Understanding Stones Part:7 Red Coral


Images in collage taken from Pinterest.com
Stone Name 
Red Coral

Birthstone Month 
N/A

Zodiac Association 
Pisces

Affected Chakra
Root Chakra

History of Use:  Throughout history, coral had been thought to be a plant and has been called the 'garden of the sea'.  Coral is actually the accumulated skeletal remains of marine animals called polyps.  These tiny creatures live in colonies that grow to form branching structures.  Coral has been used in decorative art objects and jewelry dating back thousands of years.  Legends have been interpreted that ancient peoples once believed Mars was composed of red coral due to its striations and color. According to Greek mythology, when Perseus chopped off the head of Medusa, some drops of her blood splashed into the sea and solidified into coral.  Coral is considered by the Hopi and Zuni Indians to be one of the four element stones (the others being jet, abalone and turquoise), a symbol of the Road of Life (a journey through all seven universes created at the Beginning).  Coral has played an important role in the religious rites of many cultures throughout the Pacific Islands.  Often placed on graves to guard the deceased, and temples were often built of lava rocks and coral.

Spiritual Properties: Coral is said to quiet the emotions and bring peace to its wearer.  Worn publicly as an amulet, coral is thought to bring safe travel over water.  Because of coral's organic origin, it can be used to reconnect with nature and assist to unveil its wonders.  Coral symbolizes joy, happiness, blood force energy and enables it wearer to enjoy a natural life.  Dreams about coral are believed to foretell recovery from a long illness. 

Physical Healing Properties: Red coral will protect against depression, despondency, hiccups and heartburn.  It helps strengthen the circulatory system and bones of the body.  It stimulates tissue regeneration, nourishes the blood cells, and aids in the release of impurities from the muscular system.

My experience:  Often called "rainforests of the sea," coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.  Coral is a precious resource and is home for 25% of all marine species, including fish, sponges, mollusks, crustaceans, etc.  However, coral reefs are fragile and are under threat from climate change, oceanic acidification, blast fishing, cyanide fishing for aquarium fish, overuse of reef resources, and harmful land-use practices, including urban and agricultural runoff and water pollution which can harm reefs by encouraging excess algal growth.  It is imperative to save this precious resource and only reuse what has already been taken instead of encouraging coral farming.

Up Next: Hematite



Understanding Stones Part:6 Crystal Quartz

I've been putting off writing this post for two weeks now.  I can't quite put my finger on why, but I just feel this stone has so much to tell  ..., I suppose it was intimidating.  Such a perfect and powerful stone leaves a lot to be described, explained and pondered.  Please believe me when I say this post is only a fraction of the history and possibilities of the stone crystal quartz.


Images from collage above taken from Pinterest.com
Stone Name 
Crystal Quartz, "The Universal Crystal"

Birthstone Month 
April

Zodiac Association 
Scorpio


Affected Chakra: Crown

History of Use:   The word "quartz" is derived from the German word "Quarz".  Quartz is the second most abundant mineral on the earth. Quartz is an essential constituent of granite and is found in sandstone and shale.  Major quartz varieties include agate, jasper, amethyst and carnelian.  Clear Crystal Quartz has forever carried a place of importance in spiritual and religious beliefs.  The Japanese call it tama, "the perfect jewel."  In Buddhism, it is one of the seven precious substances.  Tibetan Buddhists use clear quartz on their alter to symbolize the perfect Buddha nature - a visible nothingness.  Indigenous cultures in North America and Burma believed Crystal Quartz to be living entities - taking a breath every hundred years or so.  Nearly every culture has used quartz for healing.  In Rome and medieval England it was used for cases of dysentery, glandular swelling, pain and fevers.  Also, ladies of luxury carried crystal balls in the hands for cooling during summer weather. In the Scottish Highlands, a crystal set in silver and worn around the neck was considered effective for diseases of the kidneys.  It has been carved for vases, cups and ornaments, placed in tombs and scepters of royalty, valued as amulets and catalysts for healing.  "Sir Isaac Newton discovered the color spectrum by refracting sunlight through a natural crystal.  Reflecting the rainbow on his wall allowed him to measure the different lengths of the rays of the visible light spectrum." - Dorothee L. Mella, Stone Power II

Spiritual Properties:  Crystal quartz (sometimes known as "Rock Crystal" has a similar vibration as humans and helps us understand our spiritual lives.  Because it radiates all the color vibrations within the spectrum of light, it can be used for a variety of purposes.  Crystal Quartz produces a force field of negative ions while clearing the surroundings of positive ions, protecting the aura.  It is most often used in healing to amplify the energies of other healing stones, but can draw in energy as well.  During meditation, a crystal ball or crystal point can be used to connect with higher consciousness.  Quartz can be clear or cloudy, but this doesn't affect it's energetic qualities.  This important stone enhances energy by absorbing, storing, balancing, amplifying, focusing and transmitting energy.  Quartz will protect one's spirit during growth of emotional processes.  There are times that crystal quartz does not work for negative-minded people.  If this is the case, use crystal quartz to amplify the energy of healing stones that promote peace and positivity.  "To benefit from Rock Crystal's blessings, one must feel in harmony with it and deserve its gifts.  Intent other than for good inevitably brings harm back on oneself" -Florence Megemont, The Metaphysical Book of Gems and Crystals

Physical Healing Properties:  Stimulates the immune and circulatory systems.  It has been used to treat migraines, vertigo and motion sickness.

Up Next: Red Coral



Celebration Week

This week is just full of celebration!  Tuesday was founder Ashley's beautiful little sister Shana's birthday.
Shana and her adorable daughter

Wednesday was Sailor's Omen's one year anniversary!  We painted our nails gold and spent the day with Nicole from Admyar Photography drinking wine and working on our latest lookbook collaboration.

One of our first pieces!

And then we got the first update from Saint Augustine fashion blogger Meaghan Mulligan ....ahem, we mean Meaghan ALVARADO! about her (somewhat) last minute intimate destination wedding in Jamaica.  Read about it in her blog post here!


To continue the celebration, we're having a FLASH SALE of 20% OFF!  Go to Sailor's Omen eBoutique and use promo code FLASHSALE at checkout.


Understanding Stones Part:5 Citrine


 
Images from collage above taken from Pinterest.com
Stone Name 
Citrine, the "Merchant Stone"

Birthstone Month 
November

Zodiac Association 
Cancer

Affected Chakra: Solar Plexus

History of Use: The name Citrine comes from the French word "citron" meaning lemon.  The color of citrine stones are a yellow-to-golden brown variety of the quartz mineral. The darker quality citrine is sometimes called Madeira, after the color of the wine.  Gem quality citrine is extremely rare.  Most of the citrine on the market today is actually heat treated amethyst or smokey quartz.  This transformation can occur naturally in the ground or synthetically in a lab.  Because of this, it is best to keep your citrine out of prolonged exposure to sunlight to avoid further change in the crystal.

Spiritual Properties: Citrine is useful in meditation to open the doors to inner thought and promote the transition into a meditative state.  Dark yellow/orange citrine brings commitment and devotion to a lifetime of love to the surface.  Bold yellow citrine brings prosperity, enthusiasm, and happiness.  Light gold citrine provide cheerfulness and contentment.  Citrine helps to protect sensitive and vulnerable people by guarding their aura from negative energy.

Physical Healing Properties: Citrine enhances energy and stamina and encourages metabolism.  It also aids in short term memory loss.

Up Next: Crystal Quartz



Understanding Stones Part:4 Chrysoprase


Photos in collage are taken from Pinterest.com

Stone Name: Chrysoprase

Birthstone Month: No known modern associations.  Some attribute it to the birth month of May.

Zodiac Association: Gemini



Affected Chakra: Heart

Healing Properties:  Chrysoprase is said to be a problem clarifier and can used for protection on sea voyages.  This stunning green stone brings subconscious thoughts to the surface to provide insight and strengthen higher consciousness.  It encourages acceptance of self, forgiveness and compassion while letting go of jealousy, resentment and greed.  With Chrysoprase's low vibration, it aids in relaxation and the reduction of nightmares.  It equalizes yin and yang energies to allow a deep meditation.  It is also believed to draw out inner talents and stimulate creativity while bringing energy to leave you feeling renewed.  

History of Use: The name "chrysoprase" comes from the Greek words chrysos meaning 'gold' and prason meaning 'bloom' or 'leek.'  It was first described over 2000 years ago by the Roman scholar Pliny who bestowed this name due to the presence of the golden drops that appears to be contained in the stone.  Often mistaken for imperial jadeite, chrysoprase is a variety of chalcedony (quartz) that owes its stunning coloration to the nickel content it contains. (Most gemstones owe their color to chromium or vanadium.).  Because of this, keep Chrysoprase out the light to prevent it from fading.

Chrysoprase's green aura has been mentioned in the New Testament - Revelations, Chapter 21:20 - it was a stone in a foundation wall in Jerusalem.  Alexander the Great's 11 year winning streak was said to have been attributed to a Chrysoprase stone imbedded in his belt.  Cleopatra wore the stone because she believed it helped to retain her youth.


Up Next: Citrine




SALE!

As you can assume from the post title, we are having a sale.  It's been pretty rainy here in northern Florida with the hurricane season upon us and I've been getting ready for a few things in the studio, but I haven't attended the market for the past TWO weeks and I feel bad.  So to make up for it, I've decided to have a sale online!

It's a good one too!  25% OFF ALL full-priced items, and an additional 25% OFF ALL SALE ITEMS!  Use promo code NoMarket at checkout.


Limited Edition Spectrum Apetite Necklace ONLY $39!
Willow earrings ONLY $10.50!
Artemis bracelet ONLY $24.40!
Medicine Wheel earrings ONLY $24!

Understanding Stones Part:3 Amethyst


Above images taken from Pinterest.com

Stone:  Amethyst, "the sobriety stone"

Birthstone Month/Zodiac Association: February/Pisces



Affected Chakra: Crown Chakra

Healing Properties: Amethyst is an all-purpose stone to increase spirituality and enhance intuition.  It is known to help open gateways to spiritual consciousness and and can bring about a change in thought patterns.  Amethyst works as a great travelers talisman by alleviating homesickness.  Because it is a type of quartz with similar vibrations, amethyst helps clear a cluttered mind during meditation and tame pain from headaches.  It has a sedative energy that calms the mind to promote peace, contentment and inner strength.

History of Use:  Amethyst is a crystalline quartz mineral that owes its color to iron and aluminum impurities.  Its purple color ranges from pale violet to deep purple.  Without impurities, Amethyst would just be a clear crystal.  Pale-colored amethyst is sometimes called "Rose de France" and can be seen in Victorian jewelry.  Amethyst is mined in a variety of places around the world.  Generally amethyst from South American tends to be available in larger sizes than African amethyst but amethyst from Africa has the reputation for having a more saturated, color in small sizes.  Very dark amethyst, mostly in small sized, is also mined in Australia.

The word amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethystos" meaning "not intoxicated."  It is said crushed amethyst was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in their wine.  That way, they could water down their wine  meaning less alcohol, but still retain a purple appearance.  They also carved their wine goblets out of amethyst stone.

There is a Greek myth of how amethyst got its purple color.  Once Dionysus was angered by Artemis that he set violent tigers upon a maiden attending her shrine.  To preserve the maiden, whose name was Amethyst, Artemis petrified her in a sparkling quartz to protect her from the brutal claws.  Dionsysis wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue.  The god's tears immediately stained the quartz purple creating the famous gem.

Since purple is considered one of the royal colors, amethyst has quite a historical importance as an insignia of power.  Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty.


Up next: Chrysocolla