Mood Rings and Birthstones

Our discussion in class of crystals and gems has reminded me of a forgotten object of my childhood: the mood ring (did anyone else have one?). Though I  doubt that Claire’s and Limited Too were selling all-knowing gemstones, I once believed that the “color” of my mood on the ring corresponded with how I actually felt, and I have come to understand that it was all based on body temperature).

 

Similarly, my friends and I were fascinated with our birthstones growing up. We would buy each other friendship bracelets and birthday gifts based on the other’s birthstone. I haven’t read anything about my birthstone (aquamarine) in our book, but was interested to learn that my best friend’s birthstone, the sapphire, “is linked with the third eye, a sign of enlightenment… early popes wore sapphires in signet rings to signify that they guarded holy secrets,” (p. 106). I was also intrigued to learn that emerald is “said to bring love into people’s life” (p. 106); while I’ve seen emerald in many engagement rings, I thought it was just because it was a striking stone, but its other meaning makes sense in the context of wedding rings. 

 

In high school, I took an art history course and remember learning about jade songs, which were placed in many ancient Chinese burial sites, although the deeper reasons behind this ritual remain largely unknown. On p. 51, it’s described as the“stone of immortality”, which I find both interesting and ironic given its use in graves. On one hand, perhaps the presence of jade signifies the Chinese believing in eternal life beyond earth; on the other, I’m not sure a burial site brings thoughts of “immortality” in the traditional sense of the word. Beyond just being placed in graves, jade was even used to “encase members of the royal family in death when they were buried, as the stone was believed to slow the decay of flesh,” (p. 51), providing in this case both a practical and perhaps symbolic purpose in the graves of Chinese royals. 

 

I was also fascinated to learn about the turquoise serpent of the Aztecs on p. 131. Though I knew that turquoise is related to native cultures, I had no idea about the symbolism of the heavens, helping “the wearer become one with the universe,” (p. 106). 

 

I look forward to learning more about the importance of other gems, and crystallomancy as the semester continues.