The Magic and Science of Jewels and Stones

by Isidore Kozminsky

The tenth Mansion of the Zodiac, the natural “Home” of Capricorn, is the House of fame, honour, reputation, credit, authority and dignity.

His mother called him Asher because she said, “the daughters will call me blessed,” Asher being the Hebrew word for “blessed.” A close translation of verse 17, Chapter 5 Judges, would read: “Asher remained on the seashore and abode near his bays.”

In all these Biblical allusions to the tribe of Asher there is nothing out of harmony with the sign Capricorn; in fact, in every line the connection is clearly marked.

The tenth stone in the Breastplate is the Serpentine and on it was engraved the tribe Naphtali.

The Eleventh Stone of the Breastplate

For reasons stated the Sapir is placed in the eleventh division of the Breastplate instead of the SHOHAM, and we thus have complete harmony between the eleventh sign of the zodiac, Aquarius, the eleventh division of the Breastplate and the Sapir stone which is translated as Sapphire in the Hebrew Bible, the Authorized Version, the Vulgate; as Lapis Lazuli or Sapphire by Mr. Wodiska; and as Lapis Lazuli by Dr. Hirsch, Rev. J. R. Dummelow, and others. The Targums indicate a stone of blue colour, and that this is the Lapis Lazuli there is no reason to doubt. In ancient times the Lapis Lazuli was termed SAPPHIRUS; Pliny describes it accurately as “opaque, sprinkled with specks of gold,” and many antique intagli in this stone have been found. The Lapis Lazuli was a very highly esteemed stone amongst the old world peoples, who called it “The Stone of Heaven,” “The Gem of the Stars,” and the Zemech Stone connected with all things heavenly. Traditionally it is the stone on which was engraved the law of Moses. In a quabalistic “Piut” is written: “O, how dreadful is the place of the heavenly abode; for there the light dwelleth with him: and above the firmament is a precious stone, as the appearance of the Sapphire stone which forms the glorious throne, and thereon He who is clothed with light is seated.” A close translation of Ezekiel 1. 26, reads: “And above, the vault that was over their head was like the appearance of a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne: and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above it.” Chapter X. 1, similarly treated, reads: “Then I saw and behold, on the vault that was above the head of the Cherubim, there appeared over them something like a sapphire stone, something similar in appearance to the likeness of a throne.”

The connection of a blue stone with the blue heavens is consistent with ancient philosophy, and authorities agree in connecting this colour with the sign of the mighty heavens—Aquarius. According to tradition Moses, the law-giver, was born under this sign. Akers in his “Introduction to Biblical Chronology” gives the date of this event as A. M. 3319, Adar third, year of the Julian period 2987, which answers to Thursday, February 13th, 1727 B. C. At that time the sun would be in the Celestial Aquarius. Aquarius is the water-bearer, and the incident of the striking of the rock from which water gushed forth is mystically associated with it. In the Mythologies this waterbearer is Ganymedes, son of Tros, King of Troy, whom the gods, impressed by his beauty, carried away whilst he was tending the flocks on Mount Ida, in order that the Lord of Olympus might have a lovely cup-bearer.

In astrological deductions Aquarius is the sign of friendship—“Naphtali bringeth pleasant words.” It is also the sign of hopes and desires: Of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full of the blessing of the Lord, take thou possession of the West and the South.” (Deut. 33. 23). Then again, in the Septuagint Naphtali is referred to as “a spreading tree yielding leafy branches” and the tree raising branches heavenwards is an Aquarian symbol.

The law of Moses is spoken of as the “tree of Life” which contains the secret of actual and absolute immortality.

Now we are, according to periodic astrological deductions, at the Gate of the age of Aquarius, all the world is undergoing the process of change, and finally all the humanitarianism of Aquarius will replace the accumulation of evil thoughts that lay by the Gateway. Then will Naphtali prevail, his captivity will be over, and the slaves will hang up their chains amongst the sacred cypresses, for the Comforter will come.