Do You Know Your Birth Stone?

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 114, 17 May 1939, Page 14

Do You Know Your Birth Stone?

Precious stones have always been associated with happiness or the reverse. Early masters of astrology believed that the world was created from earth, air, fire and water and that from these elements a force was formed which permeated everything through the vegetable, the mineral or the animal kingdom, and acted upon them constructively. The old masters, who mapped the heavens into twelve houses, asserted that through the medium of precious stones, the forces mentioned could be contracted. This first led to the wearing of birthgtones which were placed in astrological order.

Birthdays from January 20 to February 19 are in the house of Aquarius. The garnet is the chosen gem, a stone which shares with the ruby the power of altering its colour in the presence of poison. In the east, garnets are always worn as protection from poison, to attract health and to ensure against plague. From February 19 to March 20, birthdays come in the house of Pisces. The amethyst is now the lucky stone. It possesses the virtue of preserving its wearer from the evil influence of wine.

The jewels for those bom between March 20 and April 20, when the sun enters the house of Aries, are the diamond and bloodstone. They are said to attract courage and daring, give strength and success in enterprise, and preserve love, affection and purity. Sapphires and turquoises are the birth stones of the l ouse of Taurus, which the astrologers fixed as from April 21 to May 22. Wonderful qualities are said by Orientals to be contained in the sapphire. They believe it is able to bring wealth, to ensure good fortune, to attract love and friendship. The turquoise is known as the “stone of friendship.” Agate and chrysoprase are associated with the next period. May 22 until June 21, or the house of Gemini. An old couplet which runs “with ring of agate

Astrological Meanings

on her hand, she can health, wealth and long life command,” explains the virtue of the agate. The chrysoprase is supposed to attract true and faithful friends, and to protect its wearer from bad dreams.

The next house, that of the Crab, June 22 to July 23, has for its lucky stones I pearls, emeralds and moonstones. The emerald is the gem of healing. The pearl is a giver of beauty and the moonstone protects the traveller by land and sea, and ensures him good fortune in love.

The house of Leo, which is fixed from July 23 to August 23, has several stones, the chrysolite, which drives away sadness. the tourmaline, with electrical qualities, amber, efficacious as a guard against chills, and the sardonyx, which restrains folk inclined to be dissipated. From August 24 to September 22 is the house of Virgo, and the chosen stone is the cornelian, said to cool the blood, to still angry passions and drive away evil thoughts. Jade is also a virgo stone, worn to ensure health and long life.

Mapped as the house of Libra is the period of September 23 to October 24, and the opal is the stone. It is often considered unlucky but, as a matter of fact, the vibrations are harmonious and said to carry foresight and power of prophecy. The stones of the house of Scorpio, October 24 to November 23, are aquarmarines, carbuncles, for energy, and lodestones, which in olden days were set in wedding rings to ensure faithful-

| From November 23 to December 21, the sun is in the house of Sagittarious. The topas is the chosen stone, used as a preservative from pestilential atmosphere. From December 21 to January 19, the fortunate gems of the house of Capricomus are rubies, said to change their colour at the approach of danger, and to protect the wearer against evil.