March is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (North
America, Europe, Asia and part of Africa) and the first month of fall or
autumn in the Southern Hemisphere (South America, part of Africa, and
Oceania). Birthstones of March are Aquamarine and Bloodstone /Heliotrope.
Flower emblem of March is Daffodil.
 |
| Daffodils, Mindepark, Aarhus/GB |
The Danish name
Paaskelilje refers directly to
Easter,
and it is impossible to imagine a Danish Easter without bundles of
those pretty yellow flowers as a decoration in the house together with
the Easter eggs and all the other traditional Easter decorations.
The name Narcissus is mostly connected to the legend about the youth in
Greek mythology who became so obsessed by his own reflection that he
kneeled and gazed into a pool of water until he fell into the water and
drowned. The legend says further that the Narcissus plant first sprang
from where he died.
Narcissus is the botanic name and there are many variations. The common
English name
Daffodil is sometimes used for all varieties. The Narcissus
was listed as a medicinal herb in 'De Medicina' by the physician Aulus
Cornelius Celsus, who said that 'it was powerful to disperse whatever
has collected in any part of the body'.
Birthstones of March:
 |
| Aquamarine/Beryl |
Aquamarine (from Latin: aqua marina = water of the sea/ referring to its sparkling ocean colour. It is a blue or cyan variety of beryl. The gem-gravel placer deposits of Sri Lanka contain aquamarine. The deep blue version of aquamarine is called maxixe.
Maxixe is commonly found in the country of Madagascar. Its color fades
to white when exposed to sunlight or is subjected to heat treatment,
though the color returns with irradiation. Aquamarine is in several localities in USA, Brasil and in Africa. The largest aquamarine of gemstone quality ever mined was found in
Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. It weighed over 110 kg
(240 lb), and its dimensions were 48.5 cm (19 in) long and 42 cm (17 in)
in diameter. The largest cut aquamarine gem is the Dom Pedro aquamarine, now housed in the Smithsonians institutions National Museum of National History.
 |
| Facetted Aquamarine, wikipedia. |
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.
 |
| Art Deco Aquamarine ring,1920s (Pinterest) |
Ancient seer considered it to be under the
influence of the moon, an orb exerting very great magnetic influence.
Present day supporters of crystal-gazing suggest that when using an
Aquamarine to view coming events, do so when the moon is increasing. The
magnetism of the moon on the included iron oxides will strengthen the
stone's forecasting ability.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. As a stone of symmetries, it is
conducive for meditation and revelation, a stone of prophets, shamans,
healers, and mystics. It also allows us to explore the darkest depths of
our souls, face to face with ourselves, and with other
Aquamarine is the blue variety of Beryl, though the
Beryl family forms in other colors used as gems, such as green Emerald,
yellow Heliodor and Golden Beryl, pink Morganite, Red Beryl or Bixbite,
and the colorless variety, Goshenite.
 |
| bloodstone/wikipedia |
The mineral aggregate Heliotrope, also known as Bloodstone , is a variety of jasper or chalcedony. The "classic" bloodstone is green jasper (chalcedony) with red inclusions of hematite. The red inclusions are supposed to resemble spots of blood;
hence the name "bloodstone". The name "heliotrope" derives from various
ancient notions about the manner in which the mineral reflects light. Heliotrope was called "stone of Babylon" by Albert the Great
and he referred to several magical properties, which were attributed to
it from Late Antiquity. Pliny the Elder (1st century) mentioned first
that the magicians used it as a stone of invisibility. Damigeron (4th century) wrote about its property to make rain, solar eclipse and its special virtue in divination and preserving health and youth. Heliotrope features as an invisibility stone in one of Boccacio's stpries in the Decameron and as a healing magic item in a musical comedy derived from it. Heliotrope is sometimes used in carved signet rings and is the traditional birthstone for March.
In the Middle Ages, bloodstones were
associated with the crucifixion of Christ. According to the legend, when
Christ was crucified, blood dripped onto the green ground, and this
red-green stone was formed. Greeks and Romans wore Bloodstones
during athletic games to increase their strength and endurance. They are
most commonly sourced from India, but can also be found in places like
Brazil, China and Australia. Bloodstone is a good birthday gift for someone who would value a reminder of their strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment