Saturday, May 18, 2024
Last of January Girls add On
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Another January Girls Add On
If you haven't figured it out by now, I get a little obsessive when it comes to research. Guess that dates back to my grad school days. In the previous post on January birthstones, I mention the alternative stones but because I do have other things going on, I had to stop myself from delving into more information on them. However, I thought you should have an image or two of the 2 familiar alternative stones. This little zip contains that plus some additional garnet jewels for your stash.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iky9o39jydi8x9gicjty3/ws_JanGirls_alternatives.zip?rlkey=k1m66sgck06y73bz183wfoz23&st=liiou3rk&dl=0
January Girls Characteristics
No preview for this one. It is those word strips I previously mentioned about characteristics January girls are thought to have.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3cowxd6zl6ctc4w08lqxh/ws_JanGirls_Characteristics.zip?rlkey=t7ips3uxwa05vpqkp0yloodaa&st=ddi0yc8i&dl=0
January Birthstones
Note: this will also be included as a text file in coming add-ons.
Garnet is the major gemstone for January. The word “garnet” comes from the Latin Granatum, which means pomegranate seed.
General on colors - Garnets can be found in green, range, pinkish orange, purplish red, even blue but the deep red is the most prized representing sincerity and a strong work ethic. Pyrop is the most well-known species of garnet. This is the one that comes in the famous red color. The name Pyrop means ‘like fire’ when translated from Greek.
History - Beaded garnet necklaces have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back thousands of years ago. The oldest known is from 3800 BC The Egyptians referred to this gem as the symbol of life. Some ancient cultures used to place the garnet directly into wounds to activate its alleged healing powers.
Rings carved garnet emblems used in ancient Rome to stamp wax on important and official documents.
Bohemia has long been considered the center of garnet industry, however nowadays it is found in many parts of the world including New York City metro area. One of the largest specimens was found in Herald Square and is now in the Natural History Museum. In fact, thousands of garnets were found on Manhattan Island. Rockhounds often search for these gems after big storms as they get washed out and can be spotted gleaming against rock and sand.
Some peoples in middle Asia used garnets as bullets, for example during the Kashmir rebellion against British troops in 1892. Many soldiers actually kept those precious bullets as souvenirs.
Because garnets are softer than gems like diamonds, sapphires, or rubies, they were often used for engravings. They were also carved into heads of emperors or gods.
In Persia this birth gem was considered a talisman from nature's forces like storm and lightning. It was widely accepted that garnet could signal approaching danger by turning pale. During the middle ages this birthstone was its own protection against theft, bringing misfortune to the thief until the stone was returned to the rightful owner.
Ancient legends attributed to garnet calming influence over hot tempered individuals. Psychoanalysts used garnets in their sessions.
The garnet crystal is a gemstone that has been used for centuries to ward off evil, promote good health, and encourage the wearer’s inner strength. It was believed in ancient times to have healing powers because of its deep red color which symbolizes love and life. Today people around the world believe it can help with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual issues.
Called the “stone of health,” it was believed to give its wearer energy and protect against illness. Because garnets were considered the stone of health and strength, they have been used to strengthen a woman’s milk supply and for fertility. Garnets were also worn by young girls as a charm to protect them from evil spirits.
In ancient times, Egyptians used it as a symbol of fertility and long life. Others used it as a stone of rebirth for people who had already passed on. In the Middle Ages, kings wore garnets on their crowns as a symbol of strength and protection from evil.
As symbol - In ancient times, Egyptians used it as a symbol of fertility and long life. Others used it as a stone of rebirth for people who had already passed on. In the Middle Ages, kings wore garnets on their crowns as a symbol of strength and protection from evil.
Today it is seen as a symbol of creativity and individuality
This dazzling January birthstone symbolizes affection, trust and spiritual devotion. Garnet empowers the individual, increasing will-power and self image while aiding in soothing nervousness. The Garnet pushes you to challenge adversity by providing directional guidance and is believed to protect the traveler. It could enhance foresight and bring fortune. It is considered to be energizing, cleansing, and provide courage. It has been highly prized as an engagement ring gem. Parting friends would often present garnets to each other as it was supposed to preserve friendship.
Healing use - It is, or has been, thought to help heal physical ailments by offering relief from pain caused by arthritis, skin disorders, muscle aches, gout, neuralgia (a chronic pain disorder), or rheumatism (inflammation of joints). It is said to provides protection against heart disease because it strengthens the heart muscle over time. Wearing garnet can lower the risk of liver disease because it has strong antioxidant properties that help to strengthen the organ over time. It also helps your heart, lungs, and blood. Other conditions it is thought to help with include: anxiety or depression, increase sexual desire, stimulate metabolism for effective weight loss. regenerate DNA, so it’s useful for treating genetic disorders.
Additionally it is said to help you think more clearly, restore positive energy and dispel negative emotions , boost self-esteem , reduce inhibitions, encourage kindness, generosity, and nobility. It is a stone of protection and provides courage to face your fears, bring good luck, and help gain your spiritual goals
If that weren't enough it can help you attract your true love as well as help you recall your past lives and learn from any mistakes made. In short, you could call it a miracle stone if these beliefs were true.
Alternatives - January major and alternative birthstones are Garnet, Onyx and Jasper. In addition to that Amethyst, the Aquarius birth gem, and Chalcedony, a Capricorn birthstone, can be considered. All January birthstones make up a choice of at least 4 gems.
Onyx - guardian angel birthstone for January
Jasper - January special apostle birth rock ( for apostle Simon Peter, aka St. Peter)
Chalcedony - Capricorn birth gem
Amethyst - Aquarius January birthstone
A little taste of January add ons
In the past birthday postcards featuring the month's birthstone and/or flowers were very popular. Where possible I will share these vintage copies with you.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5jq38t9ftuojbfskq9s94/ws_JanGirls_postcards.zip?rlkey=rjrjh0tfr4k5dwlo8relt3mkm&st=9tgh8qnx&dl=0
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
As promised some birthstone information
General Information about birthstones
Each month has a tradional birthstone, also referred to as as the major birthstone. There are also alternative birthstones. From my reading it seems that the major reason for alternative birthstones is affordibility. Jewelers wanted to sell more birthstone jewelry so they are largely responsible for offering the idea of alternates. Additionally, in some cases the major stone is hard to come by because of such things as accessibility ( that is, finding the deposits and mining it) or scarcity due to over use (more on this as those instances come up).
Further, there are cultural, Biblical and astronomical (zodiac) reasons for the assignment of stones to different months and zodiac signs. In a book published in the late 1800s by George Frederick Kunz, he writes :
"The Jewish superstitions relating to gems were probably derived from earlier races and adopted by the Arabian philosophers in their works, by which they became known throughout Europe. The influence of gems was believed in until early in the 17th century, and in regard to some gems up even to the present century.
The association of a special gem with each month was probably suggested by the original breastplate of the High Priest, which contained twelve gems, one for each of the tribes of Israel. The original breastplate was a span long and a span high: 1 span = 8 inches. The arrangement by months came in vogue during the 15th and 16th centuries, but was first suggested in the seventh century, although it is attributed to the Jews, Romans, and early Arabians."
Although I used a variety of sources and, shame on me, failed to document all (as originally the notes were for my personal use), there is one favorite source I want to recognize as you might enjoy reading more. The author(s) "used the 4 most unique arrangements of birthstones: by birth month, guardian angel birthstones, by zodiac sign, and special apostle birthstones list."
Link: https://www.birthstone.guide/january-birthstones
Another interesting site, one that deals more with the healing aspects is:
https://www.crystaldigest.com/crystals/
and
https://www.gempundit.com/
If you want to learn about really rare stones and crystals, try this site which focuses on healing aspects of stones in alternative therapy and spiritual growth.
https://www.crystaldigest.com/crystals/
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Note about Dropbox
My dropbox is almost full so I will be removing anything before the Birthday Girls series to make room for next months. Grab whatever you want before Saturday.
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
May Girls
Believe it or not, May Girls is ready!
You get half the links today, the other two on Thursday.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3wrik4kkpqgtgawn0drgn/ws_MayGirls_els_1.zip?rlkey=nymjm0xialsh4m04x1oox410e&st=8ff6votl&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/aike29khkz3u6rz9e4g1l/ws_MayGirls_pps_1.zip?rlkey=ypykiyc78kyckoorlsgf9ceyk&st=qkae1pii&dl=0
I've also made good headway on add-ons for January. I've made some word strips with a vellum like backing that deal with characteristics that are often associated with those born in January. There will be small cards with an image of the two birthday flowers with notes on what they symbolize. Haven't started the birthstone bit yet but you will get some history in text and I'm thinking about how to display the birthstone symbolism. I'd also like to give you a few things that I feel were left out of the original kits. For example: papers featuring the flowers (you'll find these already in May) and where there wasn't at least one woman in evening wear, one of those. Different kits will "need" different things. I hope to have the January add-on finished by Monday. You will notice that some months have more papers and elements than others. It isn't me favoring one month over another but a case of what I have that will work and what I can find.
An I'm back to work on January add-on.
Hugs!
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