Monthly Archives: July 2021

Gift Guide: Choosing the Right Crystal

On the Eve of my birthday, I began to wonder โ€œwhat will I receive tomorrowโ€? While I donโ€™t like surprises, I do look forward to receiving gifts that my loved oneโ€™s considered would be perfect for me.  It is customary to give gifts on special occasions, as a representation of how much you appreciate and love a person.  For me, I think the best gifts are the onesโ€™ that can be used indefinitely.

You might be wondering, why do we receive gifts on our birthdayโ€™s? The tradition of giving a gift on a personโ€™s birthday, began many centuries ago.  It was once believed that evil spirits were attracted to people on their birthdays, so, to ward off spirits, it became customary to gather and give gifts to the birthday person. The gifts given were tools for prosperity and safety over the coming year. Nowadays, gift giving on a personโ€™s birthday is still customary, even though the spiritual element is no longer a factor. 

Now, let us talk about what I think would be a perfect giftโ€ฆcrystals and gemstones! Available in many shapes, sizes and colors, crystals and gemstones make great gifts because they can be useful to the receiver all year round. A few great choices would be the clear quartz, rose quartz, and labradorite. The clear quartz is a useful all-purpose stone.  It is a terrific stone for a person who feels stuck in their life, because it is said to energize your mind body and soul. The next great stone for gifting is the rose quartz.  Known as the unconditional love stone, the rose quartz is known to increase self-love, friendships, healing, and inner peace.  The last stone I would suggest is the Labradorite.  Known as a protective stone, the labradorite is said to create a shield against negativity of the world. 

To sum it all up if you havenโ€™t realized it already…I LOVE crystal and gemstones! I hope my friends and family get me unique pieces to add to my collection. What better way to ward off negative energies on my birthday than to receive a special piece, a million years in the making, just for me!

What are Birth Stoneโ€™s, and why do we wear them?

birthstone image

Birth stones are gems that are associated with a birth month. These 12 stones are so popular, that if you ask someone: โ€œWhatโ€™s your birth stoneโ€? They will almost always know the answer.

The origins of birth stones date back to the1st and 5th centuries.  It is believed that in these times, people began linking gems to the 12 months of the year and to the 12 signs of the zodiac. These stones were presumed to have special powers if worn during each corresponding astrological month. The belief was so strong that people began to collect all 12 stones to wear each month.

It is thought that associating of one gem to each month began in Poland in the 18th century, and these stones are known as the traditional birthstones. In the U.S., there was much disagreement between which stone is assigned to each month so, in an effort to standardize birthstones, The National Association of Jewelers (now known as Jewelers of America) got together and officially adopted a list in 1912. These are known as modern birthstones.

As you can see, the custom of wearing your birth stone is only a few centuries old.  Jewelers are still making changes to the birth stone charts, and as a result, some people choose stones from both the modern and the traditional list.

In honor of July, lets talk about the Ruby

The traditional and modern birth stone of July is the ruby.  This red gem is associated with love, passion, wealth, and peace.  The ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry stones.  It is custom for a person to wear their birth stone all year long weather it be in a ring, necklace, or earrings. 

While it is believed wearing your birth stone is a symbol of good fortune and wellness, it is my belief that each person selects a gemstone that calls to them.  If you want a protective stone that can bring happiness and spiritual vitality into your life, just wear a ruby, even if it isnโ€™t your birth stone.