November Birthstone - Scorpio Birthdays

October 23 - November 22 - 

Happy Birthday, Scorpio!

Scorpio - Latin for "the Scorpion" (Skorpios in Greek)

There are 2 gemstones for November: Citrine and Topaz. 


Citrine is a yellow-to-golden member of the quartz mineral group. A deep golden variety from Madiera Spain can resemble the costly imperial topaz* gemstone, which is one reason that citrine is a popular birthstone alternative to those born in November. Sources of citrine include Brazil, Bolivia, several African countries and parts of the Soviet Union.

Citrine has been called the "stone of the mind". Ancient cultures believed that placing a citrine on the forehead of an elder would increase his psychic power.

Citrine Colors Afire Earrings

Citrine is known as the lucky "Merchants Stone". If you are in any type of sales, just put a citrine in the cash drawer and watch what happens. Also used by healers to:

• increase self esteem
• protect from the negative energy from someone else's abuse
• open the mind to new thoughts
• promote clarity of thought

Citrine Nugget Ring

Healing Properties

• Used by healers to help with digestion
• calm and soothe distressed conditions.
• Helps relieve depression, digestive problems (including constipation and diabetes) 
• It will give joy and love to the owner. 

Autumn Metallic Golden Yellow Fine Art Wall Print 

*Topaz - is derived from the Sanskrit word "tapas", meaning fire.

Yellow Topaz, a quality gemstone, comes from Russia and Brazil, and there are also mines in Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Texas. Topaz has been known for at least 2000 years

Imperial Topaz, a clear Golden Yellow color, has a touch of pink in it. It is also known as Golden Topaz.

Crystal Heart Topaz Earrings

The properties of Topaz:

• Constancy, loyalty, faithfulness and friendship
• Strength, releasing tension and balancing emotions

Topaz Chandelier Earrings

Metaphysical properties:

• Instills faith that you can bring all manner of good things into your life
• Attracts helpful people into your life that will benefit you and may bring new friendships.

Healing properties:

A solar plexus chakra and sacral chakra stone - the stomach area.

• Excellent for liver, kidney and bladder problems or imbalances
•  Helps to calm stress and irritability
•  Recharge your energy 

Colorado Topaz Earrings

What constitutes the difference between the real topaz and the citrine?

A fluorine aluminium silicate in chemical terms, the topaz is considerably harder and heavier than quartz, and it has a higher refractive index, which endows it with more fire when the colour is good. It does have one weakness: its good cleavage qualities, which must be taken into account when it is being worked on. It can be found in all the colours of the rainbow and has been known to Man for at least 2000 years. It has not been proved beyond doubt whether the name comes from Sanskrit or Greek, though the Greek name 'topazos' means 'green gemstone'. The Romans dedicated the topaz to Jupiter. (Source: International Colored Gemstone Association)

Celebrities born under the sign Scorpio:

Charles Bronson
Richard Burton
Johnny Carson
Charles, Prince of Wales
Billy Graham
Katharine Hepburn
Grace Kelly
Vivien Leigh
Martin Luther
Mike Nichols
Pablo Picasso

Written by Linda Blatchford
Jewelry Designer
www.lindab142.etsy.com

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Sapphire is September's Birthstone

The Greek word "sapphirus", meaning blue, is the origin of the word sapphire. Sapphires are considered royal gemstones-priests and kings considered them symbolic of wisdom and purity.
Social, religious, biblical and Christian symbolism all have included the color blue representing heavenly grace. Since ancient times, blue has been considered a lucky color among the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. According to several rabbinic sages, blue is the color of God’s Glory. Staring at this color aids in mediation, bringing us a glimpse of the “pavement of sapphire, like the very sky for purity,” which is a likeness of the Throne of God. (The Hebrew word for glory, kavod, means “blue” in Arabic.)

Here are some finds from the Etsy Promofrenzy Team

Blue Moon Pendant	Sapphire Blue crystal Bracelet
Sapphire Blue Swarovski Crystal Seder Plate Earrings	Sapphire Blue Dragonfly Earrings

Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum.  Corundum is found in every color of the rainbow, with red being designated as ruby and all other hues Sapphire. The most prized color of Sapphire is a rich, deep blue. Sapphires with colors other than blue are generally referred to as fancy sapphires. The distinctive blue of the sapphire is due to minute amounts of oxide of iron and titanium in the stone.

Sapphire Corundum
courtesy of minedirect.com

These gemstones were mined as early as the 7th Century BCE from India and what is now Sri Lanka. They are found today in Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Madagascar, and the United States. 

Large specimens of Corundum crystals are rare, although the 563-carat Star of India can be seen in the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY.  This is the largest and most famous of star Sapphires, which are cut to reflect light from inclusions within the stone, revealing a bright six-legged star pattern. 

The Sapphire is second only to the Diamond in hardness, making it a durable gemstone for setting into jewelry.  A gift of Sapphire represents sincerity and faithfulness. As nourishing to the soul as gazing up at the sky on a summer day, this brilliant blue gemstone is truly a heavenly choice!

Sun Rays - Rays of Hope Photo	Fused Glass Dichroic Bowl Emerald Green and Sapphire Blue
Vintage Sapphire Ring	Lapis Lazuli Cats Eye Necklace
Blue Bicone Toggle Clasp Bracelet	Light Sapphire Rivoli Ring

September birthdays are divided into 2 signs:
Virgo, “the Virgin” in Latin, “Partenos” in Greek is the astrological sign for birthdays from Aug 22 to Sept 21 and Libra from September 23 - October 22 (coming in another article).
Ruling planet - Mercury
Quality - Mutable
Element - Earth
Greatest Overall Compatibility - Taurus, Capricorn
Best for Marriage and Partnerships - Pisces
Color - Navy blue
Metal - Quicksilver
Lucky Numbers 5, 3

Virgo characteristics: Mental agility, analystical skills, healing powers, ability to give attention to details
Virgo is an excellent manager with thrifty ways and a clear head. Virgo should watch out not to be too critical of others not so strong willed. It takes hard work to win the love of Virgo, but once won, the love glows so hot it seldom cools.
Negative traits: Destructive criticism

Celebrities born under the sign Virgo

Lauren Bacall	Virgonard Bernstein
Jacqueline Bisset	Sid Caesar
Sean Connery	Ben Gazzara
Greta Garbo	Jesse James
Lyndon B Johnson	Sophia Loren
Bob Newhart	Lily Tomlin
Racquel Welch

By: Linda Blatchford, Jewelry Designer of www.lindab142.etsy.com
Part of this article originally appeared at http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com