GREEN

GREEN

I love the color green …it is my favorite.

Green grass, green leaves in the trees, green apples! It's the color of rebirth every spring as the grass springs forth,  trees bud new leaves, and the flowers bloom. Dark green, lime green, pale green, it's a beautiful color to wear during any season of the year.

Green is the color of the gemstone, Peridot, which is the birthstone for August and the 15th wedding anniversary gemstone. I've known this all my life because my sister is an August baby, and she would occasionally get a Peridot jewelry piece for her birthday. Then, lucky for me, I had a baby girl born in August, and now I get to give Madeline the same stone for her birthday. It is said to be a stone that inspires creativity, and I can attest to that since both my sister and Madeline are fabulous artists.

Known as the stone of compassion, Peridot is believed to bring good health, restful sleep, allow for excellent communication skills, and bring peace to relationships by balancing emotions and mind. This friendly, bright green stone also has the uncanny ability to inspire eloquence and bring delight and good cheer. Whew, this is a mighty stone!

Ancient records document the mining of the Peridot gems from as early as 1500 BC making it one of the oldest known gemstones. Found in ancient Egypt, it is believed by historians that the famous emeralds of Cleopatra were actually Peridot gems. For centuries, people thought the fabulous 200-carat gems adorning the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany's Cologne Cathedral were emeralds. They are, in fact, Peridots.

Most gems are formed in the Earth's crust; however, there are two exceptions: Peridot and Diamond. These two gems are formed deep in the Earth's mantle. The Peridot forms in the magma in the upper mantle, about 20 to 55 miles deep from the Earth's surface. It is brought to the surface by tectonic or volcanic activity. In contrast, the Diamond is formed much deeper in the mantle, around 100-150 miles below the surface under much more extreme pressure and high temperatures.

The Peridot was first used as a talisman in ancient times, known to inspire healing, renewal, purifications, rebirth, and growth. As a mystical stone, it was said to ward off anxiety, make men (not women?) more articulate, and facilitate successful relationships and marriage. Peridot was also believed to be able to dissolve spells that had been cast upon a person. Other legends tell the story that the stone had to be pierced, strung on the hair of a donkey, and worn on the left arm to provide protection from evil spirits.  

It was also used as a medical remedy. One such use was to crush the stone into a powered using this to cure asthma. Additionally, placing a Peridot under the tongue was supposed to help reduce a fever. Lastly, in the ancient Jewish religion, the high priest's breastplate, which is described in the Book of Exodus, includes a stone for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, one of which is believed to have been Peridot.

Today Peridot gems are found in Finland, Pakistan, Myanmar, Arizona, New Mexico, Vietnam, China, and the island of Zabargad (extra points if you know where that is!) with the most exquisite specimens coming from Myanmar.

The ideal color for this gemstone is a rich grass-green. However, the color can range from a brown-green color to yellowish green to pure green. Yellowish Green is the most common Peridot color seen in jewelry.

Green is the color of rebirth. Just like The LIGHT, who gave his life so that we can be reborn. Interestingly, Peridot has always been associated with light. The Egyptians called it the "gem of the sun" but believes it was not found in the sunlight. Because of the very bright desert sun, the stones were supposedly invisible during the day. In the darkness of night, however, they were alleged to give off a light of their own, making the Peridot a gemstone a "light in the darkness."  

I wear this stone almost every day. I have a set of stackable rings, each with my kid's birthstones, so one of them is a Peridot. Instead of believing the superstitions of ancient folklore, though, I like to think of the LIGHT when I wear this stone and am reminded each time I look at it of his love and sacrifice for me, giving me a rebirth, and that he overcame the darkness.

Come by and view the Peridot jewelry displayed in the shop (or view it online). You can find a piece to wear every day to remind you of the LIGHT too!

And remember, each piece you purchase provides LIGHt to those in the dark places in India.

Tina

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