Gemstone Folklore
Gemstones have long been associated with the mystical and spiritual world, but learn about the science, history and folklore too.
Today gemstones are not only cherished by geologists and gemmologists but spiritual thinkers… and of course people who love pretty things! Gemstones have long been associated with the mystical and spiritual. They are thought to have a variety of properties and help with our mental and physical state. Allot of gemstones are thought to have meaning behind them, not only in terms of astrological significance but in terms of actually aiding people! So what’s the deal behind them and how come we they are known for unusual properties today?
The ancient Greeks, Romans and even the Egyptians had a lot of beliefs concerning gemstones and their effects. In fact allot of today’s names for gemstones come from their ancient names, for example the origin of the name rock crystal comes from the Greek word for ice ‘krustallos’ as it was believed to be ice formed by the gods! There is a whole array of mythological stories from ancient times which still hold an effect on the way we see gemstones today. Amethyst for example was used by the ancient Romans to ward off intoxication; in fact they even carved wine glasses from it! There are even some lovely gemstones that are associated with the gods themselves, for example Angel Hair Quartz is an unusual gemstone with rutillated inclusions that look like fine blonde hair, and this was thought to be the hair of the goddess of beauty known as Venus! If you ever used to watch the National Lottery on the TV back in the nineties I’m sure you are familiar with the image of the infamous British psychic Mystic Meg looking into her crystal ball! Although this was of course a bit of a publicity stunt… the idea of fortune tellers has been a prominent idea in spiritual thought since its use by the ancient Greeks.
Of course the stories behind gemstones haven’t always been happy ones, allot of the largest and most infamous gemstones like The Hope Diamond, have stories surrounded by unusual circumstances, intrigue and even murder! It wasn’t just the gemstones themselves; there are even stories about the mines; in Burma for example it was believed that if you took as gemstone from a mine you would be cursed!
In today’s world of yoga and spiritual thinking, the meanings of gemstones have become a part of popular thought. In fact allot of yogis use gemstones to help cleanse and improve their chakras. For example strawberry quartz is believed to balance your heart chakra and is regularly worn to attract a soul mate!
So if you are looking to purchase and engagement ring, eternity ring or even wedding rings… don’t forget to bear in mind the meaning behind your chosen gemstone. Although there isn’t any particular scientific backing behind these ideas, it is something people believe in still today, so it’s worth a thought when choosing between engagement rings!