Hiya!
Can you believe it is August already? It seems every time I blink another month flies by!
Happy Birthday August babies! Say hello to peridot, the traditional birthstone of August. I was taking some pictures of my peridot, (I am going to digress, peridot is also the most common plural form of peridot. Who know? I did not! Peridots can also be used for the plural form but is much less common and spell check thinks it is incorrect also. Which is how I discovered this in the first place!) as I was taking the one below I was praying and hoping that I wouldn’t drop them into the fern! I got my pictures and the peridot are back in my gem drawer safe and sound waiting to be made into something spectacular.
Peridot’s apple-green luster has been treasured for over 4,000 years. Peridot stretches back to ancient Egypt on the volcanic island of Zebargad in the Red Sea. It is fabled that peridot were so treasured by the Egyptians that the location of the fog shrouded volcanic mines were a closely guarded secret. Since the island was difficult to navigate to, it became lost to antiquity and was only recently rediscovered in 1906. Since that time, after mining of peridot peaked in the late 1950’s, Zebargad’s peridot mines have been exhausted.
Today the largest sources of peridot are the United States, Myanmar, Pakistan and the Himalayas.
Peridot’s distinct green hue is very consistent even in its natural form. Peridot is not heat treated or enhanced to improve its color. Peridot is sometimes treated with colorless oils or resins to fill voids or surface fractures and to improve the gemstones luster.
Peridot has been said to be an aid to friendship. It supposedly frees the mind of envious thoughts. Some legends credit peridot with bringing happiness, good cheer, attracting a lover and strengthening the eyes.
Carry or wear peridot to increase mental focus. Peridot can aid the mind in being more receptive to learning new things. Keeping peridot in your workspace will give you the strength to persevere especially during times of challenging academic pursuits.
Peridot is said to work as an antidepressant that protects you from negative energy while bolstering a sense of self-worth and motivation.
Are you a sufferer of recurring nightmares about evil spirits, murders or sexual attacks? Wear peridot set in gold for a peaceful sleep!
As with other gemstones and food for that matter, the color of the gemstone is related to parts of the body that it can be of aid to. Because of its yellowish green color peridot have been believed to cures diseases of the liver and difficulties with digestion. It can also help with problems of the kidneys, bladder, gall bladder and stomach.
To keep your peridot shining bright, briefly soak your peridot in a warm water with a mild dish detergent like Dawn. Do not subject peridot to ultrasonic cleanings as this can damage your gem. Rapid and dramatic temperatures can also harm peridot.
ENJOY!!
cheryl