Garnet

Birthstone for January babies.  Linked to the element of fire it is useful for those in professions who need to use to use strength of mind and sometimes of body as well, perhaps, as toughness and courage such as police officers, soldiers, sailors and prison guards, firefighters and doctors. Business women, who sometimes feel they need to be tougher than their male counterparts can use this stone to help reach those objectives or just to help in their positions. In fact ancient soldiers would carry it into battle for protection. It's energising and motivating and helps users get their objectives done to the best of their abilities.  Stamina is raised which would be useful to people with these type of careers, and increases their desire for recognition or even glory. Many garnets are red in colour and they were thought to light up the dark and protect from evil and disaster. As to the lighting of the dark there is a natural luminosity to it coming from it's high refractive index, basically that means it's reflecting back any light out there.

On the subject of the colour red, although there are many other colours of garnets including the popular green one, this is also the colour of passion, and garnets give passion and sexual drive. It encourages sexuality and sensuality and with that stamina which I've already mentioned means it would be useful maybe for couples wanting a little extra, well no more need be mentioned there.

But I will mention the other more physical uses of garnets and the red colour, as this gemstone is an aid for blood disorders as you might imagine, good for the heart and circulation and exhaustion, all good for those in the type of jobs listed above.

But anyone can use a garnet for the attributes it holds, just imagine how it can help with the housework when you're tired and have no motivation for it, try putting on a nice pair of garnet earrings or a necklace and imagine it firing you up to whizzing round the house and making it sparkle - well flylady tells you to clean your sink while wearing heels, it can't be that different can it...?

Fluorite

If you are a student or need to undertake any studying right now then this is the stone for you. It's great for learning. First of all it will help to neutralise any stress you have while trying to study and will clear away any negative energy so you have a nice clear mind to begin. Then it enhances your concentration, shutting off any mental blocks you might be experiencing. If you have those nagging thoughts that always seems to get into your head when you're trying to do something that needs concentration this gemstone will help to fend them off. Actually, with those attributes it could be a good gemstone for writers, or even blog posters who keep thinking of everything else they need to be doing (*cough* ironing) - I'm not talking about me here, well maybe...

Once you've spent time reading and you need to get your work written down it'll help with that too. The stone will bring intuition to your mind when trying to think what to do if your mind is stuck. It'll help to make the decisions on what to actually put down and be happy with those decisions, as it stimulates both those attributes in you. You'll feel more positive and happy with what you've done - it can be so easy to be thinking 'Oh I should have added that, or not put down that', can't it? Not for nothing was it used by the Ancient Egyptians and Chinese for carving, although perhaps that might have been down to it being a strong stone, but no doubt it helped them to think about what they wanted to carve and get it right.

When I first heard the name Fluorite I did wonder about teeth and yes, it is linked to fluoride that word coming from Fluorite, it does help with strengthening bone tissue which includes tooth enamel.

Other uses are for attracting wealth, and for this reason it is advised to keep a stone on your work desk. You can keep one by your computer if you use one to relieve stress.

It has many colours, including a clear one like mine, and has been called home of the rainbows, and also the most colourful mineral in the world. If you were wondering, another word comes from this stone - fluorescent - as many of it's colours often are, my clear one has many colours showing in the right light although not actually a fluorescent one and is very pretty, I think.

Eudialyte

Here is a stone for anyone feeling low. It'll lift your spirits and remove any self doubt you are feeling. That way it'll be helping you to open up to other people instead of hiding away from them. It increases feelings of self worth and accept ourselves for what we are not what we think we should be, that's never a bad thing. It'll help remove and jealousy we might have, too, even aiding in forgiving. The black veins in the stone help strengthen the properties it has.

It's good for opening the eyes and I guess that also means that if we open our eyes to ourselves and see ourselves clearly it's easier to accept that than if we just keep trying to be something else, or someone else. It will bring harmony to oneself which is what we all need, isn't it?

Other healing virtues attributed to this gemstone are that it helps with nervous disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinsons disease, and is also good for the pancreas and thyroid.

Diamond

Now I don't have any diamonds so have whipped this photo off the internet. As this stone is generally associated with either a necklace or engagement ring I have chosen the engagement ring to showpiece this gemstone.

Now, the reason so many people opt for a diamond as the stone of choice in the ring which shows their intention to marry is, well partly for tradition, but also because it is represents purity and innocence as well as faithfulness and love. The translucent white reflecting back at you conjures this up. It is a bonding stone and gives clarity to it's users, as well as bringing new beginnings so it's no wonder people use it as their commitment to marriage stone.

Other uses for the diamond are strength of mind and bravery, it gives fortitude. As a stone known for being extra hard, not only the hardest stone but also the hardest mineral,  and can cut glass this isn't really a surprising attribute. It clears the mind of negative thoughts and helps with imagination - and actually, those too would be very good for an engaged couple.

On the part of healing, clearing occurs again as it helps clear the sight, and glaucoma in the eyes. It is good for the brain and counteracts poisons. It blocks electromagnetic rays, so for those loved up couples calling each other constantly on the mobile it could help with those dangerous microwaves.

A very beautiful stone, and if you are inclined to think that way, also a very useful one. Do you, or would you, have one for your engagement ring?

Chrysoprase

The chrysoprase, which I have pictured above in it's raw form, is a green stone useful for achieving a deep meditation.

It's a good stone for families as it keeps people truthful and faithful which would help with the parental relationship, also helping to prevent speaking out in anger, and we all feel like a little grouch now and again at our partners, don't we? On the subject of speaking out it manages to help with speaking in general, another useful trait for keeping the relationship on the right side - talk about it, isn't that what the professionals say when a person is feeling cross/sad/whatever? Don't bottle it up, get it out - a chrysoprase stone will help with that. For the individual in this relationship it aids in commitments whilst encouraging independence.

Still on the family it's a good one for preventing nightmare in children and gives a sense of security to them and adults alike. As for illnesses it is said to be able to help heals a variety of them, eye problems, gout, heart problems and, one for the children as well the parents, it is good for digestive ailments. To increase the size of your family you could use it as it helps with fertility.

If there was a little straying on the part of one of the parents this stone again can come into it's own as it is meant to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

So there you go, a stone to keep the family together, to grow and keep well.

Beryl

Sometimes known as the Mother stone it encourages forgiveness, love and affection. It was used as an aid to keep demons and evil spirits away.

It comes in a range of colours, the one pictured above is my golden Beryl in it's raw state, which means it hasn't been polished to make it smooth, the usual term for this is 'tumbled'. The different colours are actually impurities which have discoloured the stones as in it pure state it would be clear. Many people believe the different colours give the stones slightly different attributes, for instance the golden Beryl brings out optimism and hope in it's users, causing others to give golden Beryl users the honesty they want. It is also a good stone for bring stability in work and money, it can be used if you are looking for backers in any business ventures you have, and will boost your enthusiasm in those ventures.

Another coloured Beryl is green which is known as the expensive but very beautiful Emerald. Venus's stone, preserving love and bringing hope and balancing the mind. New life is associated with the Emerald so Spring is a good time for it's use.

Other Beryl colours are red, pink and colourless.

A is for Arlee and Amethyst

Today is the first day of this years A-Z Challenge which I partook in last year and thoroughly enjoyed, so much so that I made sure to join up again this year.

We make our start with A of course and my A is for Arlee to say a big thank you for your creation of this linky which makes it possible for so many to join in with , meet new bloggers and make friends with some of them. I learnt so much last year from it which I will be able to implement in future blogging.

I do have another A which is for Amethyst. I decided to have a theme this year although I haven't checked every letter yet, so there may be a little blagging along the way if I don't find enough matches to the letters. The theme is gemstones.

The photo above is my amethyst which I leave out in the garden as part of the ornamentation so it needed a bit of a wash for the photo. The amethyst is a calming stone which helps protect anyone carrying it. It's good as a stress buster with anxiety lowering properties bringing peace and serenity. A very good allround stone for people. It also is mean to be very spiritual causing people to be able to achieve inner peace, or psychic experiences as well as help with meditating. It's also called the healing stone as it can help with addictions, blood cleansing and can bring down fevers with skin problems being cleared up as another of it's many helpful properties. Pop it under your pillow when you sleep to help with any insomnia you may have or rub it over your forehead if you have a headache. Carry it while travelling as a protection. One of the most recommended stones to have if you were to have any.

I have the one in the garden and have also kept a smaller one close be my bed, maybe it helps or maybe it doesn't but it's nice to have and look either way.