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Gems
and Stones
By Sharon A. Klingler
Men and women have delighted in wearing various precious and semi-precious stones in jewelry for centuries. But with a little investigation it’s easy to discover that in many cases their choices in jewelry were not for adornment only. For instance, soldiers in the armies of ancient Rome often wore bloodstone to ward off injuries and bleeding wounds. Royalty often wore gold-not only because it is a metal of wealth - but also because it is a metal of leadership.
You, too, can allow the properties of the different elements in the mineral kingdom to work for you when you wear jewelry. All it takes is a basic understanding of the different gems and stones available to you and an awareness of the qualities that the different parts of your body have.
Although there are many ways to apply gems and stones to the primary chakra points (and in uses of necklaces and earrings), this article will focus upon the uses of jewelry upon the hands. Of course, before you can align your jewelry to your purposes, you must first be aware of the inherent properties or qualities of the different stones and minerals. To this end, this article will include a discussion of the various influences of gems and stones by color grouping. As each individual carries their own unique expression, they also carry the energies, history and influences of their family, race, religion, and nationality. So, too, does each individual gemstone carry its own singular vibration.
When reading about gemstones and your Sun sign, there are a few important factors to keep in mind. First of all, the information here is primarily reflective of Sun sign traits and qualities. The placement of other significant planets in your chart may modify the types of stones to which you may be drawn. For this reason, it would be a good idea to also read your rising sign. Secondly, your past life histories may also affect your affinity or aversion to particular gemstones. Read through all of the signs to see if there are any gems and stones you particularly like or dislike which are aligned to other signs. This could provide insight into the energies and traits you may have carried in previous lifetimes. It may even give you some indication of what your natal chart may have contained many lives ago.
It’s also important to note that while each individual carries his or her own unique vibration, so, too, do the different groupings of individuals (such as families, races, religions, nations, etc.). Each individual gem or mineral carries its own unique vibration. But it also carries the general qualities that are found within its color grouping. For instance, the green-stone group—such as malachite, chrysocolla, moss agate, peridot, emerald, etc. – may be recommended to support energies of growth, expansion, and endeavor. When it comes time to choose a specific stone within a suggested color grouping, allow your intuition to work for you. Your energies will draw to you exactly what you need.
Aries
If you are an Aries, you have a natural alignment to red stones—such
as red jasper, ruby, bloodstone, coral, and garnet, etc. Diamonds, gold
and steel are some of the secondary stones and metals which also support
your vigor, vitality and dynamic personality. But for those times when
your Mars energy becomes overpowering, you may find that rose quartz
helps to soften the hard edges of competitiveness and judgment. Azurite
will assist you in lifting your perspective from the personal self to
the unconditionally loving, universal Self. And the apache tear (obsidian)
will cool your restive energies and help you to relax, meditate or even
sleep during those times when relaxation may elude you. If there are
times when you are experiencing nervousness while feeling restrictions
from others, try the emerald, green beryl, green tourmaline or green
fluorite to bring you balance as well as the ability to push through
the barriers to your growth.
Taurus
For those of you with the Sun in Taurus, you may already be drawn to
the ornge stones (carnelian, orange coral, etc.), as well as to copper,
and some of the sandy-colored and brown agates. Each of these stones
within this diversified grouping of colors supports either your warm
Venusian energies of tenderness and sensuality or your Taurian energies
of practicality and responsibility. You may find, though, that your
proclivity toward cautiousness may sometimes prevent you from trying
new ideas. Deep green stones, such as moss agate and malachite, will
help you during those times when your own reticence keeps you from planting
those new seeds which grow into future harvest. Tiger’s eye is
a natural stone to you as well as to your Earth brothers, Virgo and
Capricorn. Its accents on stability and detail are strong. But you may
sometimes wish to utilize red tiger’s eye to add movement and
energy to your thoroughness or blue cat’s eye to help you in bringing
together a more spiritual perspective with your day-to-day duties.
Gemini
Your natural stones often lie in the yellow color grouping. Citrine,
yellow fluorite, yellow topaz and amber help make your Sun sign energies
glow. They are natural aids to your creativity, mental energy and expressiveness.
You have many diversified interests. Your quest for variety can sometimes
keep you on the surface of things, leading you to change your direction
before you’ve reached your initial destination. The red-stone
group, including ruby, garnet and fire opal, would be very helpful to
you in creating perseverance and commitment to things left undone. Cinnabar
would be exceptional also, since it combines the qualities of your mental
energies (as an ore of Mercury) with the strength and devotion of its
rich, vermillion red coloring. For those times when you find your mind
too busy to allow you to relax or meditate, the deep blue of azurite
or sapphire may help you to release that never-ending stream of conscious
thoughts and concerns, and assist you in moving into a gentle state
of receptivity.
Cancer
If you have the Sun in Cancer, your natural gems and minerals will tend
toward the yin stones aligned with the Moon. Silver is your metal, and
some of your stones include pearl, alabaster, mother-of-pearl, opal
and moonstone. The blue stones would be your secondary stone grouping.
You tend to be highly receptive, intuitive and sensitive. You have a
capacity to work with and understand the cycles of life. But there are
times, especially when you’re feeling vulnerable, that you may
allow the tides of change to buffet you emotionally. When you find yourself
experiencing strong emotional mood swings, it may be best to stay away
from the opal. The fire and water-combination found in the opal, which
is so often helpful in adding the spark of activity in intuitive processes,
may actually fuel the conflicting energies within when you’re
especially susceptible to excessive highs and lows. Orange and brown
stones, including carmelian, sardonyx, leopard agage and brown tiger’s-eye,
would be best to add stability during such times. The green stone grouping
will also help in bringing balance to your emotions.
Leo
Your enthusiasm, creativity, optimism and dynamic forms of expression
are your trademarks. Whether you are male or female, you have a strong
yang component in your make-up. Consequently, all of the yang dominant
gems and stones are natural to you, including the orange, yellow, and
red stone groupings. Of all the Sun signs, gold is most strongly linked
to yours, and ruby is your stone. Although the Egyptian Scarab can be
quite meaningful to those working or studying in metaphysics, it carries
a particular spark of Leo and Scorpio energies within its hidden mystical
meaning. You may find yourself drawn to it along with those who have
strong past life ties to ancient Egypt. There are times when your exuberance
may lead you to impatience. When this happens you may find the mild
balancing energies of jade (especially green jade) to be helpful. Silver
and the milky-white stones affiliated with Cancer and the Moon are good
tools to bring some of the receptive, more passive, yin qualities into
your already active yang nature.
Virgo
If your Sun rests in Virgo, you are very likely to be naturally drawn
to browns, rusts and oranges—both in clothing and gems and stones.
You attention to detail is acute, but can often become excessive. Your
standards may sometimes be too rigid, giving you a tendency to be overly
critical. When you become aware of those traits surfacing within you,
it is best to minimize your exposure to the brown stone grouping in
general and to the smoky quartz specifically, all of which can heighten
your accent on detail and minutiae. Yellow stones, such as citrine,
yellow fluorite, yellow topaz and amber, can help lighten your attitude,
add enthusiasm, and assist your abilities to abstract while still maintaining
a link to your already present Mercurial mind. Unless you have other
significant planets in Scorpio, Sagittarius or Pisces in your natal
chart (or past lifetimes with those energies), it is unlikely that you
will be drawn to the violet stone grouping of amethyst, purple fluorite,
purple tourmaline, or sugilite. Give them a try, nonetheless. They will
satisfy your need for form and formulae, yet they will help to lift
your focus from the Earth plane to the mystical laws of the universe.
Libra
Like Taurus, Librans have a strong natural affiliation to any gems and
stones with a high copper content, due to the influence of Venus. But
some stones that may be even more strongly linked to Libra are the pink
rose quartz, rhodonite, rubellite, pink ruby, etc., and mild green (as
in jade, chrysoprase and light aventurine). You have a strong need for
partnership, and you seek harmony and peace in your own relationships
and even for relationships of others around you. To keep this peace
you are usually more than willing to compromise. But often, out of this
deference to others, you may lack initiative in decision making and
may let others take control of your goals and direction. One of your
strongest lessons is to develop autonomy and independence of thought.
With this in mind, here are some stones and metals which may be helpful
to you: red stones (such as red jasper, ruby, garnet, etc.) for initiative
and self-focus; steel and diamonds for strength and clarity of purpose
without vacillation; and pink gold (or combinations of copper and gold)
to add a spark of leadership to your native Venus.
Scorpio
Scorpio, your natural stones lie in the purple-violet stone grouping
(amethyst, purple fluorite, purple tourmaline and sugilite). Other natural
colors for you are the cousins to the violet family, such as burgundy,
wine and rose. Your secondary stone groupings are red (bloodstone, red
jasper, ruby, garnet, red coral, etc.) and black (jet, black polish,
obsidian, etc.). Although you are a Water sign, you are strong-willed,
aggressive and active by nature. These yang energies notwithstanding,
you can also be reserved and secretive, with a high degree of insight,
psychic receptivity and an abiding kinship (either consciously or subconsciously)
to mystical practices and histories. Generally, you tend to have a powerful
personality, and sometimes you may feel a need to assure your control
through manipulation and vengefulness. One of your strongest lessons,
therefore, is self-mastery of your emotions and power issues, simplification,
and softening your tendency toward intensity. It may be helpful for
you to minimize your exposure to red (in clothing and gemstones) if
you need to diminish your aggressiveness and intensity. Combinations
of your native violet stones with blue stones (sapphire, aquamarine,
blue topaz, lapis lazuli, etc.) will help you to create discipline in
your development of unconditional love and spiritual, non-aggressive
inner strength. Green jade will also assist you in bringing balance
to your personal outlook on life with your responsibilities to others.
Sagittarius
The natural stones of Sagittarius, such as Indigo sapphire and azurite,
fall within the deep blue grouping through your ruler, Jupiter. You
may also have some secondary alignment to many of the deep, forest green
stones, such as moss agate, emerald, green tourmaline, chrysocolla and
malachite. The blue-green turquoise is perhaps the strongest Sagittarian
stone-bringing together the blue of the higher mind and the green of
expansion and growth. You are usually very enthusiastic, optimistic,
and high-principled. You tend to define your life in terms of potentials
and opportunities rather than limitations or restrictions. You are usually
very sincere and honest in your communications with others, but your
bluntness may sometimes hurt other people’s feelings without your
intending to do so. The softer blue (blue topaz), soft green (green
beryl, chrysoprase, jade and light aventurine), and pink (especially
rose quartz) stones will help you maintain your honesty while increasing
your sensitivity to others. Also, your expansive perspective and your
tendency for broad conceptualization may often turn your focus away
from the lesser philosophical but nonetheless important details of life.
To help you overcome procrastination and create discipline in time commitments
at work and in the mundane responsibilities of day-to-day living, use
the brown, beige and rust-colored stones, including brown tiger’s-eye,
leopard agate, red tiger’s-eye, sardonyx, and dark carnelian.
Capricorn
Capricorn, your natural stones will usually lie within the brown and
black stone groupings. These would include brown tiger's-eye, smoky
quartz, some agates, obsidian, black polish, black marble, jet and black
fluorite. You are hard-working, responsible, disciplined, and practical.
Friends and co-workers often rely upon your thoroughness and follow-through.
You tend to feel most comfortable with clear, concise definitions of
your roles in your career as well as other areas of your life. This
may tend to cause rigidity in your perspective and may box you in to
limitations which exist more in your mind than in reality. Sometimes
you may observe your life with a pessimistic point of view, which you
must strive to turn around. Yellow stones, such as topaz, amber and
citrine, will help you in creating enthusiasm and developing a stronger
ability to abstract. Combinations of blue (the light aquamarine to the
deep azurite) and pink stones (rhodochrosite, rubellite, etc.) will
assist you in the experience of self-love and optimism. Deep green stones,
such as emerald, moss agate and malachite, will help you in minimizing
your limitations and opening up your horizons.
Aquarius
Your primary stones and metals will tend to be those that are sparkling
clear or “electric white.” These would include diamond,
quartz crystal, steel, platinum and some spars. Blue and indigo would
be your secondary stone grouping. You have a tendency to be individualistic,
altruistic, independent, freedom-loving, inventive, and at times rebellious.
You are usually attracted to the different and the unique in occupations,
life-styles and philosophies. You have strong ideas about how things
should be in your life, which may sometimes appear as inflexibility
and subbornness to others. You have a great capacity to give love and
assistance to large numbers of people, which may lead you into one of
the helping or service professions. But this sweeping love of humanity
and/or your overcommitment to service may tend to keep you detached
(in you attitude or in you time) in one-on-one relationships. Silver
and milky white stones, such as pearl, moonstone, etc., will help you
to soften stubborn tendencies and become more flexible. Rose and pink
stones, including rhodonite, rubellite, rhodochrosite and rose quartz,
will assist you in promoting a stronger attention to personal relationships.
Pisces
Those of you with the Sun sign of Pisces will be strongly linked to
the vibrational qualities of the blue stone grouping, from the light
blue of aquamarine and blue topaz to the deeper blues of lapis lazuli
and sodalite. Black indigo, milky white stones, and silver are also
naturally aligned to your energies, but somewhat less so than the blue.
You tend to be visionary, idealistic, spiritual, dreamy, compassionate,
mystical, and trusting. Often, though, your dreaminess can cause you
to be impractical. Rather than confront difficulties you may wish to
escape from them or avoid them. Your trusting nature can also cause
you to be gullible and to allow others to influence you more than they
should. The brown and orange stones (including tiger’s-eye, agate,
smoky quartz, carnelian and sardonyx) can give you assistance in creating
a more realistic and pratical perspective on life. Red stones, such
as ruby, garnet, red jasper and coral, etc., can be very helpful for
you by supporting quicker decision making and the strength of purpose
to see things through. You may also find that diamonds and steel are
also great power and strength builders for you.
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