Amazing April Birthstones
As we have learned, the history of birthstones is varied and sometimes unclear. In our modern, Western tradition, most birthstones are attributed to the breastplate of the high priest Aaron. All of the ancient civilizations historically had beliefs regarding precious stones associated with time of birth. Today birthstones are a personal choice. You can choose a different color of the stone designated for your month. But, since color is the traditional primary feature of the birthstone, an appropriate alternate should be in the same color family! How to know? Fortunately, if you look beyond the standard options, you will find that you actually have lots of choices.
Most of us automatically think of diamonds as the birthstone for lucky April babies, and it is the only stone listed by the Jewelers of America. And who’s going to argue with that? But if you are that person who doesn’t like diamonds (that person exists?!) or perhaps diamonds are out of your price range, then look to ancient traditions or even astrology for lots of choices, including sapphires, Herkimer diamonds, clear quartz, opal, and Aries and Taurus birthdays that fall in April, you can include bloodstone, amethyst, ruby, and even emeralds. Now, how to choose?
Diamonds
Arguably the most popular gemstone on earth, diamond is the modern birthstone for April, both in the United States and in Britain, as well as in India. Diamond was historically recognized as the April birthstone in the old Polish and ancient Hindu (Ayurvedic) calendars. Before that, diamond was a zodiac stone for Aries, which falls partly on the month of April. Diamond is the hardest gemstone on earth and remains one of the most expensive. While occurring in a variety of colors, the April gemstone is most popular as the clear, bright white diamond.
As a gemstone, diamond has always been a symbol of stability and dependability in an ever-changing world. Made of carbon, the most common material on the planet, diamond is a stone with a range of colors that is most often valued for its colorlessness. This gemstone has captured the human imagination for millennia. The word "diamond" comes from the ancient Greek word "adamas," meaning unbreakable, unchangeable, or invincible. Diamonds are believed to have been used as a gemstone in India for up to 6,000 years. In Sanskrit, the diamond is called “vajra,” which also means lightning; in Hindu mythology, vajra was the weapon of Indra, the king of gods. Craftsmen in Stone Age China used diamonds to polish ceremonial axes left in graves. While low quality diamonds are used for cutting and polishing, but it’s still most popularly used in jewelry.
Diamond’s ability to reflect and refract light illuminates the mind and draws mental clarity to its wearer, encouraging the resolution of problems with clear understanding. It is a gemstone of the intellect, helping to prevent misunderstandings. It enhances courage, fortitude, and fearlessness. It clears emotional and mental pain, cleanses, restores and balances mind, body, and soul. Diamond stimulates creativity, inventiveness, imagination, and ingenuity. It activates the seventh crown chakra, Sahaswara, the chakra of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves, others, and to the divine. Diamond is the traditional wedding anniversary gift for the 60-year mark.
Sapphire
Besides diamond, sapphire, white sapphire in particular, is the traditional birthstone for April. The gemstone was the April birthstone in the old Roman, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, and Arabic calendar. Before sapphire became the birthstone of April in these ancient calendars, the gemstone was the main zodiac stone for Taurus, which falls partly in the month of April. This April gemstone is a precious variety of corundum (which when red is called ruby). While occurring in a variety of colors — ranging from pink, orange, yellow, white to black — sapphire is most popular in its blue color, which makes the name sapphire synonymous to a brilliant blue, but the white or clear sapphire would be the preferred color for April.
Sapphire is the second hardest mineral known. While we think of the predominant blue sapphire, the stone is found in a multitude of beautiful colors, and some of its properties are specific to the color. In general, it is the wisdom stone, stimulating concentration and enhancing mental clarity. Sapphire releases mental tension and unwanted thoughts, lessens confusion and eases anxieties. It helps restore balance within the body and align the physical, mental, and spiritual planes, bringing serenity, joy, peace of mind and hope. Sapphire attracts gifts and helps fulfill dreams and desires. Blue sapphire is associated with purity and love. It facilitates self-expression and has a calming and balancing effect. Blue sapphire opens and heals the thyroid and the fifth throat chakra, Vishuddha, which the source of verbal expression and the ability to speak the highest truth and is also related to the sixth third eye chakra, Ajna, the center of intuition, imagination, wisdom, and the ability to think and make decisions. Sapphire is the 5th and 45th anniversary gemstone. It is the birthstone of Virgo, Gemini, Libra and Sagittarius and the month of September.
Clear Quartz
Beside diamond, clear quartz, also known as rock crystal, has also been designated in Britain as a birthstone for April. The rationale is simple: rock crystal is as clear as diamond. And clear quartz provides a less expensive alternative for an April birthstone to diamond. This new April stone is the colorless variety of quartz, which when yellow is called citrine, and when violet amethyst.
Quartz is called the "Universal Crystal" because it has many uses. It is an all-purpose healing stone. It absorbs, stores, amplifies, balances, focuses and transmits energy, and can be used in conjunction with other stones. It dispels negativity and negative energy. It enhances spiritual growth and wisdom. Quartz balances energy and brings harmony to one's environment. It clarifies thought processes and emotions, and can increase inspiration and creativity. It aids concentration and unlocks memory. It stimulates the immune system and brings the body into balance. Quartz energizes the seventh crown chakra, Sahaswara, the chakra of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves, others, and to the divine. It is the birthstone of all sun signs and the month of April.
Opal
Opal is the birthstone for April in the ancient Tibetan calendar. This April birthstone occurs in a variety of colors, and is popular for its multi-colored fire that shines against a certain body tone, which ranges from white, blue, to black, black being the most expensive of the precious opal. The Romans held this birthstone of April to be a symbol of hope and purity.
Opal is a soothing stone, it helps to balance mood swings, enhance trust in your own feelings, and act as an emotional stabilizer. It helps release fear and bring comfort for grief and provides a barrier against negativity. It enhances self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem, and aids in communication and decision-making skills. Opal boosts intuition and creativity, and brings lightness and spontaneity. Opal amplifies traits, it also absorbs and reflects, and is karmic, allowing you to pick up thoughts and feelings, amplify them and return them to their source, and encourages putting out positive emotions. Because of all of the colors in the stone, opals may be used to work on and balance all of the chakras, and are excellent healing stones. Opal is the traditional gift for the 14th anniversary. It is the birthstone for the month of October, and the zodiac signs of Cancer, Libra, Pisces, and Scorpio.
Herkimer Diamond
Herkimer diamonds are not actually diamonds but double-terminated quartz crystals discovered within exposed outcrops of dolomite in and aroundHerkimer County, New York, and the Mohawk River Valley. Unlike quartz found in igneous rock, these unique crystals formed in sedimentary rock in a manner that left them with no contact with a host rock, thereby allowing the crystals to form fully shaped. The doubly terminated points (natural faces) on these hexagonal quartz crystals have made them coveted for both their elegant luster and metaphysical status as an energy amplifier.
Unusually transparent with a brilliant sparkle, Herkimer diamonds manifest pure, solid Light and are powerful amplifiers of spiritual energy. The “Herk” is a healing stone, clearing negative feelings and repressed fears. It fosters a sense of serenity. The most powerful of all quartz crystals, being doubly terminated that transmit and receive spiritual energy, and amplify and focus it. Herks balance the sixth third eye chakra, Ajna, the center of intuition, imagination, wisdom, and the ability to think and make decisions. This enables energy flow throughout the body and enhances clarity of thought and finding best solutions. Herks are also associated with the seventh crown chakra, Sahaswara, the chakra of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves, others, and to the divine.
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Bloodstone
Falling partially in the Sun Sign of Aries, April can also claim several birthstones associated with that sign. The most commonly accepted is bloodstone. Also known as heliotrope, a blend of Greek words that translate to “sun turning,” bloodstone reminded people in ancient times of the deep red of a setting sun. One legend of bloodstone is that the blood of Christ, which flowed from the fatal spear-thrust, fell upon a Green Jasper lying at the foot of the Cross, and from this sprang the Bloodstone variety of Jasper. Because of this, bloodstone is said to carry spiritual powers. Medieval Christians would carve crucifixion scenes into the stone. Greeks and Romans considered bloodstone the gem that brought favors. Egyptians used bloodstone in rings and chose designs displaying rays of the sun – a powerful symbol of worship of the god of the sun. Many European churches have altar vessels inlaid with it.
Bloodstone is a healing and grounding stone. It is calming, brings love and dispels negative energy. It reduces irritability and impatience, and reduces confusion, stress, and anxiety, while promoting courage, selflessness, and idealism. It has been used for thousands of years to heal, purify, and cleanse the body, the blood in particular. Bloodstone cleanses and aligns the first Base or Root Chakra, Muladhara, which represents the foundation, stability security and basic needs and the fourth Heart Chakra, Anahata, the middle chakra that unites the physical and spiritual chakras and is the source of love and connection.
Amethyst
Another Aries birthstone is amethyst. This birthstone is the violet, or purple, variety of quartz. Amethyst used to be highly expensive; but since the discovery in the 19thcentury of its huge deposit in Brazil, it is no longer included in the category of precious stone. Amethyst also fades in color with exposure to sunlight, making this gemstone less durable compared to other gemstones.
Amethyst is believed to make its wearer gentle, friendly and agreeable. It is a meditative and calming stone which can bring patience, peace, and balance. It enhances spirituality, intuition, and psychic abilities. It promotes peacefulness and contentment, and aids healing from loss and grief. Amethyst is associated with the sixth third eye chakra, Ajna, the center of intuition, imagination, wisdom, and the ability to think and make decisions, and the seventh crown chakra, Sahaswara, the chakra of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves, others, and to the divine.
Ruby
And yet another beautiful stone attributed to Aries is ruby. Ruby has many names in Sanskrit, and the most significant of them are ‘ratnaraj’ meaning ‘king of precious gemstones’, and ‘padmaraga’ that means ‘red as a lotus’. Ruby’s blood-like color no doubt encouraged strong associations with this life-sustaining fluid. Those who risked their lives were believed to have a special connection to the gem. The ancient Burmese prized the ruby as the stone of soldiers. They believed it bestowed invulnerability, but the stone had to be physically inserted into their flesh would benefit! They believed they were safe from wounds from spears, swords, or guns. Other sources claimed rubies and other red stones, including red garnet, could remedy bleeding and inflammation as well as increase the body’s warmth. Hindus regard the ruby, known as “the king of precious stones,” as more valuable than any other gem. The Mani Mala describes the Kalpa Tree, a symbolic offering to the Hindu gods, as composed entirely of precious stones, sapphires, diamonds, topazes, emeralds, and other gems, and this magnificent tree would bear rubies as fruit. An 8th-century Arabic book on dreams by Achametis discusses the significance of dreams of rubies. If a king dreams of a crown set with red jewels such as rubies, this indicates he’ll have great joy and fortune. His enemies would fear him even more. Other sources tell that dreams of rubies indicate success in business, or for farmers the dreams mean a good harvest.
The red variety of Corundum (blue corundum is known as sapphire), ruby is a powerful grounding stone, helping to bring focus and clarity as well as wisdom. It is a powerful heart stone, instilling confidence, encouraging joy and spontaneity. It enhances fortitude, giving the courage and strength to forge ahead despite adversities. It sparks a zest for life and encourages one to follow passions. It gives inspiration to face any obstacle that may bring about a negative mindset and anxiety. Ruby promotes creativity and helps expand awareness. Ruby energizes the first Base or Root Chakra, Muladhara, which represents the foundation, stability security and basic needs, and the fourth Heart Chakra, Anahata, the middle chakra that unites the physical and spiritual chakras and is the source of love and connection. The red stone is a popular 15th and 40th anniversary gift.
Emerald
The early days of the Sun Sign of Taurus, April 20-30, share the birthstone emerald. Emerald is the green variety of beryl (which when blue is called aquamarine, and when yellow heliodor). This stone is among the most expensive gemstones in the world.
Emerald enhances unconditional love and unity and promotes friendship. It focuses intention and raises consciousness. Emerald helps release negativity and create positive actions and outcomes and promotes a sense of well-being. It strengthens memory and improves clarity of thought. It stimulates the fourth heart chakra, Anahata, the middle chakra that unites the physical and spiritual chakras and is the source of love and connection. It is the traditional gift for the 55th anniversary.