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Birthstone
Origins: Stranger than Fiction
In the Old Testament, the book of Exodus
tells the story of the Breastplate of Aaron,
used in religious ceremonies. (Aaron…just
in case you were absent from Sunday school
that day…was the Biblical figure who performed,
at Moses' direction, the miracles that confounded
Pharaoh and his magicians.) Aaron's breastplate
was adorned with four rows of gemstones,
three gemstones in each row, in the following
pattern:
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Sardius
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Topaz
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Carbuncle
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Emerald
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Sapphire
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Diamond
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Ligure
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Agate
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Amethyst
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Beryl
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Onyx
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Jasper
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These
twelve gemstones represented the twelve
tribes of Israel. The twelve positions were
later co-opted by astologers who linked
them to the twelve months of the calendar
year and the twelve signs of the zodiac.
The Traditional Birthstone List contains
these older birthstones and represents birthstone
traditions heralding back to the 15th century.
The
Modern Birthstone List was created by the
National Association of Jewelers in 1912
in Kansas City, Missouri. Gemstone purists
complained that the NAJ list was devised
solely for commercial purposes (they probably
didn't believe in Santa Claus either!).
As a result, astrologers who prescribed
gems often substituted alternate or secondary
stones.
The
Mystical Birthstone list below originated
in from Tibet over a thousand years ago.
The Ayurvedic Birthstone list is derived
from age-old Ayurvedic Indian Medicine,
a practice of native people for more than
a century.
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Month
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Modern
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Traditional
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Mystical
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Ayurverdic
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January
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Garnet
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Garnet
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Emerald
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Garnet
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February
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Amethyst
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Amethyst
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Amethyst
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Bloodstone
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March
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Aquamarine
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Bloodstone
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Jade
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Bloodstone
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April
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Diamond
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Diamond
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Opal
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Quartz
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May
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Emerald
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Emerald
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Sapphire
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Agate
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June
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Pearl
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Alexandrite
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Moonstone
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Pearl
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July
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Ruby
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Ruby
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Ruby
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Ruby
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August
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Peridot
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Sardonyx
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Diamond
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Sapphire
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September
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Sapphire
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Sapphire
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Agate
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Lapis
Lazuli
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October
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Opal
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Tourmaline
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Tourmaline
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Jasper
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November
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Yellow
Topaz
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Citrine
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Citrine
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Pearl
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December
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Turquoise
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Lapis
Lazuli
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Onyx
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Ruby
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Astrologically
speaking, your place on the Zodiac is more
meaningful than your birth month for tapping
into your "power," which has led to the
creation of the following list of "Star
Stones" related to the star under which
you were born, rather than the day.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - Ruby, Agate,
Garnet
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) - Garnet, Moss
Agate, Opal, Amethyst,
Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) - Rock Crystal,
Sapphire, Amethyst, Bloodstone
Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) - Bloodstone, Diamond
Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20) - Sapphire, Turquoise,
Amber, Blood Coral, Emerald
Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20) - Agate, Chrysoprase,
Pearl
Cancer (Jun. 21-Jul. 22) - Emerald, Moonstone,
Pearl, Ruby
Leo (Jul. 23-Aug. 22) - Tourmaline, Sardonyx,
Onyx
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) - Jasper, Carnelian,
Jade, Sapphire
Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 22) - Opal, Lapis Lazuli,
Peridot
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) - Aquamarine,
Topaz
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) - Sapphire,
Amethyst, Turquoise, Topaz
So
whether you choose an emerald from the Breastplate
of Aaron, a moonstone from Tibet's mystical
birthstone list, an opal for its ayurvedic
birthstone properties, or your very own
"star sign" representative…may the force
(of the birthstone) be with you!
About
the Author
For
more information on jewelry and gemstones,
we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com
to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy
Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped
Off." This concise, informative special
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wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones,
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at www.morninglightjewelry.com.
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