Luke Judge

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If you’re still young enough to remember your birthday, youprobably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it.But at your age, we bet you don’t really know the SIGNIFICANCEof your birthstone and what power the ancients felt would bebestowed about you by wearing it. February’s birthstone:Amethyst Birthstone powers: Brings peace and calm to your lifeAlternative Birthstone: Bloodstone Amethyst is the birthstonefor the month of February and the traditional anniversarygemstone for the sixth of marriage. Once considered morevaluable than diamonds, this member of the quartz member occursnaturally as crystals within rocks. The stones are mined inBrazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Zambia, Australia and inthe mountains of Russia American amethysts are mined in Maine,Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Montana and Colorado. Amethystfrom Maine is usually dark with North Carolina amethyst having abluish tint unique to that area. Amethyst can lighten if exposedto strong sunlight for a long time. When heated to 550-560Centigrade, the color changes to dark yellow or reddish brown.(They are then called citrines. These are more richly coloredand more expensive then natural citrines) Ideally deep mediumpurple with rose-colored flashes, amethysts generally range inhue from pale lilac to nearly black purple. Since purple hasalways been the color of royalty, amethysts abound in theornaments of in the British Crown Jewels and in the adornmentsof the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, as well. They have beenfound in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorningroyal jewelry, scepters, and crowns. The intense violet hue ofFebruary’s birthstone appealed to early monarchs, perhapsbecause they often wore this color’as a symbol of their elevatedposition. Purple dye was once scarce and expensive, so it wasreserved for the garments of royalty, and the color came tosymbolize power and status. Sobering Thoughts with Amethyst TheGreeks believed that whoever wore an amethyst or drank from anamethyst cup would not become intoxicated. In fact, the wordamethyst is derived from the Greek word “amethystos,” meaningsober. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with thegod of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beveragefrom Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would preventoverindulgence. It was also claimed that amethyst had a soberingeffect on those “drunk” on love’s passion. Even today, amethystis considered a stabilizing force for those struggling toovercome addictive behaviors. In general, the gemstone isbelieved to be a calming, tranquil influence that symbolizespeace. Amethyst and Prayer Amethyst is symbolic of piety,spirituality, and a devotion to God. The rich purple gemstonesare used worldwide to ornament churches and crosses used inreligious ceremony, and they frequently found in the rings andon the rosaries worn by bishops and priests. It is also believedthat amethysts bring on pleasant dreams because they allow youto “channel” positive universal energy. As a result many peopleplace an amethyst under their pillow before going to sleep atnight to enjoy “sweet dreams” throughout the night.

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