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Look to the sea for
March’s birthstone
“Meaning ‘sea water’, this stone allows us to safely navigate the sea of infinite wisdom, and to land safely and communicate what we've learned.” Beyond the Rainbow
Aquamarine is derived from the Latin words "aqua marina" which means "sea water" which reflect the color of the crystals. March’s stone and Zodiac sign are all intertwined with the sea. Pisces is the sign for most of March. It is the sign of the fish, which of course, lives in the ocean. The ruling planet of Pisces is Neptune, who was the ancient Roman god of the sea, later identified with the Greek god Poseidon. And a neptune is also a shelled sea snail. So you can’t help but think of things oceanic. But with all of its folklore regarding the sea, aquamarine is the official state gem of the very inland Colorado, USA. The mineral beryl comes in many different varieties, and aquamarine is the lovely blue to aqua variety of this mineral. Aquamarine is a cousin to emerald, another variety of beryl. Under the name of beryl, aquamarine is mentioned in the Bible. The blue of the stone comes from trace amounts of iron. Many aquamarines have been given a little warm-up of a heat treatment to help enrich their blue coloring. The gem is a scratch-resistant 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, and is considered a favorite of jewelry designers. One of the stone's most unique characteristics is that it is almost entirely free of natural inclusions, something the other gemstones might well imitate.The most common source for aquamarine is Brazil. About 80 percent of Brazil’s aquamarine comes from the mines of Minas Gerais, where the largest one so far was found in 1910. It weighed 110 kilograms (242 pounds) and was 19 inches long with a diameter of 15 inches. Aquamarine is also found in China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, and in the U.S. in Maine as well as Idaho and California, and the former Soviet Union. Aquamarine is thought to be more powerful when it is immersed in water. In ancient times, water in which this gemstone had been submerged was used to heal a variety of illnesses of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat. It was also believed to cure poisoning. Traditional metaphysical properties for the stone include awareness, and easing communication problems. It is thought to help heal throat problems and stress related illness. This corresponds to its connection to the fifth chakra, which is the throat area. This chakra governs creativity and communication in both written and oral forms. It includes expressing emotions, and through self-expression comes creativity. Aquamarine is believed to help with self-expression in a peaceful way. This blue stone is believed to promote friendship and harmony. With its reputed ability to help with awareness and communication, it is no wonder that it is thought to revive tired marriages. It is also the Gemstone for the sixteenth and nineteenth wedding anniversaries as it creates a strong bond between couples. So the smooth, shimmering surface of an aquamarine just may be the bridge between choppy ocean waves and smooth, tranquil seas. Resources: Photos courtesy of the Bead Peddler. http://www.beadpeddler.comBeyond the Rainbow http://www.rainbowcrystal.com About Birthstones: History and Myths http://www.aboutbirthstones.com Aquamarine Facts, Information and Description http://www.bernardine.com/gemstones/aquamarine.htm Awesome Gems http://www.awesomegems.com/gemfacts.html |
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