Stones

THE STONES

AGATE is THE stone everyone should have for protection. It attracts strength and has been said to protect the possessor from bad dreams. Different types of agate were used in ancient Babylonia to make jewelry. Babylonians also placed them at the head of their bed because they thought agate brought good dreams! It is also known for its power!

OPALITE is known for its soothing effect when held or worn!

LAVA STONE is also known as Basalt. It is a stone of strength and courage. It also allows stability in one's life so if you are going through a lot of life shifts this stone is good for you! Because Basalt was actually once molten lava it has the power of fire! It can draw fire and energy into your life!

JASPER is an ancient stone that has been used by many cultures for different uses. Traditional Jasper is a very warm and nourishing stone no matter what color you find it in. It is very earthy.

“CRAZY LACE” AGATE beads are very special. Crazy Lace Agate is known as the Laughter Stone- don't you just love that! It is a stone of support and encouragement, elevating thoughts and promoting optimism. Its graceful design, in random lacy patterns, creates a circular flow of energy, stimulating for the mind and attitude. It is a very dynamic stone that promotes thinking and action. We LOVE it!!

HOWLITE is a super-calming stone and many people use it to relieve stress of all kinds. It makes an excellent antidote to insomnia due to an overactive mind. Wear a howlite stone to absorb your own anger - or another's anger that is directed toward you. It helps to overcome critical or selfish behavior.

JADE is a stone that has been used for over 6,000 years by different cultures. It's said to bless whatever it touches. Throughout history it has been used many ways- anything from masks, to weapons, to jewelry (our favorite, of course!)

CORAL was once thought to be a plant and has been called the "garden of the sea". The ancient Egyptians placed pieces of coral in tombs as a protection against evil spirits because they believed that each piece truly contained a drop of divine blood. Coral symbolizes joy and happiness and enables the wearer to enjoy life.

HEMATITE comes from the Greek word for blood. It has been used as an amulet against bleeding, and so is known as the "blood stone". When arranged like the petals of a flower, it is referred to as the "iron rose". Native American folklore states that war paint made from hematite will make one invincible in battle. People in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries wore hematite jewelry during mourning. Hematite is said to protect the wearer's life energy and guarantee survival. Amulets of hematite have been found in nearly every pharaoh's tomb as a support in the afterlife.

MAGNESITE is said to assist in creative vision, stimulate passion, and bring peace in meditation.

AQUAMARINE evokes the purity of crystalline waters, and the exhilaration and relaxation of the sea. It is calming, soothing, and cleansing, and inspires truth, trust and letting go. In ancient lore, Aquamarine was believed to be the treasure of mermaids, and was used by sailors as a talisman of good luck, fearlessness, and protection. It was also considered a stone of eternal youth and happiness. Today it protects all who travel by, over, or near water and opens the channels of clear and heartfelt communication. Aquamarine embodies all things connected to the sea as well as those things relating to Heaven reflected on the surface of the water. It becomes a mirror, reflecting itself indefinitely, making it possible to discover hidden meanings of reality. It also allows us to explore the darkest depths of our souls, face to face with ourselves, and with others. A stone of natural justice, Aquamarine utilizes compromise and negotiation, and gives quiet courage and clear reasoned words in confrontational situations. As a travel crystal, greenish blue Aquamarine protects those who journey by sea, alleviating the fear of water, and guards those involved in any long-haul travel such as flying or driving long distances. It is a good stone for learning to swim.

AVENTURINE may be green, blue or reddish-brown with a metallic iridescence; it is a stone of optimism, leadership and prosperity.

CITRINE has been called the "stone of the mind". Ancient cultures believed that placing a citrine on the forehead of an elder would increase his psychic power. Citrine is also known as the lucky "Merchants Stone". If you are in any type of sales, just put a citrine in the cash drawer and watch what happens.

QUARTZ brings strength and clarity to the intellectual, aiding concentration and memory retention, and filtering out distractions. Its hypnotic quality is conducive to sleep, helping one to understand the messages and lessons conveyed during the dream state. It is also a respected stone for death, included in many cultures in funeral rites and placed in tombs, urns, and sepulchers.

FRESHWATER PEARLS are usually pale white or cream-colored, though darker blue, gray, and even black variations exist. Remember, pearl is the result of layer upon layer of substance produced to combat irritation. Freshwater pearls enable one to accept love and see the good parts of oneself so you can love yourself and others more. Pearls are also a symbol of purity.

AMBER is technically not a gemstone or mineral, but a fossilized sap from prehistoric trees that has aged over the course of millions of years. In ancient times, amber was carried by travelers for protection. Amber brings a care free, sunny disposition. It also promotes good luck and success and dissolves opposition.

AMETHYST is crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac or mauve. It is a stone traditionally worn to guard against drunkenness and to instill a sober mind. The word amethyst comes from the Greek meaning "without drunkenness" and amethyst is believed to protect one from poison. It has also been used historically as a dream stone, to help insomnia. Put an amethyst under your pillow to bring about pleasant dreams.

WOOD has been around practically since time began. Most often it is brown, but can also be grey or green in color. Wood is powerful in removing obstacles. Use it to assist in reaching goals that you are having trouble with or to smooth a path for any endeavor that you anticipate will be ridden with difficult barriers.

CHINESE PORCELAIN China is richly endowed with the raw materials needed for making ceramics. The first types of ceramics were made during the Paleolithic era. Porcelain is so identified with China that it is still called "china" in everyday English usage. Following in the tradition of earlier qingbai porcelains, blue and white wares are glazed using a transparent porcelain glaze. The blue decoration is painted onto the body of the porcelain before glazing, using very finely ground cobalt oxide mixed with water. After the decoration has been applied the pieces are glazed and fired. It is believed that underglaze blue and white porcelain was first made in the Tang Dynasty.

RUBY is considered to be the most powerful gem in the universe. Given as a gift, the ruby is a symbol of friendship and love. Ruby is a symbol of vitality and royalty. Ruby is also filled with love. It helps sexual love to be more passionate.

EMERALD is the sacred stone of the goddess Venus. It was thought to preserve love. The emerald has long been the symbol of hope. The strongest time for the powers of the emerald is said to be spring. Lucky for love, give your lover an emerald to stay faithful.

DRUZY AGATE is made of many tiny crystals- almost like a "skin" of sparkly crystals. Druzy usually grow over another crystal or matrix, though they may not be attached to it currently. Occasionally they are floater clusters with no attachment previously to a matrix. The power of light is brought to an environment with a druzy cluster. Druzy can empower the energy of other crystals and stones.

ROSE QUARTZ is known as the love stone. It helps the user feel a strong sense of self- worth, therefore being worthy of love. It is the stone of universal love and has a gentle vibration of love for the owner. It gives inner peace and helps in all matters pertaining to love in all its forms. Rose Quartz opens the heart to love and helps as a rejuvenator to the skin.

TURQUOISE is one of the oldest protection amulets. It is one of the oldest stones known and was also known as a symbol of wealth in many ancient cultures. Turquoise is a stone that has been prized for many years. The ancient Egyptians used turquoise in jewelry. Turquoise is greenish-blue or pale sky blue. The name means "Turkish stone" as it came to Europe by way of Turkey. Turquoise was mined more than 6,000 years ago in Sinai. The best turquoise comes from Iran, but not much is exported now. Much turquoise comes from Mexico and the United States today. If given a turquoise by a loving friend, that stone will protect the wearer from negative energy and bring good fortune. Turquoise is the symbol of friendship. It is a very personal and meaningful stone to one who wears it, as turquoise takes on the characteristics of the owner.

PYRITE comes from the Greek word meaning "a stone which strikes fire”. The resemblance of pyrite to gold has made it a traditional symbol for money and good luck. Its sunny golden color associates it with the sun, and with fortification and strengthening of the mind.

CZECH GLASS At the turn of the 16th and 17th century Bohemia became the center of crystal glass production. Important technological discoveries during the crystal production era in Bohemia led to the formation of the ideal crystal glass, particularly suited to cutting and engraving. This glass, called Czech crystal, has been top of the range in the crystal glass industry for more than one century. These beads are machine faceted, then polished by glazing inside a red-hot oven. This gives them beautiful, glistening colors with a "softer" look and a smoother feel.

BONE is an organic material, rather than a mineral. As with everything, it has its own energies. Bone energies are of vitality, animal magnetism, and strength.

MOROCCAN SILVER Gold and silver are metals of choice in North African jewelry. Because pure gold and silver were rare and restricted to the wealthy, most jewelers worked with alloys, like old coins. Silver is linked with honesty and purity.

LAPIS LAZULI is an ancient gem, and as such, has a storied history. Egyptian cultures made a practice of burying a lapis lazuli scarab with their dead, and believed it to offer protection. The very earliest cultures valued lapis lazuli more highly than gold. Greeks spoke of an ancient sapphire, which was included with gold, and this, was unmistakably lapis. It is one of the most powerful stones and should be used with care. Lapis purifies and clarifies the mind allowing one to focus on what is real and true.

CALCEDONY is a variety of the mineral quartz that occurs in in a great variety of colors including blue, lavender, white, buff, light tan, gray, yellow, pink, red or brown. Considered a sacred stone by the Native American Indians, chalcedony nurtures and promotes brotherhood and good will.

FIRE AGATE has a deep calming energy that brings security and safety. It is a protection stone with strong grounding powers.

MURANO GLASS You’ve probably heard the term thrown around, but do you actually know what makes glass Murano glass, and why it’s so darn valuable (also, amazing)? Here is a little history of Murano glass for your learning pleasure! First, a definition: Murano glass comes from the island of Murano, which is a small island northwest of the city of Venice, Italy. What makes work from this small island so unique is that this place is considered to be longest lasting center for glass making in history. Believed to have started in the 9th century and continuing on until today, fans of Murano glass will tell you that history itself can be witnessed in the glass produced from this region. It’s not just the length in time that this region has been producing glass, but also the high standards of quality imposed on its craftsmen and products. The great secrets of glassblowing couldn’t be kept secret for long, though, and other countries slowly began to develop their own glass techniques and styles. The latter part of Murano’s history to today has been marked not by secrecy, but by collaboration with artists of all media from around the world. Gone were the ideas that all the techniques be kept secret. Since the 1950's the masters in Venice have collaborated with artists like Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore and Jean Cocteau to consistently push the envelope in glass making techniques, bringing glass into lighting and furniture, along with decorative and functional items. Murano masters were even behind the artists who began the American Studio Glass movement, as well as inspiring countless other glass movements around the world. Their influence is unarguable, and the beauty, craft and aesthetics of their glass are unmistakable!

RHYOLITE actually has a composition closer to granite, with a much smaller grain size. Rhyolite frequently contains voids and glassy fragments, which is due to rapid cooling. The unusual patterns are where this stone gets its power to heal. Rhyolite is thought to help people deal with past-life issues, by helping one to see the relationship between karma and what is happening now. Rhyolite will assist one in the laying down of burdens which no longer act to serve one’s life. Using Rhyolite may help with healing old and deep emotional wounds as well. A balancing stone, it is recommended for help with issues of self-esteem and emotional strength. Rhyolite aids in finding your expression in the wake of problems and anxieties.

MOTHER OF PEARL gets its name from the fact that it is the iridescent lining of the shell, where pearls can grow. It is said to attract prosperity. It is used in mystical work and lore to heighten intuition, psychic sensitivity, and imagination.

PERIDOT A tiny island known as Zabargard (owned by Egypt) is documented as the first source of peridot, dating back as far as four thousand years. Early Crusaders who visited St. John's Island (now called Zabargard) introduced this gem to Europe upon return from battle. It is mentioned throughout the Bible, and early Christians considered it sacred. Today still, Catholic Bishops traditionally wear a ring of peridot and amethyst as a symbol of purity and morality. The peridot was believed to be a stone of springtime and rebirth by ancient cultures who considered it a gift from Mother Nature.

SODALITE is a dark blue stone with white calcite interspersed. Sodalite is the stone of athletes, as it stimulates endurance. Metaphysically, sodalite brings inner peace. Keep sodalite in your pockets and in every room of your house, so its peaceful properties will flow all around you and it will promote peace and harmony.

GOLDSTONE is a man made gemstone that has been around since the European Renaissance. Early monks working at a glass factory near Venice, Italy were practicing alchemy when molten copper accidentally tipped into a molten glass container. This crystallized into thousands of tiny crystals and formed a melt with golden light sparkles. Goldstone is said to energize those who wear it!

UNAKITE, also called epidote, derives its name from the Greek epidosis, meaning, "growing together". It is a combination of red jasper and green epidote solidly bound together. From this we get the meaning that what comes together belongs together. Unakite is said to lift your spirits when you are feeling down - this is the gemstone to help you to see the beauty in life.

THE SYMBOLS

BEARS Guardian of the West...the bear is associated with great strength, power, and healing...the great protector...the "sacred bear". The bear is the guardian fetish of the West. It represents strength and self-knowledge. It is a spiritual guide and also carries within him supernatural powers. The bear is a powerful healing fetish. The white bear is the most powerful medicine bear.

SACRAB It seemed to the ancient Egyptians that the young scarab beetles emerged spontaneously from the burrow were they were born. Therefore they were worshipped as “Khepera" the God, which means, "he was came forth." This creation aspect of the scarab was associated with the creator god Atum. The ray-like antenna on the beetle's head and its practice of dung rolling caused the beetle to also carry solar symbolism. The scarab-beetle god Khepera was believed to push the setting sun along the sky in the same manner as the beetle with his ball of dung. In many artifacts, the scarab is depicted pushing the sun along its course in the sky. During and following the New Kingdom, scarab amulets were often placed over the heart of the mummified deceased.

ELEPHANT Elephants have been revered in Thailand for many centuries. Famous as the strongest beasts of burden, in Thailand they were important in battle, with kings mounted on elephants fighting the Burmese to defend Thailand on many occasions. They have also been noted for their intelligence, memory and pleasant nature. A Thai legend has it that a marriage is like an elephant-- the husband is the front legs, that choose the direction, the wife the back legs, providing the power! A white elephant is even included in the flag of the Royal Thai navy, and the "order of the white elephant" is one of the highest honors, bestowed by the king.

SKULL Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and the Aztecs used the skull as a symbol of the cycle of death and rebirth. In these cultures, death was not encumbered with the same stigma as in today’s Western world, and the cycles of nature (including passage into the afterlife and even the underworld) were treated with the same reverence as the respective gods that were believed to control them. Actual bones were also pierced through regions of the skin and strung together to create jewelry, and in this case, the larger the bone, the more skillful and respected the tribesman. Some original Aztec ceremonies and celebrations involving skulls and skeletal remains eventually translated into the more modern Mexican holiday known as Dia de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead.” During the Elizabethan Period in Europe, rings fashioned with a “Death’s Head Skull,” or a skull that is missing the jaw portion, became a symbol of one’s membership in the societal underworld. In a more modern sense, visage of the skull have been seen with wings (which symbolizes freedom in the sense of the release of the dead from their physical form into a freer spiritual one), with crossbones (signifying eternity, danger, or poison), with butterflies (symbolizing the changing nature of life), with snakes (a depiction of immortality, or knowledge of the next world), and with crosses (denoting mankind’s beginnings). The newest addition to this menagerie, the skull with a bow resting atop its cranium, has also become clearly symbolic of the recent feminine embrace of these ideas.

BUDDHA is a principle, not a person. Buddha actually means "awake." When asked, "Are you a god?" Gautama, the person who became a buddha way back when in India replied, "No." "Then what are you?" the man asked again. Gautama's answer was, "I am awake.” Nowadays many statues of buddha are common, and they can easily be mistaken as signs of polytheism. But all these images are not portraits of superheroes each with their own "superpersonality" that exist somewhere out of this atmosphere, deigning to involve themselves selectively in the affairs of this world. Rather, they are symbolic presentations of qualities of “awakeness." But "awakeness" only means something in relation to its opposite: "asleepness." It seems Gautama was using this analogy as a way to touch upon the experience of knowing what a dream is. When we wake up in the same bed we remember lying down in hours before, we decide that everything previous was a kind of hallucination. This decision actually changes the context of everything that happened to us while we were dreaming, no matter how drastic, dramatic, horrific or beatific. All of a sudden, we somehow discover a kind of perspective.

LOTUS The lotus flower represents the symbol of fortune. It grows in muddy water, and it is this environment that gives forth the flower’s first and most literal meaning: rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment. The second meaning, which is related to the first, is purification. It resembles the purifying of the spirit, which is born into murkiness. The third meaning refers to faithfulness. Those who are working to rise above the muddy waters will need to be faithful followers. The mud represents an importance in the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism. All humans are born in a world where there is suffering. This suffering is a vital part of the human experience; it makes us stronger and teaches us to resist the temptation of evil. When we banish evil thoughts from our mind we are able to break free of the muddy water and become one with the buddha. The mud shows us who we are and teaches us to choose the right path over the easy one. Finally, the lotus flower represents rebirth, both in a figurative and a literal sense. The rebirth can be a change of ideas, an acceptance of buddha where there once was none, the dawn after one’s darkest day, a renaissance of beliefs or the ability to see past wrongs. In a literal sense, the meaning of the lotus flower in Buddhism represents rebirth as a reincarnation, such as in the Buddhist religion, when a soul leaves this world in its present form to be reborn in another.

EVIL EYE bead is an "eye", often set on a blue background. It stares back at the world to ward off the evil spirits and keep you safe from harm. Since ancient times people have been attaching the evil eye to everything they wished to protect from negative energy... from the newborn babies to their horses or even to the doors of their homes. This tradition still lives in Turkey. The glimmering evil eye beads that are hand made with ancient methods by a very few glass masters, are distributed from Anatolia to the whole world. The color of the evil eye is important too. What does it mean? In Turkey, Greece, and surrounding countries, the most popular evil eye charm color is blue. Turkey is in a dry part of the world, where water is precious -- with water things prosper and grow, and without it, things shrivel and die. The color blue reminds people of fresh, cool water.

HAMSA is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. In all faiths it is a protective sign. It brings it's owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune. It is also identified as the Hand of Miriam, Aaron and Moses’s sister, and the Hand of Fatima. The hamsa hand has a variety of meanings and interpretations, depending on the culture. The word, "hamsa," derives its name from the five fingers on the hand. In Hebrew, the number five is "hamesh" and the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is "Hey," one of God’s holy names. The hamsa hand protects its wearer from negative energy. It is often worn as a pendant on a necklace but also is found on key chains, house decorations, baby carriages, and other jewelry items.

GANESH is a Hindu God that emerged as a widely worshipped deity in the 4th and 5th centuries CE. It is depicted with the head of an elephant. He is believed to remove arrogance, obstacles, narcissism, and selfishness. Ganesh is revered as a benevolent supernatural being of great intellect and appreciation of the arts and sciences. He represents everything that is derived from the material universe. It is not uncommon to find a statue or symbol of Ganesh in a Hindu’s presence. He has over time become one of the most worshipped and praised gods out of all of the Hindu gods.

CHINESE ZODIAC- HORSE people are active and energetic. They have plenty of sex appeal and know how to dress. Horses love to be in the crowd, maybe that is why they can usually be seen in such occasions like concerts, theaters, meetings, sporting occasions, and of course, parties. The horse is very quick- witted and is right in there with you before you have had the chance to finish what you are saying: he's on to the thought in your mind even before you've expressed it. In general, the Horse is gifted. But in truth they are really more cunning than intelligent - and they know that. That is probably why, most of the horse people lack confidence. Chinese believe that because horses are born to race or travel, all Horse people invariably leave home young. The Horse despises being pressured to act for the good of the group or made to feel guilty. No matter how integrated they seem to be, a Horse's inner self remains powerfully rebellious. Although they have boundless energy and ambition, Horses have a hard time belonging. The Horse is hot-blooded, hotheaded and impatient. Horse people are a bit of an egoist, well, selfish sometimes, that it is rare for them to interest themselves in any problems except their own. And though this egoist works only for themselves and for their own success, thier work nevertheless benefits everybody. The Horse is a worker, adept at handling money and a good financier. But unfortunately, they are also famous for suddenly losing interest on something. In their relationship with the opposite sex, the Horse is weak. They will give up everything for love. Being born a Horse, there are many contradictions in their character. Horses are proud yet sweet natured, arrogant yet oddly modest in their approach to love, envious but tolerant, conceited yet humble. They want to belong; yet they are burdened by their need for independence. They need love and crave intimacy yet often feel cornered, pressured. But the truth is, the Horse is an individual, who depends only on their own wits and labor to get what they want.