Pink stones symbolize universal love and grace

By Bethany Waldrop Keiper

“Pink, it’s my favorite crayon.” – Steven Tyler

As the year settles in to February, it is time to think about Valentine’s Day once again, for those who celebrate. Even those who don’t celebrate this holiday can enjoy its signature colors. While red may be too bold a sentiment for some, and white may seem a bit too pure for the glow of love, pink can be the perfect color for this time of year. Pink provides a less lush and more delicate sentiment.

A general preference for pink can provide insight into someone’s personality. Pink symbolizes appreciation, thanks, grace, happiness, and admiration. A design in pink beads would be the perfect gift for a secret admirer to send. Pink is very sweet and soft. People who like pink are often delicate and fragile, but tend to slight themselves because they are generously helping others in need. Loving, charming, sensitive, and gentle, people who like pink are often very attuned to their feminine qualities.

This leads to the preference of pink for girls and, in contrast, blue for boys. In the past, information on just how blue came to be thought of as a boy's color and how pink became identified with girls was surprisingly sketchy and somewhat anecdotal.
Some sources suggest that in Europe, prior to the 20th century, the reverse was true, since pink was considered closer to red, and therefore a stronger color more suited to boys, while blue was seen as very pale, dainty, and feminine. This was likely taken from the Christian tradition, where light blue was associated with the Virgin Mary.

The very idea that gender and color are associated was only trifled with at the beginning of the 20th century, and varied by country. There were many arguments in the American press that pink was more masculine than light blue. Despite these exchanges, blue became the new traditional color for boys and pink the color for girls for a primarily artistic reason: the acquisition of Sir Thomas Gainsborough's painting, the “Blue Boy,” and Sir Thomas Lawrence's painting, “Pinkie,” better known as the “Pink Lady,” by the San Marino Museum at the start of the 20th century. But what most people don't realize is that Gainsborough painted another, less-well-known portrait entitled "Pink Boy," which features a young man in a somewhat similar outfit that is quite pink.

But however pink came to be popular and for whom, both genders can agree it is lovely, and especially in gemstone form.  Many popular gems come in this color, though you may not recognize them in this shining shade. Gemstones in pink include Sapphire; Garnet, called Rubellite; Beryl, called Morganite; Kunzite; Topaz; Spinel; and blushing shades of Pearl.

One of the pink stones most commonly associated with love is probably Rose Quartz. It is often carved into a heart shape, even more often than round beads.  Rose Quartz’s soft pink hue is associated with romantic love, but it is even more associated with love of self, which is vital for those interested in true romantic love, since loving self is an important first step to loving anyone else. It can open all levels of the heart.

It is said that putting Rose Quartz beneath your pillow can help you release pain from your past into your dreams, allowing you to wake up with those burdens behind you. Naturally, this great gift from the Earth relates to the heart chakra. Its Zodiac signs are Taurus and Libra, and it is the gemstone of the fifth wedding anniversary, where it can help renew waning emotions.

It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, and it is a member of the macrocrystalline quartz family, along with Amethyst and Smoky Quartz. A search for Rose Quartz will take you around the world, to Germany, South Africa, Madagascar, India, and across the United States.

Even though Rose Quartz is thought of most commonly doesn’t mean it is the only pink stone associated with love, or even the pinkest stone associated with love. The rich, rosy pink of Rhodochrosite not only relates to love and passion, but can release the stresses that can hinder them.

It also aids in deep, healthful breathing when placed on or near the solar plexus chakra, even though it is primarily a heart chakra mineral. It balances energy flow between the lower and upper chakras, and its Zodiac signs are Leo and Scorpio. It can range in pink tones from peachy pink to almost rosy red.

Not only is this mineral’s color soft, but it is a soft mineral. It is only a 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. This soft state makes it easily carved, and it is found in many shapes and many kinds of jewelry. It is Colorado’s state mineral, and in its very purest form is a deep rose pink. While Colorado is its home in the U.S., it can be found in other locations, such as Peru, Romania, Argentina, and Kuruman, South Africa.

One of the most unique stories about this mineral is that the ancient Incas thought that Rhodochrosite was their former rulers’ blood turned to stone. Because of this, they gave it the name Rosa del Inca, meaning Inca Rose.

Another rosy pink stone is Rhodonite, so named from the Greek word for rose, referring to its beautiful color. It is a manganese silicate mineral, often recognizable for the delicate black veins of manganese dioxide that run through it as dendritic inclusions. The purely pink stones are generally considered the most desirable, just as line-free turquoise is considered more valuable, but it seems as though the lines should be considered the defining quality of the stone; they are what gives it character.

This stone is not only associated with passionate love, but also the patience needed to truly experience love. To remember this, think of a passionate artist painstakingly painting each tiny black line on each Rhodonite stone. Rhodonite relates to the heart chakra, of course, and its Zodiac signs are Taurus, and especially Aries, who can often benefit the most from its patient properties.

Rhodonite is in the middle on hardness, coming in at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and has been found in places far and wide – from Brazil to British Colombia. It has been adopted by two distinctly different locales – both Massachusetts, U.S., and Russia claim Rhodonite as their state and national gemstone, respectively.

Whichever stone you choose for pink beaded jewelry or charms, remember the details. A heart-shaped or delicate floral clasp or toggle gives Valentine's Day jewelry a beautiful finish. As you consider these beautiful pink stones, whether they are for February or year ‘round, remember, all of these are believed to stimulate love; but beware, all three are also believed to stimulate fertility!

Register to win 25.00 Worth of Beads and   Beading Supplies

 Click here to visit The Bead Peddler®

Full line of
  * Bali sterling
    beads   
 * Indian glass
    beads
 * Czech beads
 * Stringing
    materials
 * Tools   
 * Findings.

Wholesale prices available to the public!