I love gem folklore. I find it fascinating to read what different cultures have thought about the powers and uses of gemstones. The following is folklore for June's birthstone, the moonstone.
"There is a bit of folklore which claims that if a man gives his lover
a moonstone necklace on the night of the full moon, the couple will
experience intense passion for each other forever.
The moonstone is also believed to bring good fortune, enhance intuition, offer protection, and bring success in love and business matters.
Fortune tellers decorated their crystal balls with moonstone to aid them in predicting the future. It is believed that the moonstone gem regenerates its power when placed under the light of the full moon.
Moonstone in Rome, Greece and France
From ancient civilizations to our modern-day society, moonstone has been prized and sought after to be worn as jewelry.
The Romans revered the moonstone, believing it to be born from the rays of the moon’s light.
The Greeks believed that the moonstone represented the great lunar deities like Achelois, Phoebe, Artemis, Selene and Hecate, and worshiped the stone.
Indian Moonstone Legends
In India, the moonstone is thought to be a sacred, powerful gemstone. Moonstones there are called 'dream stones' and are believed to bring the wearer beautiful visions during sleep.
The stone is believed to bring luck in love and is given as a traditional wedding gift. Moonstones are always displayed on a cloth that is yellow, which the Indians consider a sacred color.
The legend about how the moonstone came into existence begins with a battle fought between Lord Vishnu and Bali, the demon god. Lord Vishnu destroyed Bali and broke his body into pieces. The pieces then fell to Earth as various jewels. The moonstone was formed from a piece of Bali’s eye.
Moonstone in the Middle East
In the Middle East, many women wear moonstones discretely sewn into their garments because they believe the stone is a symbol of fertility.
Amulets with moonstone are hung from trees to ensure an abundant crop.
Similar to Indians, the people in the Middle East also associate the moonstone with love matters. It is believed that a couple can predict the direction of their relationship if a moonstone is placed in their mouths at the time of the full moon.
The moonstone is also offered as a blessing to young couples. It is believed that the gem will provide fertility and help to create a large and healthy family.
Oriental Beliefs
In the Orient, it is believed that the moonstone gem is actually a ray of moonlight that has solidified and that a good spirit lives inside the gem. Emperors were buried with moonstone and other symbolic gems."
This information in from the website JewelryNotes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment