You have also seen that some months have more than one gemstone. The choice can depend on the time in history, the location, or personal preference. The attributes of the stones are chosen to match the attributes ascribed to the people born in that month.
Each month will have several gems that can be considered to be birthstones for that month. I will choose one of them for us to learn how they can represent the wearer.
The birthstones for July are turquoise, onyx, ruby, carnelian, and sapphire.
The glowing ruby shall adorn,
Those who in July are born;
Then they'll be exempt and free
From love's doubts and anxiety.
Rubies come in various shades of red but the most of us think of the deep red ruby known as pigeon blood-red. It is said that a ruby will become darker if danger is near and will return to a lighter color when the danger is over. Dangers include misfortunes, illness, and death. The first wife of King Henry VII, Catherine of Aragon, knew that her death was imminent because her ruby grew darker.
Rubies contain the spark of life, a drop of the blood from the heart of Mother Earth. They bring good health and guard against wicked thoughts, lecherous feelings, and disputes. A ruby can stop bleeding.
In some places rubies are called lamp stones. There are many stories of royals, especially in Asia, using the ruby to light holy rooms and bedchambers. Actually rubies contain a short term phosphorescence which gives off some light.
A ruby will bring love, passion, promise, integrity, wisdom, wealth, and success. It will arouse the senses and stir the imagination.
Marco Polo told of a 9 inch ruby as thick as a man's arm that he saw while in China. Kublai Khan, Emperor of China, offered an entire city to the King of Ceylon for this ruby. The King of Cylon stated that he would never give it up even for all the treasures in the world.
Those born in August claim sardonyx, carnelian, moonstone, topaz, diamond, sapphire, peridot, and ruby.
Wear a sardonyx or for thee,
No conjugal felicity;
The August-born without this stone,
`Tis said, must live unloved and lone.
Although the poem mentions sardonyx, peridot is more commonly known as the birthstone for August. Peridot is said to be the tears of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes.
Peridot has magical powers and healing properties. It protects against nightmares. It will bring power and influence. It brings fame, dignity, protection, and success. Pirates used peridot to protect them from evil.
In ancient times peridot was the symbol of the sun. Crusaders mistook them for emeralds and brought them home from battle to decorate churches.
The Topkapi museum in Istanbul, Turkey, boasts a gold throne. It is decorated with 955 peridot gems and beads up to one inch across.
September's birthstones are chrysolite, sapphire, lapis lazuli, and zircon.
A maiden born when September leaves
Are rustling in September's breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind
`Twill cure diseases of the mind.
Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolize heaven and purity. Commoners used them to attract heavenly blessings. Kings thought they symbolized wisdom.
Sapphires stand for truth, sincerity, loyalty, and commitment. They even protect the original owner long after they have been sold to another. They are used as the crystal face of genuine Rolex watches.
A sapphire will give you mental clarity and helps keep the brain clear of "garbage". If a snake is put into a container made of sapphire it will quickly die. The gems are eaten as an antidote to poison. They are ground into powder to make remedies for colic, rheumatism, and mental illness. They can stop bleeding and cure eye disorders.
Egyptians thought of the clear sapphire as the eye of Horas, the eye in the sky that knows all and sees all. Greeks used the gem to stimulate the third eye and open the subconscious mind.
Husbands and wives used to exchange gifts of sapphires. They symbolize sincerity and faithfulness plus the gems will not shine if the person wearing them is wicked or impure. They will enhance the feelings for each other and make them feel as one. Sapphires banish envy and jealousy and promote chastity and fidelity.
Opal, aquamarine, tourmaline, and coral are stones for October.
October's child is born for woe,
And life's vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest.
Hope, faith, and, confidence are attributed to the opal. Ancient monarchs wore them for protection. They guard against evil and keep the wearer's eyesight protected. As a powder opals are ingested to protect from nightmares. Opals will help keep a strong heart, protect against infection, and clean smelly air.
Thieves and spies used to wear opals because they believed they made them invisible. In the Middle East people thought opals fell from heaven in flashes of lightning. Ancient Romans used them as a symbol of hope and love. In Medieval times they thought a change in color would tell if the wearer was in good or ill health.
Australian aborigines believe that the opal is a devil. It is half snake and half human and lives in the ground. It's magic is evil and used to lure men to destruction.
Opals are powerful good luck for those born in October. However it is considered by many to be bad luck to give opal as a gift. And there are many tales of the bad luck brought by opals. Many people in Russia will not buy anything from a vendor who has an opal on display.
During the years of the Black Plague many people thought opals were the cause. That may have been because a person who wore an opal and became ill would be feverish. The heat would enhance the changing colors of the opal. As the person got the chills and eventually died the opal would lose its luster.
For November the birthstones are topaz, pearl, citrine, and cat's eye.
Who first comes to this world below
With drear November's fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz's amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.
The topaz gives strength, wisdom, and courage. It will dispel an enchantment.
The word topaz comes from a Sanskrit word meaning fire. It can control heat. Place it in boiling water and the water will cool. Put a topaz in the tea kettle and it will never boil. It even cools a hot temper. As a powder it is used to lower a fever.
A topaz engraved with a falcon would help the wearer gain favor with kings, princes, and powerful men in business.
Topaz will strengthen the mind, prevent mental disorder, and increase wisdom. It will gusrd against sudden death.
Add powdered topaz to wine to prevent asthma and insomnia. If you have poor vision place a stone in wine for three days and nights, then rub the liquid on your eyes.
A man wearing topaz can win the heart of a woman. It also works for women trying to win the love of a man.
One of the Roman emperors was going blind. He regularly held court from which no one was banned from stating a complaint. One day a serpent complained that a porcupine had eaten all the young snakes and driven the snake from its home. The Emperor ordered his men to kill the porcupine and help the snake back to her home.
A few days later everyone in the court was shocked and extremely afraid when an enormous serpent entered the court. The serpent slithered up to the Emperor and laid a topaz on each of the Emperor's eyes. He said it was to thank the Emperor for helping his wife find justice.
After the serpent left the court attendants rushed up and removed the stones from his eyes. He could see perfectly.
Birthstones for December are bloodstone, ruby, turquoise, lapis, lazuli, zircon, black onyx, tanzanite, and topaz.
If cold December gave you birth,
The month of snow and ice and mirth,
Place on your hand a turquoise blue;
Success will bless whate'er you do.
—Gregorian Birthstone Poems
Turquoise presents its wearer with new possibilities and happiness. It has been used by people for centuries. The blue of the turquoise represents the heavens and the green represents the earth. Powerful amulets are made by inscribing pieces of turquoise with passages from the Koran and Persian proverbs.
Turquoise pieces thrown into the river while praying to the rain god will bring rain. Attach turquoise to a bow or gun to ensure accuracy. It will keep a man from falling from his horse.
A change in color reveals that your wife is unfaithful. Turquoise shines if the air is pure and becomes pale in bad air. It also changes color as the weather changes.
If the new moon reflects on your turquoise you will have good fortune and protection from evil. It will become pale if the wearer is ill and loses its color at the death of its wearer. happily it will be completely restored when it has a new owner.
The mummy of Queen Zer was discovered in a tomb in Egypt in 1900. She rukked in 5500 B.C. She wore several beautiful turquoise bracelets.
As you can see the stone of your birth month can be a charm to aide you in everyday life. If you have a problem that your birthstone will not fix, you can always try one from another month.
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