great Treasure; but when they had broken it open out flew all ye cheefe spirits Immediately, and their Legions follow them, and they were restored againe to their former places; But only Belial who entered [111r] Into a certain Image, and there gave answeres to those whome [who] did offer sacrifice unto him as ye Babilonians did; for they offered sacrifices & worshipped that Image as a God &c..
Source: Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis: Rex, (The little Key of Salomon the King): Of the Arte Goetia [Of the seventy-two infernal spirits evoked and constrained by King Salomon].
The Emperor has become the Lord of the Sacred. The throne has the symbol of the Goat (Ram/Aries) on it. The Goat is the symbol for the emperor; and Aries, the Ram, was the symbol of the Egyptian God Ammon [AMEN]: who was known as the Hidden God. Ammon is SIN (dweller of the desert), a Moon god. (Note: Abram the Exalted Father and Lot the Hidden One both names are allusions to the Sun and the Moon (Oedipus Judaicus). (Read instead, Sol & Mon). [See, Genesis 14:18-19]).
And what of the goat? Again, we return to the DEVIL: the goat represents Capricorn, the Merman/Mermaid or DAGON; or, better yet, YAH and AZAZEL:
Leviticus 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the TWO GOATS; one lot for Jehovah, and the other lot for Azazel. 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to Azazel, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for Azazel into the wilderness.
Did you get the meaning of all of this?
Now, let me return to the fuzzy logic of mine and go back to number 15, which is The DEVIL and which adds up to 6.
Let us look at the deck of cards and look for number six, and what do we find?
The LOVERS. And who are the Lovers? Eve and Adam. Eve looks in adoration to the TITAN Angel, and he in turn gives his blessings. He is beautiful, with the sun behind him and he rides a cloud. Behind Eve is the Tree with the forbidden fruit (which according to the card the forbidden fruit were GRAPES: notice her tail); also, you see the SERPENT, NAHASH climbing the Tree. While Eve looks in reverence to the TITAN (notice that the Angel is bigger than the mountain), Adam, on the other hand, looks in reverence to EVE.
Note: The LOVERS is identical with card 20 JUDGMENT. In this card there is an Angel coming with the clouds, blowing a trumpet. I think that it is a mistake to call this card Judgment: it is not. And it does not signify a Resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous dead. I think that this is the fifth angel sounding his trumpet and raising not the dead, but it represents the demon Abbadon and his legions rising from the bottomless pit:
Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
The people coming out of coffins are demons (see, Revelation 11:7). These demons are giving you a message: the woman makes the letter L with her hands; the child the U; and the man makes the X: LUX (Light!). Perhaps the Angel is Lucifer the Light Bearer.
Now, we turn to the name of Eve: H V H which equals 16 which adds up to 7. And we come to the card called The CHARIOT. He is the triumphant king, as found in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Research the word: Merkabah [The Chariot], read also, Ezekiel Chapters 1, 8, and 10; also, Isaiah Chapter 6 and Daniel chapter 2).
Notice how well the above fits the description of The CHARIOT. The triumphant king who holds an IRON SCEPTER in his right hand; and with his left hand he makes a fist hitting the chariot (meaning that he will be a Tyrant and has obtained complete control of the Government or Kingdom). And on his thigh there is written something that is in a language unknown to us; and thus, a name that no man knew, but he himself. Also he rides a white horse; here, however, there are two horses pulling the chariot (some depict them as Sphinxes), one is white and the other black, etc. These white and black sphinxes are the clouds:
Isaiah 19: 1 Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind.
Psalms 104:3 Who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.
[NOTE: there is no doubt in my minds that here the Psalmist is referring to the Sun, and his angels as meteors and lightning].
Now, lets turn our attention to the name of Yahu, 21 which adds to 3.
Here we are taken to the empress which again fits the description of Revelation12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
The Empress is crowned with stars and the moon is on her feet.
And now we turn to Y H V H which equals 26 which adds to 8. The card with the number 8 is entitled STRENGTH.
Again there is a figure which could be a female or a very beautiful feminine male. Well this beautiful being is dressed in White, is crowned with laurels and lilies, and on top of his or her head is the symbol for ETERNITY. She or He is playing with a RED LION. But what about the idea that instead of opening the mouth, the woman is about to ride the Red Lion:
Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And what about the color RED?
Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone. (That is, RED).
God is depicted as Red. But also:
Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Both God and the Dragon are depicted as RED in the Bible. And what of the Lion?
Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Stopped the mouths of lions refers to the book of Daniel.
Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me;
Perhaps, then, the card STRENGTH refers to an ANGEL, who is not opening the mouth of the Lion, but closing it. Why we say that He or She is an Angel? Because of the symbol of Eternity above his or her head.
This symbol is also found in card number One called The MAGICIAN. His vestment is both white and red which fits the description of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the book of Revelation:
Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
He has one hand raised up to heaven, as an Oath and the other pointing downwards (Just like the DEVIL card: the Devil, too, has one hand pointing to heaven and the other downward). And as a belt he has a living Serpent (Nahash) biting his tail: this represents the Sun’s annual orbit [Oedipus Judaicus]. The headband is not a headband but a crown: thus, if instead of a White Headband we color it yellow, it becomes a Golden Crown. There is a table: and here I will assume that this table is sustained by four feet or Pillars: which stand for the four seasons: Summer, Fall, Spring and Winter. The table represents the Earth. The Magician, therefore, is not a human being. And thus the symbol of Eternity above his head.
To return to the card called Strength, the question arises of what does the lion represents?
1 Peter tells us:
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The Devil is described as a roaring lion.
But not only is the Devil described as a LION but also Jesus Christ:
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Let us assume that the Red Lion represents the DEVIL himself. What does the eighth card thus represent? It represents GOD as being both the Angel of Light and the Red Lion. That is, there is no differentiation between God and the Devil: and this is a fact. In the Old Testament Theology both God and the Devil are ONE and the SAME: Demon est Deus Inversus! This, therefore, is the Arcanum Arcanorum: the hidden treasure of the wise.
Genesis 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. . . 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
1 Samuel 28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? (Read also, Lamentations 2:4; Isaiah 63:10; Jeremiah 30:14)
Isaiah 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Also, Psalms 30:15)
Jeremiah 7:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. (Also, 2 Kings 22:15)
Finally, here are the cards that were not discussed above:
0 The FOOL. Who is the FOOL? We are the FOOL. We are always looking up when we should be looking what is beneath our feet: a cliff and the abyss. The Dog, who is a friend to humanity is trying to warn us. But look how happy he looks:
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Fool = Madman = who is also someone who is inspired by the Spirit of God such as prophets or the Demon Possessed:
Isaiah 20:3 And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years.
9 The HERMIT. He is also a MAN: an old man. We think that in his youth The HERMIT was The FOOL. He is not a divine being, yet. However, he has reached Sainthood. He is the monk who in the Middle Ages was also a scholar, linguist, theologian and philosopher (here we are thinking of Aquinas and Augustine). He, unlike the Fool, is looking down the abyss. He has a lamp with him which means that he is also a Light Bearer (a Lucifer). Lo, he is looking down the abyss, and we are certain that the abyss is returning the gaze (as Nietzsche put it).
11 JUSTICE: Again a human card. She holds a sword in one hand (Judgment) and the scale of balance on the other (Mercy). Notice that she is not blind folded. Justice, therefore, is not blind: it discriminates and therefore is prejudice against the poor and the ignorant. Justice is based on the LAW or TORA: this is because 1 + 1 = 2, the card of the High Priestess. And the High Priestess carries on her lap a scroll with the word TORA written on it.
12 HANGED MAN: He is not hanging by his throat but by his foot. He is also a man, however, close to being divine. What we notice is that the Hanged Man is a Yoga Master doing his Yoga exercise. And this becomes evident if you turn the card around: he is standing with one foot, with the other he bends making the symbol of the inverted number four or the Cross [his whole body is in the shape of a cross; his arms making two triangles]: this posture is that of a Yoga master. We think that the Hanged Man is the FOOL in his search for Wisdom. Notice the Halo in the Hanged Man: He is very close in achieving divinity. The Hanged Man takes us to The EMPRESS 1 + 2 = card # 3. And who is this Empress?
Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
The Empress is the Mother of the Hanged Man. Now, 12 The Hanged Man + 3 The Empress = 15 The DEVIL. Thus, we return to The DEVIL Card again and again.
13 DEATH Death is depicted with a sickle just like Saturn. The Star Saturn is the Star of Israel (i.e., the Hexagram): which is composed of a six sided star, 6 sided polygon (the Cube), with six outside triangles, with two opposing triangles (one representing water and the other fire, opposites, male and female coming together), each triangle made up of three 60° angles: 60 x 3 = 180 + 180 = 360 (also a sacred number to the Egyptians), this was because add 5 and you get the number for the sacred year (i.e., 30 days x 12 months = 360 days). This Star is indeed abnormal:
2 Samuel 21:20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant (read also, 2 Chronicles 9:17; Daniel 3:1).
Now, regarding the sickle, in Joel 3: 13 we read: Thrust in a sickle, for the harvest has grown ripe. Come descend for the winepress has become full. The press vats actually overflow; for their badness has become abundant.
Matthew 13: 30 says: Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the harvest season I will tell the reapers, ‘First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up, then go to gathering the wheat into my storehouse.’
Revelation14:14-18 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Like unto the Son of man refers to Jesus: remember that Jesus was number 13. That is, 12 disciples + the Rabbi or Teacher who was Jesus. Jesus here is described as an Angel ruling in Heaven: which means Jesus as the SUN (the Sun of God) in the center of the Zodiac. Genesis 37:9 behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month. (That is, there is a Tree plus twelve types of fruits, and there was one type of fruit each month).
Note, too, that the REAPERS are Angels; therefore, DEATH is an ANGEL, perhaps a Demon:
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
1 + 3 = 4: The EMPEROR. Death is King. Death, unlike Justice does not discriminates. Death reaps both King and the common man. Hands and heads coming out of the earth means that this planet is a huge cemetery. Death is also depicted with the Sun rising in the East: this means that Death is not the end, but a transformation, a new beginning. And so, there is LIFE (plants, rose bush, etc); decay and rotting (dead bodies), and there is a rebirth. (How is this possible? By the regenerating power of the Sun: Sol Generator! Igne Natura Renovatur Integra, or, all of nature is renew by fire). [Source: Trail of the Serpent by Inquire Within].
Death is unity or AChaD which numerical value is 13, the same as Death. Therefore, I H V H = Two Deaths or 13 + 13 = 26 (just as 666 = 333 + 333; and 333 = 3 6 or 63). A Crowley in his Book of Thoth says that Jehovah is Unity manifested in Duality: we say, Jehovah is Death manifested Twice: this is of course, according to the Tarot; in the Bible, however, it is written that Jehovah is LOVE manifested Twice which we will explain in a few seconds.
י Yod HAND open ה He WINDOW = 15 ו Vau NAIL close ה He: WINDOW = 11
And where do we find another name with the Two Windows? In ה ל ה He, Lamed, He [= 40 = 4]: which means Disease which is associated to Mahlah, one of four Mothers of the Devils, who is also associated with Lilith, wife of the demon Samael). (Oedipus Judaicus) 1 John 4: 8 says, God is Love (AHBH), pronounced Ah-Ha-Vah which numerical value is 13. But why would the writer of 1 John make such a statement? Because the letter Yod (Y, I) and Aleph (A) in the Hebrew Alphabet are interchangeable. Thus, IHVH and AHBH are almost identical, especially in the pronounciation; now, what if we add the Y to Ah-Ha-Vah? I also found the double H in Exodus 3: 14: אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה ’ehəyeh ’ăšer ’ehəyeh, that is, in the word I AM: ’ehəyeh אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה which in Gematria equals 21. Notice that the word I AM repeats itself twice. Now, this I AM is very similar to the Egyptian word Atum: who is said to have coexisted with Chaos (Nun or the watery abyss/ in Hebrew Tohu vahohu); a god who had no father and no mother. Atum came into existence by its own: Self-produced and unbegotten. Atum was both male and female. It is said that in order to create, Atum had to masturbate and eat his sperm. He spitted his son Shu (the atmosphere, air, light), and vomited his daughter Tefnut (the waters above the heavens, moisture). This in turn gave birth to Geb and Nut, the Earth and Sky. The Mouth of Atum thus became the womb. The Hand of Atum became god. Apis, the Bull-God of sexual potency is connected with Atum. At creation, Atum asks the assistance of his tongue, Hu, the Word (c.f., Psalsm 33: 6), and his heart, Sia, intelligence. Atum is the Old One, the old sun; he is also the moon. He is also Khepri-Atum, the young sun. He is described as living before existence and continue living after existence. Revelation 21: 6 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” He is the ever living, the Kamutef “Bull of his Mother,” the begetter of his mother.
Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Atum’s elemental form was said to be the snake, symbol for time and eternity. Atum, Shu and Tefnut are also represented in the shape of a sphinx.
(Source: K Van Der Toorn, B Becking, & P W Van Der Horst, editors, Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible: ATUM, by R L Vos.)
But to continue with the Two Deaths:
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power. 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Exodus 34:6: ו וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהוָה עַל-פָּנָיו, וַיִּקְרָא, יְהוָה יְהוָה, אֵל 6 And Jehovah passed by before him [Moses], and proclaimed: Jehovah, Jehovah, God.
Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he.
Zechariah 3:2 And Jehovah said unto Satan: Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; even Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee.
Here, however, we are dealing not with card # 2 which is The High Priestess but with 0 which happens to be The Fool. For what is DEATH but Nothingness, the Eternal Sleep and in many religions, the door to Resurrection and Eternal Life or Damnation. But how did I arrived at 0, Nothingness? By affirming The ONE and then by negating this same One: 1-1 = 0. What does this points to? That the Card # 13 should actually be # 0: the beginning of Creation:
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God fluttered upon the face of the waters.
Here not only the ABYSS has a form (i.e., has a FACE), but it also exist in complete DARKNESS which makes it invisible, nonexistent. A Hidden God!
Psalms 18:11 He made darkness his secret place.
2 Chronicles 6:1 Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Psalms 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him. Furthermore, Psalms 91:6 [tells us that there is a] pestilence that walketh in darkness.
14 TEMPERANCE Revelation 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
What does it represents? We are not certain. With one hand he pours water and with the other he holds a lighted torch downwards. These are the symbols of fire and water that represents the Sun and Moon: the Great Father and the Great Mother, creators, the source of all life here on earth. The flaming torch downwards represents Darkness. A flaming torch upwards represents light (e.g., in the Devil card the flaming torch is facing downwards). The Wings symbolizes the idea of Spirit and Intellect. Temperance, furthermore, takes us to the Hierophant or The POPE: 1 + 4 = 5. And The POPE as described above is no other than The DEVIL in human form: Deus est Homo (translation: God is a Man). (Trail of the Serpent)
Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
The above is a lamentation to the king of Tyrus, that is, a man. A man who is described as the Anointed Cherub.
17 The STAR: we also do not as to the meaning of this card. Perhaps the eight pointed star in the center refers to the Morning Star:
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
And here comes its counterpart:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
In other words: the Morning Star refers to Lucifer but also it refers to Jesus. Here, however, the Star is depicted as a female who has one knee on the ground. Behind her (perhaps towards the East: i.e., the Morning Star) is the blazing Star.
18 The MOON: Though the Moon could also be a He; however I will say that the Moon is a She: Genesis 1: 16-17; 37: 9-10; the Moon has control over the waters: regulates the menstruation cycle in women. She is attracted by the magnetism of the earth. Wolves, who are dogs, worships her (also the owls, the rooster [rooster tend to crow at three in the morning and before dawn], crickets, bats, frogs, and also donkeys). The Oceans also worships her especially when she is full. Perhaps during this time the Crabs come out and worship her as well. Ah, but crabs walk backwards. This means that the Crab is not coming out of the water but going in. The Crab is the sign of Cancer, the sign into which the sun moves at the Summer Solstice. Cancer, according to A Crowley, is the house of the Moon [Book of Thoth]. She rules the night: bringer of dreams (divination and intuition or, will and imagination). The Moon is in the middle of the heavens, this means that it is Midnight; or, perhaps it is three in the morning: and she is coming down towards the western horizon. Dew is falling like tongues of fire. This Dew represent the Light of the Moon (The Sun, also, is depicted in the same way: and in both cases it means the same thing: the Sun and the Moon being both the sources of Light in the physical and spiritual sense of the word). (Oedipus Judaicus). She looks over ancient ruins. There is a path leading to the unknown: mystery. Therefore, it is the Moon who watches over the mysteries. The HERMIT is a worshipper of the MOON: a searcher of the ancient mysteries: 1 + 8 = 9. Card # 9 is the card of The HERMIT.
19 The SUN: Two children: Twins. One is a male and the other a female, that is, Opposites (Positive and Negative):
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (C.f., Gen. 5:3; 9:6)
They are playing or dancing inside a walled garden filled with Sun Flowers. They have no Father and no Mother: The SUN is both their Father and Mother who watches over them.
Psalms 80:14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; Psalms 80:19 Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Furthermore, the children are naked but are not ashamed of their nakedness. Evil and the notion of wrong and immorality does not yet exist in the world of these children. But things soon will change: 1 + 9 = 10 which takes us to The WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
That will be all.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/brown-coloured-gemstones2023-01-05T01:55:53+08:002023-01-05T01:55:54+08:00Brown Coloured GemstonesAlice Koh
By Alice Koh [For educational purposes only].
Moonstone
Moonstone comes in a great variety of colours which include white, orange, yellow, pink, red, peach, gray, blue and brown. The most sought after are blue and white.
Moonstone is the trade name of Orthoclase Feldspar. It is a variety of Feldspar which is a very common mineral here on Earth.
Moonstone hardness ranges from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale which makes it suitable for most types of jewellery. However to protect the gemstone from being easily chipped at the corners or edges, it is always cut en cabochon with round domed tops and flat bottoms.
Moonstone is one of the official birthstones for June and the 13th wedding anniversary gemstone gift.
Ancient civilizations such as the Ancient Egyptians, Greek, Roman and Hindu were in awe with this precious stone. They believed that these gemstones were created by the rays of the moon or that the shining spirit of the moon was trapped in it.
This trapped moonbeam is known scientifically as the Schiller effect or adularescence and it is due to its lamellar crystal formation. This sheen happens when light is scattered between microscopic layers of feldspar.
Since ancient times Moonstones were believed to have been endowed with spiritual energy. They were thought to be of supernatural origins and that they came from heaven.
Ancient civilizations equated the moon with feminine power and energy. As such, it displays strong intuition, unconditional maternal love, protection, nurture and creativity.
Tiger's Eye
Tiger's Eye is a crocidolite that psuedomoroph or changed into a type of chalcedony quartz. Traces of crocidolite is still visible in the stone and it is this mineral that creates both the golden colours and the cat's eye effect.
Tiger's Eye is golden-brown or amber-yellow with a silky luster. However, most often it can come in multicolour, with brown, black or golden stripes with a silky, wavy shimmer across the stone.
Most Tiger's Eyes are not treated in anyway. However, some are dyed to create such colours as green or purple which are unnatural colours to Tiger's Eye. It has a hardness ranging from 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs scale. It is suitable for all types of jewellery.
Tiger's Eye is an alternative birthstone for June and for the 9th wedding anniversary gift.
Tiger’s Eye has been known for thousands of years. It was used as a warrior's stone. Warriors used Tiger’s Eye as a protective talisman and also as a giver of courage.
Roman soldiers wore Tiger's Eye for protection in battle. To protect the warrior from evil in battle and diseases. Tiger’s Eye was often worn by children for protection against the evil eye.
Since ancient times, Tiger’s Eye was considered to be a bringer of good luck and fortune. It was used by scholars and wisdom seekers as well as merchants and traders.
Brown Tourmaline
Tourmaline comes in the whole rainbow of colours which include brown.
Tourmaline comes from the ancient Sinhalese (from Sri Lanka) "THORAMALLI" which means a Mixed Coloured Stone.
Tourmaline occurs in every colour of the rainbow in deep reds, pastel pinks, dark greens, vivid yellows and vibrant blues and also in combinations of 2 or 3 colours; rarely is it colourless. Though it can be found in a myriad of colours, it is more common in black to bluish-black. It is called Schorl and this variety accounts for 90% of tourmalines in nature.
Some Tourmaline varieties are sold under their own trade names such as Paraiba, Indicolite, Rubellite, Chrome Tourmaline and Watermelon Tourmaline.
Tourmaline is divided into species which is determined by its crystal structure and chemical make up. It can either be Schorl, Elbaite, Dravite, Liddicoatite or Uvite.
Tourmaline has a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is the official birthstone of October and the 8th wedding anniversary gemstone gift.
The ancient Egyptians firmly believed that Tourmaline could heal the nervous system, blood diseases and lymph glands. Ancient magicians relied upon this stone for protection against evil spirits.
Today, Tourmaline is still revered as a psychic shield deflecting and dispelling negative energies on all fronts.
Tourmaline promotes healing and brings balance to the soul. It is often referred to as a stone of wisdom as it inspires positive attitude and stimulates creativity and learning.
Brown Smoky Quartz
The Quartz family include the violet or purple amethyst, yellow or orange citrine, pink rose quartz and smoky quartz. Smoky Quartz comes in lovely light yellow brown, orange and reddish brown hues, and browns so dark that they appear almost black.
The variety of browns in Smoky Quartz are described as umber (dark brown), caramel, hickory, honey, mocha, etcetera.
Smoky Quartz is a macrocrystalline quartz as opposed to a cryptocrystalline quartz (like agate, carnelian, jasper). In cryptocrystalline quartz the crystals are too small to be seen with the naked eye as compared with macrocrystalline quartz in which you can see the crystals with the naked eye.
There are two varieties of smoky quartz that are well known. These are Cairngorm Quartz and Morion Quartz, both are chemically identical to each other.
The Cairngorm variety tends to be a rich yellowy brown while the Morion type is much closer to black.
Most Smoky Quartz is not treated or enhanced in any way.
Smoky Quartz like all quartzes have a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which makes it suitable for all types of jewellery.
Quartz is one of the gemstones that is most used in magic and magical rituals. For example, Rock Crystal and Smoky Quartz are used in fashioning the crystal ball. This crystal ball has been used and is still being used by fortune tellers, gypsies, and by powerful psychics to see the future and talk to spirits.
Esoteric schools from antiquity, as well as scholars of the occult in the Middle-Ages said that different quartz represent a specific planet; Neptune is represented by Amethyst; Chalcedony is represented by Saturn; Pluto is represented by Smoky Quartz; Rose Quartz represents Venus; Citrine and Tiger’s Eye represent Mercury.
Quartz has been used in healing since ancient times by shamans, medicine persons and healers. It has been known to cure headaches, eye inflammation, sore throat, heart ailments, pancreas diseases, aching back, varicose veins and toenail diseases.
Star Sunstone
Sunstone comes in a variety of colours such as orange, red, brown, and pink. When cut and polished, it has a sparkling glass-like luster. It also has a dark brown-red fluorescence. Sunstone is known as "heliolite" and more commonly "aventurescent feldspar."
Feldspar minerals are the most abundant minerals on Earth, the second most abundant mineral are Quartz. Feldspars are classified based on their chemical composition either as Plagioclase Feldspar or Potassium Feldspar.
Plagioclase Feldspars, which are a mixture of calcium and sodium, include Oligoclase (Sunstone), Labradorite (Rainbow Moonstone) and Andesine.
Potassium Feldspar gemstones include Orthoclase (adularescence Moonstone) and Microcline (Amazonite).
There are two types of Aventurine Feldspar. A type of green quartz and a variety of Feldspar that is golden. Sunstone refers to the Feldspar, whereas Aventurine refers to the quartz variety. Both types of Felspar have an unusual metallic glittery appearance caused by inclusions. This glittery effect is known as aventurescence (often referred to as the Schiller Effect).
Sunstone is composed of sodium calcium aluminum silicate, with a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It has a perfect cleavage.
The opaque Sunstone is cut as cabochons especially those that display the cat’s eye effect or asterism (star effect). Some of the Sunstone cabochons exhibit the star effect and are sold under the name of Star Sunstone. These are extremely rare.
Sunstone is not known to be treated nor enhanced in any way.
Native Americans believed that the reddish inclusions found within the Sunstone was the blood of a great and powerful shaman warrior who was wounded by an arrow. Thus the spirit of this great warrior was carried into the stone giving it enormous sacred power.
It was also believed that Sunstone contains within itself the power and influence of the sun, and therefore a Sunstone was used to call upon the sun for its protection.
Brown Rutile Quartz
Rutile Quartz, also called Rutilated Quartz, is a phenomenal gemstone with brown hair-like needle inclusions. Rutilated quartz contains inclusions of the mineral rutile, and these inclusions can be thick or thin, straight or curly, parallel or criss-crossed. They come in a variety of colours from light yellow to reds, black, silver grays and browns.
Rutile quartz are also known as Venus Hair Stone, Angel Hair Quartz, Cupid's Darts and Sagenitic Quartz.
Rutile occurs in gemstones mainly as inclusions especially in quartz (rutile quartz) and topaz. It occurs in a tetragonal crystal structure. It comes in brown, reddish brown, blood red, red, brownish yellow, pale yellow, yellow, pale blue, violet, rarely grass-green, grayish black colours.
Rutile Quartz is not treated in any way to enhance its beauty and colour. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which is hard enough for all types of jewellery.
Rutilated quartz crystal amplifies and increases all energies with which it is brought into contact. It brings everything into balance. It brings inner peace and eases the negative energies arising from worry and anxiety. It amplifies the power of quartz crystals and also the thoughts of the wearer.
Rutile Quartz which is a type of Clear Quartz is also an alternative birthstone for April.
Cat's Eye Opal
Opal is known for its dazzling play-of-colours. Though rare, it can be found with the cat's eyes effect which resembles the slit pupil of a cat. This optical phenomenon is due to parallel rutiles in the stone.
Cat's Eye Opal usually comes in golden honey colours and yellow, cream and earthy brown tones. It lacks the rigid crystal structure found in most gemstones and is considered amorphous silica mineraloids.
Cat's Eye Opal shares the spiritual benefits of regular opals plus the spiritual benefits of all cat's eye which are used to ward off the evil eye.
Opal since ancient times has been considered a healer’s stone. It gives self-love, self-confidence, self-esteem and can help you discover your hidden potentials and powers.
Opal is linked with love and passion. It is a stone that brings faithfulness and loyalty. It also has tremendous power of seduction.
Cat's Eye Opal is not artificially enhanced or treated in any way. It has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.
Cat's Eye Opal is a birthstone of October and the traditional gemstone gift for the 14th wedding anniversary.
Cat's Eye Scapolite
Cat's Eye Scapolite is very rare. Due to its rarity and lack of hardness, it is primarily a collector's gemstone.
Cat's eye scapolite is typically greenish, gray or brown in colour but it is known to naturally occur in vibrant pink and violet. However, bright pink or vivid violet coloured stones could be the result of heat or irradiation.
Cat's eye scapolite is usually translucent. It displays a clear and distinct cat's eyes and this clear chatoyancy distinguishes it from other cat's eye gemstones.
Brown Cat's Eye Scapolite is not enhanced or treated in any way,
Cat's Eye Scapolite has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. To protect the gemstone from easily being chipped at the corners or edges, it is always cut en cabochon with round domed tops and flat bottoms.
Scapolite is known as The Stone for Problem Solving and Cat's Eye in particular is believed to help you solve past and present problems. It gives inspiration and promotes change and a purpose in life to the wearer.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/grey-gemstones2022-10-01T03:09:06+08:002022-10-01T03:09:07+08:00Grey GemstonesAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
SPINEL
The most popular faceted grey gemstone is spinel. Spinel comes from the Greek word SPINOS which means Spark.
Spinel is a rare and flawless gemstone of magnesium aluminum oxide. It comes in a wide variety of colours such as red, blue, orange, brown, violet, purple, grey and black (green and yellow are extremely rare).
Ceylonite and Pleonaste are dingy blue or grey to black varieties of spinel. Alexandrite-like Spinel is the colour-change spinel usually from grey to violet.
Spinel is rejuvenating, re-energizing and inspiring gemstones. It is a destroyer of obstacles, giver of optimism and determination to succeed in whatever project you have set your mind to accomplish.
The revitalizing metaphysical property of spinel helps you in your career goals and in your amorous courtship. It also helps you to let go of negative relationships.
Spinel was known as the perfect health stone and it was used as a charm to be worn over the solar plexus.
HEMATITE
Very few gems have the metallic luster as hematite which is an iron-oxide mineral. Hematite is opaque and has an extremely variable appearance. Its luster can range from earthy to submetallic to metallic. Its colour ranges from red to brown and black to grey to silver. Hematite is harder than pure iron but is much more brittle. It has a hardness of 5.0 to 6.0 on the Mohs scale.
Hematite forms in the shape of crystals and has the same crystal structure as sapphires and rubies.
Hematite comes from the Greek HAIMATITES LITHOS which means "blood-red stone." This is because they all leave a rust-red streak when scratched in a white ceramic plate. This red streak is an important clue in identifying hematites.
Ancient Egyptians placed hematite amulets, representing pillows, in tombs to help mummies arise and move on to the afterlife. See Chapter CLXVI: The Chapter of the Pillow in The Book Of The Dead, The Papyrus of Ani. [Note, CLXVI = 166].
Ancient Romans associated hematite with Mars, the god of war whom they glorified. Their warriors rubbed their body with the powdered hematite as it was believed it made them invincible.
Both hematite and bloodstone were known and used in ancient Babylon and Assyria. It was believed that the source of hematite was from the blood of dragons and that it had the power to stop bleeding and to cure any mental ailment.
LABRADORITE
Labradorite's wonderful play-of-colour and its unique colour pattern make it a very magical gemstone. The colourful aurora borealis are indeed trapped within this gemstone. This wonderful play-of-colour is known as adularescence, labradorescence or aventurescence.
Labradorite comes in a variety of colours including grey-white, pale green, blue, brownish, yellow and colourless. It often looks dull or grey at one angle but shines bright blue or red as it rotates.
Labradorite is a healers' stone. Throughout the ages it has been popular with the shamans as it enhances the mental and intuitive abilities. It sharpens clairvoyance and telepathy and is also a good prophesizing tool.
SPECTROLITE
Spectrolite is a hard and rare variety of labradorite, sourced only from Finland. The difference between spectrolite and other labradorites is that Finnish spectrolite labradorite has considerably richer, stronger and much more intense colours caused by its opaque base color as other labradorites have a transparent base colors.
Spectrolite exists in several colours with different appearances: dark grey, lighter shades of grey, blue-green, green-grey, almost black, but also yellowish, orange, almost colorless or milky.
While they may look similar, labradorite, moonstone and spectrolite are all different. However, they are referred to as "sister stones". They are members of the feldspar mineral family but labradorite is classified as a plagioclase feldspar, while moonstone is an orthoclase felspar.
Natural grey moonstone is generally called the 'New Moon Stone. '
Some of spectrolite healing properties include clearing, balancing and protecting the aura. It is used for holding the energy of leadership, courage, transformation, breakthrough and creativity. The energy of spectrolite emits a constant reminder to recognize and fulfill your potential.
GREY MOTHER-OF-PEARL
Mother-of-Pearl is an organic gemstone made from nacre which is composed mainly of calcium carbonate. Mother-of-pearl displays a pearly luster and an attractive iridescence.
Grey mother-of-pearl, known for its harmonious grey silver tones and captivating glow, comes from French Polynesia. Most of them are cultured but they can also occur without human intervention. They can come from saltwater or freshwater.
Mother-of-pearl is also called cachalong opal and the abalone shell mother-of-pearl is referred to as sea opal.
Grey Silver Pearl
Pearl mainly comes from oysters and mussels. It is made up of nacre which is mainly calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite crystals and conchiolin that binds the microcrystals concentrically around an irritant.
Pearl is powerfully compact and extremely difficult to crush even though on the Mohs hardness scale it only ranges from 2.5 to 4.5.
Grey freshwater pearl, which comes from the mollusk Hyriopsis cumingii, is significantly more common (and therefore less valuable) than saltwater pearl but it is nonetheless extremely beautiful and intriguing.
Tahitian pearl
Tahitian pearl is harvested from black-lipped oysters in the temperate coastal waters of French Polynesia. It is known for being the only naturally occurring “black pearl” – typically sporting a glossy, metallic, grey colouring. It is also commonly referred to as a black pearl or (less frequently) a Black South Sea pearl.
Grey pearls reflect qualities like dignity, patience, wisdom, progress, self-control, focus and security.
PYRITE
Pyrite is a shiny, metallic gemstone often referred to as Fool's Gold. Pyrite is an opaque gemstone that is cut en cabochon and exhibits an attractive gold or silver metallic luster.
Pyrite is derived from the Greek PUR and LITHOS meaning Fire and Stone or “the stone which strikes fire.”
It is now accepted that Neanderthals made fire by striking a piece of pyrite. Not only that, but pyrite has also been found in prehistoric burial mounds giving evidence of its early use as a fire starter.
Pyrite was known by the French as the Stone of Health as they believed that it positively affected the health of the wearer.
Pyrite has been used since the Stone Age and the ancient civilization used it to create ritual magical objects and jewellery like magical scrying mirrors by both the Aztecs and the Incas.
Pyrite was considered a war stone. It was used as a powerful amulet to make the warriors strong and courageous during battle.
GREY STAR SAPPHIRE
Star sapphire comes in various blue tones, pink, yellow, orange, green, lavender, grey, black and white.
Star sapphire is made up of unusual small needle-like inclusions of rutile that make possible the rare phenomenon of the star effect in a sapphire gemstone. This effect is called asterism. When viewing star sapphire, a six-rayed star will appear to float across the surface of the stone. This is best viewed under a direct light source or when you tilt and rotate the gemstone from different angles.
Sapphire is the birthstone for those born in September under the zodiac sign of Taurus.
Star sapphires were regarded in ancient times as powerful amulets for protection for travellers and seekers. These amulets were considered so powerful that they were passed from one generation to the next.
The most desirable colour in a star sapphire is a vivid, intense blue.
GREY STAR MOONSTONE
Star moonstone has a glass-like to pearly luster. It gives off a weak bluish and orangey fluorescence. It is usually colourless, yellow and pale sheen. Moonstone, however, is often found with a silvery sheen with base body colours of grey, mocha brown, yellow, orange, green, pink, blue, cream and white. The most sought after moonstones are the ones with blue sheen and white to colourless body. The deep-blue moonstones are the most valuable.
Star moonstone is a gem quality variety of orthoclase feldspar which exhibits the rare four-ray star effect known as asterism. The four-ray star can be seen under a direct light source as you tilt and rotate and view the gemstone from different angles. The four-rays are displayed at near-perfect right angles.
In India, it was believed that moonstones were created from moonbeams. They are considered as sacred gemstones and bringers of luck and good fortune. In some Arab countries, moonstones are sewn into the underwear of women in order to bring them healthy children.
Ancient Romans, too, believed that moonstones were created from drops of moonlight. Therefore moonstones carried the power of the moon.
Moonstone is believed to arouse tenderness, love and compassion. It is a powerful healing stone that is able to rid body pain such as headaches.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/sterling-silver-wire-wrapped-larimar-pendant-with-sterling-silver-beads2022-09-27T20:57:27+08:002022-09-27T20:57:28+08:00Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Larimar Pendant With Sterling Silver BeadsAlice Koh Size of Pendant: 50mm*23mm
'Larimar' is also called the Stefilia Stone, Dolphin Stone and the Atlantis. Larimar is found only in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean.
Larimar was known as blue pectolite. However the name hardly reflect such a splendid stone with its blues so evocative of the Caribbean seas.
This lovely and beautiful wire wrapped pendant is set in a unique rising wave pattern bail, adorned with seven sterling silver beads. The Larimar gemstone is entirely wire wrapped by hand. It is elegant, one-of-a-kind, gorgeous and one of my favorites.
The soothing energy of this pendant relaxes, relieves stress and brings inner peace and calmness. Larimar is the perfect stone to wear or carry around for relief of any feelings of unease.
This gorgeous pendant and necklace is a wonderful gift for many occasions.🎁 👌
Your gemstone will be wrapped in a lovely gift box filled with blessings 💖 It comes with a sterling silver chain necklace.
MADE IN BEAUTIFUL SINGAPORE
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Blessings ❤️ Alice Koh]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/star-sapphire-gemstone2022-08-29T21:18:22+08:002022-08-29T21:18:24+08:00Star Sapphire GemstoneAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
Sapphire comes from the Greek SAPPHEIROS which means blue stone. Don't get confused with the Latin word for blue stone which is lapis lazuli. In ancient times lapis lazuli and blue sapphire referred to a specific colour and not a mineral nor material.
Sapphire and ruby are one and the same, sharing not only their chemical composition but both are equally famous, valuable and extremely rare (rarer than diamonds). They belong to the same corundum family but rubies come in different shades of red whereas sapphires are well known for their blue colour although they can also be found in yellow, green, orange and purple; there are also colourless and black sapphires.
Sapphire refers to the blue coloured stone. All other colours are known as fancy sapphires but this term does not apply to the colourless, black and the blue varieties.
The colours of sapphire are caused by mineral impurities within the stone. A trace presence of chromium, iron or titanium minerals create the colours in both sapphire and ruby.
Star sapphire is of an aluminum oxide chemical composition. It forms in a (trigonal) doubly pointy, barrel-shaped, hexagonal pyramids, tabloid-shaped crystal structure. It has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale with a refractive index ranging from 1.762 to 1.778. It has no distinct cleavage. Star sapphire is typically opaque. Some finer specimens may exhibit slight translucency. It has a glass-like, silky luster.
Star sapphire is made up of unusual small needle-like inclusions of rutile that make possible the rare phenomenon of the star effect in a sapphire gemstone. This effect is called asterism. When viewing star sapphire, a six-rayed star will appear to float across the surface of the stone. This is best viewed under a direct light source or when you tilt and rotate the gemstone from different angles
Usually a star sapphire will display a white six-rayed star but the star sappire from Thailand is famous for its golden coloured six-rayed star.
Star gemstones that look similar to star sapphire include star garnet and star diopside.
Star sapphire comes in various blue tones, pink, yellow, orange, green, lavender, gray, black and white. The colouring agents are iron and titanium in blue sapphire and vanadium in violet to purple star sapphire. Iron produces the yellow and greenish hues and chromium produces fine pink to red tones. Iron and vanadium result in golden to orange tones.
Star sapphires are usually cut en cabochon with very high domes. The best cabochons are translucent, with even roundness to the shape.
Star sapphire is generally heat treated to improve the clarity and colour of the gemstone. In order to create a more visible star effect, the sapphire gemstone is heated with titanium.
Specific varietal trade names of star sapphire are based on its colour, origin and unique traits such as colour change sapphire, Ceylon sapphire or Padparadscha sapphire.
Sapphire is the birthstone for those born in September under the zodiac sign of Taurus.
Star sapphires were regarded in ancient times as powerful amulets for protection for travellers and seekers. These amulets were considered so powerful that they were passed from one generation to the next.
Some black sappires are found in large sizes but usually star sapphires occur in small sizes. The most popular star sapphires are the blue and black coloured gemstones. The most sought after colour is the vivid blue.
Star sapphire important sources come from Australia, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka and Thailand. Other sources include, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, United States (Montana), Vietnam and Zimbabwe.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/sillimanite-gemstone2022-08-27T03:20:35+08:002022-08-27T03:20:36+08:00Sillimanite GemstoneAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
Sillimanite (also known as "fibrolite") is named after Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864). Silliman was the founder of the American Journal of Science (Silliman's Journal). He was an important chemist and also the person to distill petroleum.
Sillimanite is a polymorhph variety of aluminum silicate minerals that is related to both andalusite and kyanite. In fact, these three minerals share the same chemical composition (Al2SiO5) but have different crystal structures. Sillimanite forms as orthorhombic, hexagonal crystals, whereas kyanite and andalusite crystals are triclinic. Moreover, of the three alumino-silicate minerals, only sillimanite occurs with the cat's eye effect. Another difference is that sillimanite rarely occurs in blue like kyanite.
Sillimanite is named fibrolite because the mineral appears like a bunch of fibres twisted together. It is this fibrous form of sillimanite that is most often found with chatoyancy (the cat's eye effect). Chatoyancy or the cat's eye effect in a gemstone (especially when cut en cabochon) shows a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone. This bright reflected light is similar to the slit eye of a cat.
Sillimanite occurs in three coloured varieties: yellow, brown and blue. Bright yellow, greenish-yellow, light-bluish and violet to purplish-brown are rarer colours. Cat's eye sillimanite is almost always brownish and the high quality sillimanite gemstones will exhibit a very strong violet hue. The cat's effect in sillimanite is very sharp and distinguishable.
Sillimanite has a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale thus making it suitable for most jewellery designs. When cut and polished, sillimanite is known for its attractive luster which can range from vitreous (glass-like) to silky. It has a refractive index of 1.655 to 1.684 and its specific gravity is 3.23 to 3.27. It has a perfect cleavage which means that care should be taken when setting and wearing sillimanite since a hard blow could cause it to split.
Fine sillimanite can exhibit a strong pleochroism of showing two or three colours when viewed from different angles. These fine specimens will often flash yellow, green and blue.
Sillimanite is hard and durable, ideal for jewellery. Native Americans used sillimanite for shaping other materials. Due to its remarkable toughness and resistance to high heat and chemical corrosion, sillimanite is used for the production of alumina bricks, cement, ceramics and fine porcelain, steel and iron smelting, as well as the manufacturing of industrial strength glass.
Ovals are the most common cut in sillimanite. Typically, sillimanite cabochons will be cut with a high dome with the bottom part left unpolished in order to be glued to jewellery settings. Sillimanite is not known to be treated or enhanced in any way.
Sillimanite imitations do exist and these have been dyed or heated in order to create the silky luster and similar colour appearance of sillimanite. Sillimanite imitations include faceted and cat's eye gemsones. Sometimes, faceted sillimanite is dyed to imitate precious gemstones such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds.
Cat's eye quartz can often be mistaken for sillimanite, though sillimanite will usually exhibit more of an obvious purplish hue, while cat's eye quartz is more gray to brownish in colour.
Sillimanite gems may appear similar to a variety of other stones, such as the colour change diaspore, scapolite, beryl, quartz and moonstone.
Cat's eye sillimanite is believed to stimulate the production of the happy chemical endorphins in the brain. In some circles, it is even called the "feel happy crystal."
According to crystal healing beliefs, sillimanite is a useful stone that can contribute to a positive mental attitude and give the wearer the energy to be productive.
Cat's eye gemstones are great for scrying, and to look back to our past and study it more profoundly, and or to have insights of the future. Cat's eye gemstones are powerful stones for protection.
Sillimanir is a collector's gemstone and is not known in general public. Thus it does not have any astrological associations nor assigned a birth month.
A rare light-blue and colourless variety of sillimanite is sourced from the Mogok region of Burma and Sri Lanka. The most important sources for sillimanite are Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar (Burma), Kenya, the United States and European regions. Recently sillimanite was found in India which hopefully soon it will become available for everyone. Sillimanite was discovered in the state of Connecticut, however, the US State of Delaware declared sillimanite as its official state mineral.
To clean your sillimanite gemstone and jewelry, it is recommended that only plain soapy water and a soft cloth be used.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/rainbow-pyrite-druzy-gemstone2022-08-26T03:43:46+08:002022-08-26T03:47:43+08:00Rainbow Pyrite Druzy GemstoneAlice Koh
Rainbow Pyrite Druzy Gemstone [For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
Rainbow Pyrite is of an iron sulphite chemical composition. Its crystal structure is (cubic) pentagonal dodecahedra, octahedral. It comes in brass-yellow, gray-yellow, iridescent colours. Rainbow pyrite has a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It is extraordinary dense, with a specific gravity of 5.0 to 5.20 and it forms with an indistinct cleavage. Its transparency is opaque with a metallic shiny luster whose surface can be compared to a polished colourful metal.
Rainbow pyrite is the name given to the rainbow-like iridescent form of 'pyrite druzy'. Druzy (also called druse, drusy) is a layer of tiny quartz crystals that sometimes form on gemstones, giving them a striking sparkly appearance. Note, Pyrite crystals are relatively hard and durable, but any druzy will be more fragile than the crystal in pure form.
Rainbow pyrite is extremely rare, recently discovered and only found in one place Russia. Rainbow pyrite so far has only be found near Ulianovsk, Russia, on the Volga River. Top quality rainbow pyrite shimmers with rainbow colours including pink and gold.
Pyrite is also known as "fool's gold" and "iron pyrite" this is because it has the appearance of gold and also because it has a high iron content. Note, only the pyrite that displays iridescence is sold as rainbow pyrite. This metallic iridescent luster alone can identify rainbow pyrite.
Pyrite can be mistaken for gold. However, gold specific gravity is 19.3 when pure which is super dense or heavy as compared with pyrite. Nonetheless, gold's Mohs hardness ranges from 2.5 to 3 which makes it a soft metal as compared with pyrite which has a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.
Similar druzy gemstones include agate and amethyst druzy. Rare varieties include garnet druzy, rainbow hematite druzy, chrysocolla druzy, calcite druzy and azurite druzy.
Rainbow pyrite is usually cut into freeform shapes. But you can also find rounds, ovals, pear shapes and cushion shapes. Since it is a druzy stone it is normal to come with jagged and rough edges and unpolished and uneven lower parts.
Rainbow pyrite is not known to be treated or enhanced in any way.
Rainbow pyrite is also called the stone of manifestation. Pyrite was used as scrying mirrors by ancient peoples of Central Mexico and Peru. It was also used as a very powerful protective stone by ancient Egyptians and made into amulets and talismans. Rainbow pyrite due to its shimmering colourful metallic luster, is believed to help develop psychic powers.
Pyrite is hard and durable enough for most jewellery. However, due to its druzy formation, rainbow pyrite is somewhat delicate. Rainbow pyrite is best used as pendants and earrings and in rings it is recommended to come with a protective setting. Because of its formation, care has to be taken to prevent knocks and blows that can uproot the crystals from its matrix.
To clean your one-of-a-kind rainbow pyrite druzy gemstone, use plain water and a soft cloth or brush to dry it. Make sure not to use too much pressure when applying a toothbrush to dry clean the druzy crystals.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/metallic-luster-gemstones-pyrite-hematite-and-marcasite2022-08-22T04:08:24+08:002022-08-22T04:08:25+08:00Metallic Luster Gemstones: Pyrite, Hematite and MarcasiteAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
Luster refers to the light reflected from a gemstone's surface. Words that describe luster include adamantine (like diamond), vitreous (like glass), silky, resinous, greasy and metallic of which the latter being the most reflective. Gemstones with metallic luster usually have a refractive index ranging from about 2.6 to more than 3.0, which is a bit higher than the refractive index of diamonds, which is 2.4.
Three best known gemstones with metallic luster are pyrite. hematite and marcasite. They are all iron-based minerals that can be used in jewellery. Although, historically the jewelry reported as Marcasite of ancient times was in fact pyrite or a metal with a similar appearance. Even today a gemstone sold as marcasite you can be sure that it is actually pyrite.
In terms of hardness on the Mohs scale, pyrite is 6 to 6.5 which makes it hard to be scratched with a steel penknife. It is harder than other yellow metallic minerals, and its streak is black, usually with a tinge of green. Although pyrite has a reasonably good level of hardness it is quite brittle.
Pyrite occurs in cubic, pentagonal dodecahedra, octahedra crystal structure. Its colours range from gray yellow to brassy yellow which is very similar in appearance to gold. Thus it is also known as Fool's Gold.
Pyrite has a high density of 5.00 - 5.20. It is opaque in transparency and occurs with an indistinct cleavage.
Pyrite is derived from the Greek PUR and LITHOS meaning Fire and Stone or “the stone which strikes fire.” Pyrite has been found in prehistoric burial mounds giving evidence of its early use as a fire starter. Pieces of pyrite have also been used as a spark-producing material in flintlock firearms.
Pyrite or iron pyrite is composed of iron sulfide, sometimes containing small amounts of cobalt, nickel, silver and gold. It is considered the most common form of sulfide minerals. It forms in almost all types of environments: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rock types. However, pyrite rarely forms in fresh-water environments.
Not only does its colour resembles gold, pyrite is often formed together with gold. In some deposits pyrite contains enough included gold to warrant mining.
Pyrite has been used since the Stone Age and the ancient civilization created ritual magical objects and jewellery using pyrite. Historically, pyrite was widely used in jewellery, but is rarely seen in jewellery today.
Pyrite is found all over the world and comes in large crystals. However, the most important and largest deposit of pyrite is from Peru.
The perfect cubes of pyrite embedded in a matrix are found in abundance in the Victoria Mine, Navajun and La Rioja Mines in Spain. These are highly esteemed and sought after by collectors.
Pyrite deposits are also found also in Bolivia, Mexico, Sweden, Romania and the USA (Colorado).
Hematite
Both pyrite and hematite are iron-rich minerals. They have similar physical makeup and can be found in many areas of the world. However when discovered in its rawest form, hematite is usually found in shades of red. It turns black upon continuous exposure to wind and rain. Hematite is usually red, dark brown, black or silver. It produces a rust or red-colored streak when scratched.
Hematite is opaque and has an extremely variable appearance. Its luster can range from earthy to submetallic to metallic. Hematite is harder than pure iron but is much more brittle. Its hardness ranges from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It has no cleavage and it occurs in trigonal, mostly platy crystal structure. Its density is 5.12 to 5.28 which is a bit higher than that of pyrite. (Pyrite has a density of 5.00 - 5.20).
Hematite forms in the shape of rhombohedral crystals and has the same crystal structure as sapphires and rubies.
Hematite comes from the Greek HAIMATITES LITHOS which means "blood-red stone" as it leaves a rust-red streak when scratched in a white ceramic plate. This red streak is an important clue in identifying hematites.
Varieties of hematite include: kidney ore (looks like a kidney), martite, iron rose and specularite (specular hematite). Maghemite (a product of oxidised magnetite) is also loosely called a hematite.
Many specimens of hematite contain enough magnetite that they are attracted to a common magnet. Magnetite is attracted to a magnet and can be magnetized to become a permanent magnet itself. It is important to note that a magnetite leaves a black streak unlike the red streak from hematites.
In ancient Rome, hematite was the material used for signet rings and intaglios. In England, during the Victorian era, hematite was used in jewellery. Many Native American tribes used red ochre, the powdered form of hematite, extensively as a face paint for religious and war-related ceremonies. Note: Red ochre contains unhydrated hematite, whereas yellow ochre contains hydrated hematite.
Ancient Egyptians placed hematite amulets, representing pillows, in tombs to help mummies arise and move on to the afterlife. See Chapter CLXVI: The Chapter of the pillow in THE BOOK OF THE DEAD, The Papyrus of Ani. [Note, CLXVI = 166].
Ancient Romans associated hematite with Mars, the god of war whom they glorified. Their warriors rubbed their body with powdered hematite as it was believed it made them invincible.
Hematite has been found on planet Mars. This discovery is significant as terrestrial hematite is typically a mineral formed in watery environments. This points to the fact that there was once water on Mars.
Hematite deposits are found in the UK (Cumberland), Bangladesh, Brazil, China, New Zealand, the Czech Republic and the USA (Minnesota).
Marcasite
Marcasite is similar to pyrite in appearance and physical properties, and it has the same chemical composition. The most distinguishing feature of marcasite is its blade- or needle-shaped crystals and its streak is pure gray as compared to pyrite's slight green. Pyrite and marcasite have been mistaken for gold because they are yellow and metallic.
Marcasite is derived from the Arabic word "markaschatsa," meaning "fire stone." This is because when struck with flint or iron, marcasite can actually spark fire. It is sometimes referred to as "white iron pyrite".
Marcasite is of a grey-black (silver glint) with a black matrix colour. It is opaque in transparency with a poor cleavage. It has a metallic luster when polished. However it tarnishes easily and its luster becomes submetallic and specimens will alter to a brownish colour over time even in a home environment.
Marcasite has a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale with a specific gravity ranging from 4.8 - 5.2 which is less dense than pyrite. However, marcasite is brittle and chemically unstable. When exposed to moisture or humid environment, it can produce small amounts of sulfuric acid. For these reasons marcasite is never used in jewellery.
In the early 1800s people used the word marcasite for pyrite and other yellow iron sulfide minerals. In 1845 marcasite was classified as an orthorhombic iron sulfide thus differing from pyrite. Pyrite is found everywhere and is a mineral known worldwide whereas marcasite is not as common as pyrite and not known or recognized by people who are enthusiasts and aficionados of rocks.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/organic-gemstones2022-08-20T02:16:43+08:002022-08-20T02:26:11+08:00Organic GemsAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
Organic gemstones are gemstones that are produced by a living organism, whether animals or plants, or their fossilized remains. They are renewable and some can be farmed (like pearls). Unlike inorganic gemstone, organic material has no crystal structure. However, some organic materials have been mineralized by chalcedony, opals, calcite, aragonite or pyrite. Petrified wood and fossil coral are good examples of this.
Organic gemstones are among the oldest materials used in ornamentation by humans dating all the way back to the Stone Age. The most common organic gemstones are amber, pearl, jet, coral, ammolite and ivory.
Amber is unique from all other gemstones in the world. It is formed from the resin of ancient pine trees, a process that took millions of years. It is called “liquid sunshine” because of its lightweight luminescent colour. But it comes in many variety of colours.
The oldest piece of amber jewellery discovered was a 30,000-year-old amulet found near Hanover, Germany. Hippocrates, the father of healing, used amber to treat a number of diseases including delirium tremens.
The most well known organic gems include both freshwater and saltwater pearls. At one time only the uber rich could afford and wear a pearl necklace. Today most pearls are cultured, therefore making it more affordable and easily available for everyone.
Pearls are made by mollusc animals whereby the soft tissue within creates a mucus called nacre which then hardens, resulting in the creation of the pearl.
The most ancient jewellery ever found was a string of shells made of marine mollusks. It was most likely a necklace or beaded bracelet worn by prehistoric humanity.
Jet gemstone is an organic product of the decomposition of wood from millions of years ago. They are technically a type of coal, and are not minerals, but instead a mineraloid.
The most well-known deposit of jet is found at Whitby, in England. Jet can be cut and polished into mirror shine. Whitby Jet became world-famous after Queen Victoria used it as part of her mourning dress following the death of Prince Albert.
The source for jet has now been depleted and thus it has now become a collector's gem item.
Coral is a marine based gemstone which is made of calcium carbonate found below the vast oceans. A coral is the skeletal remains of a colony of tiny animals called coral polyps. It can be bright to dark-red, orange-red, orange-pink, pink, white, blue or black. When polished, it exhibits an attractive vitreous luster.
Coral poaching is illegal in many countries as the harvesting negatively impact the marine ecosystem. Therefore corals are hard to find in the market now.
Fossil coral is a coral that had been infilled and replaced with quartz or calcites. It can be polished into an attractive gemstone.
Ammolite is an opal-like organic gemstone. It is made of the fossilized shells of ammonites. Gem-quality ammolite produces a spectacular display of iridescent colour when it is observed in reflected light.
Ivory is derived from the teeth and tusks of animals. Because of the devastating impact of poaching due to the ivory trade, the importation and sale of such materials is severely restricted or banned in many countries.
Petrified wood began as an organic material but became crystallized and pseudomorph into a variety of quartz.
Saga, or Adenanthera Pavonina is also called Red Lucky Seed, Acacia Coral, Arbre À Église, Bead Tree, Circassian Seed, Corail Végétal, Coral Wood, Coralitos, Curly Bean, Deleite, Delicia, etcetera.
The seeds are contained within curved hanging pods that are split open into two spiraling halves revealing the vivid red, glossy and heart-shaped beads. The seed pods also open while still on the branch, releasing their seeds on the ground.
The young leaves and bark of Adenanthera pavonina are used in Traditional Medicine to treat diarrhea, and the ground seeds are used to treat inflammation. Further uses include food and drink, for making soap, and a red dye can be obtained from the wood which in India is pound into powder. A red dye is obtained from the wood and used by the Brahmins to make religious markings on their foreheads.
In China, saga seeds in Mandarin are known as "xiang si dou" (Chinese: 相思豆), or "mutual love bean" and are used as a symbol of love. The rich red colour of the seeds resembles a heart and the organic gem similar to the fine precious coral and the rich red carnelian gemstones. The seeds besides being bright red, and heart-shaped, are also hard. Saga seeds for a long time have been used as beads for jewellery.
Other organic gemstones are territella agate, sand dollar and dinosaur bones.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/gemstone-medicine2022-08-18T04:32:55+08:002022-08-18T04:32:56+08:00Gemstone MedicineAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
Since thousands of years ago, ancient people such as the Chinese, Sumerians, Egyptians and Greeks knew about the medicinal and therapeutic properties of stones and had been using them for healing. Rooted in the Vedas, the Indians, too, believed strongly that stones are associated with particular stars, moons and planets and their position in the sky had an affects on one's life.
Some gemstones come from the deepest bowels of the earth or come crashing down from the heavens and thus the belief that they also bring the powers of the abyss and powers of heaven with them.
Not all stones are made the same. Not only do they contain different elements and compounds, the environment and location from where they come from made each stone resonate its own frequency and energy. Therefore some are more conducive for healing, others for energy boost, or for protection and some are even used as prophecy tools.
Medical amulets were widely used centuries ago for healing. Particular stones were carved and inscribed with chants for specific diseases and were placed on the patients' specific parts of the body.
The use of stones for their medical and healing benefits is ancient knowledge and wisdom. Today this is called Lithotherapy. Today Chinese and Tibetan Traditional Medicine still ground stones into powder and consume it as a cure for illnesses.
In ancient times, Jade was held in very high regard amongst the great Daoist sages. They believed the ingestion of Jade would give them access to the immortality of the Wises. Interestingly the ancient Chinese, the Aztecs and the Mayans all considered Jade as a kidney healing stone.
Traditional Chinese Medicine still ground Pearl into powder to be taken internally to calm the spirit and also to reduce phlegm in the body. It can also be applied externally to heal blemishes and skin problems. It is also taken for its anti-aging properties.
The ancient Greeks crushed Hematite not for ingestion but for rubbing onto their warriors for strength and invincibility during battle.
Lapis Lazuli was a very sacred stone in all ancient civilisations. The ancient Sumerians believed it possessed the energy to heal eye ailments and eye tumours. It was also used to treat fever, circulatory diseases, snake-bites and pregnancy disorders. The early Romans and Greeks used Lapis Lazuli to treat skin problems, epilepsy and circulatory diseases.
Moonstone is sacred to India and it was a moonstone that was embedded in the forehead of the 4-handed god of the moon, Ganesh. Moonstone also it is said, grants gifts of prophecy to the wearer.
During the Middle Ages, quartz was used by medical practitioners in their healing potions and the ancient Egyptians believed it to be anti-aging.
In Ayurvedic medicine, sapphires are believed to bring mental balance and clarity. Arabian kings from 400-100 BC wore sapphires as protection against physical injury and envy.
Amethyst comes from the Greek word Amethystos which means "not intoxicated". This was because of its colour resemblance to grape wine and the belief among the ancient Greeks that this crystal had the power to keep you from getting drunk.
The Hebrew word for Amethyst is "ahlamah” which means "dream” and it is believed that the stone helps you to achieve deep sleep and have lucid dreams and that if you dream of Amethyst you will be free from harm.
In Chinese medicine, Amethyst is also prescribed to get rid of bad dreams. In Chinese Feng Shui, Amethyst is a powerful tool in clearing negative energy and driving away the fears of life.
Pliny notes in his Natural History that some people believed Amber could help with problems specifically connected to the tonsils, mouth and throat as well as mental disorders and bladder problems. - [Amber in Antiquity - World History Encyclopedia]
Ancient Islamic cultures believed that Agate could ward off the evil eye and tragedies. Similarly, Babylonians also believed that agate properties could be used to dispel evil energy. The ancient Egyptians, however, believed agate would offer protection against natural disasters like lightnings. - [Agate - Benedicte de Boysson]
Back in the 1100s, there was a mystic in Germany whose influence can still be felt today. Her name was Abbes Hildegard von Bingen who in 2012 was made into a Catholic Saint and doctor. Today people practise what is called Hildegard medicine which include the use of gemstones. Gemstones, she wrote in her book Physica, contain both water and fire and therefore contain both of these powers. She also said that stones were blessed by god and can thus heal. In Physica, she wrote;
"Who is dull and would like to be clever, should, in a sober state, frequently lick with the tongue on a sapphire, because the gemstone's warmth and power, combined with the saliva's moisture, will expel the harmful juices that affect the intellect. Thus, the man will attain a good intellect."]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/star-moonstone-gemstone2022-08-01T15:25:46+08:002022-08-01T15:25:47+08:00Star Moonstone GemstoneAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] by Alice Koh
Feldspar gemstones are classified as either potassium feldspar or plagioclase feldspar. Star moonstone is a potassium feldspar, the same as amazonite, orthoclase and sanidine .
Star moonstone is of a potassium aluminum silicate chemical formula. It occurs in a monoclinic, prismatic crystal structure. It has a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and a perfect cleavage (which makes it a fragile gemstone).
Star moonstone is typically translucent, though transparent specimens can be found and these are very valuable.
Star moonstone has a glass-like to pearly luster. It gives off a weak bluish and orangey fluorescence. It is usually colourless, yellow and pale sheen. Moonstones, however, are often found with a silvery sheen with base body colours of gray, mocha brown, yellow, orange, green, pink, blue, cream and white. The most sought after moonstones are the ones with blue sheen and white to colourless body. The deep-blue moonstones are the most valuable.
Star moonstone is a gem quality variety of orthoclase feldspar which exhibits the rare four-ray star effect known as asterism. The four-ray star can be seen under a direct light source as you tilt and rotate and view the gemstone from different angles. The four-rays are displayed at near-perfect right angles.
Star moonstone also comes with a magical, bluish-white shimmer or a wavy glow known in the gem world as adularescence. This star and adularescence in a moonstone is extremely rare. Top quality star moonstone can display the 'three-dimensional' colour of white, blue or blue-orange.
Star moonstone occurs in the same mines as moonstones. The most important sources for star moonstone come from Sri Lanka, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Myanmar (Burma), Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland and Tanzania.
In order to maximize the four-ray star effect and adularescence in star moonstone, it is always cut en cabochon. Star moonstone is also cut with very high domes and in ovals.
Star moonstone is not known to be treated or enhanced in any way.
In India, the belief is that moonstones were created from moonbeams. In India, moonstones are also considered sacred gemstones and bringers of luck and good fortune. In some Arab countries, moonstones are sewn into the underwear of women in order to bring them healthy children.
Ancient Romans, too, believed that the moonstone gemstones were created from drops of moonlight. Thus such stones carried the power of the moon.
Moonstone is believed to arouse tenderness, love and compassion. It is a powerful healing stone able to rid of body pain such as headaches. Moonstone was once known as the "traveler's stone".
Moonstone is the official birthstone for June and they are associated with the zodiacal sign of Pisces.
Since moonstones can easily be scratched and chipped, it is recommended that they should be worn only on special occasions, and that they should come with protective setting especially for rings and bracelets.
To clean your beautiful star moonstone, use only a mild soap and wipe down your stone using a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse well to remove soapy residue.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/cats-eye-moonstone-gemstone2022-08-01T05:06:21+08:002022-08-01T05:06:22+08:00Cat's Eye Moonstone GemstoneAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] By Alice Koh
Feldspar gemstones are classified either as potassium feldspar or plagioclase feldspar. Cat's eye moonstone is a potassium feldspar, the same as amazonite, orthoclase and sanidine.
Cat's eye moonstone is of a potassium aluminum silicate chemical formula. It occurs in a monoclinic, prismatic crystal structure. Cat's eye moonstone has a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and has a perfect cleavage (which makes it a fragile gemstone.)
Cat's eye moonstone is typically translucent, though transparent specimens can be found and these are most valuable.
Cat's eye moonstone has a glass-like to pearly luster. It gives off a weak, bluish, orange fluorescence. It is usually colourless, yellow and has a pale sheen. Moonstones, however, are often found with a silvery sheen with base body colours of gray, mocha brown, yellow, orange, green, pink, blue, cream and white. The most sought after moonstones are the ones with blue sheen and white to colourless body colour. The deep-blue moonstones are the most valuable.
Cat's eye moonstone is a transparent to opaque variety of orthoclase feldspar that exibits the rare trait of chatoyancy. Chatoyancy is an optical phenomenon that closely resembles the slit-eye of a cat. It is an extremely rare phenomenon found in only few gemstones such as cat's eye chrysoberyl, apatite, aquamarine and tourmaline.
In addition to the cat's eye effect in the moonstone, it also displays the optical trait of adularescence, which is a magical, bluish-white shimmer or a wavy glowing light. This chatoyancy and adularescence in a moonstone is extremely rare. Top quality cat's eye moonstone can display the 'three-dimensional' colour of white, blue or blue-orange.
Cat's eye moonstone occurs in the same mines as moonstones. The most important deposits are sourced from Sri Lanka and India. Other notable mines are found in Australia, Brazil, Myanmar (Burma), Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Tanzania and the United States.
In order to maximize the car's eye effect and adularescence in cat's eye moonstone, it is always cut en cabochon. Cat's eye moonstones are also cut with very high domes and in ovals. The most valued cut in cat's eye moonstone is the round cut that comes also in a large carat size.
Cat's eye moonstone is not known to be treated or enhanced in any way, but it has been reported that some blue coloured ones have been enhanced by 'coating.'
Moonstones have been considered sacred stones by ancient cultures and peoples. In India, it was believed that moonstones were created from the moonlight and that if you wish to see the future, you are to place a moonstone gemstone in your mouth during a full moon. In India, moonstones were believed to bring luck and good fortune. In Arab countries, moonstones were believed to make women fertile and thus they would sew a moonstone into their underwear garments.
In ancient Rome, the Romans believed that moonstones were made from drops of moonlight. and therefore they possessed properties associated with the moon such as fertility, intuition, dreams and love. Moonstones are also believed to relieve physical pains such as headaches.
Moonstone since they are soft and fragile, are perfect for protective-style jewellery designs such as earrings, pendants, pins and brooches. Cat's eye moonstone can be worn as a ring, but this ring must come in a protective setting in order to protect it from scratches and blows.
To clean your beautiful cat's eye moonstone gemstone use only a mild soap and wipe down your stone using a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse well to remove soapy residue.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/white-colourless-gemstones2022-08-01T02:46:17+08:002022-08-01T02:46:45+08:00White (Colourless) GemstonesAlice Koh
[For Information and Educational purposes only] By Alice Koh
White (colourless) gemstones come in many different types and sizes. The large carat gemstones can be used as centerstones and the smaller ones as side stones or melee accents. Many colourless gemstones, however, have been used as diamond alternatives and substitutes.
The readily available white (colourless) gemstone that can also be found in large carats and is affordable is the white (colourless) quartz also known as rock crystal and white (colourless) topaz.
Rock Crystal
White quartz, or rock crystal, has a hardness of 7 on Mohs scale which makes it durable and suitable for most jewellery designs including rings. However, white quartz lacks the brilliance and fire and dispersion to be made into a diamond substitute or its alternative. The good thing is that it can be found in really big sizes and is very affordable.
Rock crystals are highly esteemed by the Chinese since ancient times. It is regarded as a powerful talisman of concentration and perseverance. It is also known as the Jewel of Perfection.
In Japanese art, the dragon is depicted holding a crystal ball. This ball is called the Gem of Omnipotence. Dragon in Japan is usually referred to as Tatsu or Ryu. The Ryu comes in different colours of white, red, green, yellow or black. The breath of the White Dragon turns to gold; whereas the spittle of the Red Dragon turns into crystal balls.
Shamans of South America believe that rock crystal houses holy spirits, and therefore, is to be considered very sacred and only to be seen by the wearer. Natives would often make a special bag for their rock crystal and wear it around their necks.
Natives of Australia and Tasmania also consider rock crystal in a sacred and mystical way. They use it for crystal gazing and other religious rituals as well.
Wearing rock crystal banishes nightmares and rids of curses. It guards you against all sorts of black and evil witchcraft, envy and the evil thoughts and bad intentions of people around you.
White Topaz
White topaz has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale which is quite tough and resistant to scratches. However it has a perfect cleavage which means that it can fracture easily. It does come with brilliance and a high refractive index, which can be made as an alternative to white (colourless) diamond. White topaz also comes in large sizes, over 5 carats and are affordable.
Topaz was believed to cure insanity. Till today, it is used as a powerful amulet of protection against any type of danger. It is said to protect the wearer from epidemics, wild passions, witchcraft and the envious look of the Evil Eye. It gives extra-sensory perceptions like a glimpse of the afterlife.
Topaz can help to banish the fear of death and can help ease the journey to the afterlife.
White Sapphire
White sapphire is another popular colourless gemstone. It is an excellent substitute for diamond, and great as a side stone or melee accent as it has a high refractive index. It comes mostly in smaller sizes. However, white sapphires weighing several carats can still be found. White sapphire is a hard and durable gemstone, rated 9 on the Mohs hardness scale which makes it perfect for daily wear.
Sapphire was also used in magical and religious ceremonies. For instance, it was used as an amulet that would protect the wearer from the larvae of the demonic spiritual plane and from poisonous vermin on this material plane.
It is believed that wearing a sapphire gemstone helps you bond with your spiritual helpers such as your spirit guides, spiritual healers, guardian angels, and even loved ones that have passed away to the spirit realm.
Nonetheless, the best diamond substitute and alternative is the colourless zircon and colourless beryl also known as goshenite.
White Zircon
White Zircon has a higher refractive index than a diamond and sapphire. Colourless zircon has been used as a diamond substitute for years and has fooled many people. Colourless zircon is rated 6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is suitable for all types of jewellery. However, it must come in proper protective setting to avoid hard blows and rough daily wear. White zircon is more affordable than white diamond and white sapphire.
White zircon was used as an amulet against plagues and diseases and it was loved by Europeans of the Middle-Ages and by Hindus alike.
It was worn on the pinky finger by physicians of Europe during that time.
Indian astrologists advised that white zircons be placed in dry sea salt once every 6 months where it would discharge and recharge at the same time.
Goshenite
Beryl comes in many colours such as green like the emerald and light-blue like aquamarine. But beryl also comes in white or colourless.
Goshenite has a hardness ranging from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale which makes it hard enough for any type of jewellery. It also has an excellent transparency. According to the Wikipedia article on Goshenite (gem), it says: "Goshenite is also referred to as the purest form of beryl since there are generally no other elements present in the stone. The gem is used as imitation for diamond or emerald by adding colored foil on it." Due to its good clarity and excellent transparency, goshenite was once used for manufacturing eyeglasses and lenses.
Goshenite and rock quartz crystal were both used as divining tools and eye glasses. They were also known as Stones of Wisdom. It is the stone that helps people see different viewpoints in a situation, thus guiding one to make wise decisions.
As a white transparent stone, it represents purity, truth and psychic abilities. It is crystal clean and hence, nothing is hidden.
Goshenite is the stone for the zodiac sign of Gemini. It resonates with the third eye chakra that is associated with the moon and the water element in Eastern healing spirituality.
Raw Herkimer Quartz Diamond
Herkimer diamonds are double-terminated quartz crystals first found in Herkimer, New York. They have been with us since five hundred million years ago. Magnificent quartz that have a diamond-like geometrical shape, thus the name “Herkimer Diamonds”.
Each Herkimer quartz diamond crystal is one of a kind with a unique shape. They also occur with black coloured inclusions.
Raw Herkimer quartz diamond has a hardness of 7.5 which is harder than most quartz varieties. Herkimer quartz diamond is the April birthstone.
Herkimer quartz diamond crystal is believed to purify and magnify the frequencies of other stones. It also helps to purify your aura field. It is a high vibration quartz that helps boost psychic abilities such as clairvoyance, telepathy and psychic hearing. It is also known as the Dream Crystal used for dream recollection.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/black-coloured-gemstones2022-07-05T22:18:17+08:002022-07-05T22:18:18+08:00Black Coloured GemstonesAlice Koh
by Alice Koh [For educational purpose only].
Black is the absence of light; colour is a phenomenon of light. Black conceals rather than illuminates; it absorbs rather than refracts light, think of black holes. Black represents darkness, evil and despair. Black is also associated with authority and demonic magic. During the Victorian era, mourning black jewellery was in style. Today it is still fashionable to wear black jewellery, but these gemstones are not easily available and must be search for them online.
The most popular of the black gemstone is Tourmaline.
Black Tourmaline
One of the most loved black gemstone varieties is the black tourmaline. Black tourmaline is also known as schorl. It is durable as it comes with a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Tourmaline occurs in almost every colour of the rainbow. Black tourmaline gemstones come in huge sizes.
Black tourmaline is the most powerful gemstone known to man. It possesses a genuinely magical phenomenon of becoming a magnet upon heating, cooling or rubbing it. It will become electrically charged with one end positive and the other negative. It can then attract tiny dust particles.
18th century Swedish botanist Carl Von Linne called tourmaline "the electric stone." Black tourmaline is the stone that shamans and medicine men used in ancient times in their healing rituals. It is a soothing and calming stone, magnetic and spiritual, that promotes meditation, mysticism and wisdom.
Tourmaline also gives inspiration, happiness and positivity to the wearer. It is a powerful stone for protection and purification. Black tourmaline in particular is a grounding stone. It is. a strong psychic shield as it clears negative energy and transforms it into positive energy. Black tourmaline enhances feelings of security and confidence.
In this modern world, we are inundated with harmful electro-magnetic frequencies known as EMF pollution. These microwave radiation are emitted from computers, cell phones, wifi routers, microwave ovens, other smart devices and electronics. Black tourmaline which has iron in it, has the power to neutralize this radiation.
Tourmaline is the official gemstone for October and is the traditional gift to celebrate 8th wedding anniversary.
Black Star Sapphire
Black star sapphire is another one of the most popular black gemstone varieties. In order to enhance the star effect, black star sapphire are cut en cabochons. It is best viewed under a focused flashlight. The golden ray black sapphire comes from Thailand.
Sapphire has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Sapphire gemstones which are a form of corundum occur in every colour except red. Red corundum is ruby. The name sapphire is derived from the Latin "saphirus" and the Greek "sapheiros", both of which mean blue.
Sapphire is believed to banish envy and jealousy and promote faithfulness in a love relationship. It is known as the stone of wisdom and it gives faith and hope to the wearer. It is considered a great gemstone of protection against mental and spiritual attacks and giver of wealth and fortune, and confidence to the wearer. It boosts mental clarity and motivation. It helps the wearer achieve his or her goals and ambitions. It gives peace and calmness to a chaotic life. It is the stone of the nobility used since ancient times.
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the traditional gemstone gifted for 5th, 45th and 70th wedding anniversaries. It is considered a gemstone of prosperity, success and abundance.
Black Star Diopside
Diopside gemstone is known for its natural vivid green chrome colour. But it is the black diopside that displays the star effect.
Star diopside is a chatoyant black to greenish black diopside which is sometimes traded as "Black Star of India". Green star diopsides are extremely rare. Black star diopside can be confused with black star sapphire. However what differentiates one from the other is their hardness. As with all sapphires, black star sapphire has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale whereas star diopside has a hardness ranging from 5-6 on the Mohs scale.
Star diopside occurs with a beautiful glass-like luster and is normally cut into oval or round cabochons. These cabochons are typically biconvex and the bottoms are left rough and unpolished.
Star diopside has a very unique asterism. A white star can be easily seen against the dark diopside body colour and this asterism only exhibits four rays. Most star gemstones feature six-ray asterism. In addition, star diopside's rays are crooked and slightly wavy because they are not at 90° right angles.
Star diopside samples sometimes are so heavily included with magnetite needle-like inclusions that they carry a strong magnetism. This magnetic power is believed to help star diopside in healing the body, soul and mind of the wearer.
Star diopside is also known as the 'crying stone' as it brings powerful emotions to those in need of a catharsis.
Black Spinel
Spinel occurs in many different colours such as red, blue, pink, purple and black. For centuries it was mistaken for ruby and it was valued the same as ruby. Today fine red spinel is rarer than ruby but less valuable.
Spinel has an excellent hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale and it displays a high clarity. Spinel is never treated in any way and continues to be a great substitute for ruby and sapphire. Black spinel is available in various sizes and is suitable for any jewellery design.
Spinel gives happiness and revitalizes the wearer. It gives the determination to tackle any difficult situation, boosts confidence and creativity.
Spinel is the official birthstones for the month of August and is also the traditional gift for the 22nd wedding anniversary.
Like black tourmaline, black spinel is also known to act as a protective barrier against EMF pollution. It is known as a detoxifying gemstone that helps purge cellular waste and toxins.
The most important sources for black spinel are Thailand and Australia.
Black Agate
Agate is a multicoloured form of chalcedony quartz that formed beautiful and unique layered patterns. Bands run through the stone in different colours, shadows and patterns. Depending on the base of the bands, it may exhibit a yellow, green or blue-white fluorescence. Each specimen is unique just as each slice from the same specimen has its own pattern.
The most common colours in agate are yellow, red, brown, green, white, black, gray, lilac and pink. It is translucent to opaque and comes in rounded nodules with coloured inclusions.
Agate has a waxy-dull luster and a Mohs hardness rating of about 7. This means that it is hard enough to scratch glass and strong enough to withstand scratches from a knife.
Agate was seen as a holy instrument that could be used in war. It made the wearer powerful and confident and ensured a victorious outcome of the battle.
It was believed that amulets made from agate protected the wearer from thunder and lightning, tempests, all malevolent elements and dangers from war. Placing one in the mouth also relieved fever. Agate mixed with certain fruit juices was thought to cure insanity.
One type of agate is onyx.
Black Onyx
Onyx derives its name from the Greek ONYX, ONYCHOS and means a fingernail.
This is in reference to the Greek story of Cupid who upon finding his mother Venus asleep on the river bank, cut her fingernails with one of his sharp arrowheads. These clippings became stones which resembled flesh-coloured onyx with white bands.
Onyx is the parallel banded variety of silicate mineral chalcedony. Agate and onyx are varieties of the banded chalcedony. The only difference is that the onyx has parallel bands while agate has concentric bands.
Onyx has a hardness ranging from 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs scale. It has a waxy to dull luster and is typically opaque. When it is cut and polished, onyx is typically free from inclusions. It has a fluorescence that varies according to the bands, moderately strong with yellow to blue-white.
Most often, Onyx is identified by its black base and white upper layer with parallel bandings. However, it can be solid pitch black too. These are often dyed.
The most familiar onyx is black and white-banded. This is also known as "true" or "Arabic" onyx.
Throughout history, onyx is believed to bring powers of protection and the reduction of sexual desires.
Onyx is a powerful protective stone. It absorbs and transforms negative energy and strengthens emotional well-being.
Black onyx is known to act as a barrier to harmful EMF waves.
Black Jasper
Jasper derives its name from the French JASPRE, the Latin JASPIS, and the Greek IASPIS, meaning "spotted or speckled" gemstone.
Jasper is a silicon dioxide mineral of dull, vitreous luster. It is a variety of chalcedony which is a microcrystalline quartz (its crystals cannot be seen by the naked eye). Usually Jasper is opaque because it contains enough non-chalcedony material (impurities and foreign material) to interfere with the passage of light. It is these impurities and foreign materials that give jasper its colour and opacity. Iron, iron oxide and manganese are typical mineral impurities in jasper.
Jasper comes in all colours. They are mostly in striped, spotted or swirling patterns of red, green, yellow, brown and black and organic-looking patches that make jasper an amazing and unique gemstone.
Jasper's hardness is 7 on the Mohs scale. As jaspers can be found all over the world, they are quite affordable.
Jasper is one of the main stones for period 8 feng shui. Throughout history, jasper has been known prominently as the “Supreme Nurturer." It is a stone of endurance, perseverance and tenacity. It comforts and protects, calms and relaxes, soothes troubled minds and restores balance to the body and spirit.
Black Garnet
It was the occultist Albertus Magnus in 1270 who gave the name Garnet to this precious stone. He described this mineral as GRANATUS, meaning SEED, due to the resemblance of the stone's form and colour to pomegranate seed.
The garnets are a complex family of minerals. They all have similar structures but vary widely in chemical composition, properties and hardness. They come in a variety of colours ranging from pink, cinnamon brown, orange, yellow, green, purple, blue, black and colourless. But most often they occur in beautiful pomegranate red. The luster of garnets ranges from vitreous (glass-like) to resinous (amber-like). It is translucent to opaque.
All garnets fall between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale which means they can be used in almost any type of jewellery. However, garnet as a gemstone is rarely found in very big carat sizes.
Andradite which is named after the Portuguese mineralogist D'Andrada is the most sparkly variety of the garnet family. It contains calcium and iron which give them the colours of red, brown, green, yellow and black. These stones are discovered in igneous rocks.
Varieties of andradite include:
Melanite (black) Pyreneite (black) - used in mourning jewellery by Europeans of the 19th century Aplome (dark brown) Kolophonite garnet - dark honey-brown
Black melanite garnet is known to exhibit an excellent beautiful luster and high refractive index. Melanite is opaque with a glossy black colour, which is caused by the presence of titanium, earning it the trade name of 'titanian andradite'. It only comes in smaller sizes.
Black star garnet is also often found with near-black colour. However, black star garnet is usually a mix of garnet species, so the colour is usually more reddish-black rather than jet-black like melanite.
Kabbalists and occultists, both Jewish and Christians, have used garnets and engraved them with the names of angels in Greek, Hebrew and other ancient languages.
Garnet is a health talisman, called the Stone of Health. It detoxifies, restores and harmonizes your body, thus bringing inner peace.
Jet Gemstone
Jet was highly esteemed by the Romans. It was called GAGATES from the Greek GAGATES LITHOS, which is translated as the STONE OF GAGES, an ancient town and river in Lycia (in Asia Minor).
Jet is the brown coal variety known as LIGNITE (Latin for Wood). It forms from fossilized wood therefore it is organic and not a mineral. Instead it is known as a mineraloid.
Jet has a hardness of 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. So it is quite soft and breaks easily.
Jet can be cut, carved and polished to a bright luster. Its main colour is black. It is the material that inspired Shakespeare's "black as jet". However it also comes in dark brown colour and sometimes with a metallic luster. This metallic luster is due to pyrite inclusions.
Jet is also known as black amber because just like amber, it gives an electric charge when rubbed.
During the later Victorian Era, jet jewellery became popular after Queen Victoria wore jet that were mined in Whitby as part of her mourning dress after the death of her husband, Prince Albert. Jet was chosen most likely for its black somber and modest appearance.
Jet's popularity as a gem declined after the Victorian period. Most likely it was due to its association with mourning.
Today the most common black gemstones are the onyx, obsidian, schorl or black tourmaline and melanite garnet which are affordable alternatives to black jet.
Jet was used since ancient times as a magical gem and in magical rituals. It was used as a talisman against curses, envy and black magic. It was used as a divination tool. Jet was burnt with a hot axe and the smoke was interpreted accordingly to prophesize future events. This form of future telling is called Axinomancy.
Jet was used to calm outburst of hysteria by inhaling its incense.
Jet is now rather hard to source, and many authentic jet jewels are highly sought after by gem collectors.
Black Obsidian
Another semi-precious stone used as a protection and shield is the obsidian. Obsidian has been used as a powerful stone for protection since our ancestors lived in caves.
Obsidian is a powerful volcanic glass that can also be used to cleanse the auras from the filthy muddy energy that clings on us. It is one of the most spiritual stones used by humanity. In ancient Mexico it was used as a mirror to contact the spirit world.
Obsidian has the power to rid your mental stress and anxiety. It can also absorb the negativity that clutters and confuses your mentality. Its powerful healing energy can help you repel the dark energy that you have been exposed to.
Black Cat's Eye Scapolite
Cat's eye scapolite is typically greenish, gray or brown (that looks almost black in body colour) but it is known to naturally occur in vibrant pink and violet. Bright honey-yellow is the most common colour for transparent scapolite, but it can also occur colourless, white, red and orange.
Cat's eye scapolite is of a sodium calcium aluminum silicate chemical formula. It occurs with a tetragonal, columna crystal structure. It is extremely rare and not very well-known. However, its price is very reasonable. Most all cat's eye scapolite tend to be translucent at best.
The most valued cat's eye scapolite is the one with well defined slit in the center of the pupil that stands out from the background. As you turn the gemstone, the cat's eye too should move smoothly across the surface of the gemstone.
Cat's eye scapolite is not treated or enhanced in any way.
Cat's eye scapolite has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6 on Mohs scale which is fairly soft. Thus, it is always cut en cabochon with round domed top and flat bottom in order to protect the corners or edges of the gemstone.
If you are to use a cat's eye scapolites ring, it is recommended to come with protective settings.
Cat's eye scapolite carries a very powerful energy. Scapolite is known as the stone for problem solving and cat's eye scapolite in particular is believed to help you solve past and present problems. It gives inspiration and promotes change and a purpose in life to the wearer.
Black Nephrite Jade
Most black jade available today is nephrite. Jade is a generic name for the green coloured stone that is synonymous with China. However, there are two very distinctly different minerals collectively known as Jade. They are nephrite and jadeite.
Nephrite comes from the Greek word for kidney which is NEFRÓ. In Latin, LAPIS NEPHRITICUS means Kidney Stone
Nephrite is a crystalline calcium magnesium silicate. In its pure state, it is white but may be green, cream, yellow, brown, gray, black or mottled because of the presence of impurities, chiefly iron compounds. The white nephrite is very rare.
Nephrite has a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Its transparency is translucent to opaque and it has a dull, resinous, waxy luster. Nephrite has no fluorescence, unlike Jadeite. By comparison, jadeite is more translucent and vitreous.
Jade had been mined and used as ornaments and ritual objects since the Stone Age. It was considered PRICELESS among the Chinese and Mesoamerican civilizations (the Olmecs, Toltecs, Mayans and Mexicas, also known as the Aztecs). A Chinese proverb states "Gold has a price; Jade is priceless".
Nephrite produces a clear crisp resonance when struck. Perhaps this is the reason why Chinese poets often extols its beauty and elegance. Nephrite jade has also been made into chimes and musical instruments.
Nephrite is esteemed as a magical stone with tremendous powers. It blesses anyone who touches it. It is named after the kidney because ancient people noticed that it could cleanse and cure any ailments and illness arising from the liver, spleen and kidneys.
In Asia today, nephrite jade is still being used as a talisman and amulet for protection against accidents and illnesses, for good health, long life and prosperity.
Black-seed Hetian jade is the greasy jade found in the Hotan region of China. It is highly sought after and is traded as Hetian jade.
Black Diamond
Black diamonds do not sparkle like white diamonds since black absorbs light. Black diamond by definition is not true diamond because it is still pure carbon. Thus, black diamond is also called Carbonado. It is very rare and thus most of the black diamonds on the market today have been treated to enhance their colour. Almost all of the black diamond available are sourced from Brazil, and Central Africa.
Tahitian Black Pearls
Almost all pearls available today are cultured. Nonetheless, the only naturally black pearls come from the body of a very specific type of oyster, the Tahitian black-lipped Pinctada margaritifera.
Pearl Hardness on the Mohs scale ranges from 2.5 – 4.5.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/cats-eye-scapolite-gemstones2022-07-03T02:10:26+08:002022-07-03T02:10:27+08:00Cat's Eye Scapolite GemstonesAlice Koh
by Alice Koh [For educational purpose only].
Scapolite is derived from the Greek word SKAPOS meaning Stick or Stem, referring to the long columnar formation of its crystal structure.
Cat's eye scapolite is of a sodium calcium aluminum silicate chemical formula. It occurs with a tetragonal, columnar crystal formation.
Cat's eye scapolite is typically greenish, gray or brown in colour but it is known to naturally occur in vibrant pink and violet. Bright honey-yellow is the most common colour for transparent scapolite. However Scapolite can also occur colourless, red and orange.
Cat's eye scapolite has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent, translucent and opaque with a glass-like brilliant luster.
The chatoyant variety of scapolite is known as the cat's eye scapolite.
Chatoyancy is the optical phenomenon that resembles the slit-eye of a cat.
Cat's eye scapolite is extremely rare. Due to its rarity and lack of hardness, it is primarily a collector's gemstone.
Rainbow scapolite is another rare variety of scapolite which contains iridescent inclusions. These needle-like inclusions display a dazzling rainbow of colours.
Rainbow scapolite usually occurs in a colourless, transparent body colour, or a darker, translucent greyish body colour. This iridescence is best viewed under focused light. In some rare cases, rainbow scapolite may exhibit both iridescence and the cat's eye effect.
Another name for scapolite is 'Wernerite'. This term is often used to describe a strongly fluorescent form of scapolite especially the greenish-gray material from Quebec, Canada. The term Wernertite may also be used to describe minerals that possess chemical characteristics between those of meionite and marialite.
Diopside, plagioclase feldspar, olivine, peridot, petschite (purple scapolite from Tanzania), violet scapolite, rainbow scapolite and pink scapolite are the most popular and common trade names and mineral associations.
Other less known trade names and mineral associations include: Wernerite, 'pink moonstone', lavender cat's eye scapolite, violet cat's eye scapolite, pink cat's eye scapolite, mizzonite, dipyre, marialite and meionite.
Scapolite is closely related to diopside and olivine (peridot). It is also an alteration of plagioclase feldspar, so it shares similar traits with some varieties of feldspar.
Cat's eye scapolite is usually translucent. It displays a clear and distinct cat's eyes and this clear chatoyancy distinguishes it from other cat's eye gemstones.
It was in 1913 in the Mogok Stone Tract in Upper Burma that scapolite was first discovered.
Today, cat's eye scapolite is sourced from Tanzania, Canada, Norway, Italy, Mexico and the USA. Gemstone quality Scapolite have also been found in Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, Kenya, Burma and Canada. Canada is known to produce a mottled variety of scapolite, closely associated with diopside. The Canadian material occurs opaque with mottled patterns and is often multicoloured. It has an especially strong level of fluorescence, which makes it quite easily identifiable.
Cat's eye scapolite is always cut en cabochon in order to produce the desirable cat's eye effect. Most cabochons are cut in oval and round shapes. Even though scapolite is rare in gem quality, you can find it in very large sizes.
Cat's eye scapolite is not treated or enhanced in any way, with the exception of some pink to lavender coloured scapolite stones. These are heat treated to enhance its colour. However, these colours tend to fade upon exposure to heat and light, especially in the heated purple scapolite stones. Natural occurring purple to violet scapolite does not fade in colour.
Owing to its wide variety of colour occurrences, cat's eye scapolite carry a very powerful energy.
Scapolite is known as The Stone for Problem Solving and cat's eye in particular is believed to help you solve past and present problems. It gives inspiration and promotes change and a purpose in life to the wearer.
Rainbow scapolite with inclusions of magnetite (magnetite is a magnetic member of the spinel group), is believed to possess beneficial magnetic properties.
Due to its softness, it is recommended to use in jewellery such as cabochon earrings, pins, pendants or brooches.
You can clean your precious cat's eye scapolite using a soft cloth and a mild soap or detergent if needed. Be sure to rinse your gemstone well in order to remove soapy residue and you can dry them using a soft cloth. Store them away from other harder gemstones and jewellery to prevent scratches.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/purple-and-violet-coloured-gemstones2022-06-23T21:09:47+08:002022-06-23T21:09:48+08:00Purple and Violet Coloured GemstonesAlice Koh
By Alice Koh [For educational purposes only].
There are seven colours in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. In the rainbow the red is on the top of the arc and violet is on the bottom. There is no purple light in a rainbow.
Different shades of purple can be created by mixing red and blue. The colours purple and violet have been used synonymously and interchangeably. However they are not the same; there is a small difference in hue between them. What we call purple in the colour wheel is specifically red violet, while the violet in the colour wheel is actually blue violet.
Since ancient times, purple and violet represented spirituality, royalty and wealth. Blue is a colour of tranquility and red is of aggressiveness. Thus, purple shares both qualities.
A well known purple gemstone is the amethyst, which is a variety of quartz and can be found in geode form as well as a polished crystal.
Amethyst comes from the Greek word AMETHYSTOS which means "not intoxicated". This was because of its colour resemblance to grape wine and the belief among the ancient Greeks that this crystal had the power to keep you from getting drunk.
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. It comes in shades of lilac with pink undertones, lavender, deep purple plums, brownish purple and raspberry with red and blue tones. Irradiation and trace elements of iron and/or manganese produces the colour and intensity of purple.
The infamous accursed Delhi Purple Sapphire that was stolen from a holy temple in India in 1857 is not a sapphire as believed but a fine amethyst.
Rose de France Amethyst, which is found in Brazil, Bolivia and Zambia, is another popular amethyst. Rose de France exhibits pleochroism, which means that its colour changes when viewed from different angles.
Amethyst is transparent to translucent with a glass-like luster or shine. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which deems it hard enough to be made into any type of jewellery and ornate carving.
Amethyst is the birthstone for February, the month of Cupid or Valentine’s Day. It is known as a stone of piety, sobriety and celibacy.
Since ancient times amethyst has been the symbol of the highest degree of spirituality. It has a tremendous power to oppose evil, not only in the mind but also as a spiritual force. It also had the power to oppose drunkenness and the sins of over-indulgence.
Amethyst has always been used as a protection stone against psychic attacks or witchcraft, poison and evil forms of thinking. It was a gem used to secure the help of princess, high priests, people with wealth, influence and power.
Amethyst was used by seers, prophets and poets. It was believed that this lovely stone would help one in obtaining wisdom from the spirit world, and true spirituality and transformation.
Iolite Gemstone
Iolite derives from the Greek word ION which means violet and LITHOS which means stone. It refers to the purple hue that is often seen in Iolites.
The property of exhibiting different colours in different directions by transmitted polarized light is known as pleochroism or pleochroic. Iolite is the most pleochroic of all gemstones.
Iolite luster is glass-like and waxy (when polished) and it is transparent to translucent. It is one of the hardest of quartz, being 7-7.5 on Mohs scale but it should not be exposed to hard blows due to its cleavage. If iolite is to be worn daily in a ring, it should be mounted in a protective setting. Iolite can be found in large size gemstones at an affordable price and are great for statement jewellery pieces.
Iolites are blue, purple and grey. It is an affordable alternative for more expensive blue sapphire or violet-blue tanzanite.
Iolite helps in recovering balance and is recommended for those suffering from disorientation, lack of motivation, chronic disorganization and distraction.
This crystal is known to heal headaches, especially those associated with developing your psychic powers.
Sugilite Gemstone
Sugilite derives its name from the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi, who first identified it in 1944 in Iwagi Islet, Japan. Sugilite also contains the Greek word Lithos meaning stone.
The specimens that Dr. Sugi found were not gemstone quality. In 1979 a Sugilite deposit was discovered in the Southern Kalahari Desert of South Africa. The sugilite here was rich with the manganese element that gives sugilite its rich purple to pink colours. In 1980 sugilite was classified as a rare gemstone.
Sugilite gemstone has a range of colours in pinkish, lilac, plum, magenta, reddish-purple and bluish-purple. However, it is the one-coloured, intense reddish-purple sugilite that is much sought after and thus the most highly valued.
Sugilite has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. However, it is considered fairly tough due to its indistinct cleavage. Usually it occurs mixed with chalcedony quartz or black matrix which results in different hardness. These inclusions such as veins, layers, patches and other interesting patterns are also desirable and much sought after in sugilite.
Sugilite is opaque and some extremely rare gemstones are translucent. It has a glass-like, resinous and waxy luster.
Sugilite is occasionally dyed to enhance colour, especially the dark coloured sugilite. Note, imitation plastic sugilite is known and sold very cheaply.
Sugilite gives positive energy and helps the wearer focus on the tasks at hand and achieve his or her goals. It gives the feelings of spiritual love and helps to reduce stress. Sugilite has the yang fire energy in feng-shui.
Sugilite helps us to align our energies with the universal energy thus enabling us to attain higher states of consciousness.
The strong violet energy is extremely healing for reaching deep spiritual wisdom and love.
Sugilite has been referred to as "sugilite jade" or "purple turquoise" but it is related to neither of these.
Charoite Gemstone
Charoite is derived either from the Chara River which is a river that is near where this gemstone was first discovered or from the Russian word for Charm, Bewitchment or Enchantment which is CHARY. This is a true magical stone that emits a magical enchanting aura.
It was Vladimir Ditmar who first discovered charoite in 1948. However, it was only in 1977 that charoite was officially identified by the Russian scientific community.
Charoite usually comes in purple with distinctive swirls of lilac and violet, wispy white with an occasional dab of orange, brown, red, yellow and black. Another gemstone that looks similar to charoite is sugilite. However, sugilite lacks the feather-like white streaks and swirling enticing patterns of charoite.
Charoite has a hardness ranging from 4.5 to 5 on the Mohs scale. It is often cut en cabochons and into ovals, pears and rectangles.
Charoite is usually opaque though some parts can be translucent and even transparent depending on the minerals that made up charoite.
It comes with a luster like that of the finest pearls with intricate feather-like patterns and swirls that make charoite a very unique gemstone.
The most sought after charoite is that of intense purple and soft lilac with wisps of white streaks and eye-catching swirls and patterns.
Although rare and inexpensive, charoite is not known to be synthesized or man-made, neither is it treated in any way to enhance its appearance or colour. It is 100% natural. Besides, its signature unique swirls is impossible to be replicated.
Charoite is known as the Stone of Transformation. It has the power to transmute negative energy into positive energy, sickness to health, weakness to strength and power. It energizes your complete body system and gets rid of stress and anxieties. It can help you to access your hidden extrasensory powers and enhance your intuition. It is truly a spiritual stone that helps you to connect to higher powers and the divine.
In addition, some charoites possess the cat's eye effect, giving it a translucent marbling look. Charoite is a natural gemstone mined only in Siberia.
Super Seven Quartz Crystal
The super seven quartz crystal is also known as the Melody Stone and the Sacred Seven. As the name suggests, the super seven quartz is a quartz crystal that is made up of seven minerals, such as goethite, cacoxenite, lepidocrocite, rutile, amethyst, clear quartz and smoky quartz.
Super seven usually occurs in a light to deep purple colour with dark brown, orange and red inclusions. Some specimens have rutile inclusions that give the crystal a brown, black, purple or gray shades. Other specimens contain hematite that give them an unusual red hue.
This amazing crystal is found in only one place in the world – the Minas Gerais region of Brazil which is also called “Espirito Santo” meaning “'Holy Spirit”.
Super Seven is a combination of seven different crystals, therefore it carries the properties of all seven crystals in one. It is for the same reason one of the most powerful stone available for healing purposes. This potent psychic powerhouse is highly sought after by healers.
Super Seven retains its own energy in abundance and never requires cleansing or energizing.
Scapolite Gemstone
Scapolite is derived from the Greek word SKAPOS meaning Stick or Stem, referring to the long columnar formation of its crystal. It is a rare gemstone that is loved for its brilliance and vitreous luster.
Scapolite is also known as Wernerite, named after Abraham Gottlob Werner, its discoverer. It is also known as Mizzonite, Dipyre, Marialite and Meionite.
Scapolite comes in a range of colours that include yellow, orange, pink, violet, brown, grey and colourless. However, it is usually found in honey yellow. The most sought after Scapolite is the bright purple specimens.
Scapolite has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent to translucent with a glass-like luster. It has a good cleavage.
Scapolite occurs with an excellent transparency and often inclusions are found in large specimens. This results in the cat’s eye effect that is sharp and mesmerising. Cat’s eye scapolite usually comes in green, brown and grey colours.
Some violet coloured scapolite has been known to be treated or irradiated. It is usually the yellow scapolite that is irradiated and turned into a lavender colour. However, scapolite also comes in beautiful natural violet. The difference between these two is that the colours of the natural violet scapolite does not fade with exposure to heat and light, the treated scapolite does.
Scapolite carries a powerful healing energy for both mental and physical disorders. It comes in a wide variety of colours; each colour can help target a specific area of the body that is out of harmony and needs to be brought back into balance.
Scapolite is known as The Stone for Problem Solving because it can help the wearer solve a life problem that had its origin in the past or present.
Scapolite is also known as The Stone of Achievement because it can provide inspiration where needed and bring about change and purpose in life. It can help the wearer in decision making, balance the emotions and encourages the wearer to give love.
Scapolite is extremely rare and thus only known to true gemstone enthusiasts. Because of its lack of durability, it is best to use scapolite as earrings, pins, pendants or brooches.
Apatite Gemstone
Apatite comes from the Greek word APATAO which means TO DECEIVE. This is because when it was first discovered in 1552, apatite was often mistaken for other gemstones like aquamarine, beryl, pedirot, chrysolite, tourmaline etc. Apatite was once believed to be the highly prized paraiba blue tourmaline which is usually found in Brazil.
Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals with fluorite, chloride or hydroxyl. These diverse chemical compositions is what gives the apatite gemstones their different colours.
Apatite comes in various colours of green, blue, yellow, violet, white, grey, brown, red, colourless and transparent. Exquisite rich violet apatite from Maine are highly valued by gem lovers.
The transparency of apatite varies from transparent to translucent and it has a vitreous luster. Its hardness is 5 on the Mohs scale which makes it much softer than its lookalike tourmaline which is 7 to 7.5.
Due to its softness and brittle nature, apatite is a challenge to facet into gems as it is vulnerable to scratches and breakage. Nonetheless, apatite jewellery with excellent clarity and colour are a sight to behold.
It was discovered that the moon rocks collected by astronauts during the Apollo mission contained apatite.
Apatite gives you confidence and self-esteem to achieve your goals. It boosts your energy and motivation to succeed. It helps you rid of all the negative feelings and doubts within you.
Apatite is the gemstone of manifestation. It gives you mental clarity to work out the stumbling blocks which are inhibiting your life.
It is a bringer of prophetic dreaming. It is recommended to place apatite under your pillow before going to sleep.
Lepidolite Gemstone
Lepidolite was first discovered in the 18th century. Lepidolite derives its name from the Greek words LEPIDOS and LITHOS meaning Scale and Stone, which refers to its scale-like appearance from the flakes or sheets of lithium.
Lepidolite occurs in a monoclinic crystal structure and is usually found in granite pegmatites and tin veins. It is often found with other crystals such as tourmaline and quartz.
Lepidolite ranges from pink to purple in colour. It can be pale pink, purplish or reddish-pink, reddish, violet-gray and sometimes light grey. Rare specimens can be colourless or yellow.
Lepidolite has a hardness ranging from 2.5 - 4 on the Mohs scale. It has a perfect cleavage. It is transparent to translucent with a glass-like to pearly luster. Lepidolite is not known to be enhanced in any way.
Lepidolite can be confused with muscovite which is the most common member of the mica group. However, lepidolite can be identified by its excellent sheet cleavage crystal, pebble-like appearance and lilac coloration.
Lepidolite clears electromagnetic pollution and should be placed on computers to absorb the emanations.
Lepidolite is also known as the Peace Stone and the Grandmother Stone because of its nurturing and calming metaphysical properties. It is a great comfort to those who are feeling stressed, fatigued nervous or sad.
Tanzanite Gemstone
Tanzanite is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite. It is of a calcium aluminum silicate chemical composition. Its crystal structure is orthorhombic, multifaced prismatic and mostly striated.
Tanzanite has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Together with a perfect cleavage, it can split or fracture if struck too hard. As rings are more prone to scratches, it is usually protected by bezel setting.
Tanzanite is transparent, has a perfect cleavage and a vitreous luster. It shows no inclusions that can be seen with the naked eye.
Tanzanite is extremely rare, 1000 times rarer than diamonds.
Tanzanite comes in various intensity and saturation of blues ranging from light sky blue to deep midnight blue. Within the same gemstone are tints of violet and purple. It also comes in violet colours. However, it is the blue ones that fetch the highest prices.
Tanzanite is a bridge between the spiritual plane and the physical plane. It enhances one’s psychic abilities and brings the gift of fortune, clairvoyance, intuition and self-knowledge.
Purple is another sacred colour that was loved by the ancients worldwide. In Rome, purple was the sacred color of royalty. For example, blue and violet-hued colors were attributed to Jupiter, the same colours found in tanzanite.
Tanzanite is the official December birthstone.
Purple Spinel
Spinel comes from the Greek word SPINOS which means Spark.
Spinel is transparent to opaque, with a glass-like luster. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. That means that it can be cut and faceted into almost any shapes, although circles, ovals and cushion cuts are the most popular.
Spinel has been known by the nobility and jewellers since the eleventh century. At this time spinels and rubies were of equal value and this all changed in the 18th century when rubies acquire a higher value than spinel.
Spinel is a rare and often flawless gemstone which comes in a wide variety of colours. It is a natural stone with no enhancement or treatment given. Due to its rarity, spinels are often synthesized in laboratories.
Manganese and cobalt are also found in spinel and sometimes two or three of these elements can combine to create the blues, purples, violets and greys that can also be seen in this colourful gemstone.
Spinels are rejuvenating, re-energizing and inspiring gemstones. It is a destroyer of obstacles, giver of optimism and determination to succeed in whatever project you have set your mind to accomplish.
Violet or purple spinel - stimulates spiritual development.
Purple Zircon
Zircon is said to have been derived from the Arabic word "Zirk" which means "Jewel" though some say that it comes from the Arabic "Zarqun" which means "Red" or from the Persian word "Zargun" which means "Golden". Nevertheless, it was in 1783 that Abraham Werner gave this precious stone the name Zircon.
Zircon has a high refractive index (1.810 to 2.024) which is somewhat close to that of diamond (2.417 to 2.419). It also has a double refraction. This means that light entering the gemstone splits into two rays and you get double the sparkle of a diamond. Hence, zircon comes also with an impressive fire or dispersion which is the ability to split white light into many spectral colors.
Zircon has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent to translucent with a vitreous to brilliant sheen luster. It comes in a variety of colours such as colourless, yellow, brown, orange, red, violet, black, green and blue. The various colours are due to traces of impurities.
Most zircon gemstones are free from inclusions. That is to say, these inclusions cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be seen under magnification. The most valuable zircons are transparent to translucent with that dazzling birefringence that makes them different from other gemstones.
During the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to be able to help the wearer asleep and ward off nightmares. It was also believed that Zircon gives honor, wisdom and prosperity to its owner.
Purple Tourmaline Rubellite
Rubellite derives its name from the latin word “rubellus” meaning “reddish”. In the Middle Ages, tourmalines as well as any other scarlet stones such as spinel, garnets, and ruby were called "lal" meaning "darling", "precious", or "beloved", from the Sanskrit "lala".
Rubellites are a variety of elbaite tourmaline. It occurs with pink to red, often in a very rich purple, orange, or brown colours.
Deep pinkish red to slightly purplish red are the most desirable colors. They almost always contain needle-like inclusions.
Rubellites have a hardness of 7 to 7.5 with no cleavage. Thus, they are great for any type of jewellery. It comes with a glass-like luster and is transparent to translucent.
'Caesar Ruby', is a rubellite pendant in the form of a bunch of grapes, currently exhibited at the the Diamond Fund of Russia, Moscow Kremlin.
Rubellites can be irradiated and heat treated to enhance its colour.
The ancient Egyptians firmly believed that tourmaline could heal the nervous system, blood diseases and lymph glands. Ancient magicians relied upon this stone for protection against evil spirits.
Today, tourmaline is still revered as a psychic shield deflecting and dispelling negative energies on all fronts.
Tourmaline promotes healing and brings balance to the soul. It is often referred to as a stone of wisdom as it inspires positive attitude and stimulates creativity and learning.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/blue-coloured-gemstones2022-06-16T03:43:51+08:002022-06-16T03:43:52+08:00Blue Coloured GemstonesAlice Koh
[For educational purposes only].
The colour blue induces serenity and tranquility. It symbolises stability and reliability in business. Often people in power wear a blue tie or a blue power shirt. The power suit is a female suit that is conservative and bold. It is also the classic menswear staple.
Blue is the colour of heaven and the sea. It is therefore a sacred and spiritual colour. Blue is also the skin colour of the most ancient god, the Hindu god Shiva.
In the rainbow, the colour blue is found between the indigo and green.
The king of blue coloured gemstones is by definition blue sapphires.
Blue Sapphire Sapphire is derived from the Greek SAPPHEIROS which means BLUE STONE. It is the most loved blue gemstone since ancient times.
The shades of blue vary in hue from pale to deep azure or dark royal blue to indigo with the most highly desired being the velvety cornflower blue also called Kashmir Sapphire.
Sapphires occur in almost every colour of the rainbow except red. They are durable with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. It is considered a precious gemstone the same as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Some sapphires display asterism, the star effect. They can change colour too. The colour change sapphires are very rare and also the blue star sapphires are highly desirable by gem collectors. The most sought after blue sapphires are the ones coming from Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Specimens from Kashmir and Mogok, Burma are said to be of the finest quality. Blue sapphires from Cambodia (Pailin) are also desirable for their unique purity.
Blue Sapphire is the official birthstone of September. It is also the gemstone given for the fifth, forty-fifth and sixty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Since ancient times sapphires were considered to be sacred stones. Because in all its celestial hues, they resembled the blueness of the Heaven of the Heavens. This heavenly blue signified celestial hope and faith and was believed to bring protection, good fortune and spiritual insight. It was a symbol of power and strength, of kindness and wise judgement.
This gem was sacred to Phoebus Apollo, the light bringer and a giver of knowledge. The god of the Oracle at Delphi who slayed Python, the monster of mental darkness. Therefore sapphires were also considered to be destroyers of poisonous reptiles and insects. Necromancers, priests and priestesses sought this stone for its purported ability to influence spirits and make clear oracular pronouncements.
Blue sapphires can be created in the laboratory.
Blue Topaz TOPAZ comes from the Greek word TOPAZIOS which means "to divine, guess and conjecture".
It is a silicate mineral with aluminum and fluorine. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale which makes it ideal to be used in jewellery. Topaz has a glass-like luster and is translucent to transparent. It feels very smooth, almost slippery to the touch. Real topaz feels cool.
Under long wavelength UV light, white and blue topaz show a weak yellow or greenish fluorescence.
Topaz occurs in a wide range of colours. The most valuable colours for use in jewellery are natural pink, orange, red, purple and blue.
The most affordable and frequently purchased is blue topaz that got its colour from treatment. Pale blue to deep blue is extremely rare in nature. Most often, in order to obtain this lovely blue color, topaz is irradiated and heat treated. The two trade names of blue topaz are the Swiss Blue and the much darker London Blue Topaz. Both are gorgeous, easily available and fairly inexpensive.
Topaz has been used as a gemstone since ancient times by the great civilisations of Hindus, Greeks and the Egyptians.
Topaz was believed to cure insanity. Till today, it is used as a powerful amulet of protection against any types of danger. It is said to protect the wearer from epidemics, wild passions, witchcraft and the envious look of the Evil Eye. It gives extra-sensory perceptions like a glimpse of the afterlife.
The topaz was called the Stone of Power because it was thought to give sexual potency and strength. It was believed that in each full and new moon, this power manifested itself into its highest potential.
Blue Topaz is the birthstone for December and the 4th year anniversary gemstone.
Like most sacred stones, topaz enhances intuition and psychic abilities and attracts wealth and prosperity to one's life.
Blue Topaz is the second most sought after gemstone after Sapphire.
Blue Tanzanite Tanzanite is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite.
Tanzanite has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent and has a vitreous luster. Together with a perfect cleavage, it can split or fracture if struck too hard. As rings are more prone to knocks, it is usually protected by bezel setting.
Tanzanite is extremely rare. It is 1000 times rarer than diamonds.
Fine tanzanite has such a richness and depth of colour that even the finest sapphire cannot match and Merelani in Tanzania is the only significant locality in the world for such crystals.
The gemstone was known as Blue Zoisite until 1968 when Tiffany & Co. started to market it under Tanzanite which was named after Tanzania, the country in which it was discovered. Tiffany & Co. did not like the name "Blue Zoisite" as it could be misread and misheard as "blue suicide"!
Tanzanite comes in various intensity and saturation of blues ranging from light sky blue to deep midnight blue. Within the same gemstone are tints of violet and purple. Tanzanite also comes in violet colours. But it is the blue ones that fetch the highest prices.
One distinguishing feature of Tanzanite is its trichroism. This is the rare ability to change colour from blue to red or pink to purple, three different colours to be exact, depending on the angle that is viewed from. This mesmerising colour change can be seen in one gorgeous faceted gemstone.
Tanzanite also shows different colours under various light sources. In fluorescent lights, it becomes bluer; under incandescence, red is more prominent; candlelight brings out the dark red-purple or dark red-brown colours; under sunlight, the blues seem to catch fire. This is true Mother Earth’s magic with no tricks involved.
Tanzanite is a bridge between the spiritual plane and the physical plane. It enhances one’s psychic abilities and brings the gift of fortune, clairvoyance, intuition and self-knowledge.
Raw Tanzanite is usually heated to rid of its brown, yellow, red and purple tints. The heat also enhances the blue in this gemstone.
Blue Spinel Spinel comes from the Greek word SPINOS which means a Spark.
Spinels are often found together with corundum (rubies and sapphires). This shows that the ancient Greeks and Middle-Age Europeans knew the differences between spinel, ruby and sapphire.
Spinel is a rare and flawless gemstone of magnesium aluminum oxide. It comes in a wide variety of colours such as red, blue, orange, brown, violet, purple, gray and black (green and yellow are extremely rare).
Spinel is transparent to opaque with a glass-like luster. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. That means that it can be cut and faceted into almost any shapes although circles, ovals and cushion cuts are the most popular.
Red spinel has a strong red fluorescence whereas blue spinel has a weak, reddish and green fluorescence.
Due to its rarity, spinels are often synthesized in laboratories.
Unlike the natural colours of spinels, sapphires, tanzanites and aquamarines are often heat treated to achieve their coveted blue colours. This is not so with spinel as it comes in a beautiful natural blue.
Most spinels are transparent with no obvious inclusions. Sometimes a spinel with a distinctive fingerprint like inclusion may appear and these swirling patterns actually add to the gemstone’s magic.
One of the rarest hues ever found in a spinel, is the cobalt blue Vietnamese natural spinel which has a high refractive index that gives its natural colour an intense fire. Vivid traffic light red and cobalt blue are the most expensive colours for spinel.
Ceylonite and pleonaste are dingy blue or grey to black varieties of spinel.
Spinels are rejuvenating, energizing and inspiring gemstones. They are destroyers of obstacles, givers of optimism and determination to succeed in whatever projects you have set your mind to accomplish.
The revitalizing metaphysical property of spinel helps you in your career goals and in your amorous courtship. It also helps you to let go of negative relationships. Not only that, each coloured spinel brings its own metaphysical healing properties; blue spinel stimulates clear communication.
Spinels are to be put at each corner of the house if you want it to protect your home environment from calamity. The same thing can be done in your garden or cornfields and it will protect the harvest from storms and lightning and thus give you a bountiful harvest.
The spinel is also referred to as The Stone of Immortality. It boosts your vitality and stamina and allows you to overcome any health issues.
Blue Lapis Lazuli Lapis lazuli was very highly regarded by the gods and kings since ancient times and prized more than its weight in gold.
Lapiz lazuli derives its name from the Latin word LAPIS meaning "stone" and the Arabic-Spanish AZUL meaning "blue".
Its chemical formula is made up of sodium calcium aluminum silicate and comes in colours such as vivid dark blue, violet and greenish-blue. Nonetheless, since ancient times, Lapis lazuli has been cherished as the original blue stone.
Lapiz lazuli always come with inclusions of white calcite or golden pyrite. Those with golden flecks of pyrite are more valuable whereas stones with streaks of white calcite is less prized.
The deepest blue, violet blue or indigo blue with few inclusions are rare therefore the most valuable.
Lapis lazuli has a hardness of 5 to 6 on Mohs hardness scale. It has a glass-like, waxy to dull luster. It may have a strong white, orange and copper colour fluorescence or undertones.
The myth of Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of love and war, spoke of her descent and return from the underworld wearing her finest clothes and a necklace made of lapis lazuli. She was also bearing a rod made of the same precious stone.
The Ishtar Gate at Babylon which was constructed in 575 BCE, had wall bricks glazed with lapis lazuli, a stone that was very revered in ancient Babylon.
Ancient Babylonians, as well as Assyrians and Egyptians used lapiz lazuli for their sacred amulets and cylinder seals. The tombs of Egyptian mummies were decorated with lapiz lazuli.
The brilliant blue lapis with twinkling flecks of gold has fascinated civilizations across the world. It is the shaman's stone since ancient times. The ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese and so forth all realized its spiritual value and used it as such. Lapis lazuli was made into amulets and talismans and was the stone of choice to adorn the burial chambers of the high priests and kings of ancient times.
Lapis lazuli was called the Stone of Heaven because magicians of old said that the stone was reminiscent of a sky full of stars. It was considered a piece of heaven given to men by the gods.
Lapis lazuli is a very spiritual stone. The Sumerians believed that the spirit of their gods lived within the stone.
Lapis is one of the most beautiful and sacred blue gemstone used by humanity since ancient times. Northern Afghanistan is the source of the finest lapis lazuli. Lapis is defined as a rock and not a mineral. Many lapis stones may contain as many as 15 different minerals in a single stone. The vivid blue colour of lapis lazuli is due to lazurite.
Generally lapis lazuli is not treated. However, lapiz lazuli can be dyed to create even, intense blue colour
Blue Turquoise Turquoise is derived from the French word TURQUOISE meaning TURKISH STONE because this sacred stone was first introduced to Europe via Turkey.
Turquoise is a sky-blue or blue-green and apple-green translucent to opaque basic aluminum phosphate that contains copper. However, it is generally waxy to sub-vitreous and is usually opaque.
Turquoise has a hardness ranging from 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. It has a weak, green-yellow, light-blue fluorescence.
For centuries, turquoise has been a sacred stone for many ancient civilizations and cultures such as the ancient Egyptians, the Mesoamericans, Persians, Mesopotamians, the Incas, people of the Indus Valley and ancient Chinese.
The ancient Egyptians used turquoise as an amulet for good luck and for protection against illnesses, demons and misfortune.
Turquoise has been put at the third eye of buddha statues, denoting the prophetic insight of this sacred stone.
Turquoise often comes with speckled veins of brown, dark-grey or black which can be sparse or dense. Turquoise that contains veins is referred to as "turquoise matrix". A pure, flawless blue turquoise is rarely found.
The most popular colour of turquoise is sky-blue , also called "robin's egg blue" or "Persian blue", followed by blue-green or apple-green.
Translucent turquoise is also rare and therefore, the most desirable.
Nonetheless, there is a turquoise that comes with veins that is much loved. This is the spider web turquoise, also called cobweb turquoise matrix. This particular turquoise has a lovely web-like patterns.
Because of turquoise hardness, it is mostly cut en cabochon and it is also carved into ornamental objects and used for inlays. Spherical turquoise beads, tumbled pieces of turquoise and turquoise chips are also very common in turquoise jewellery.
Turquoise sometimes is impregnated with polymers, wax or plastic to enhance the colour and harden its surface. Oil or paraffin, colours or copper salt are also used to enhance turquoise colour. Imitation turquoise is made from dyeing chalcedony or howlite. Glass, porcelain and plastic are glued with powdered turquoise to make imitation turquoise gemstones.
Turquoise imitations are Neolite also known as Reese turquoise which has a dark matrix. Neo turquoise is another imitation with a dark matrix; and finally another imitation is called Viennese turquoise.
Turquoise has a unique ability to change colours. Due to this, it was used in prophecy and divination purposes. It was also used as a diagnostic tool for the physical health condition of the person wearing it. The English poet John Donne describes this accurately in his poem from “An Anatomy of the World: The First Anniversary” lines 343-344:
"As a compassionate turquoise that doth tell By looking pale the wearer is not well."
In many cultures of the Old and New Worlds, turquoise has been esteemed as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune and health. It is one of the best healing stones in the world. It creates a connection between Mother Earth and the Spirit World. It promotes an energetic flow of love and happiness. This flow of energy has a therapeutic benefit in inducing tranquility and calm.
In feng shui, turquoise carries water energy.
The colour turquoise was named after the gemstone.
Turquoise can be found in blue colour with a touch of green. The most valuable type of turquoise is the sky-blue with minimum veining. Turquoise can occur with black veins or a complex matrix pattern which are also desirable. The colour blue in turquoise comes from traces of copper and the colour green in turquoise comes from traces of iron.
Turquoise is a December birthstone.
Blue Aquamarine The word is derived from the Latin AQUAMARE, which means water of the sea. It is renowned for its crystal blue colours and its excellent clarity. It is also known as the emerald's sister stone. While both stones are of the beryl family, aquamarine possesses a delicate, light blue hue reminiscent of the ocean’s calm. Aquamarines are often without inclusions and they are as clear as water, symbolizing purity of the soul and spirit.
Aquamarine and light blue topaz are identical in colour and therefore it is very hard to tell them apart. Aquamarine is much more costly than topaz. Some people seek advantage by selling topaz in place of aquamarine to make great profit.
Aquamarines are most valuable because they are natural therefore rare. Blue topaz is more accessible due to the fact that it is produced by colouring a white topaz through irradiation and intense heating.
In most cultures, aquamarine is closely knit with the sea and often held as the sailors' stone and is used as a talisman to bring sailors good luck as well as to protect them against the wrath of the seas.
Since early times, aquamarine has been believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage and happiness.
The beautiful blue of aquamarine is coloured by traces of iron. Aquamarine is natural and therefore is an untreated gemstone. It has an excellent hardness and durability. Cat's eye aquamarine is very rare but can be found.
Blue Labradorite Labradorite comes in a variety of colours such as dark grey to grey-black, colourless, orange-red and brownish with colourful iridescence. Labradorite is often found in the deep blue range of colours.
Its hardness is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale which means that it is hard enough for any type of jewellery. It has a perfect cleavage and is transparent to opaque. But, as a whole, labradorite is an opaque gemstone. Its luster is vitreous or glass-like and its fluorescence is of a yellow marking.
Labradorite is a healers' stone. Throughout the ages it has been popular with the shamans as it enhances mental and intuitive abilities. It sharpens clairvoyance and telepathy and is also a good prophesizing tool.
Labradorite occurs with a metallic sheen usually of a lovely deep blue colour. Some labradorites display a gorgeous iridescence exhibiting the full colours of the spectrum. These gemstones are known as Spectrolite.
Blue Larimar Larimar was known as blue pectolite. However the name hardly reflect such a splendid stone with its blues so evocative of the Caribbean seas. Miguel Méndez who discovered the blue pectolite in the Dominican Republic in 1974 decided to name the stone Larimar after his daughter Larissa and the Spanish word for the sea "mar". Larissa is Greek and it could mean Nymph or Citadel. Either name describes the blue pectolite beautifully i.e., the Nymph of the Sea.
Larimar, the blue variety of pectolite, has been sold as a gemstone from 1974. It is the blue variety of the sodium calcium hydroxide mineral known as pectolite, a mineral that is too soft and fragile to be cut as a gemstone. However blue pectolite has densely packed and entwined crystals enabling it to be strong enough to be used as a gemstone.
Larimar ranges from 4.5 – 5 on the Mohs hardness scale which makes it relatively soft for a gemstone. But the bluer the stone, the harder it is. Deep blue sections of the gemstone can be rated as high as 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Larimar has a silky luster and a weak green fluorescence.
Blue pectolite is a rare variety found only in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. Its coloration varies from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue, reminiscent of the ocean colours of the Caribbean.
'Larimar' is also called the Stefilia Stone, Dolphin Stone and the Atlantis Stone.
The blue colour of larimar is due to the presence of copper and manganese.
As it has a low hardness, larimar jewellery is often protected in a bezel-style setting.
Larimar is not treated in any way to enhance its beautiful colour. However cheap white stones may be dyed blue to imitate larimar.
Larimar is opaque so if you can hold it up to light, check that no light comes through even at the edges as this could be an indicator of painted glass or dyed quartz.
Volcanic blue larimar has a rich deep blue colour that is the most desired and at the same time most valuable. Sky blue with cloud-like patterns are also highly priced.
Larimar's soothing energy relaxes, relieves stress and brings inner peace and calm. Stress is known as the silent killer. It is the cause of many physical and mental illnesses. Larimar is the perfect stone to wear or carry around for relief of any feelings of unease.
Blue Tourmaline Tourmaline has a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent to opaque with a glass-like luster.
Due to its electrical properties, tourmaline can be magnetized to attract dust, ash, shavings and general environmental pollutants.
Tourmaline's amazing range of colours make it a highly desirable gemstone. Though it occurs in all colours of the spectrum, pure blue, red, orange, yellow and purple stones are rare and thus much loved.
Tourmaline is pleochroic. It can change colours when viewed from different angles.
- Indicolite Tourmaline is violet, blue and turquoise
- Paraiba Tourmaline is of neon blue-green, turquoise to green glowing colours. These are the most sought after especially the rare neon blue type. Its price can go higher than that of a diamond. The Paraiba tourmaline was named after the locality where it was discovered in Paraiba, Brazil in 1989. Interestingly, Nigeria, which faces Brazil across the Atlantic, also discovered similar coloured tourmaline.
Sparkling one-coloured tourmalines such as reds, blues and greens are usually the most highly valued. However, it is the electric green and neon blue of the Cuprite Tourmaline and the Paraiba Tourmaline that are generally the most prized. It is the unique internal glow of the Paraiba tourmaline that makes it precious and popular. The radiance is usually described as neon or electric. This glow is created by the trace amounts of copper.
Today, tourmaline is still revered as a psychic shield deflecting and dispelling negative energies on all fronts.
Tourmaline promotes healing and brings balance to the soul. It is often referred to as a stone of wisdom as it inspires positive attitude and stimulates creativity and learning.
Pure blue tourmaline is very rare as most blue tourmalines display a noticeable secondary green hue.
Tourmaline is October's birthstone.
Blue Fluorite From fluorite we get fluorescence which you find in fluorites under ultraviolet light and fluorine which is the chemical element of atomic number 9, a poisonous pale-yellow gas of the halogen series.
Every colour of the rainbow in various shades is represented by fluorite samples, along with white, black, and clear crystals. The most common colours are purple, blue, green, yellow or colorless. Less common are pink, red, white, brown and black. Colour mixing is commonly present in fluorites. Fluorite has been named "the most colourful mineral in the world"
Fluorite brings order to chaos, whether it is a chaotic mind, emotional stress, physical mess or just a feeling of overwhelming dis-ease. Fluorite is able to soothe everything to its equilibrium. It is therefore a stone that you want to keep close to you. It is also an excellent stone to be held in your hand during meditation as you will be better able to harness its healing energy.
Fluorite is frequently fluorescent, i.e. it glows under ultra-violet light. It typically glows a blue-violet colour under shortwave and longwave light. Most fluorite gemstones are cut en cabochon. The most valuable fluorite is the colour change fluorite which is rare. It changes colour from blue in daylight and purple under incandescent light.
Blue Sodalite Sodalite got its name from its high sodium content. It is of a basic copper carbonate chemical composition. It is a deep blue mineral with white veins or patches running through it.
Sodalite comes in a wide variety of colours such as white, gray, yellow, orange and pink. However, it is the deep blue colour which is similar to lapis lazuli that is usually used as a gemstone.
Sodalite has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. It has an indistinct cleavage. It is transparent to opaque with a glass-like to greasy luster.
Sodalite is also known as Alomite, Blue Stone and Ditroite.
Sodalite can be identified by its strong orange fluorescence and deep blue colour. Sometimes it can display a violet tint. Sodalite in its opaque form usually has white veins or patches running through it. These white veins are made up of calcite.
Transparent sodalite is faceted but it is quite rare. The opaque sodalite is typically cut en cabochon or into ovals, baguettes, rounds and fancy shapes.
Basic sodalite is the synthetic sodalite that has been in the gemstone market since 1975.
Due to its high sodium content, Sodalite is a pure mineral while Lapis Lazuli is defined as a rock.
Another gemstone that looks similar to Sodalite is Blue Azurite also known as Chessylite. Azurite's Mohs hardness scale ranges from 3.5 to 4 which is lower than Sodalite's which is at 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. They also differ in their chemical composition. Azurite is a copper carbonate hydroxide whereas Sodalite is of a basic copper carbonate chemical makeup.
Two other gemstones that may be confused with Sodalite are Dumortierite (which has a Mohs hardness of 7) and Lazulite (which has the same color and hardness to Sodalite). Nevertheless, they both lack the main identifier of a strong orange fluorescence that is found only in Sodalite.
It gives calming energy and inner peace to the wearer. It is sort of a philosopher’s stone because it brings logical reasoning to the wearer. It protects the wearer from all types of negative energy and helps the wearer see the good side in others.
It is believed that Sodalite possesses the energy of water and brings great benefits to houses, apartments, or offices. Feng Shui practitioners love this beautiful blue stone.
Other gorgeous blue gemstones include:
Blue Iolite The property of exhibiting different colours in different directions by transmitted polarized light is known as pleochroism or pleochroic. Iolite is the most pleochroic of all gemstones. 'Dichroite' is another synonym for iolite in reference to its pleochroic ability. "Dichroite" is a Greek word which means 'two-coloured stone'. If observed from two different directions it will exhibit different colors. For example, iolite observed from one angle will look blue violet color and observed from another it will appear clear color.
Iolite is a variety of the cordierite mineral.
Iolite luster is glass-like and waxy (when polished) and it is transparent to translucent. It is one of the hardest of quartz being 7-7.5 on Mohs scale which makes it quite suitable as a jewellery gemstone.
Iolites are blue, purple and grey. The sapphire blue and the light-blue iolites are the more sought after and therefore valuable. This beautiful violet-blue color is due to iron in iolite.
Iolite can sometimes be mistaken for sapphire and tanzanite due to its blue colour and pleochroism. But iolite is the most pleochroic of all gemstones. Iolite is softer than sapphire and harder than tanzanite. Iolites are also trichroic (from the Greek trichroos which is translated as “three-coloured”).
Unlike tanzanite, iolite is rarely treated. Fine iolite comes in its beautiful blues and violets naturally.
Iolite helps in recovering balance and is recommended for those suffering from disorientation, lack of motivation, chronic disorganization and distraction.
Blue Azurite Azurite derives its name from the Persian word LAZHWARD which refers to its distinguishing rich blue colour. The name AZURE BLUE refers to the deep lapis lazuli blue colour that can be seen in azurite.
Azurite has been called the Blue Malachite because it is a copper carbonate which is similar to malachite but comes in blue. Azurite is rarer than malachite, therefore, more valuable.
Azurite comes in dark-blue to azure blue color. It is transparent to opaque with a glass-like luster. Transparent and translucent azurite is extremely rare.
Azurite is 3.4 to 4 on the Mohs hardness scale. Being a fairly soft stone, it tends to be brittle and cracks easily making it hard to work in jewellery design. Its value is more as a mineral than as a gem. However, there are azurites that have been made into beautiful gemstones but usually they are cut “en cabochon.”
Azurite looks like lapiz lazuli without the golden pyrite dots. It is often found mixed with green malachite and this hybrid malachite and azurite is known as Azurmalachite. It is more common than pure azurite. Another hybrid of azurite is known as Bluebird Azurite which is a mixture of azurite with cuprite.
Sodalite, lazulite, dumortiertite quartz and hauynite have also been confused with azurite. However, the blue of azurite is so unique that this alone can distinguish it from other gemstones.
Azurite is known as the Stone of Heaven. It is believed to be able to awake extra-sensory psychic abilities and awareness in humans. It strengthens intuition and increases creativity. It helps us in our spiritual cleansing and awakening.
Azurite is very unstable due to its susceptibility of weathering in heat and light. These elements will weaken its rich blue colour into dull green or black.
In the 18th century, synthetic azurite pigment was invented. It is known as Prussian Blue. On top of it being a more stable and predictable material dye, it is also much less costly.
Dust from azurite is also toxic so it is recommended that you protect yourself from inhaling any azurite dust particles if you were to cut any azurite.
Azurite ages too like human beings. It loses its luster and its beautiful rich colour. This is the reason why we think this stone is magical and deserves our respect and care.
Azurite druzy which comes on its matrix host rock, is more durable with a greater hardness than blue azurite on its own.
Blue Zircon Zircon is not to be confused with zirconia, cubic zirconia or zirconium which is a man-made diamond substitute.
Zircon is in fact the oldest gemstone ever discovered. It is also the oldest item on the planet! To be precise, it is 4.4 billion years old!
Zircon rivals diamonds in its unique high dispersion and refractive index. Its double refraction means that when light enters the gem, this light "bounces" into two rays of light which then disperses into a myriad of rainbow colours. This "fire" is therefore much more intense than the sparkles of diamonds.
Blue zircon is the most brilliant blue gemstone available. Zircon has a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. However it is brittle over the facet edges which can wear down over time. Blue zircon displays a low greeenish hue. It is created by heating the brown zircon from Cambodia and Burma.
Zircon is said to be beneficial in all of the chakras as it stimulates energy and activates them. It gives inspiration to the wearer to act with purpose and confidence.
Blue Diamond Diamond comes from the Greek word ADAMAS, ADAMANTOS which means Unconquerable, Invincible. Its name is a testament to its occult powers. In many legends and lore, you find this belief that if you want to conquer your enemies and win battles, you have to wear a diamond. Thus, the name, ADAMANTOS or Conqueror.
A diamond is crystallized carbon and has the same chemical composition as graphite though they differ a lot in physical structure. While graphite is the softest, diamond is 10 on the Mohs hardness scale (compare with sapphire and ruby which are 9 on the Mohs scale). This means that only a diamond can cut another diamond.
Diamonds come in many varieties of colours: white, blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink and black. They are mostly transparent but some can be opaque. Only the transparent ones are used in jewellery.
The colours of diamonds can be altered by high temperature and irradiation treatment.
Diamonds have a high refractive brilliance. It refracts light in all directions at the same velocity (Note, diamonds are one of the few gemstones available today that do this). They shine like fire due to this high dispersion of light.
Diamonds without eye-visible inclusions are rare.
In the old days, only those privileged few were able to own diamonds. Today diamonds can be produced in laboratories and unlike the common myth that is spread in propaganda, diamonds are not rare.
Occultists believe that diamonds have occult powers. In order to exercise its full power, diamonds should be worn on the left side of the body where the heart is. They also believe that if a diamond is touched by someone who is sinful and wicked, then the occult powers of the diamond is lost forever. It would then become a CURSED diamond.
Blue diamond is usually irradiated to obtain its colour though there are some very rare natural occurring blue diamonds. Blue diamonds also display a secondary greenish hue.
Blue Dumortierite Quartz Dumortierite quartz is the term used to describe the blue variety of quartz. There are mainly 3 types of blue quartz and they all occur from inclusions that are formed within the quartz. These are the rarer and more outstanding varieties of quartz.
One particular blue quartz is the rare blue chalcedony of the microcrystalline quartz variety.
There is another blue quartz that is coloured by dumortierite inclusions. This is known as dumortierite quartz which is even rarer than blue chalcedony.
Many of the blue quartz sold on the gemstone market today is artificially coloured synthetic quartz created by the hydrothermal method.
Pure dumortierite is extremely rare. They are usually formed as crystals within a quartz.
Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen and it has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.
Dumortierite is of a borosilicate chemical composition, with a hardness of 7 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale.
Dumortierite quartz is one of the rarer blue variety of quartz gemstone. It comes in light blue, blue, dark blue, violet-blue, white-blue and red-brown colors. It is a combination of quartz aggregate, intergrown with dumortierite inclusions.
Dumortierite quartz has a waxy to dull luster. Dumortierite has a weak blue, blue-violet and violet fluorescence while quartz typically has none.
Dark blue is the most common colour for dumortierite quartz. Very often the blue in dumortierite quartz is unevenly dispersed resulting in splotches of dark and light blue similar to sodalite and lapis lazuli. Usually it also exhibits streaks or spots of white with the blue colour.
Dumortierite quartz can look similar to blue magnesio-riebeckite, lapis lazuli, azurite and sodalite. However, it is harder and more durable. Blue magnesio-riebeckite has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, lapis lazuli is between 5 and 6, azurite is soft at only 3.5 to 4 and sodalite is 5.5 to 6.
Dumortierite quartz is also known as 'blue moon quartz' or 'blue denim stone'.
Dumortierite quartz is not known to be treated or artificially enhanced in any way.
Dumortierite quartz enhances your organizing skills and self-discipline. It is believed that this lovely blue coloured quartz brings peace, order and self-expression to the life of the wearer.
When heated dumortierite quartz turns into pure white and thus often used for the production of porcelain and ceramics.
Blue Chrysocolla Chrysocolla usually comes in green, blue, bluish-green, blackish-blue, brown and in multicolor. It is often found mixed with other minerals such as quartz, chalcedony, turquoise, malachite, azurite and even opal. This mix creates awesome swirls and patches of colours and pattern in chrysocolla. This intricate patterns and patches in chrysocolla form alluring abstract landscape designs that make each stone a rare and unique gem.
Pure blue chrysocolla is only 2 to 4 on Mohs hardness scale. Different intergrowths of minerals and the amount of silica during its formation affects and increases its hardness. For example, if a specimen is intermingled with quartz which has a hardness of 7, then this piece of chrysocolla will have 7 on Mohs hardness scale.
Its transparency is opaque sometimes near translucent. It has a waxy, glass-like luster.
The most highly esteemed chrysocolla gemstones are those that come in intense blue and green. Those that are intermingled with turquoise blue and light green are also sought after.
The Eilat Stone which is mined in Southern Israel is mixed with turquoise and malachite. It comes in blue to blue-green colors.
Another variety of chrysocolla is called Stellarite. It was also known as Chrysocolla Quartz. It is a light blue gemstone made up of Chrysocolla and Quartz.
Ancient Greeks and Romans and Ancient Egyptians made powerful magical amulets with chrysocolla for protection in this life and the journey to the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, it was also used as amulets to protect children. Chrysocolla was the gemstone favored by the Roman Emperor Nero.
Hippocrates, who is known as the father of medicine wrote about the healing properties of chrysocolla. During the Middle-Ages, doctors used chrysocolla to clean wounds and treat sore eyes.
The Incas, Mesoamericans as well as North American Natives, used chrysocolla to decorate their ritual objects and in their spiritual ceremonies.
Blue Kyanite Kyanite is derived from a Greek word for 'blue', although Kyanite occurs in other colours besides blue.
The most sought after Kyanite is the one similar to sapphire-blue colour. Most Kyanite exhibit noticeable light to dark colour zoning, with some white blotches. It has a glass-like to pearly luster which makes it a very attractive gemstone. Kyanite hardness depends on how the gemstone is cut. When it is cut perpendicular to the long axis it has a hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale but when cut parallel to the long axis its hardness is only 4 to 4.5.
Blue Banded Agate Agate occurs in a variety of colours and patterns including blue. This type of agate is known as Blue Lace Agate, Mohave Blue Agate and Blue Banded Agate. Usually, agates are dyed. Agate has excellent hardness and durability and is also one of the most multifaceted blue gemstones today.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/orange-coloured-gemtones2022-06-10T10:09:42+08:002022-06-10T10:09:43+08:00Orange Coloured GemtonesAlice Koh
by Alice Koh [For educational purposes only. Namaste!]
Mix the colours yellow and red and you get the colour orange. Orange is a mood lifter. It is believed that the colour orange increases the oxygen supply to the brain, stimulating and energizing mental activity. In Feng Shui, orange is seen as a “yang” colour. Orange is an attention grabber, like yellow and red. It is bright, energetic, soothing, joyful and gay. It vibes with autumn and spirituality as the colour is reminiscent of the falling autumn leaves and landscape.
Likewise, orange in gemstones induces brightness and warmth of the sun. Orange thus represents creativity, joy, passion and the exotic.
Orange also is the second rainbow colour in between red and yellow.
Orange Hessonite Garnet Hessonite is a variety of grossular garnet and occurs as an orange, honey yellow or reddish brown gemstone coloured by manganese. It is also called the 'Cinnamon Stone'. It is one of the January birthstones. Hessonite garnet is translucent to transparent and often comes heavily included.
Hessonite garnet has stunning brilliance, and a high refractive index. It is transparent to opaque and has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale making it tough enough to be used in all types of jewellery items. It has a glass-like luster.
Hessonite is considered in vedic astrology as one of the nine perfect gemstones. It is spiritually powerful and historically one of the most important of the garnet family. Wearing this gemstone, according to vedic astrologer, will bring success, good fortune, wealth and a long happy life. Hessonite represents Rahu and wearing this gemstone will protect you from any negative effects that may come from this planet.
The most sought after Hessonite is the golden orange coloured ones. Hessonite garnets, like most other garnets, are not treated in any way to enhance their colour and beauty.
Hessonite is believed to give protection for travellers and also improve fertility in couples who wish to conceive. Additionally it is detoxifying and purifying.
Hessonite Garnet was used as a gemstone amulet and talismans by the ancient Greeks and Romans. They were made into religious cameos and intaglios for protection.
In Sanskrit Hessonite is known as 'Gomedha.' It was said that the great demon Vala made trouble for all other gods and was finally killed. His body was cut up and scattered and from his fingernails Hessonite garnet was created.
Hessonite Garnet is the official birthstone of January and the traditional gemstone to celebrate the 2nd wedding anniversary. Garnet is also considered the planetary stone for Mars, Mercury and Pluto.
Orange Spessartite Garnet Spessartite garnet derived its name from the Geman word for forest and the mountain range from where it was first discovered. Spessartite Garnet, coloured by manganese, usually occurs with inclusions, rarely are they eye-clean pieces.
Spessartite garnet is a high quality untreated gemstone that is orange to reddish-orange known as "aurora red" or "mandarin spessartite," or orange-yellow and red brown colours. It has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent to translucent and occurs with a glass-like luster. It has a high refractive index and a good brilliance flashier than sapphire's . It is the most famous of the orange gemstone that occurs naturally.
Spessartite garnet has a high range of magnetic susceptibility (SI), which differentiates it from other garnets.
Namibian spessartite comes in tangerine orange or "mandarin" colour. It occurs included with many small crystals and needles. The Mozambique spessartite occurs in pure orange to orange-red and red-orange colors, with many very clean specimens.
Garnet is known as the traveller's stone. People in ancient times wore garnets as amulets for protection. They were made into talismans that were said to illuminate the night and banish evil spirits. It gets rid of inner sadness and nightmares.
In the past, garnets were exchanged among friends to symbolize their love for one another and that if god wills it, they would meet again.
Garnet is the traditional birthstone for January, and the second anniversary stone.
Orange Moonstone Moonstone is known for its adularescence sheen or glow. It comes in colours such as orange, peach, yellow, brown and white. Orange moonstone can occur either a vivid orange or a faded orange. Some orange moonstones can display the effect that is known as asterism which is star-shaped concentration of reflected or refracted light from a gemstone. However such moonstones are rare.
Moonstone occurs with blue-whitish light shimmer gliding over the surface of the stone. It exhibits a one-of-a-kind play of colours that seem to float on the surface of the gemstone.
Moonstone has a Mohs hardness of 6-6.5 and is sensitive to pressure. It is transparent to opaque with a glass-like to pearly luster. Moonstones can be found in white, gray, pink, yellow, orange, brown and red colours.
In ancient times, moonstones were believed to have supernatural powers connected with the moon. They were said to possess feminine powers and thus give its wearers high intuition, creativity, compassion and unconditional love. They are also believed to increase a woman's fertility.
Orange moonstone is calming. It reduces stress and anxiety and it brings luck. It rids one of nightmares.
Orange Fire Opal Fire opal is an opal variety that can be found in colours such as red, yellow and orange. The orange fire opal is a rich vivid orange and orange-red that is unique in the world of coloured gems. Fire Opals are transparent to opaque and come with a subvitreous to waxy, resinous luster. They are mined in Mexico and are very sought after in the world.
Orange opals usually are not treated.
Opal comes in colours such as black, white, red, orange, multicolour and much more. It displays a fascinating play-of-colours that flashes brilliantly across the stone. It occurs in a transparent, translucent or opaque bodies. It can be a single vivid colour or a mix of all imaginable colours in a light white to a deep black background.
Opal has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on Mohs scale. This makes it a bit soft and fragile for rings and bracelet and therefore it is sometimes set in couplets and triplets.
Opals are the birthstone of October and the traditional gemstone gift for the 14th wedding anniversary.
According to an ancient Australian aboriginal legend, when the Creator came down from heaven, he came down on a rainbow and the stones that were near the feet of the Creator suddenly came to life and began to sparkle with colours. One of these stones was believed to be an opal. The name 'opal' is derived from the Latin word "opalus" which is translated as Precious Stone.
Opal gets rid of depression and helps the wearer find love and joy. It is also believed that it has the ability to boost creativity and originality in writers, artists and poets. Since it is porous, it can absorb negativity such as envy and jealousy surrounding the wearer, thus giving protection against the evil wicked bickering.
Orange Tourmaline Tourmaline comes in the whole rainbow of colours which include pink, orange, green, black, bicolour, watermelon and blue. Some have more than two colours in the same stone. Thus far tourmaline is known to occur in more than 100 colours.
Tourmaline species are determined by their crystal structure and make up. The main species seen in jewellery are Schorl, Elbaite, Dravite, Liddicoatite and Uvite. Many brown tourmaline gemstones and some stones with earth-yellow or burnt orange colour are dravite tourmaline. The most common gem material is the Elbaite which comes in a range of beautiful colours.
Tourmalines are generally untreated gemstones. They have a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on Mohs scale which make them durable enough for most jewellery items.
It is the official birthstone of October and the traditional gemstone to celebrate the 8th wedding anniversary.
Tourmaline brings healing powers to shamans and medicine men. It is soothing and calming and it is said to promote meditation, wisdom and mysticism.
Yellow tourmaline encourages inventiveness and creativity, whereas red tourmaline boosts confidence and passions which include sexuality.
Orange Zircon Zircon is a favourite diamond substitute due to its remarkable brilliance. Zircon is often confused with cubic zirconia which is synthetic and lab-created.
Zircon occurs with an excellent transparency and is incredibly brilliant as it exhibits a remarkable fire and colour. It comes in a variety of colours such as blue, white, red, pink, orange and more. The fire and luster of zircons rivals that of diamonds.
Zircon gemstones are known for their excellent brilliance, bright colours and clarity. They have been used as a diamond substitute for centuries. They are in fact much older and rarer than diamonds.
Some zircons display the phenomenon known as pleochroism. This means that the gemstone appears to change colour when viewed from different angles.
The orange mashewa zircon is mined in Tanzania whereas the orange and orange-brown zircon is sourced from Cambodia.
The lovely orange zircons that occur in colours such as golden brown, burnt orange and pinkish red tend to be completely untreated. However some like the bright blue Zircons, which are very popular receive heat treatment to enhance their colour. Clear white stones can also be heated to remove all colours.
Zircons have a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale which makes them strong enough for all types of jewellery except rings and bracelets. Zircon is somewhat brittle and therefore sensitive to knocks and pressure. It has the tendency to wear off along facet edges. Its use in rings should therefore be limited to protective settings.
Zircon is believed to help the wearer gain prosperity, honour and wisdom. It also induces good sleep without nightmares. It helps the wearer deal with loss of loved ones and pets. It boosts creativity and passion.
Zircon is a birthstone of December.
Orange Sapphire Sapphires come in almost every colour except red because the red corundum is known as ruby.
Orange sapphire can range from yellowish orange to orange to reddish orange.
Padparadscha sapphire is the orange sapphire with a pinkish tinge and is highly sought after. Orange sapphires do undergo treatment to enhance its natural colour.
Sapphire comes in colours such as blue (which is its main color), colourless, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple and black. It has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. It has a high refractive index, with a glass-like luster and is transparent to translucent.
Sapphires and rubies are both of the mineral family corundum. However, rubies by definition are red.
Sapphires virtues include the banishment of envy and jealousy. It promotes fidelity in a relationship. Sapphire is known as the Stone of Wisdom. It is a powerful stone for protection against psychic attacks. It induces peace and calmness and attracts fortune, abundance and wealth. It gives you focus and determination in order to achieve your goals and ambitions. It is the gemstone loved by the royalty and nobility of ancient times.
Orange sapphire empowers creativity and vitality. It increases sexual energy and virility and enhances fertility.
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the traditional gemstone gift for 5th, 45th and 70th wedding anniversaries.
Most if not all of the orange sapphire gemstones on the gem market today are treated with extreme heat to produce the vibrant orange color.
Orange Sunstone Sunstone displays a glow that originates from inside the gemstone known as aventurescence or Shiller effect. This optical phenomenon is caused by inclusions composed of hematite or goethite which vary in size and density. The colours of sunstone are orange, pink, red and brown. It is also known as 'aventurine feldspar.' Sunstones can also exhibit the optical effect known as asterism. These are rare and are known as star sunstone.
Sunstone is a transparent gemstone with colourful metallic flakes of hematite, goethite, pyrite and sometimes copper inclusions that shimmers from the inside. The colours reflected by the inclusions include gold, red, orange and yellow.
Sunstone has a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale making it tough enough for most jewellery items.
Sunstone is of the feldspar mineral group. Feldspar makes up around 50% of the earth's crust. Examples of feldspar include moonstone, amazonite and labradorite.
Sunstone gives good luck, motivation, self-confidence, joy and manifestation. It boosts leadership qualities in the wearer.
Sunstone is not treated in any way to enchance its beauty and color.
Orange Citrine Citrine is a macrocrystalline quartz that can be found in golden orange and yellow colours. Citrine is derived from the French word for lemon. Like all quartz, Citrine has a hardnes of 7 on the Mohs scale and has a glass-like luster.
Citrine is commonly heat treated to enhance its colour. It can also be created by heating dull coloured amethyst and smoky quartz. But many still can be found in its natural untreated state.
Orange is considered an uplifting and optimistic colour. Madeira or fire citrine which can be found in deep red-orange is the most expensive citrine.
Citrine is the official birthstone for November and the traditional gemstone to celebrate the 13th wedding anniversary.
Citrine brings joy and happiness, prosperity and abundance, protection and confidence, warmth and compassion, stability and strength.
It is known as the Merchant Stone and a Success Stone because it is believed that it helps to acquire wealth, influence and success. Practitioners of Feng Shui keep a citrine gemstone in the money box as it is believed that the gemstone will keep the money flowing.
Citrine radiates positive energy and at the same time dissipates negative energy. As it does not absorb any negative energy from its surroundings, it does not need to be "cleansed" or "recharged".
Orange Agate Orange Agate occurs with a clarity that is translucent to opaque in banded varieties. They are usually cut en cabochons.
Agate and carnelian share the same colours such as red, orange and yellow. Fire Agate also comes in reddish orange colours.
Fire agate is sourced from Mexico. Single coloured agate is often dyed to create the desire colours.
Agate has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs hardness scale which makes it tough enough for all jewellery items.
Agate virtues include wealth and abundance. It is a powerful stone of protection that was used by sea travellers for a good journey at sea. It gives self-confidence and power, love and security.
It is a calming gemstone that can relieve tension and anger. It improves mental health. In ancient times it was believed that agate cure insomnia and give pleasant dreams.
Orange Carnelian Carnelian is a variety of quartz. Its colours range from reddish orange to brownish orange. It gets its colour from iron. Carnelian derives its name from the cornel cherry fruit which has a similar colour. Carnelian and red garnet were previously known as carbuncle. Today the term carbuncle is used to describe any red cabochon gemstone.
Orange Andesine-Labradorite Andesine-labradorite came in the gemstone market in 2003 as andesine, congo sunstone, red feldspar, and red labradorite. Andesine-labradorite is a color enhanced labradorite. Orange Andesine-Labradorite can be found in colours such as pink-orange, amber, honey-orange and can have a fantastic metallic sheen.
Orange Clinohumite It was the British minerologist Sir Abraham Hume who discovered clinohumite in 1876. It is a rare magnesium silicate gemstone. Clinohumite occurs in colours such as orange, yellow and red. It has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale and it occurs with inclusions. It is a very rare gemstone.
Orange Imperial Topaz The most valuable of all topaz varieties is the natural orange topaz known as Imperial Topaz. It is also more valuable than many other coloured gemstones. It comes in colours ranging from yellow-orange, pinkish-orange, from bright yellow to golden brown. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale which makes it durable and suitable for any types of jewellery. It is also a multifaceted gemstone.
Orange Spinel Spinel is a magnesium aluminum oxide gemstone and it occurs with an excellent brilliance comparable to the ruby and sapphire. It can be found in orange which is the most sought after and desired colour for spinels. Spinel has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale.
Orange Coral Precious coral comes in orange, white, red, pink, golden and salmon colours. Coral is an organic gem which mean it was derived from a living organism.
Orange Sphene Sphene is also known as Titanite because it is made of calcium titanium silicate. Sphene can be found in colours such as orange, yellowish green, green and brown. Sphene has a high refractive index that creates a fantastic brilliance. Its dispersion fire rivals that of the diamond. It occurs with an adamantine luster.
Orange Amber Amber comes from the pinus succinifera tree. Its colours range from golden yellow to honey brown. It is a fossilized tree resin. Many samples come with trapped insects or inclusions. Amber is transparent to opaque. The transparent specimens with inclusions or trapped insects are the most highly prized. It is a fragile gem easily scratched. Most amber gemstones come from Russia, the Baltic and the Dominican Republic.
Orange Sphalerite Orange Sphalerite is transparent to translucent with a very brilliant luster. It has a hardness ranging from 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. Which makes it too soft for most jewellery items.
Other examples of orange gemstones include: Orange Fluorite Orange Diamond Orange Aventurine Orange Calcite
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https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/red-coloured-gemstones2022-06-01T09:52:20+08:002022-06-01T09:52:22+08:00Red Coloured GemstonesAlice Koh
by Alice Koh
The colour red represents Passion, Power, Leadership, Courage, Energy, Sexuality, Fertility, Prosperity and Wealth.
Red is considered a sacred and powerful colour because it is the same colour as blood. And blood is life.
In ancient Egypt the men who were depicted with red skin meant that they were couragous and strong. But red was also the colour of the demon desert Lord Set, who was depicted as having red hair. He represented chaos, fire, anger and the unpredictable storms of the desert.
Mars, son of Jupiter and Juno, the god of war, his colour was red and his animal was the wolf, the symbol of Rome. He was described as a hot tempered god who delighted in the blood spilled at battles. He was driven by mad anger and aggression, and represented the brutality and barbarous violence of war.
Red was also associated with the red sun, fire, the hot summer, lust, and of course, fertility.
Red coloured gemstones were considered powerful amulets for protection against evil forces, black magic, psychic attacks, nightmares, and in the middle ages, it was believed that it could ward off the plague and pestilence.
The Ruby
At one time, before the 1800s, red gemstones such as spinels, tourmalines and garnets were also called rubies.
Rubies have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale which makes them tough and durable. Rubies also come in large size carats. However they are very highly prized. Rubies that have been treated are more affordable.
For time immemorial, the ruby has been the gemstone of kings and emperors. Rubies are the Ratnaraj, ‘the king of precious stones’ in Sanskrit. In Vedic astrology the ruby represented the sun.
Rubies occur in deep rich red colour. In ancient times the blood colour red represented passion, seduction, power, violence, danger, fire, blood, excitement, lust and fertility.
It was also the colour of courage, self-confidence in battle, bravery, action and victory. It propels us to act, encourages our desires and awakens our genius creativity.
Ancient warriors in battle wore rubies as amulets for courage. It has been shown that sports teams that wear red perform better than their competitors because we innately associate red with power and aggression and that mentality geared us to fight to win in any battles (or sports).
Ruby is the birthstone for July. It is also a traditional gemstone gift for 15th and 40th wedding anniversary
Vedic astrologers recommend that people who are striving for rulership and power wear the Manik which is the ruby as it represents the all powerful sun and the source of wealth, prosperity, status, honor, glory and fame.
Ruby gemstone is also a symbol of abundance and wealth.
Chao Mae Tubtim is the Ruby Goddess in Thailand. She is a fertility goddess. Women and couples who want to conceive seek the help of the goddess. The Chinese goddess Mazu is also associated with the ruby and the goddess who protect the people who travel and trade at sea. Ruby is also associated with the Egyptian goddess of war, Sekhmet. In the book of Revelation, god is said to be of the colour red, like the jasper stone.
Red Carnelian
Red Carnelian is a rare gemstone that can be found in large carat sizes at affordable prices.
It is of a brownish-red to orange-red variety of chalcedony coloured by impurities of iron oxide. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.
Carnelian had been made into signets, seal rings, amulets and talismans since over 4000 years ago.
Carnelian is called the Stone of Action and it gives courage and vitality.
Red Garnet Gemstones
The most popular red coloured gemstone besides the ruby is the garnet. Garnet has at least five gemstones that occur in a variety of red colours. These are Almandine Garnet, Pyrope Garnet, Rhodolite Garnet, Hessonite Garnet and Malaya Garnet. Garnets are multifaceted, durable, and tough. Garnets have a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, suitable for any type of jewellery and they are affordable.
Garnet comes in almost all colours from different varieties of red, green, yellow, orange, grey and black colours. It comes even in the colour blue, such as the blue color-changing Garnet.
Almandine Garnet
Almandine garnet comes in pure red, orange-red and brownish-red. It is semi-transparent.
Garnet species usually come mixed with other minerals. Very rarely are they found in a pure state. Almandine and pyrope mix is of a deep red coloured gemstone whereas almandine and spessartite combination form a more orange tone.
All garnets possess the healing spiritual benefits of purifying and detoxifying the body from harmful energies. They are energizing and grounding.
Almandine garnets like most garnet species are not known to be treated in any way to enhance their appearance.
Garnet was given its name in 1270 by Philosopher-magician Albertus Magnus from its similarity to a rich red pomegranate seed.
Almandine garnet is the official birthstone of January. It is the traditional gemstone to be gifted for the 2nd wedding anniversary.
Pyrope Garnet
Pyrope garnet is the most well-known of all garnets. Its rich red blood colour resembles the colour of ruby. It occurs free from inclusion and has an amazing brilliance.
Pyrope is also known as Bohemian Garnet because historically it was mined in former Czechoslovakia.
Pyrope has a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is a multifaceted gemstone and can also be found in large carat sizes and at affordable prices.
Ancient people believed that garnet could light up the night and protect the wearer from evil.
Rhodolite Garnet
Rhodolite Garnet is a fine, multifaceted gemstone with a rich red colour similar to the ruby but less pricey.
Most gem-quality rhodolites have a purplish red to reddish colour. A purple specimen that resembles Amethyst have been found in North Carolina and India.
Rhodolite is derived from the Greek word 'rhodon' meaning rose in reference to the rose colours found in this lovely gemstone.
Rhodolite garnet is created from two varieties of red garnet mix which are pyrope and almandine. It is also known as the Stone of Health.
Rhodolite Garnets have a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
As Rhodolite has a pink tint, it is also a crystal of love and compassion.
Like almost all garnets, rhodolite is not known to be treated in any way, it is completely natural.
Rhodolite garnet was first described in the 1890s by William Earl Hidden who discovered it in North Carolina, USA and named it after the North Carolina pink rhododendron flower.
Rhodolite Garnets can be used in all types of jewellery items including rings.
It is an official birthstone for the month of January and is a traditional gemstone for the 2nd wedding anniversary.
Star Garnet
Star garnets are mostly found in hues of red. They have a hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale. They occur with a high refractive index.
Star garnet is a rare and unique variety of garnet. It is only found in India and Idaho, USA. It exhibits a four-rayed star due to the aligned inclusions of rutile.
Star garnet stone helps the wearer purify and heal his or her mind, body and soul.
Red Zircon
Red Zircons have a hardness ranging from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Colours include reddish-orange to red to brownish-red. They occur with a very high refractive index ranging from 1.81 to 1.98. Some even exhibit the phenomenon of tenebrescence. For example, when they are taken out from the dark, they shine a ruby-red colour, but once they are exposed to the light they slowly change their colour to orange-brownish-red.
Zircon is December’s birthstone.
The rosy red variety of Zircon, though not well known by the general public, is loved by gemstone expert/aficionado.
It is often found in large carat sizes. It is recommended that rings should come with a protective setting in order to protect the facet edges.
Red zircon has an excellent luster, brilliance and fire.
During the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to be able to help the wearer sleep and ward off nightmares. It was also believed that zircon gives honour, wisdom and prosperity to its owner.
Red Spinel
Red Spinel is not only rare but also it is considered one of the finest jewellery in regards to gemstones. The rich red colour of spinels have been mistaken for centuries for fine rubies. Though it is rarer than rubies, spinel is more affordable.
Red Spinel has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale and it comes with a high clarity. Spinel is never treated in any way. It is a great substitute for ruby.
Like most red gemstones, spinel is believed to elicit passion, devotion and vitality and help increase physical energy and stamina in the wearer.
Red Fire Opal
Mexican Red Fire Opal is a variety of opal that sparkles bright yellow, orange and red. It has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale with a resinous, sub-vitreous to waxy luster. Its transparency and clarity varies from transparent to opaque.
Red Fire Opal is very rare and is the most sought after of opals. Thus it is very valuable although it lacks the play of colours that opals are famous for.
Red Fire Opal represents true joy and helps the wearer with passion, creativity, vitality and sexual energy.
Red Fire Opal in rings require a protective setting due to its sensitive nature.
Fire opals are available in very large sizes and are usually faceted to enhance their vivid fiery body colour.
Red Andesine Labradorite
Andesine-Labradorite has a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It comes with a dull to vitreous luster. It is translucent to transparent and has perfect cleavage.
Andesine-Labradorite is usually a reddish colour gemstone but can exhibit shades ranging from yellow to orange to honey-red and can feature amber to champagne and even tints of green. Andesine-Labradorite also has a metallic schiller known as labradorescence that can be seen as you turn the gemstone and view it from different angles.
Andesine-labradorite is 50-70% albite and 30-50% anorthite and is a member of the plagioclase feldspar group. Its name "andesine" refers to the Andes Mountains where andesine was first found and the name "labradorite" was derived from Labrador, Canada, where labradorite was first discovered.
Other feldspars that display similar dazzling phenomena include : Labradorite, Sunstone, Spectrolite, Rainbow Moonstone and Moonstone.
Andesine-labradorite first appeared in 2003 which makes it a relatively new gemstone.
Its metaphysical attributes include:
From the side of labradorite: a powerful stone of protection that shields the aura against negative energy coming from the surroundings.
Andesine is also used to dispel negativity while helping the wearer ease stress.
Through lattice diffusion, that is, diffusing copper into yellow labradorite, yellowish labradorite is altered into reddish andesine-labradorite.
Precious Red Coral
Precious red coral has been used by humanity since prehistory as an amulet and stone for protection. Precious coral has a hardness of 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Thus, owing to its lack of hardness and durability and being an organic gem, precious coral is best for necklaces and earrings but not rings. Due to its softness and opacity, coral is usually cut en cabochon or used to make beads.
Corallium rubrum or the red coral, is also known as Noble or Precious Coral and is the most sought after. The most desired of the Noble Coral is the red "oxblood" coral. The other most prized is the one called the "angel skin coral" which is a pink to salmon colored coral.
Precious coral is typically translucent to opaque and exhibits an attractive vitreous luster.
The red variety varies its colours from bright-red to dark-red, and orange-red.
Since ancient times, precious coral was believed to be endowed with mysterious, sacred, spiritual and very powerful properties. No other gemstone has been used more than the precious coral to destroy the first glance of the Evil Eye (of the Serpent headed goddess Medusa).
In Italy precious coral was called the Witch Stone, because it was believed that it protected women from sorcerers and men from female witches. Furthermore, the ancient Egyptians deposited precious coral in tombs of the departed to protect them against evil spirits. It was believed, just as in ancient Greece, that coral contained sacred blood of a god or a goddess.
In Hindu astrology red coral is associated with the planet Mars or Graha-Mangala and used for pleasing Mars. Therefore, Hindu gurus warn against wearing discoloured, dirty or dull precious coral specimens. If we are to wear precious coral, it must be pure with no blemishes.
Today coral is still used widely for protection against the evil eye and black magic.
Strawberry Quartz
Strawberry Quartz derives its name from the Greek word "KRISTALLOS" meaning ICE and Strawberry which is the color of the mineral.
Quartz is of a silicon and oxygen chemical composition. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, it is durable enough to be used in all types of jewellery. It is transparent to translucent. The best gemstone quality of strawberry quartz is the one that comes in a beautiful strawberry colour and is transparent.
Strawberry quartz has a glass-like luster and a trigonal crystal structure. It contains inclusions of iron oxide which gives it its beautiful reddish pink colour like strawberries. It is also known as Red Fire Quartz.
Quartz is a master healer. It is widely used in healing and energy work.
The strawberry quartz brings joy and happiness within itself. It enhances our self-love and gets rid of stress and anxiety. It gives us a more positive outlook, giving us the ability to see the funny side of things, and liberating us from the restrictions that we impose on ourselves.
Strawberry quartz can be confused with Rose Quartz. It is not known to be heat treated in any way to improve its color and beauty.
More red gemstones include: Red Diamond, Red Beryl Bixbite, Sard, Sardonyx, Red Jasper, Red Imperial Topaz, Rubellite Tourmaline, Cinnabar, Pezzottaite, Red Tiger's Eye, Red Apatite and Red Fluorite.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/yellow-coloured-gemstones2022-05-28T03:50:02+08:002022-05-28T03:50:04+08:00Yellow Coloured GemstonesAlice Koh
By Alice Koh
Yellow is one of the main centered colours of the rainbow, the other is green. In nature, yellow is the colour of the sun, of lemons and bees, birds, of flowers and leaves. All these are associated with energy, life giving powers such as bees and the pollen of flowers, and the warmth of the sun.
Yellow brings the energy of the sun which is vitality and positivity, prosperity and the feeling of confidence. Yellow stimulates the left half of the brain which is the logical side of the brain that deals with focus and decision making.
Yellow, too, has been used as a warning sign, caution, and the appearance in the body can suggest illness such as malaria, jaundice or in general the body being sick. In the United States and in the United Kingdom, someone who is yellow means someone who is a coward. In Japan, on the other hand, yellow is the color of courage. In Thailand, Monday is the day to wear yellow.
Like most gemstones, yellow gemstones come in different varieties of yellow, hardness, durability, transparency and price. Some are very affordable while others are highly priced.
The most expensive of the yellow gemstones is the yellow diamond.
Yellow Diamond
The fact is, diamonds can be found in many colours. Yellow coloured diamond is the most common of all the coloured diamond varieties. It comes with the fire and brilliance typical of the colourless diamond.
Natural, untreated yellow diamonds are very rare. Some diamonds are treated with irradiation to improve the colour of the stone. Treated yellow diamonds are more affordable.
Yellow diamonds are often cut into fancier shapes such as pear, oval, radiant, princess (square), emerald (octagon), asscher, cushion, rose cut, heart and trillion shapes.
Diamonds have a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, making them the hardest of all gemstones. This hardness means that yellow diamonds can be used for all types of jewellery, and can be worn everyday without any fears of being chipped, scratched or broken.
The diamond is the birthstone of April. It is a powerful stone of protection and is very spiritual. It is known as the Master Healer and the Stone of Invincibility, a stone that was taken into battles, especially by kings.
A more affordable gemstone similar to diamond but with more fire and brilliance is Yellow Zircon.
Yellow Zircon
In Sanskrit it is known as Rahuratna, the stone of the nodes of the moon or the dragons of the solar and lunar eclipses. These dragons are the two kundalini serpents, and the two snakes of the Caduceus of Mercury.
Not many people know about zircon even though it is a natural stone and is rarer than a diamond. Not only that but it has been in the earth for 4.5 billion years proving that zircon lasts forever instead of the heavily commercialised and propagated diamonds.
Zircon has a high refractive index (1.810 to 2.024), which is somewhat close to that of diamond (2.417 to 2.419). It also has a double refraction. This means that light entering the gemstone splits into two rays of light and you get double the sparkle of that of a diamond. Hence, zircon comes also with an impressive fire or dispersion which is the ability to split white light into many spectral colors.
Zircon has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is transparent to translucent with a vitreous to brilliant sheen luster. It comes in a variety of colours such as colourless, yellow, brown, orange, red, violet, black, green and blue. The various colours are due to minute traces of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, and rare earth elements.
However, yellow zircon is heat treated and this is done to improve its colour. Nonetheless, untreated specimens of yellow zircon can sometimes be found.
Trade names for zircon include: Canary Zircon which is yellow in colour just like the canary bird. Hyacinth is the yellow, orange and red zircon which is also known as "hyacinth" from the flower hyacinthus, its name of ancient Greek origin.
Jargoon or jargon (occasionally in old writings jargounce and jacounce) is a name applied by gemologists to those zircons which are fine enough to be cut as gemstones but are not of the red colour which characterizes the hyacinth or jacinth. Some of the finest jargoons are green, others brown and yellow, whilst some are colourless.
During the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to be able to help the wearer to sleep and to ward off nightmares. It was also believed that zircon gives honor, wisdom and prosperity to its owner.
Zircons are one of three birthstones for the month of December.
Yellow Sapphire
Just like diamonds, sapphires, too, can be found in about every colour you can think of including a wide variety of yellows.
However, since only the blue coloured sapphire can be called a sapphire, other coloured sapphires are called fancy sapphires. In Hindu astrology, yellow sapphire is one of the most powerful of all gemstones, linked with the planet Jupiter, the planet that brings wealth, luck, protection, prosperity and rulership.
Fancy yellow sapphires are as prestigious as the blue sapphires but considerably less pricy. Fancy yellow sapphires also have star sapphires which are very spiritual and lovely.
Sapphires have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and are very durable. It is the September birthstone. Its metaphysical properties include helping the wearer become more focused and determined.
Yellow chrysoberyl
Yellow chrysoberyl is a very rare mineral and despite its name it is not a beryl. Yellow chrysoberyl is classified as its own independent mineral group and species. The colour is caused by the presence of iron.
The name 'chrysoberyl' is derived from the Greek words 'chryso' and 'beryl', meaning Golden and Green. Yellow chrysoberyl comes with stunning yellow hues with great transparency and a lively sparkle.
In Asia, chrysoberyl is believed to offer protection against the 'evil eye'.
Yellow chrysoberyl is a gorgeous durable and multifaceted yellow gemstone which can be cut into every shape imaginable but usually to show off its sparkle, it is cut in step cuts. Yellow chrysoberyl occurs naturally and for the most part, not treated. It occurs with a bright luster.
Yellow chrysoberyl has a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Only ruby, sapphire and diamond are harder. Yellow chrysoberyl also has a high refractive index, just slightly lower than ruby and sapphire, so it has excellent brilliance.
Yellow chrysoberyl gemstone gives serenity and peace and self-confidence to the wearer.
Yellow Apatite
Apatite is a relatively soft stone. It has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale which means that it is too soft to be used as rings or bracelets unless the stone is put in a protective setting. Yellow apatite comes in a beautiful rich attractive bright yellow colour and can be found in large size carats.
The yellow version in particular is appreciated for its ability to boost focus and concentration levels. Yellow apatite also gives the wearer optimism and positive attitude.
Its gorgeous yellow colour can rival those of golden beryl, fancy yellow sapphire and even the yellow diamond.
Yellow Cat's Eye Apatite
Cat's Eye Apatite occurs in a strong yellow colour which perfectly captures the cat's eye effect on the stone.
It can be found in large carat sizes and is affordable. Since it has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, it is great for pendants and brooches. If used in rings, it must come in a protective setting.
Yellow Cat's Eye Apatite is a stone of learning and inspiration.
Citrine and Lemon Quartz
Citrine and Lemon Quartz are two of the most popular choices of the quartz family of gemstones.
Two of the most common minerals on earth are Quartz and Feldspar. Quartz come in many forms such as Amethyst. Jasper, Aventurine, Citrine, and Lemon Quartz, etcetera.
Quartz such as citrine and lemon quartz are not only gorgeous, but also has a hardness on the Mohs scale of 7. Natural yellow quartz comes as citrine, whereas treated yellow quartz is usually sold as Lemon Quartz. Both come in huge sizes and can be fashioned in many cuts and shapes.
Yellow citrine has a gorgeous sparkling yellow colour. It is durable, spiritual and it has been used since thousands of years ago. It is also multifaceted.
Yellow quartz like citrine captures the rays of the sun. It is bright, bold yellow and available in large sizes.
It is ideal for any type of jewellery. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Yellow coloured gemstones represent the sun and symbolized wisdom, warmth, creativity and happiness.
Yellow Citrine
Citrine is one of the most popular yellow gemstone in the world right now. Citrine, also known as 'the Merchant's Stone' comes in bright eye-catching yellow colour and in very large carat sizes with very affordable prices. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which means that it is suitable for any type of jewellery.
It is the November birthstone and its spiritual healing properties is said to chase away the gloom, sadness and negativity in the wearer.
Star Lemon Quartz
Star lemon quartz is a treated lemon quartz that displays the star effect of 4 or 6 rays on the surface of the stone.
This quartz can be found in large carat sizes. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and like all yellow gemstones, it gives off the energy of the sun, life, and rids of gloom in one's life.
Yellow Rutile Quartz
Rutile quartz is a transparent quartz with fibrous or hair-like inclusions of titanium dioxide and occurs in colours such as yellow, red or brown. These inclusions can be thin, thick, criss-crossed or parallel.
Angel Hair or Venus Hair are the hair-like inclusions of Rutile Quartz that are a yellow or fair colour that resemble the blonde hair of the goddess.
Rutile quartz gemstones can be found in very large sizes, usually found in odd shapes. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Rutile Quartz is an energizing gemstone, giving you supply energy to finish your task.
Golden Beryl or Heliodor
Golden Beryl is related to emerald, aquamarine and morganite gemstones. Golden Beryl is the lesser known but is most gorgeous and affordable than emeralds or aquamarines. It has a highly polished luster with excellent clarity, beautiful sparkle, and is tough and durable. It comes with a hardness ranging from 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs scale that is perfect for all types of jewellery.
Golden beryl is the traditional birthstone of November. Yellow is the colour of the sun that boosts powerful energies and drives away gloom and gives determination.
Grossularite Garnet
Garnets come in a wide variety of colours including yellow. The most common type of yellow garnet is the grossularite garnet. Other garnet types that commonly occur in yellow are the Colour Change Garnet, Demantoid Garnet and Mali Garnet.
Garnet is a family to the famous green Tsavorite, the orange Hessonite and the red Pyrope. Grossularite garnet's colour can range from lemon yellow to greenish-yellow. Grossularite Garnet possesses all the spiritual powers that garnet is famous for as well as impressive fire, brilliance and clarity.
Yellow grossularite garnet comes naturally and is not treated, and can fashioned in any cut and shapes. However, they are found in smaller sizes.
Garnet has a hardness ranging from 6.5 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale and it is the birthstone of January. It boosts energy in the wearer, self confidence and bring business success.
Yellow Garnets have a relatively wide range on Mohs hardness scale, Grossularite Garnet are 7 to 7.5; whereas Demantoid garnets are 6.5 to 7 on the scale, Mali Garnets are 7, and Color-change Garnets hardness ranges from 6.5-7.5. All garnets are strong enough to be used in almost any styles of jewelley. (Note: though not a Garnet, another yellow colour-change gemstone is Diaspore/Zultanite].
Yellow Sillimanite
Also known as Fibrolite because it consists of compact fibrous material. Yellow sillimanite is beautiful and rare. It was relatively unknown until the 1990's. Sillimanite is not only rare, but also difficult for miners to identify, and not easy to cut.
It is transparent to opaque with a hardness ranging from 6-7.5 on the Mohs scale, with a perfect cleavage in one direction.
It has a vitreous, sub-adamantine, silky luster. It comes in different colors such as yellow, white, brown, blue, and green. The yellow gemstone is transparent.
Yellow Sillimanite gives personal power, self-esteem and confidence to the wearer.
Yellow Agate
Yellow Agate tends to be opaque and generally cut as a cabochon. It has been used as amulets for thousands of years. It has a hardness ranging from 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs scale, therefore it is ideal for rings in classic bezel settings, pendants, and lovely large size carat earrings.
It is a traditional secondary May birthstone
Yellow agate gemstones increase willpower, concentration, memory and logic. The colour yellow represents the sun, happiness and optimism.
Yellow Moonstone
Moonstones come in a variety of colours. The body color can range from colourless to gray, yellow, brown, green, or pink. The clarity ranges from transparent to translucent.
Peach or yellow moonstone supports the heart and stimulates the mind, giving a peaceful relaxing loving energy that rids worry or anxiety, and bringing out the best in people.
Yellow Tourmaline
Tourmaline comes in all imaginable colours including a bright yellow. Tourmalines are very durable and can be cut and polished in almost any shape and form and are suitable for all types of jewelry. They are not found in large sizes.
Yellow tourmaline has a hardness ranging from 7 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is also the birthstone of October. Tourmaline encourages genius creativity in the wearer.
Yellow Sphene
Sphene is a very rare brilliant gemstone with a high luster known as "titanite" due to its titanium content. The name "sphene" comes from the Greek word, "sphen" meaning "wedge" which alludes to the formation of its crystals. Sphene gemstones display an intense fire and high luster, much stronger than that of the diamond.
Yellow sphene is not generally treated or enhanced, though the colour can be changed to red or orange by heating.
Sphene has a hardness ranging from 5 - 5.5 on the Mohs scale deeming it too soft for rings unless the rings comes with a protective bezel setting. Yellow Sphene has also a brittle tenacity. It is thus not recommended for jewellery that is likely to be exposed to knocks and scratches and general wear and tear. Yellow sphene is best used for jewellery such as earrings, pendants and brooches.
Cabochon sphenes come in large sizes with lovely inclusions.
Yellow sphene is a calming and soothing crystal that protects the wearer from negativity that surrounds him or her.
Yellow Calcite
Calcite has a hardness of 3 which is very soft to be used in jewellery except for pendants or earrings. It occurs as transparent or translucent gemstones with a bright beautiful yellow colour. It is a great stone for protection and can be used to ground one self.
Calcite is commonly believed to increase and amplify energy of healing, learning and awareness.
Yellow Cat's Eye Opal
Opals are known for their sparkling play-of-colours phenomenon like a rainbow of colours dancing before your eyes. However, opals too can be found single coloured such as bright orange or yellow coloured stones. Yellow cat's eye opals are not treated in any way,
A very rare form of opal can occur in bright or dull yellow without the play of colours. However, when cut en cabochon, it exhibits a bright white line across the surface as it exhibits chatoyance or cat's eye effect.
Yellow Cat Eye Opal has a hardness ranging from 5.5 - 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It is believed to ward off evil
Yellow cat's eye opals are a birthstone of October. It can also be used as a traditional gemstone gift for the 14th wedding anniversary.
Yellow Moss Opal
Like Cat's Eye Opal, Yellow Moss Opal also does not exhibit the flashy play-of-colour that opals usually display. It shows instead milky opaque inclusions resembling moss or leaves.
It has a hardness ranging from 5.5 - 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Opal is the birthstone of October.
Opal helps relieve depression and also help the wearer find love.
Yellow Color Change Diaspore
Yellow colour change diaspore changes colour from a gorgeous yellow during the day to a pinkish orange when put under incandescent light. It occurs with an excellent clarity. It is not treated, but unlike another colour change gemstone like Alexandrite, it can be found in large carat size and is affordable.
It has a hardness ranging from 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs scale. Diaspore is known to help with age-related memory problems.
Yellow Pearls
Pearls are organic gemstone like coral and amber, meaning it has a biological origin. Pearls have been used by humans beings since at least 5000 before our common era.
Pearls are formed by the nacre secreted by various shelled mollusks. Natural pearls are extremely rare and thus most of the pearls on the gemstone market are cultured.
Pearls are quite soft having a softness ranging from 2.5 - 4.5 on the Mohs scale. This means that pearls are suitable for pendants and earrings only.
They are the birthstone of June. They represent purity, integrity and loyalty.
Topaz, too, offers two yellow gems in the form of Precious Topaz and Imperial Topaz. Sphalerite also come in yellow colour, fire and brilliance.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/on-saga-tree-seeds2022-04-05T09:40:40+08:002022-04-05T09:40:41+08:00On Saga Tree & SeedsAlice Koh Saga, or Adenanthera Pavonina is also called Red Lucky Seed, Acacia Coral, Arbre À Église, Bead Tree, Circassian Seed, Corail Végétal, Coral Wood, Coralitos, Curly Bean, Deleite, Delicia, Dilmawi, Graine-réglisse, Jumbi-Bead, L'Église, Peronías, Peonía, Peonía Extranjera, Piriquiti, Red Bead Tree, Réglisse, Barbados pride, Peacock flower fence, Sandalwood tree, and Manchadi.
The trees are abundant in Kerala, and also can be found in Tamil Nadu, Maldives, Tulu, Sri Lanka (India), China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other parts of South Asia. One famous saga tree in Singapore is known as Heritage Tree as it is well over 100 years old and it is found in Singapore Botanical Gardens.
In the America, saga trees can be found in Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela and in Florida, United States.
In China, saga seeds in Mandarin are known as "xiang si dou" (Chinese: 相思豆), or "mutual love bean" and are used as a symbol of love. The rich red colour of the seeds resembles a heart and the organic gem similar to the fine precious coral and the rich red carnelian gemstones. The seeds besides being bright red, and heart-shaped, are also hard. Saga seeds for a long time have been used as beads for jewellery.
The Malay word Saga comes from the Arab word for 'Goldsmith.' Because saga seeds have a uniform weight, in ancient India they were used as a weight measurement for gold and silver: 4 seeds = 1g.
The seeds are contained within curved hanging pods that are split open into two spiraling halves revealing the vivid red, glossy and heart-shaped beads. The seed pods also open while still on the branch, releasing their seeds on the ground.
The young leaves and bark of Adenanthera pavonina are used in Traditional Medicine to treat diarrhea, and the ground seeds are used to treat inflammation. Further uses include food and drink, for making soap, and a red dye can be obtained from the wood which in India is pound into powder. A red dye is obtained from the wood and used by the Brahmins to make religious markings on their foreheads. The wood, which is extremely hard, is also used in boat-building, furniture and for firewood.
The flowers of the saga tree smell a bit like orange blossoms. The petals are lovely yellow almost orange. The yound seed pods are long curved and green, but when they split open they are black in colour.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/prasiolite-gemstone2022-03-12T05:13:00+08:002022-03-12T05:13:02+08:00Prasiolite GemstoneAlice Koh The word Prasiolite is derived from Greek PRASON meaning "leek" and LITHOS meaning Stone this is in reference to its green-colored appearance. Other ways to write prasiolite are "praseolite" and "praziolite."
Prasiolite is a green variety of quartz that occurs in a trigonal crystal structure. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 (just like most quartz) and does not have cleavage. This means that it is not easily breakable and is suitable for any types of jewellery including rings, bracelets, pendants and as beads.
Prasiolite is of a transparent to nearly opaque transparency. It is formed with a crystal habit of hexagonal prisms. Prasiolite comes in different shades of green. The artificially treated Prasiolite is a darker green quartz whereas the natural Prasiolite is of a very light and translucent green color.
Natural Prasiolite is extremely rare.
Prasiolite as a green quartz is also incorrectly called green Amethyst.
Since Pasiolite is extremely rare in nature, the majority of Prasiolite gemstones sold on the market is a result from a combination of heat treatment and ionizing radiation.
Some Amethyst when heat treated will turn green. Thus, the reason why Prasiolite is called Green Amethyst. However "Green amethyst" is an incorrect name for Prasiolite because Amethyst, by definition, is a purple variety of quartz. Citrine is the dark yellow or reddish brown Amethyst that was also heated.
Light green color Prasiolite is also produced by irradiating natural Amethyst. This procedure is more expensive and thus not used as much as heat treatment.
Synthetic quartz which also comes in a wide range of green colours similar to Prasiolite, are being sold as Prasiolite. However, you can tell that it is synthetic quartz by its very low price.
The Federal Trade Commission Guides for the Jewellery, Precious Metals, Pewter Industries says that it is unfair or deceptive to describe a product with an incorrect varietal name - for example, using "green amethyst" to describe a green variety of quartz.
Besides Green Amethyst, Prasiolite is also called Vermarine and Lime Citrine.
Naturally occurring Prasiolite have been mined since 1950 in Brazil, Poland (lower Silesia) and in theThunder Bay of Canada. However, many of these deposits have been mined out, with the exception of Brazil, but this mine too, is becoming depleted.
If exposed to strong sunlight for long periods of time, heat treated Prasiolite's green colour will fade. It is thus recommended to store your Prasiolite jewellery in a dark jewellery box away from sunlight.
Prasiolite, like most green gemstones, is a spiritual stone that helps with spiritual growth and love. It attracts prosperity, good fortune, luck and success and helps the wearer get rid of self-doubt and negativity. Additionally, Prasiolite is believed to help support the endocrine system and neutralise stomach acid to aid in the absorption of nutrients. And since Prasiolite is Amethyst heat treated, it too carries many of the metaphysical, healing properties of Amethyst crystal. And since, Prasiolite is also a member of the Quartz family, it is a powerful amplifier of energy.]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/green-gemstones2022-03-01T05:56:47+08:002022-03-01T05:56:48+08:00Green GemstonesAlice Koh
By Alice Koh
Green is the color of life. It is a spiritual and healing color. Green gemstones are said to be bringers of wealth, luck, prosperity, abundance, joy and happiness.
Green gemstones, especially the crystal variety, are not only rare but expensive. There are many varieties in the market but my choice are those that are hard enough to withstand the bumps and knocks of daily life and are easily available and affordable.
Most of the green gemstones discussed here have a hardness of 7 or minimum on the Mohs scale.
Green gemstones come in a variety of sizes and colours from light to dark green.
Green gemstones since ancient times were considered sacred and were revered as spiritual gemstones by the ancient Chinese and Mesoamericans, just to pick two examples.
Green gemstones can come with a clear transparency or with inclusions. They can also be flawless, translucent or opaque.
Here is my green gems choice list:
AVENTURINE GEMSTONE Aventurine was known in the ancient world as it was more abundantly available than Emerald. Many of the tools discovered date back more than two and a half million years and were found to be constructed from aventurine quartz. Statues of gods and amulets, also were discovered to be made from aventurine.
Some scientists suggested that when the ancient people wrote about emeralds, they were in fact referring to aventurine. The "Emerald" in the Breast Plate of Aaron, the High Priest, was more than likely Green Aventurine.
In ancient China, green aventurine stone was considered sacred. It was used to make state seals. In ancient Tibet, aventurine was placed on the eyes of statues as it was believed that it could increase the visionary awareness of the person.
If you are looking for luck and fortune, look no further! Green aventurine is considered to be THE most magical and sacred Lucky Stone. It is great in manifesting wealth and prosperity and favours activities related to finances, gambling and lottery.
Aventurine has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Therefore it is perfect for any type of jewellery.
AMAZONITE GEMSTONE Amazonite is a variety of Microcline, a green feldspar. Amazonite is named after the Amazon River in Brazil, probably as a marketing advertisement. This is because Amazonite though it is found in Brazil, however, it is not found in the Amazon Jungle or Amazon River. Perhaps the reason why this stone was called Amazonite is because of the legend of the women Amazon, who was said used this gemstone in the decoration of their weaponry.
Amazonite is a green to blue colored precious stone. It has a vitreous luster, it is smooth and waxy, shiny and bright. It has a weak, olive-green fluorescence. It has a perfect cleavage. Some Amazonite, however, come with unique patterns, such as swirls and stripes.
In our modern society, we are inundated with electromagnetic pollution and radiation from home wifi, routers, microwaves, computers, handphones, x-rays, GPS and many more. Amazonite is today’s antidote for these pollution. These electromagnetic radiations that we are bombarded with every second of our lives is the reason for our lack of concentration, lack of sleep, feeling down and lethargic, being irritated and nervous, stomach problems, psychosis, stress, cancer and a weak immune system.
MALACHITE GEMSTONE Malachite is a basic green copper carbonate mineral. It derives its name from the Greek word MALACHE which means "mallow", from its resemblance to the soft green leaves of the mallow plant.
Malachite has a hardness of only 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. It has a perfect cleavage and its transparency is translucent to opaque. Its luster is weak glass-like but not shiny. However, when cut and polished, Malachite has a silky luster. Since malachite is fairly soft, it is often coated with resin or wax (to make it tougher).
Malachite comes with swirls of light and dark green coloured highlights on its surface. It is an historic gemstone revered for its spiritual protective properties and was used as amulets for the dead in ancient times.
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans believed that malachite had the power to protect you from the Evil Eye of Envy. Therefore, they made it into amulets. In Europe during the Middle-Ages parents would put malachite jewelry on their children to protect them from witches and black magic (which is the same as the Evil Eye). It was also believed that if the malachite suddenly breaks off, it was a warning from malachite of pending danger. It was believed that malachite could save the wearer from black magic and demonic temptation. It was also thought to mirror the feelings of the wearer; if the wearer was feeling happy, you could see this happiness mirrored in the stone.
The dark green malachite is also known as the Kidney Gemstone because the upper side of the stone looks like a human kidney.
Malachite is the symbol of the Child, of the eternal Spring, of the eternal return, of the Spring equinox and the coming of the spiritual man.
GASPEITE GEMSTONE Gaspeite has a trigonal crystal structure and comes in green, light-green and yellowish-green colors. Most exhibit brown vein-like inclusions.
Gaspeite has a hardness ranging from 4.5 to 5 on the Mohs scale. Gaspeite has a glass-like to dull luster when cut and polished. While opaque in its natural state, Gaspeite crystals are typically translucent. It also exhibits perfect cleavage in 3 directions and this means it can easily chip.
Gaspeite is gaining popularity since a large Gaspeite deposit has been discovered recently in Australia. It is often used for beaded jewelry, bracelets, necklaces, pins, pendants and carved ornamental objects.
Gemstones that are similar in appearance to Gaspeite include: Chrysoprase, Calcite, Chrysocolla, Jade, Malachite and the rare green Turquoise. Also, Serpentine, Variscite and Verdite.
Gaspeite is a shaman’s stone that has long been used by the aboriginal people of Australia. It is used for their vision and dream quest works.
The Shaman-Healers of Australia believe that this beautiful stone possesses powerful and strong healing attributes. It is said that Gaspeite gives strong healing vibrations that benefits the solar plexus which govern the heart, gallbladder and lungs.
It is a very powerful spiritual stone that helps the wearer communicate with the Spirit World.
PREHNITE GEMSTONE Prehnite is composed of hydrated calcium aluminum silicate. It comes in a soft yellow-green to apple-green color.
Prehnite has a hardness ranging from 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It has a brittle tenacity with good cleavage, which means that it is a fragile stone. However, with a protective-style setting, prehnite can be used for just about any type of jewelry. When cut and polished, it has a vitreous to pearly luster. Many specimens have a captivating glowing quality.
Chinese call prehnite the "grape jade" due to the fact that prehnite is often found in a grape-like aggregate forms.
There are several precious stones that have a similar appearance in color and luster to that of prehnite. These include Jade, Apatite, Serpentine, Brazilianite, Periclase, Chrysoprase, Peridot, Smithsonite and Hemimorphite.
Prehnite is a powerful stone of protection, and is known as the Stone of Prophecy. Through meditation prehnite is a great bridge for communication with the spirit world. It is also a great vehicle used for astral projection.
It is considered a powerful dream stone. It promotes lucid dreaming. It is a booster of energy and invigorating power. It is also a booster of intuition.
Prehnite is also known as the stone of unconditional love for it is said that it is the glue that connects the Will and the Heart.
CHRYSOPRASE GEMSTONE The name Chrysoprase is from Greek, Chrysos means "golden" and Prason means "apple" or "leek."
It is a form of chalcedony and it is sometimes translucent with colours ranging from apple green to deep green due to nickel oxidization.
The most sought after Chrysoprase is the iridescent mint-green color
Chrysoprase is a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz, composed of crystals that are too tiny to be seen even under magnification. It is also unique in the fact that unlike most of chalcedony quartz which occur in multi-colored patterns, Chrysoprase occurs only in rich vivid green color very similar to the finest quality Jade. However, jade has a hardness ranging from 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale (whereas Chrysoprase ranges from 6.5 to 7). Jade is also less translucent than Chrysoprase.
Prehnite, too, looks very similar to Chrysoprase. However, its green color is not as vivid and rich as Chrysoprase.
Variscite is another gemstone that can be confused with Chrysoprase. Nonetheless, Variscite has a waxier luster and its hardness on the Mohs scale ranges from 3.5 to 4.5.
Chrome Chalcedony is yet another green gemstone that is often confused with Chrysoprase. It has a Mohs hardness scale of 6 to 7 and its crystal structure occurs as trigonal or monoclinic. Furthermore, Chrome Chalcedony is colored by chromium whereas Chrysoprase is colored by nickel.
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used this stone to make seals and ornamental jewelries. It was considered the sacred stone of Greek goddess Aphrodite. Alexander the Great had worn a girdle that contained a lucky chrysoprase stone that helped him win battles. He believed that the stone protected him of all evils. Once his Chrysoprase was stolen by a serpent, he started losing battles.
SERPENTINE GEMSTONE Green SERPENTINE looks like the scales of tropical green snakes. It is often confused with jade but is composed of different minerals. It has a hardness of 2.5 - 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
In the past, Serpentine was highly esteemed by the ancient people for its healing properties. It was used to make vases, pillars, boxes, talismans and amulets.
In ancient times, serpentine was used in offerings to gods and goddesses. Ancient Egyptians used Serpentine to make their sacred scarab amulet; and ancient Persians made royal cylinders out of serpentine.
Serpentine was a charm against poison, and it was believed it could scare away poisonous vermin and reptiles of land and sea.
SERAPHINITE GEMSTONE SERAPHINITE is derived from the Greek word SERAPHIM which alludes to the Biblical angel with three pairs of wings. This is because Seraphinite occurs with silvery feather-like chatoyant fibers which are the result of mica inclusions.
Seraphinite is a variety of Clinochlore, which belongs to the chlorite group.
Seraphinite hardness ranges from 2 - 2.5 on the Mohs scale and occurs with a perfect cleavage. Because of this, Serephinite is seldom used in jewelry but when it is it is usually cut en cabochon or carved into spheres or other shaped, tumbled and fancy cut. To improve its durability, Seraphinite is impregnated with polymer.
Serephinite is also known as "the angel stone" or "angel's wing stone" and crystal healers everywhere say that it is a powerful spiritual stone that brings communication between the physical self and the spirit realm. It also brings balance in the emotional self.
In the middle ages, Seraphinite was worn as an amulet to prevent snake bites just as they used Serpentine.
MAW-SIT-SIT GEMSTONE Maw-Sit-Sit occurs in a monoclinic, prismatic crystal structure. Its color ranges from bright to dark-green with white or dark-green to blackish spots or veins. It has a glassy to oily (greasy) luster.
Maw-sit-sit has a hardness rating of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale. It is usually opaque and in some rare cases translucent and is almost always cut as cabochons or carved.
Green Maw-Sit-Sit is a green gemstone similar to Jade. It was first found in the northern Burmese village of Maw-Sit-Sit. It is a rock rather than a mineral with interesting patches and feathering.
Maw-Sit-Sit is connected with healing, prosperity, abundance, luck and Mother-Earth. It protects the wearer from negative energy and evil. It nurtures a sad and broken heart.
CHRYSOCOLLA GEMSTONE Pure blue chrysocolla is only 2 to 4 on Mohs hardness scale. Different intergrowths of minerals and the amount of silica during its formation affects and increases its hardness. For example, if a specimen is intermingled with quartz which has a hardness of 7, then this piece of chrysocolla will have 7 on Mohs hardness scale.
Its transparency is opaque sometimes near translucent. It has a waxy, glass-like luster.
The most highly esteemed Chrysocolla gemstones are those that come in intense blue and green. Those that are intermingled with turquoise blue and light green are also sought after.
Ancient Greeks and Romans, not to mention Ancient Egyptians, made powerful magical amulets with chrysocolla for protection in this life and for the journey to the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, it was also used as amulets to protect children. Chrysocolla was the gemstone favored by the Roman Emperor Nero.
The Incas, Mesoamericans as well as North American Natives, used chrysocolla to decorate their ritual objects and in their spiritual ceremonies.
Chrysocollas was known as the wisdom stone. It brings mental clarity and was effective in negotiation skills. It was also the favorite gemstone of midwives, healers, grandmothers or wise women. It was used when these wise women gave their talks and passed on their knowledge to the next generation.
Chrysocolla is honored alongside the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Sophia. It has a powerful feminine energy. Women believed it made them strong and beautiful. Cleopatra was known to wear Chrysocolla jewelry wherever she went.
VERDITE GEMSTONE VERDITE derives its name from the Latin VERDE and the Greek LITHOS meaning Green Stone.
Verdite is the light to dark-green metamorphic rock made up of Fuchsite and fine grain clay. Fuchsite is the green variety of muscovite which is part of the mica mineral group. This make Verdite a close relation to Lepidolite, Biotite and Buddstone (the so-called African Jade).
Verdite sometimes is also sold as African Jade. What distinguishes Verdite from Jade is their hardness level on the Mohs scale. Jade has a hardness ranging from 6 to 7 while Verdite's is 3.
Verdite also looks similar to Serpentine. However, the difference is in their refractive index. Verdite refractive index, for example, is 1.580 whereas Serpentine refractive index ranges from 1.560 to 1.571.
The Shona people of Zimbabwe say that Verdite has the ability to promote fertility and fidelity. This makes it a stone for lovers.
Verdite is connected with power, wisdom, truth and reliability. It is also associated with decision making, wealth (like most green gemstones are), and psychic healing. Verdite is also believed to benefit the lungs, endocrine system and the thymus gland.
GREEN AGATE GEMSTONE The most common colors in agate are green, yellow, red, brown, white, black, gray, lilac and pink. It is translucent to opaque and comes in rounded nodules with colored inclusions.
Agate has a waxy-dull luster and a Mohs hardness rating of about 7. This means that it can scratch glass and it can withstand scratches from a knife. It is also hard enough to be made into any type of jewelry design.
Green agate also comes in large sizes, shapes, cuts with affordable prices.
Agate is a gemstone of abundance, wealth, love and security. It was believed that amulets made from agate protected the wearer from thunder and lightning, tempests, all malevolent elements, and dangers from war. Placing one in the mouth also relieved fever. Agate mixed with certain fruit juices was thought to cure insanity.
VARISCITE GEMSTONE VARISCITE Gemstone is of a hydrated aluminium phosphate chemical composition. It is a relatively rare mineral which is often confused with Chrysocolla or Turquoise because of its similarity in colour ranging from pale to dark green depending on the chromium and vanadium content. However, Variscite is greener in color.
Its appearance looks so much like Turquoise that without standard gemological tests, it is very hard to distinguish them.
Variscite has a hardness of 4.5 on the Mohs scale whereas its lookalike Turquoise is harder at 5 to 6. Turquoise obtains its color from traces of copper whereas Variscite is colored from traces of chromium and vanadium.
Variscite is also confused with Chrysocolla. However, Chrysocolla has a hardness ranging from 2 to 4 on the Mohs scale. Moreover, when cut and polished, Variscite has a more glass-like luster than both Turquoise and Chrysocolla.
It has a perfect cleavage with a strong pale green and green fluorescence.
Variscite is a powerful stone for overcoming stress and anxiety. It is a bringer of happiness, inner peace and harmony for those who carry or wear it as jewelry. It is also a bringer of wealth as green is the symbol of wealth and rebirth and intellect.
Variscite is believed to arouse feelings of compassion and love.
RUBY ZOISITE GEMSTONE Ruby Zoisite has a mottled appearance of green Zoisite with large inclusions of red Ruby and black Hornblende. It has a perfect cleavage and is opaque. When cut and polished, top-grade Ruby Zoisite exhibits a glass-like luster.
Ruby Zoisite has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, which means that it is apt for most types of jewelry.
Ruby Zoisite gemstone has the healing properties of red Ruby and green Zoisite and black Hornblende.
The red of Ruby represents the eternal Fire. The green in Zoisite represents the element of Earth. It is a perfect gemstone to balance the elements and energies of Fire and Earth.
GREEN QUARTZ CAT'S EYE GEMSTONE [PRASIOLITE] Cat’s Eye Quartz is quartz in which fibrous inclusions of rutile cause light to be reflected back resembling the eye of a cat. This effect is known as chatoyancy.
Quartz comes in many colors including green (Prasiolite), purple/violet (Amethyst), yellow and purple (Ametrine), yellow/orange (Citrine), pink (Rose Quartz), brown (Smoky Quartz) and colorless (Rock Crystal).
Quartz Cat's Eye has a hardness of 7 which is perfect for rings and bracelets. It is a powerful stone for protection against evil spirits and witchcraft or the evil eye. It is believed that it increases psychic abilities and intuition.
ACTINOLITE CAT'S EYE GEMSTONE Cat's-eye Actinolite is of an amphibole silicate chemical composition. It occurs in a monoclinic crystal structure. It has a hardness of 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, with a good cleavage.
Cat's-eye Actinolite is translucent to opaque, and is usually green to yellowish-green in color similar to that of fine Jade. It also occurrs in a variety of colors.
Cat's-eye Actinolite is very popular for its metaphysical abilities. It is the stone per excellence that crystal healers use for spiritual and physical healing. It is known to channel life force and promote growth and fertility so much so that it was often placed in gardens to promote growth of plants.
Due to it occurring in a variety of colors, it is also used for balancing the energy centers in the body known as chakras. It is believed that it produces soothing energies and awareness. Being so similar to Nephrite Jade, Cat's-eye Actinolite also carries the powers and healing metaphysical properties of Nephrite Jade.
GREEN FLUORITE GEMSTONE Every color of the rainbow in various shades is represented by fluorite samples, along with white, black, and clear crystals. The most common colors are GREEN, purple, blue, yellow, or colorless; less common are pink, red, white, brown, and black.
The magical properties of this stone have just recently been discussed. For example, it is believed that fluorite cleanses your auric field, unblocks and stimulates all your chakras so that it wakes your system up physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It enables mental clarity and resilience and helps to relieve stress and anxiety.
It balances both sides of the brain hemispheres. When both sides are synchronised, creativity and ingenuity blossoms into limitless ideas and a drive to succeed.
Green Fluorite has a hardness of 4 which means that it can easily be scratched if worn as a ring. It is better suited as a pendant.
Other green gemstones not discussed here include: Green Bloodstone (hardness 6.5 - 7); Jade: Jadeite and Nephrite (Jadeite is 6.5 to 7 on Mohs hardness scale while nephrite is slightly softer at 6 to 6.5); Green Sapphire (with a hardness of 9); Green Emerald (hardness of 7.5 to 8); Tsavorite Garnet (with a hardness of 6.5 - 7.5); Green Peridot (with a hardness of 7); Green Apatite (with a hardness of 5); Green Tourmaline (with a hardness of 7.5); Demantoid Garnet (with a hardness of 7.5); Green Sphene (with a hardness of 5 - 5.5); Chrome Diopside (5 - 6 hardness); Green Idocrase (6.5 hardness); Green Grandidierite (with a hardness ranging from 7 - 7.5); Green Kornerupine (hardness 3.5 - 4); and Green Hiddenite (hardness 6.5 - 7).
Please visit my shop: https://greatspiritlodge.shop
Blessings Alice Koh]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/pink-gemstones2022-03-01T03:21:57+08:002022-03-01T03:21:59+08:00Pink GemstonesAlice Koh
By Alice Koh
The following are some choices of pink gemstones that are affordable and available on the gemstone markets.
PINK OPAL Pink Opal is a natural, pink colored gem-variety of the Common Opal which is composed of Opal, Palygorskite and Chalcedony. It was also known as Rose Opal.
Pink Opal symbolized baby Cupid and was called the Opal of Childhood.
Pink Opal occurs in the most rich and vivid pink color. Though it has a hardness of 6, it is a delicate gem. There is another Pink Opal that is harder and that can be set into rings. It is the Pink Peruvian Opal which occurs mixed slightly with Chalcedony.
Pink Opal does not display the beautiful color play that one finds in precious Opal, but the body color is so rich and gorgeous and attractively stunning.
The ancient Egyptians and Babylonians used opal as a powerful protection against diseases and named it the “Gem of the Gods”.
Opal was used as a protective amulet against evil forces, as well as a protection against lightning strikes and against the terrors that comes with the night.
Opal was also known as Patronus Furum (the Patron of Thieves) because supposedly it bestowed the gift of invisibility.
Opal protected the wearer from malignant diseases such as cholera and sickness of the kidneys.
PINK ROSE QUARTZ First of all, do not confuse Rose Quartz for Pink Quartz. They are not the same. The latter is extremely rare while Rose Quartz is common and can be found in abundance. Pink Quartz crystals are microcrystalline whereas Rose Quartz's are macrocrystalline. Pink Quartz is sensitive to light and will fade in prolonged direct sunlight. Both Quartz are formed in different environment.
Rose quartz is usually opaque with the highest quality stones being translucent. The opaque specimens are usually cut en cabochons and the translucent pieces faceted. Rose Quartz are also carved into animal figurines, statues, leaves or other ornaments.
Pink rose quartz is a soft, light to medium pink color. It occurs as large gemstones.
Since it is a variety of quartz, it has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that it is durable, and can be worn as rings and bracelets, but most importantly, it is affordable. Pink rose quartz is a lovely crystal that displays a beautiful cloudy translucency. It can also occur as transparent, but these are rare, and usually faceted. Pink Rose Quart is perfect for strung jewellery such as pendants and earrings, as well as cabochon jewelry.
Rose Quartz has been used as ornamental carvings of figurines and statues for thousands of years. Stone masks made of rose quartz had been recovered from Egyptian and Roman tombs.
In Chinese Feng Shui, rose quartz embodies the feminine energy known as Yin Qi. Its soothing and calming qualities promote love and healing. Additionally, it clears negative emotions and feelings such as resentment, anger, fear and jealousy. It is also said that this is the stone to wear if you want to release all of the psychological trauma that you have been carrying all this while and are not able to get rid of.
Rose Quartz is known as ‘The Love Stone', The Heart Stone' and ‘The Stone of Universal Love.’ Since thousands of years ago, it has been associated with matters of the heart. It is a universal love stone that exudes healing energy of love and compassion. Its soothing feminine energy has always been used as an important talisman and charm for love relationship. It inspires self-love and relieves stress. Holding or meditating with a Rose Quartz releases anxiety, anger, resentment, insecurity and jealousy.
PINK CULTURED PEARLS Pink pearls represent love.
Since natural pink pearls are rare, most pink pearls on the gemstone market today are cultured and some are even dyed. This dye treatment is referred to as 'pinking' or 'tinting' in the trade, and before you buy, you should always ask if the pink pearls are dyed. Regardless, pink cultured pearls are one of the most luxurious jewelry gemstones.
Pearl's hardness ranges from 2.5-4.5 on the Mohs scales. However, you can still find it in rings, earrings, bracelets, brooches, pendants and single strand or multi-strand pearl necklaces.
In ancient Greece, virgins and young maidens seeking the protection of Goddess Diana put a string of pearls around their necks.
Pearls are still used today in China as medicine for heart troubles, stomach problems, blood disorders and insanity.
PINK ZIRCON Pink Zircon occurs with an intense fire and luster, even higher than that of a diamond. Its color is usually a rosy pink color.
Pink zircon has a good hardness, 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, but because of its brittle tenacity, it is not recommended for rings or bracelets as they are more prone to knocks and cracks. It is good for pendants, earrings, pins and brooches.
Zircon possesses many healing properties. In the Middle Ages, this gem was thought to induce sound sleep, drive away evil spirits, and promote riches, honour and wisdom.
It is said to be beneficial in all of the chakras as it stimulates energy and activates them. It gives inspiration to the wearer to act with purpose and confidence.
PINK TOURMALINE Pink Tourmaline is one of the most beautiful and popular pink gemstone today. Pink tourmaline looks very similar to pink sapphire and spinel, but not as costly. Pink Tourmaline is not treated - in most cases.
Rubellite Tourmaline also comes in a lovely pink. However, it usually occurs as a purplish-red or red colored Tourmaline.
Pink Tourmaline not only is affordable, it is also durable. On the Mohs scale of hardness, pink tourmaline ranks 7.5 out of 10, making it one of the hardest gemstones on the market today.
The ancient Egyptians firmly believed that tourmaline could heal the nervous system, blood diseases and lymph glands. Ancient magicians relied upon this stone for protection against evil spirits.
Today, tourmaline is still revered as a psychic shield deflecting and dispelling negative energies on all fronts.
Tourmaline promotes healing and brings balance to the soul. It is often referred to as a stone of wisdom as it inspires positive attitude and stimulates creativity and learning.
PINK RHODOLITE GARNET Rhodolite is a hybrid mixture of pyrope and almandine garnet. It is most valued for its beautiful raspberry red color. It also occurs in a unique, gorgeous light rose pink color. It is usually transparent and can be found in large sizes. It is mined in the United States where it was originally found, but with a recent find in East Africa, Rhodolite is now easily available.
Like all garnets, rhodolite has a hardness of 6.5 - 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. This means that it is durable enough for rings and bracelets.
All garnets honour Sekhmet, the Egyptian Goddess of War. She is the most powerful goddess of Lower Egypt, and is usually depicted with the head of a lion and the body of a beautiful woman.
Garnet is known as the Travellers' Stone. It gives the feeling of stability and security. It is a great promoter for a successful business, encourages love and compassion and boosts self-esteem and self-confidence.
PINK MORGANITE Pink Morganite is related to both emerald and aquamarine. That is to say, it belongs to the beryl family of gemstones.
The pink species of beryl is known as Morganite. This name is given in honour of the American banker and gemstone collector, J.P. Morgan. Morganite is known for its transparent peach pink color though its color ranges from pale pink to pink, violet-pink, peachy-pink or salmon color. Afghanistan is the main source for morganite.
Pink Morganite is usually made for fine jewellery pieces. It is rare. It occurs in a lovely pink color and has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. It is affordable and can be found in large sizes.
Pink Morganite is considered a sacred love stone that helps one to have empathy and patience in relationships. Also, helps connects to higher realms of consciousness and with the angels.
PINK KUNZITE Kunzite was first discovered in California in 1903 by Dr. G F Kunz. The most valuable kunzite is in palest pink hues. It is known as a Stone of Emotion as it harmonizes the logical mind and the emotional heart.
Pink kunzite is a lovely pink gemstone. It occurs as large sized gemstones with some showing a deep pink color. The smaller Kunzite gemstones come with a soft, delicate pink hues.
You can find large sized Pink Kunzite gemstones at an affordable bargain prices.
Kunzite hardness ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs with a perfect cleavage in two directions which means that it is not very tough. Due to this, a hard knock, even extreme pressure or sharp temperature changes might cause it to break. For this reason Kunzite jewelry should always come in a protective setting.
Also, It is known that Kunzite's color tend to fade in sunlight. Thus it is recommended that you keep away from direct sunlight when you are not using your Kunzite gemstone.
Kunzite encourages us to break down the barriers that we've created around our heart supposedly for protection against traumatic and painful instances. We notice a sense of inner peace and equilibrium as we start to emanate compassion and wisdom and this quality of being allows us to be more receptive to the love that surrounds us.
Kunzite possesses feminine energy. It is especially supportive of women and young mothers in their challenges as caring and nurturing people. It is also beneficial for children who have difficulties in adjusting to and handling other people's energies.
MORE PINK GEMSTONES: Other pink gems include Pink Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Pink Topaz, Pink Smithsonite, Pink Spinel, Pink Rhodochrosite, Pink Color-Change Diaspore (Zultanite) and Pink Coral. There are many other pink gemstones available today, but this list is a good starting point.
Please visit my shop: https://greatspiritlodge.shop
Blessings Alice Koh]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/sacred-gemstones-and-sacred-colors2022-01-22T11:39:31+08:002022-02-28T10:59:01+08:00Sacred Gemstones and Sacred ColorsAlice Koh Who can deny that vivid rich colors bring positivity and joy in our lives?
The ancient Egyptians as well as the Inuit people believed that colors came about through divine intervention and creation.
Brilliant colors are found everywhere; in planets and galaxies, in the rainbow, in flowers, and in the feathers of birds, and especially in gemstones.
Each color, in ancient times, held a special sacred meaning. Sometimes the meanings were the same in Egypt, China, Mesoamerica, India, etcetera.
Here I will discuss six sacred colors discussed in ancient religions that still hold true in our modern days.
Blue Blue represents an ancient blue god that symbolized the Heavens. It represents compassion, since the heavens showers its blessings on all sentient and non-sentient beings here on earth. It is also the color of the sea.
The most sacred blue gemstone is Lapis Lazuli. It was held sacred in Sumeria, Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Greek and Rome.
Red Red is the color of power and passion. It is the color that represents the god and planet Mars. In China, it is the color that represents luck, joy and happiness. It also represents celebration, vitality, and fertility. Red is the traditional color worn by Chinese brides, as it is believed to ward off evil. In Mesoamerica, red was the color used to ward off evil, or the Evil Eye.
The most ancient red gem is the precious red Coral.
Yellow Yellow is the sacred color of the sun. It represents happiness, luck and wisdom. The ancient gemstones used were the sunstone and citrine. These two were believed to not only bring prosperity and joy to the owner but also the power and protection of the sun.
Native Americans believed that the reddish inclusions found within the Sunstone was because once upon a time a great and powerful shaman warrior was wounded by an arrow and his blood dropped onto pieces of the Oregon Sunstone. The spirit of this great warrior was carried into the stone giving it great sacred power.
It was believed that Sunstone contain within itself the power and influence of the sun, and thus a Sunstone was used to call upon the sun for its protection.
Ancient Greeks believed that it was a representation of the Sun God here on Earth. The ancient Greek held that people who were able to obtain the Sacred Sunstone were very lucky and fortunate because allegedly it brought with itself life, love and abundance, and wealth to the wearer.
Green Green is the color of life here on Earth. It represents birth, rebirth and reincarnation. The most sacred green gemstones are Jade and Malachite. Jade and Malachite ward off evil and gives the wearer luck, wealth and happiness.
Jade in ancient Mesoamerica was considered more valuable than gold. Even today in China, Jade is valued more so than gold.
Purple Purple is the color of nobility, magic and mystery. In ancient Rome, purple was associated with nobility, power and luxury. Only royalty had the privilege to own and wear a purple robe.
The purple gemstone ancients used was the Amethyst. Early Christians associate purple with Christ. Bishops of the Catholic Church wore amethyst rings as it symbolized purity of spirit and occult understanding from Heaven.
Amethyst is one of the twelve gemstones on Aaron's breastplate. The Hebrew word for amethyst is "ahlamah” which means "dream” and it is believed that the stone helps you to achieve deep sleep and have lucid dreams and that if you dream of amethysts you will be free from harm.
In Chinese medicine, amethyst is also prescribed to get rid of bad dreams. In Chinese Feng Shui, amethyst is a powerful tool in clearing negative energy and driving away the fears of life.
Pink Pink was considered by the Greeks and Romans as a feminine color. It represented the compassion of a mother and the love of a beloved. The gemstone used in ancient Greece and Rome was Rose Quartz.
Rose Quartz is known as the 'love stone', 'heart stone' and ‘the stone of universal love.’ Since the ancient past, it has been associated with matters of the heart. It is a universal love stone that exudes healing energy of love and compassion. Its soothing feminine energy has always been used as an important talisman and charm for love relationship. It inspires self-love and relieves stress. Holding or meditating with a Rose Quartz releases anxiety, anger, resentment, insecurity and jealousy.
Ancient Assyrians, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks made amulets, talismans, seals and sacred ornamental object from Rose Quartz. These have been found in archeological sites dating as far back as 10,000 years ago Before the Common Era. Stone masks were also recovered from ancient tombs.
Isis, the goddess of magic and of sacred wisdom used Rose Quartz to maintain her youthful appearance and flawless complexion. It is still used as part of beauty treatment today.
Ancient Greek lore states that Rose Quartz was created by the blood of both Aphrodite and her lover Adonis. Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love. It is said that the war god Ares was jealous of their love and thus set out to kill Adonis. Aphrodite in her rush to save him, had cut herself on a briar bush. As she held Adonis in her arms, their blood dripped onto a white quartz and stained it pink. Their love touched Zeus and he brought Adonis back to life. Rose Quartz then became the symbol of everlasting love.
In Roman mythology, it was believed that the god of desire, love and attraction also known as Cupid brought Rose Quartz from the heavens to earth in order for romance and love to thrive among humanity.
Blessings Alice Koh]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/links-of-birthstones-zodiac-gems-by-month2021-08-31T11:32:03+08:002021-08-31T11:32:04+08:00Links of Birthstones & Zodiac Gems: by monthAlice Koh Sapphire: The September Birthstone https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/sapphire-the-september-birthstone
Gemstones for October https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/gemstones-for-october
NOVEMBER GEMSTONES https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/november-gemstones
November Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/november-birthstones-topaz-and-citrine
December Gemstones https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/december-gemstones
DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES: TURQUOISE, TANZANITE AND ZIRCON https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/december-birthstones-turquoise-tanzanite-and-zircon
JANUARY ASTROLOGICAL GEMS https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/january-astrological-gems
JANUARY BIRTHSTONE: GARNET https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/january-birthstone-garnet
February Zodiac Gemstones https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/february-zodiac-gemstones
February Birthstone: Amethyst https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/february-birthstone-amethyst
March Birthstones & Zodiac Gems https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/march-birthstones-zodiac-gems
The April Birthstone: The White Diamond https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/the-april-birthstone-the-white-diamond
April Birthstones & Zodiac Gems https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/april-birthstones-zodiac-gems
Zodiac Gemstones for the Month of May https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/zodiac-gemstones-for-the-month-of-may
Emerald – The Birthstone of May https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/emerald-the-birthstone-of-may
Zodiac Gemstones for the Month of June https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/zodiac-gemstones-for-the-month-of-june
July Birthstones https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/july-birthstones
The August Birthstones: Peridot, Sardonyx and Spinel https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/the-august-birthstones-peridot-sardonyx-and-spinel]]>
https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/sapphire-the-september-birthstone2021-08-31T10:35:48+08:002021-08-31T10:35:49+08:00Sapphire: The September BirthstoneAlice Koh The official September birthstone is Sapphire. Sapphire derives its name from the ancient Greek word Sappheiros meaning precious stone. It can also be traced back to the Sanskrit word Sanipriya which means dark-colored stone.
The most desired sapphire is of a pure, rich blue color. However, sapphires also come in almost every hue of the rainbow including pink, peach, orange, yellow, green, teal, black and purple. Red sapphires are better known as rubies (both are varieties of the mineral corundum). The colored sapphires are known as fancy sapphires. Blue and colorless Sapphires are known as Traditional Sapphires. Natural occurring white or colorless sapphires are very rare and were used as diamond substitutes.
In ancient times any dark-colored blue stone that was valuable eg. Azurite or Lapis Lazuli was designed or classified as a Sapphire.
The most sought-after fancy sapphire is of a pinkish orange color known as the Sinhalese Sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Padparadscha Sapphire is one of the rarest of sapphires and therefore it commands a very high price. It is a gem treasured by collectors. Padparadscha Sapphire is named after a lotus flower. Its colours are light to medium tones of pink and orange similar to that of salmon.
Parti Sapphires are sapphires with natural occurring 2 or more zones of colors within a single stone. The most common bi-color combination is yellow and green. Rarer stones that show blue, purple or lavender colors, or tri-color combinations are especially prized.
The Pharaoh's Eye parti sapphire is created by a yellow crystal core surrounded with blue, creating a kaleidoscope of blues, yellows and greens.
Color-change Sapphires are those Sapphires that seems to change color with different lighting. For example, a color-change Sapphire can go from blue in daylight or fluorescent lighting to purple under incandescent light. A rare color-change Sapphire is the one that changes from green in daylight to reddish brown in incandescent light.
Sapphires can also exhibit Pleochroism which is the effect of exhibiting different colors when viewed from different angles. Note, this is not the same as the color-change phenomena. For instance, purple pleochroic Sapphire can show orange when viewed from different angle; blue pleochroic Sapphire can show a light blue-green, and a pink pleochroic Sapphire can show an orange-red.
The star effect known as asterism can also be found in Sapphires. It is caused by reflections from tiny, needle-like inclusions that are oriented in several specific directions. Usually, to obtain this effect Sapphires must be cut en cabochon and typically the star effect appears as a three-crossbeam, six-ray star pattern visible across the surface.
The most sought-after star Sapphire are those with red and blue asterism. The red asterism is known as Star Ruby, and all other colors may be called Star Sapphires.
Ancient Persians called Sapphire the Celestial Stone and considered it sacred as it resembled the blueness of heaven.
From ancient times, Sapphire was seen as a holy gemstone. It was the gem sacred to Phoebus Apollo, the Greek god of light, prophecy, poetry, music and healing.
The light of Apollo represents inner (intuitive or revealed) knowledge, truth, righteousness, moral purity and mental illumination. Its light is not the same light as that of Helios, the material Sun.
Worshippers of Apollo wore Sapphire so as to receive the favor and blessings of God Apollo, and in order to understand the prophecy given to them at Delphi. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that Sapphire could protect the wearer from envy, infidelity and harm.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, Yahweh’s feet rest on a pedestal made from Sapphire which reflected the ancient Persian belief that the world was supported by a Sapphire pedestal.
Sapphire gemstone is of an aluminum oxide chemical composition. It has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Thus, Sapphires can be used for any type of jewelry and can be worn every day without any worries about chipping, scratching or cracking.
Sapphires have a glass-like luster, and the colorless sapphire has an orange-yellow and violet fluorescence.
In order to symbolize the direct connection with Heaven, in the 12th century, the Catholic clergy began setting their ecclesiastical rings which were to be worn by bishops with Sapphires. A special ecclesiastical ring was set in a three-crossbeam star Sapphire which to them represent the holy trinity. Star Sapphires were also called The Stone of Destiny and the three crossbeams were believed to represent Faith, Hope and Destiny.
In the myths and legends of Hinduism, the Tree of Life or the Kalpa-vriksha was said to have a trunk made of diamonds, roots of sapphires and fruits of rubies.
In Myanmar there was a legend of beautiful temples the Khmer people built for their Goddess Tsun-Kyan-Kse. One of these temples contained a solid gold statue of the Goddess with sapphire eyes. When the temple was under attack and a temple cat leapt to assist his dying master, it was miraculously transformed into the divine incarnation of the goddess with its sapphire blue eyes.
Today most of the Sapphires sold on the gemstone market are mined from Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. Other sources come from Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Thailand, Tanzania and North America.
Sapphire vibrates healing energy by its soothing blue color. Gazing at a sapphire was said to protect oneself against any harm and also was believed to bring good luck.
The ancients had used sapphires as medicine for any eye ailments. It was even grounded and mixed with milk and applied on the eye to relieve pain.
Ivan the Terrible of Russia stated that the sapphire strengthened the heart and muscles and endowed a person with courage.
Sapphire was very important as a pharmaceutical remedy for all types of ailments of the body, from inflammation to poisons, melancholy and even flatulence.
It was used as a charm against witchcraft, treachery, quarrels between friends, evil forms of thinking and demonic influences.
Sapphire was also used in magical and religious ceremonies. For instance, it was used as an amulet that would protect the wearer from the larvae of the demonic spiritual plane and from poisonous vermin on this material plane.
During the 11th and 12th centuries, sorcerers honored the sapphire more than any other stone as it enabled them to hear and understand the most obscure oracles.
Ancient priests wore Sapphire as a symbol of their chastity. For accordingly, no evil men, of evil thoughts and of evil habits could touch this sacred gemstone which was the gemstone of Apollo who used it to consult the sacred Oracle at Delphi.
A drunkard and a drug addict should never wear a sapphire. This is because the sapphire would not tolerate such vile hands or persons as the brilliance in the sapphire would simply be dimmed.
Sapphire was considered the gemstone of heaven, and a great talisman against devils and demons and witches, and all forms of evil forces. Ancient Persians believed that the heavens were in fact the reflection of a giant sapphire.
Furthermore, the blue Sapphire is associated with Saturn and Saturday, whereas the colorless Sapphire is associated with Venus and Friday.
Sapphire Zodiacal signs include both Taurus and Gemini.
The popularity of Sapphires grew when in 1981 Prince Charles gave Princess Diana a blue sapphire for engagement ring thus Sapphire becoming a popular engagement ring henceforth.
It is believed that wearing a sapphire gemstone helps you bond with your spiritual helpers such as your spirit guides, spiritual healers, guardian angels, and even loved ones that have passed away to the other side, to the spirit realm.
It is believed that Sapphire gemstones can accelerate the healing process by giving the wearer the willpower to become well.
The price of a Sapphire gemstone will depend on color, clarity, size and weight and also the type of treatment that it has gone through.
Synthetic sapphires or lab-created sapphires are common in today’s gem market and they are hard to distinguish chemically from a natural Sapphire. Lower grade Sapphires typically are of inferior color and clarity. Usually, they are transparent and cut as cabochons instead of faceted.
Heat treated Sapphires involves high temperature heating that melts the titanium or iron found in the gemstone to improve its color and clarity. Though still affordable, these are more expensive than the cabochon Sapphires especially if the color and clarity are of excellent quality.
In the UK, alternative birthstone for September is the Lapis Lazuli. Just like Sapphire, it was considered sacred and a connection to the heavens.
To the ancient Arabs, Russians, and Hebrews, Peridot was the birthstone for September. Today Peridot has become the birthstone for August.
The ancient Romans (also modern-day Italians) considered Sardonyx as the September birthstone.
To the ancient Tibetans, Agate was the birthstone for the month of September and in the Hindu calendar, the blue Zircon is considered the September birthstone.
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https://greatspiritlodge.shop/blogs/news/charm-bracelets2021-08-23T03:13:02+08:002021-08-23T03:13:03+08:00Charm BraceletsAlice Koh Charm bracelets are metal bracelets with small metal ornaments attached, though some can contain precious and semi-precious stones. Charm bracelets serve many different purposes to the wearer such protection, and charm for good luck. Each charm bracelet can be personalized with a special meaning to the wearer.
Today, there are these other types of charm bracelets: The Italian Charm bracelet and the Pandora Charm Bracelet.
An Italian charm bracelet is a series of individual modular links hooked together on a stretchy band to form a single charm bracelet.
Pandora charm bracelet is a chain with beaded charms attached to the chain. Some may be attached with tiny pendants.
The wearer can add other charms to his or her charm bracelet that are of a special significance. This is why they are so special to the wearer. It is a sort of visual autobiography telling others about the wearer likes and beliefs.
People wore amulets and talismans on their body since ancient times, either to ward off evil spirits or for protection and blessings. Naturally organic items like shells, animal-bones and clay were used. Later charms were made out of gems, rocks, wood and metal.
As early as 75,000 years ago, there was evidence that ancient Africans used shells as ornamental charms. In Germany intricately carved mammoth tusk charms were unearthed and found to be around 30,000 years old. It was said that in Egypt, charms were used as identification similar to our personal ID.
Charm bracelets worn by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Hittites began appearing from 600 – 400 BC.
Queen Victoria being a fashion icon in her time, wore charm bracelets that contained lockets as well as portraits of her deceased's husband hair.
The Egyptians wore a charm bracelet with a beetle as a means of protection now and in the afterlife.
In 1889 at the Paris Exposition, Tiffani & Co. introduced for the first time the silver bracelet with a heart charm.
During World War I and II, charm bracelets became popular. Soldiers would send to their beloved bracelets of lockets with their photos on them, and small metal ornaments of small jeeps and helmets. These charm bracelets were made of silver but some were made of turquoise. These charm bracelets which are now a collector’s items set a trend for ‘Sweetheart Jewelry.’