The Curious Lore of Precious Stones / Being a description of their sentiments and folk lore, superstitions, symbolism, mysticism, use in medicine, protection, prevention, religion, and divination. Crystal gazing, birth-stones, lucky stones and talismans, astral, zodiacal, and planetary

by George Frederick Kunz

SENTIMENTS OF THE MONTHS

JANUARY

Natal stone	Garnet.
Guardian angel	Gabriel.
His talismanic gem	Onyx.
Special apostle	Simon Peter.
His gem	Jasper.
Zodiacal sign	Aquarius.
Flower	Snowdrop.

No gems save garnets should be worn

By her who in this month is born;

They will insure her constancy,

True friendship and fidelity.

The gleaming garnet holds within its sway

Faith, constancy, and truth to one alway.

FEBRUARY

Natal stone	Amethyst.
Guardian angel	Barchiel.
His talismanic gem	Jasper.
Special apostle	Andrew.
His gem	Carbuncle.
Zodiacal sign	Pisces.
Flower	Primrose.

The February-born may find

Sincerity and peace of mind,

Freedom from passion and from care,

If she an amethyst will wear.

Let her an amethyst but cherish well,

And strife and care can never with her dwell.

MARCH

Natal stone	Jasper, bloodstone.
Guardian Angel	Malchediel.
His talismanic gem	Ruby.
Special apostles	James and John.
Their gem	Emerald.
Zodiacal sign	Aries.
Flower	Ipomœa, violet.

Who on this world of ours her eyes

In March first opens may be wise,

In days of peril firm and brave,

Wears she a bloodstone to her grave.

Who wears a jasper, be life short or long,

Will meet all dangers brave and wise and strong.

APRIL

Natal stone	Diamond, sapphire.
Guardian angel	Ashmodei.
His talismanic gem	Topaz.
Special apostle	Philip.
His gem	Carnelian.
Zodiacal sign	Taurus.
Flower	Daisy.

She who from April dates her years

Diamonds should wear, lest bitter tears

For vain repentance flow This stone

Emblem of innocence is known.

Innocence, repentance—sun and shower—

The diamond or the sapphire is her dower.

MAY

Natal stone	Emerald.
Guardian angel	Amriel.
His talismanic gem	Carbuncle.
Special apostle	Bartholomew.
His gem	Chrysolite.
Zodiacal sign	Gemini.
Flower	Hawthorn.

Who first beholds the light of day

In spring’s sweet flow’ry month of May,

And wears an emerald all her life,

Shall be a loved and happy wife.

No happier wife and mother in the land

Than she with emerald shining on her hand.

JUNE

Natal stone	Agate.
Guardian angel	Muriel.
His talismanic gem	Emerald.
Special apostle	Thomas.
His gem	Beryl.
Zodiacal sign	Cancer.
Flower	Honeysuckle.

Who comes with summer to this earth,

And owes to June her hour of birth,

With ring of agate on her hand

Can health, long life, and wealth command.

Thro’ the moss-agate’s charm, the happy years

Ne’er see June’s golden sunshine turn to tears.

JULY

Natal stone	Turquoise.
Guardian angel	Verchiel.
His talismanic gem	Sapphire.
Special apostle	Matthew.
His gem	Topaz.
Zodiacal sign	Leo.
Flower	Water-lily.

The heav’n-blue turquoise should adorn

All those who in July are born;

For those they’ll be exempt and free

From love’s doubts and anxiety.

No other gem than turquoise on her breast

Can to the loving, doubting heart bring rest.

AUGUST

Natal stone	Carnelian.
Guardian angel	Hamatiel.
His talismanic gem	Diamond.
Special apostle	James, the son of Alpheus.
His gem	Sardonyx.
Zodiacal sign	Virgo.
Flower	Poppy.

Wear a carnelian or for thee

No conjugal felicity;

The August-born without this stone,

’Tis said, must live unloved, alone.

She, loving once and always, wears, if wise,

Carnelian—and her home is paradise.

SEPTEMBER

Natal stone	Chrysolite.
Guardian angel	Tsuriel.
His talismanic gem	Jacinth.
Special apostle	Lebbeus Thaddeus.
His gem	Chrysoprase.
Zodiacal sign	Libra.
Flower	Morning-glory.

A maid born when September leaves

Are rustling in the autumn breeze,

A chrysolite on brow should bind—

’Twill cure diseases of the mind.

If chrysolite upon her brow is laid,

Follies and dark delusions flee afraid.

OCTOBER

Natal stone	Beryl.
Guardian angel	Bariel.
His talismanic gem	Agate.
Special apostle	Simon.	(Zelotes.)
His gem	Jacinth.
Zodiacal sign	Scorpio.
Flower	Hops.

October’s child is born for woe,

And life’s vicissitudes must know;

But lay a beryl on her breast,

And Hope will lull those woes to rest.

When fair October to her brings the beryl,

No longer need she fear misfortune’s peril.

NOVEMBER

Natal stone	Topaz.
Guardian angel	Adnachiel.
His talismanic gem	Amethyst.
Special apostle	Matthias.
His gem	Amethyst.
Zodiacal sign	Sagittarius.
Flower	Chrysanthemum.

Who first comes to this world below

With drear November’s fog and snow

Should prize the topaz’s amber hue—

Emblem of friends and lovers true.

Firm friendship is November’s, and she bears

True love beneath the topaz that she wears.

DECEMBER

Natal stone	Ruby.
Guardian angel	Humiel.
His talismanic gem	Beryl.
Special apostle	Paul.
His gem	Sapphire.
Zodiacal sign	Capricornus.
Flower	Holly.

If cold December give you birth—

The month of snow and ice and mirth—

Place on your hand a ruby true;

Success will bless whate’er you do.

December gives her fortune, love and fame

If amulet of rubies bear her name.

1. Moss agate mocha stone, Hindoostan.

2. Moss agate, Brazil, S. A.

A HINDU LIST OF GEMS OF THE MONTHS[437]

April	Diamond
May	Emerald
June	Pearl
July	Sapphire
August	Ruby
September	Zircon
October	Coral
November	Cat’s-eye
December	Topaz
January	Serpent-stone
February	Chandrakanta
March	The gold Siva-linga

When the zodiacal signs were engraved on gems to give them special virtues and render them of greater efficacy for those born under a given sign, the Hebrew characters designating the sign (or at least the initial character) were often cut upon the gem. As the letters in which the earliest of our sacred writings were written, a peculiar sanctity was often ascribed to these Hebrew characters, which were perhaps the more highly valued that they were unknown to the owners of the gems, and hence possessed a certain air of mystery for them. The subjoined list of the signs with the Hebrew equivalents may be of interest on this account.