by Shawna Blake

Created on: February 08, 2008

When placed into our mother's arms as squalling babes, we are all given few things to embark upon our lives with. With our first breath comes the date and time that we entered this world, a time which many people believe will illustrate the way we live out our lives. The Zodiac sign that you are born into affords you with what is called a birthstone. This is a gem with specific attributes that are shared with our signs. It began as early as the Bible, appearing in Exodus, when Aaron wore a breastplate with onyx stones that represented "the children of Israel". Thus there were twelve stones for twelve tribes of Israel, donned by Moses' brother.

Various uses of several different stones for each month led to the installation of the chart that we use today. This was by the Jewelers of America, who instituted the familiar chart in 1912. There are two charts, however, that of the traditional, and that of the modern birthstones. It was originally believed that in order to achieve the full effect of each gem, that they should be worn according to month, instead of according to which month we were born into. This was said to gain the healing power of each stone, within it's strongest month.

~Garnet-January. Signifying friendship and trust, this brilliant crimson colored gem is the representative of the first month of the year. It is said to protect it's carrier with good health, and promote an ease of traveling. Derived from the word granum (or granatum), which means seeds in Latin. It is said to be resemblant of the pomegranate seeds, and hails from places such as India, Sri Lanka, and Africa. It has been known to be used by the Egyptians as well.

~February-Amethyst. The cool purple stone is said to be able to help it's wearer to keep an even keel, driving away worries. It is also something that is supposed to prevent drunkenness, yet my Aquarian sister has never fathomed that. This is one of the many reasons that in ancient Greece, the amethyst could be found adorning the wine goblets. Dubbed the gem of heavenly understanding, it is said to be spiritual, philosophical, and religious. It is formed by quartz and found in Brazil, Uraguay, and Germany, yet the infamous "Deep Russian" which can be valued up to fifty-thousand dollars because of it's rarity in color. It symbolizes royalty, and is said to be donned on the fingers of practicing members of the Roman Catholic Church.

~March-Aquamarine. This blue-green hued gem is said to bring about a cool temper, and was originally

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