Why are we including Amber in our Stone Room, you ask, since it's not a “stone”? Because amber is one of the loveliest of “fossils” and worth our attention!
Amber Specs: Amber is the fossilized resin of ancient cone bearing trees (like pine trees) of the Oligocene period.
Color: Pale yellow/brown to dark brown in color with clear to opalescent features. Some stones contain insects and bits of plants.
Finds/Mines: Eastern European countries like the Baltic region, Russia, Poland. Also North and South America.
Ancient Lore: Amber is one of the oldest substances used for adornment. It has been found as jewelry in grave sites dating back 8000 years. The early Chinese thought the souls of tigers transformed into amber when they died. Amber was sacred to ancient Mother Goddess worship. The old Greek name for amber was “elektron” - amber rubbed against wool or silk becomes electrically charged! Women wore carved amber images of fish, frogs and rabbits to ensure conception/fertility. Norse tradition believed amber to be the tears of the Goddess Freya. Amber was worn to guard against ill luck and enchantment.
Metaphysical: Projective energy; associated with the Sun and the elements of fire and Akasha (spirit). Amber is also associated with the Earth Mother and a symbol of life.
Worn to enhance beauty and attractiveness. Amber stimulates happiness, attracts friends and companions to the lonely. Increases ones enjoyment of pleasure. Amber is considered a general protector of health, especially for strengthening the eyes. It is used to relieve or cure existing conditions such as deafness, earaches, headaches, asthma and insanity. Amber is also used to promote business success and stimulate money flow.
Silver Birds uses amber in the “Sun, Moon, & Stars” necklace and amber chips in our Funky Winker-Bead and Gardener's pins.
Color: Shades of purple (violet to red-purple); transparent to semi-transparent
Finds/Mines: Paterson, New Jersey, Mexico; Brazil; Uruguay
Ancient Lore: Amethyst is associated with the deities of Bacchus, Dionysus, and Diana. It was the stone of St. Valentine and considered the stone of friendship. Amethyst was made into charms to ward against evil and as protective amulets, especially for travelers.
Traditional Lore: Amethyst has long been considered the birthstone of February.
Metaphysical: Receptive stone associated with the planets Jupiter and Neptune and the element of water. Considered to have powers in healing, psychism and dreams, overcoming alcoholism, brings peace, love, courage, happiness, protects against theft. Has no negative side effects so it can soothe, de-stress, and calm. Lifts the spirit and brings hope.
Silver Birds uses amethyst in our
Garden Badge grapevine pins and in the Springtime
Twilight necklace and earrings.
Stone Specs: Form of chalcedony which is a micro crystalline variety of quartz. Hardness rating of 7.
Color: Translucent stone with dark red to orange-red/reddish brown... since the coloring agent is iron, the stone's color can be enhanced through a careful heating process.
Finds/Mines: India and South America (Brazil).
Ancient Lore: In Egypt, the stone was worn on the hand to control anger, jealously, envy and hatred.
Traditional: Also known as “cornelian”.
Metaphysical: Projective stone associated with the Sun and the element of fire. Carnelian is used to counteract doubt and negativity. It guards and protects...bolsters courage. Carnelian is good to wear when doing public speaking as it strengthens the voice, provides self confidence, and confers eloquence (when worn on the neck or as a ring).
Silver Birds uses carnelian with
tree agate and silver in our "Forest in Winter"
necklace and earrings.
Color: The traditional “garnet” coloration is found as follows: Pyrope (deep red to reddish black) Almandine (deep red to brown/brownish black) Spessartine (brownish red to hyacinth red) Andradite (wine red).
Finds/Mines: Abundant in North America, also found in Australia, Austria, Germany South America, South Africa, Sri Lanka. Pyrope: Kentucky, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah Almandine: Alaska, Idaho, Michigan Spessartine: Virginia, California, Nevada, Colorado Andradite: New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Arizona.
Ancient Lore: Garnets were worn to repel insects in the 13th century! During the Middle Ages, lion figures were carved onto garnets and worn to guard the health, especially when traveling. Also worn to ward off demons and night phantoms.
Traditional Lore: Birthstone of January.
Metaphysical: Projective
stone associated with the planet Mars and the element of fire. Garnet was
worn to enhance strength, endurance and vigor. It was also worn for protective
purposes -- as a shield of positive energy to repel negative energies.
Considered good protection against thieves. As a healing stone, garnet
is said to help relieve skin conditions and inflammations. Garnet also
regulates the heart and blood.
Color: Black, silvery metallic, steel gray, red, reddish brown; streaks of dark red, cherry red, brownish red. Silver/metallic hematite sometimes referred to as “black diamond”.
Finds/Mines: Many locations in North America: St. Lawrence County in New York. Reddish-brown finds in Michigan, Minnesota, and Gila County, Arizona. Brilliant black found in quartz in Yuma County, Arizona.
Ancient Lore: Hematite is from the Greek haimatites meaning blood-like referring to the red color of its powder form, appearing to “bleed” when the stone is cut. (This is not the same as bloodstone which is a form of green chalcedony.) Hematite was an attribute of the Roman god Mars and believed to protect warriors.
Metaphysical: Projective energy stone associated with the element of fire and the planet Saturn. Considered a powerful healing stone in drawing illness from the body. Hematite is also used as a grounding/stabilizing stone. Used as a scrying stone in magical divination.
Silver Birds Jewelry loves hematite -- it's mysterious, sometimes it looks more silver than black. We use it in our Goddess necklaces, our New Moon/New Beginnings necklace, the Hematite Circle Necklace Rope, in the Sun-day Best necklace and Frosty Winter evening necklace.
Jadeite is a metamorphic mineral with a hardness of 6.5 - 7. Nephrite is an amphibole mineral of tremolite and actinolite with a hardness of 5 - 6.
Color: Jadeite that is semi-transparent to translucent green is called “jade”. The most common jadeite colors are white to green, and white with greenish spots. Less common colors are pale lavender, emerald green (called “Imperial Jade”) and silvery white, reddish brown and brown with red. Jadeite’s value as a gemstone increases with the level of transparency, color, and flawlessness.
Green nephrite with semi-transparent to translucent characteristics is also referred to as “jade”. Nephrite jade is white, all shades of green, gray, brown and lavender. Again, its gemstone value increases with the level of transparency, intensity and evenness of color, and flawlessness.
Finds/Mines: Best quality of jadeite is found in Burma. Jadeite is also found in California. Nephrite is found in Alaska, British Columbia, Wyoming, China and Siberia.
Ancient Lore: Jadeite comes from the Spanish piedra de ijada or “stone of the side” -- it was believed that jade could cure kidney problems if applied to the side of the body. In China, jade was (and is) considered a sacred stone. Chinese bridegrooms would give their wife a jade butterfly as a symbol of their love. It was believed an elixir made of powdered jade would bring immortality. Jade was considered an attribute of the goddess Venus and representative of all things excellent.
Metaphysical: Receptive energy stone associated with the element water and the planet Venus. Also the sacred stone of deities Kwan Yin (China), Maat (Egypt), and Buddha. Jade is believed to have power over the weather and was thrown into water with great force in order to bring rain, snow or mist.
With its green color, jade is considered a healing stone -- both to heal and prevent disease. It helps the body to heal itself while you work through underlying non-physical problems. Considered especially helpful for heart, kidney and stomach.
For gardeners, it is thought that if you bury four pieces of jade along the North/South/East/West perimeters of your garden, they will improve the health of garden plants.
Jade is considered a stone of prosperity, for bringing money into your life and in making successful business deals. It is also thought of as a protective stone that guards against accidents and mishaps.
Look for our yellow jade and hematite
necklace (Sun - Day Best).
Colors: Jasper has many color variations referred to as:
Ancient Lore: Jaspers were thought to possess magical qualities dating back thousands of years. Jasper was greatly prized in antiquity and in ancient Peru. Stones of unselfishness, jaspers were considered bringers of joy and happiness and love of mankind. Considered the “mother” of all stones and a strong healing stone. American Indians used it as a “rain bringer” in rain ceremonies.
Metaphysical: Each variety/color has its own attributes:
Stone Specs: Basic potassium/lithium/aluminum/fluorsilicate mica group with hardness rating of 2/5-3.
Color: Lilac, light lavender/purple, pink, yellowish, gray/white...pearly luster sometimes with clear/colorless streaks.
Finds/Mines: North America with deposits in New England, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and southern California.
Metaphysical: Receptive stone associated with the planets Jupiter and Neptune and the element of water. Used as a magical aid in promoting love, peace, protection, spirituality, meditation, pyschism.
Silver Birds uses lepidolite and amethyst with silver in our “Twilight Time” necklace and earrings.