|
|
Ring in the New Year with the expressive and
mystical moonstone
By Charles L. Back
"Without, there was a cold moon up,
Of winter radiance sheer and thin;
The hollow halo it was in,
Was like an icy crystal cup."
--Dante Gabriel Rossetti
This year, the passing of 2009 into 2010 is heralded by a blue moon --
yes, there really is such a thing -- and as such, brings to mind one of
nature's most unusual and beautiful gemstones: the moonstone. Throughout
history, the moonstone has been coveted for its unique esoteric
qualities, and has been considered a sacred stone imbued with spiritual,
mystical qualities. In fact, it's even been featured prominently in one
of Hollywood's most recent blockbuster films. With its shimmering
appearance and varied, colorful base hues, the moonstone seems the
perfect herald for those considering marking the new year by creating a
memorable, alluring, "once-in-a-blue-moon" memento.
Although the moonstone is unique in its qualities, it is a member of the
extremely common feldspar family of minerals, and as a raw, uncut stone,
appears naturally to be quite pedestrian; it is grey to peach, and
mostly opaque to semi-opaque. However, once cut properly into its
traditional cabochon shape, moonstone exhibits floating light that seems
to come from inside the gem itself. This shimmering quality, known as
adularescence, is the feature which caused it to be tagged with such a
celestial moniker.
While it is grand in its presentation, Moonstone is an abundant mineral,
not rare enough to be considered truly "precious," as some of the other
phenomenal gems like sapphire or opal, might be. But the varying shades
and behaviors of moonstone do offer varying degrees of quality or value
as well as a variety of adularescence effects.
Sri Lankan moonstone, which greets the viewer as a pale, shimmering blue
stone, is considered to be the defining strain of the gem. Color is
often linked to the area in which the mineral is found. Indian gems are
typically beige, orange or sometimes greenish. Moonstone is also found
in Europe, Africa and the Americas, and can be whitish, reddish or dark
stones that approach black.
It is perhaps their shimmering, changing quality that has fused the
moonstone's aura of mystical spirituality to its legend. From the
ancient Romans, who believed that the moonstone was actually forged by
moonlight, to its sacred status in India, to its inclusion in many new
age and pagan panthea as a gem that brings good fortune, ensures a
bountiful harvest, and even thwarts epileptic symptoms and nosebleeds.
Moonstone is not without its less mystical fans, either. In 1970,
moonstone was designated the official gemstone of the state of Florida,
in an effort to commemorate the state's involvement with NASA and the
arrival of astronauts on the moon the year before.
Moonstone, perhaps not coincidentally, is also an alternate birthstone
for June honorees. Setting aside the obvious rhyming “jewels” that have
peppered the poetry of many generations, the romance of the moon is a
perfect foil for the most historically popular month for brides-to-be.
As far back as Shakespeare's Juliet, who compares of Romeo's love to
“...the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled
orb,” lunar activity and affairs of the heart have been bound together
by the crystalline opulence of blue-white moonbeams. And very recently,
in the popular vampire-romance film series “Twilight,” the central
female character and love interest prominently sports a moonstone ring,
adding even more luster to an already deeply ingrained reputation of
romantic, ethereal, supernatural qualities.
Outside its ancient sacred notoriety, moonstone enjoyed one of its most
prominent cycles during the art deco period, where it was prized for its
unique shimmering quality, its availability and its variety of color
options. It is not uncommon to find the higher-end pieces on display in
museums, as it was a favored stone among some of the period's master
jewelers.
While your own results may vary in the spiritual, mystical, medicinal or
romance department, it is no stretch to assume that jewelcrafters who
choose to create moonstone pieces will surely fall in love with the
striking, unique and phenomenal qualities of this light-bending gem.
Blue moon or not, the moonstone's allure has stood the test of time and
kept it ablaze with the kind of passion that is, without question,
legendary.
Blue moonstone photo courtesy of the Bead Peddler.
|
Register to win 25.00 Worth of Beads and Beading Supplies
Click
here to visit The Bead Peddler®
Full line of
* Chinese
lampwork
* Pandora style beads
* Large hole
beads
* Beadable accessories
* Indian glass bead mixes
* Czech fire polish
* Stringing
materials
* Tools
* Findings.
Wholesale
prices available to the public!
|
