Birthstones have their roots in ancient astrology. Birthstones are gemstones that are associated with the month of one’s birth based on the planetary positions. Wearing your birthstone brings you good luck, good health, and protection. Each of the 12 months of the calendar has a unique birthstone and each stone has a unique meaning and significance.
The month of May echoes with the promise of new life and infinite hope. A May born child is earthly with more than a pinch of passion. They love a sense of luxury and security. And surrounding themselves with their sublime birthstone will give them exactly that.
Oozeling with elegance and the promise of prosperity, the May birthstone is the beautiful Emerald. This gemstone symbolizes wisdom, intelligence, creativity and good health.
Emerald is something of an enigma and has been enchanting royalty, jewelry makers and philosophers for centuries. It is known for being a good luck charm, attracting powerful positive energies and bringing all kinds of goodness into your life.
Read on to find out more about this amazing May birthstone.
The Twinkling Emerald
Emerald is the most precious and sparkling green variety of the Beryl mineral family. The Beryl family includes some of the most popular and valuable gemstones. All Beryl crystals have essentially the same crystal structure, but they vary in chemical composition.
The deeply alluring green color of the Emerald gemstone is unmatched in beauty and can instantly attract the attention of everyone. Inclusions are common in Emerald and they tend to form lovely patterns that add to the beauty of the stone.
Emerald is among the rarest of all gemstones and so often has a price tag to match; with some stones even surpassing diamonds when compared carat to carat.
Emerald is mined all over the world but stones mined in Zambia, Colombia and Brazil are the most sought after. Zambian Emeralds are of superior quality and the greatest clarity. Colombian Emeralds are prestigious and recognised for their high quality pure green hue. Brazilian Emeralds are known for their good quality and affordability.
For over six thousand years the world has long fallen in love with the gleaming green beauty of the Emerald stone. The Emerald has a long history when it comes to being a gemstone associated with prosperity and regal rulers of the ancient world. Even Aristotle was said to have been utterly charmed by Emerald and wrote about the stone to great lengths.
History And Folklore
The oldest known Emeralds date as far back as 2.97 billion years ago and there is so much mythology and lore stashed within the Emerald. Crown jewels of various countries such as Russia, Iran, India and Great Britain are adorned with spectacular Emeralds.
These gorgeous green gems were known to be a favorite of the famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. These stones were often used in her royal adornments and to guarantee herself high quality gems, she claimed ownership of all Emerald mines during her reign.
The Ancient Egyptians believed it was an amulet of rebirth and fertility. They used Emeralds both in jewelry and in their elaborate burials, often burying the stones with monarchs as symbols of protection.
The Ancient Romans dedicated the gemstone to the Goddess Venus in homage to her spirit of love and beauty. The Roman Emperor Nero would use flat Emerald crystals on his eyes while watching the gladiator games as he found the color to be calming.
Emeralds were cherished as the prized possessions of the Mughal Emperors of India and a favorite of the Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal. They held the belief that Emeralds were powerful talismans that offered the wearer protection of the gods and dispelled evil spirits.
In 1937, King Edward VIII of England proposed to his divorced American love, Wallis Simpson, with an Emerald ring engraved with the message “We are ours now”. In 1953, John F. Kennedy presented an Emerald engagement ring to his wife Jackie Kennedy. In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor, queen of the silver screen, was gifted the legendary Bulgari Emerald suite by beau Richard Burton while filming Cleopatra in Rome.
Emeralds popularity has only increased with time. It is now one of the four precious colored stones.
Benefits Of Emerald
Emerald has a certain energy and mystical aura that enchants the mind. Almost every businessman, student, writer and artist is suggested to wear this stone to reach their maximum potential and achieve success in life.
Associated with the heart chakra, Emerald is called the stone of eternal love. It clears out any weight or dark energy that could be clogging up the wearer’s emotional system and provides them with emotional strength to face difficult times.
Emerald blesses the wearer with a great mind, sharp intellect, enhanced creativity and great imagination power helping them to make progressions in life wherever they want to. It is a great stone to increase memory, improve focus, refine oratory skills and develop reasoning ability & arithmetic skills. It also brings clarity of thoughts and helps people who lack the decision making ability.
Emerald is a brilliant stone for health. It can soothe headaches, strengthen the eyes, cure allergies and temper respiratory diseases. It can also help stabilize the condition of epilepsy.
Final Thoughts on Emerald
Whether seeking for an encouraging light & laughter, looking for something to cut out fear and mistrust, or wanting to deepen your bond with your deepest self, Emerald is a gem that wants you to experience the radiance of a life well-lived. Once a symbol of status, this rich and vibrant gem is ready to fill your world with love and lasting pleasure.
If you are someone born in May, Emerald is here to elevate you and stand by you long into eternity. If you know someone born in May, gifting them their birthstone will brighten their energy and nourish them in many different ways.