About Birthstones

(via Wahroongai News, Volume 24, No.9, September 1990)

In ancient Egypt, there was an accepted custom of engraving symbols onto certain semi-precious gemstones which had been cut into various symbolical forms. These symbols were taken from a very ancient ritual composition called the Book of the Dead. The symbols were inscribed on exceptional pieces of emerald in matrix, green and red jasper, malachite, lapis lazuli, feldspar, serpentine, turquoise, and carnelian. They were hand-carved in the form of heart-shaped amulets and beetle-shaped scarabs. The ancient symbols were usually inlaid with gold with ornamental gold surrounding the amulets and scarabs. These carved gems were usually placed around the neck of a mummy to assure safe passage of the soul of the deceased through the realm of the dead and to insure protection from all evil influences. One particular amulet called ‘uat’ insured that the deceased would enjoy eternal youth in the realm of the dead. There were many other amulets and scarabs, each with their own unique supernatural powers.

Beginning in the first century A.D., the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus (37 – 95 A.D) set forth the belief that to each month of the year a special stone was dedicated and that the stone of the month was endowed with a particular virtue for those born in that month. This was called their ‘natal’ stone, later to become known as birthstones. However, it was not until the 18th century in Poland that the wearing of natal or birthstones became an accepted custom. This disparity in time and custom may be attributed to the fact that the special virtues of the gemstone were customarily accepted. But is was centuries before what many believed to be a mystic bond between the stone of the month and the person born in that month was fully realized.

Each stone had particularly strong powers for the person born during its month. This belief grew from early studies of the Bible, in particular, the book of Exodus (28: 17 – 20) and Revelation (21: 19, 20). Although the special powers of gemstones were generally accepted, the practice of wearing birthstones attributed to the influence of Jewish rabbis and gem traders who settled there.

Today, the wearing of birthstones is an accepted custom. They are worn now not for their supposed mythical powers, but rather because of their color, brilliance, and beauty.