choosing gemstone by zodiac sign
It can be said about the link “Planet - Zodiac signs - Gemstones” that it does not belong within the framework of scientific knowledge. But as said the great doctor, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, poet Avicenna: “If you happened to learn, that certain mystic has produced any action or has set something in motion which is beyond other’s power, do not hurry up to deny it entirely. Perhaps, you can discover the reason of all of it, proceeding from decree of nature”.
One of the first written sources that mentioned the precious gemstones, was the Bible. Thus begun the cult of so-called “stones of months”.
Exodus 28:15-21
15 And thou
shalt make the breastplate of judgment with
cunning work; after the work of the ephod
thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of
purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined
linen, shalt thou make it.
16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a
span shall be the length thereof, and a span
shall be the breadth thereof.
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of
stones, even four rows of stones: the first
row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a
carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a
sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and
an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx,
and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in
their inclosings.
21 And the stones shall be with the names of
the children of Israel, twelve, according to
their names, like the engravings of a
signet; every one with his name shall they
be according to the twelve tribes.
The gems of New Jerusalem
"And the building of
the wall of it was of jasper: and the city
was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of
the wall of the city were
garnished with all
manner of precious stones.
The first foundation was jasper;
the second, sapphire;
the third, a chalcedony;
the fourth, an emerald;
the fifth, sardonyx;
the sixth, sardius;
the seventh, chrysolyte;
the eighth, beryl;
the ninth, a topaz;
the tenth, a chrysoprasus;
the eleventh, a jacinth;
the twelfth, an amethyst."
The
original set of twelve stones expanded with
time. Numerous new legends and myths
appeared.
Years went by, empires collapsed and
disappeared, but stones and legends about
them remained.
Charles the Great sought to decorate his
crown with twelve precious stones like those
in the breastplate. Astrologists,
alchemists, healers, magicians used the
Bible story about twelve precious stones in
many different ways. It’s not about 12
tribes anymore, but 12 apostles, 12 Zodiac
signs, 12 months.
The first written document where month of
birth was brought in correspondence with the
certain stone belongs to Isidore bishop of
Seville in 635. And by XIII century, the
literature about magical properties of
stones was abundant in Europe. Each stone
was, in representation of the astrologist,
in direct submission to one of the planets
and, receiving from it cosmic energy, could
influence the person, healing his organism
and helping in affairs.
At the same time it is considered that
character, and in many respects, the fate of
the person depend not only on planets, but
also on constellations of the Zodiac.
