Down through the ages, gemstones have acquired meaning and uses beyond mere adornment.
On this page, you will find some of the meanings for the stones that we use in our designs. You will also find the meanings for some of the more common symbols and shapes that occur in our designs.
This page is a work in progress and as time allows, we will add more information.
None of the information contained herein constitutes an endorsement of uses and/or properties. It is provided purely for entertainment.
AGATES Dendritic and picture agates are said to be agates of plenitude. They bring abundance and fullness to all areas of life.
Blue lace agate is a healing stone that will bring peace of mind.
Moss agate is a stabilizing stone strongly connected with nature. It is said to refresh the soul and allow you to see the beauty in all you behold.
AMETHYST Amethyst is a powerful protective stone said to guard one against psychic attack. Traditionally, it was worn to prevent drunkenness.
CARNELIAN Carnelian grounds and anchors you in the present reality. It is excellent for restoring vitality and motivation, and for stimulating creativity.
CHALCEDONY Chalcedony is a nurturing stone that promotes brotherhood and goodwill. It was once believed that cups made of chalcedony would prevent poisoning.
COLORS Colors can have power and meaning beyond what many people may realize. Colors affect us on an unconscious and emotional level. In most Western cultures, black has long been associated with loss and mourning. But in some Eastern cultures, this is not so. Western cultures consider white to signify life and purity, but Eastern cultures use white as their color of mourning and the good guy always wears black. So when you look at colors and their meanings, you first must consider the individual's cultural back ground. The following discussions of various colors are based on Western cultural perceptions:
Red is the color of fire and blood. It is a color that commands attention. It is used in warning signs for this reason. Red is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, passion, desire and love. It is an emotionally intense color that has even been shown to raise the blood pressure of people looking at it. Red is said to enhance metabolism and increase the respiratory rate. Light red (pink) most often represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity and love without the warning aspect of red. Pink is normally considered a feminine color. Orange seems to combine the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. The emotional associations of orange most commonly are: joy, sunshine, the Tropics, enthusiasm, fascination, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement and stimulation.To the human eye, orange is a very hot color.Although it is not as aggressive as red, it still increases the oxygen supply to the brain and can be very invigorating; stimulating mental activity. Yellow simply put is the color of sunshine. It, even more so than orange, is associated with joy and happiness. It produces a warming effect in the viewer and tends to create cheerfulness and muscle energy. It is often associated with food.Even so, yellow can be disturbing if it is overused. Babies have been shown to cry more in yellow rooms. Also, when placed against black, yellow is noticed before other colors. Green is the color of Nature. For most of us, it symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness and fertility. For this reason, green has a strong emotional link to safety. Dark green very often is associated with money.It is thought that green has great healing power and it seems to be the most restful color for the human eye. It has been suggested that it can improve vision. I have two "favorite" colors and one of them is green; in just about any permutation. Blue is the color of sea and sky. Frequently, it is associated with depth and stability. Down through the ages it has come to symbolize trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth and heaven. It is considered to be beneficial to the mind and body. Blue is calming and is also associated with tranquility.Blue is a masculine color and if you ask many males what their favorite color is, many (if not most) will reply with "blue." Purple (my other "favorite" color; but really they are all wonderful) combines the stability of blue with the energy of red. It has long been associated with royalty. That is mostly because purple dye was very hard to come by and you had to be very wealthy to afford something purple. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury and ambition. It is also associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery and magic. Imagine the sage old wizard standing before his book of wisdom in a purple robe bedecked with stars.White (the absence of color) is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity and virginity. Quite simply, it is the color of perfection. Black (all the colors combined) usually evokes power, elegance, formality, death, evil and mystery. It is associated with fear and the unknown and at the same time denotes strength and authority.
NATIVE AMERICAN COLOR SYMBOLISMJust for curiosity, I will present a little information about how certain Native American Tribes perceive and use color.
CherokeeColors are associated with the four directions:blue = north (cold, defeat, trouble); White = south (warmth, peace, happiness); Red = east (Sacred Fire, blood, success) and black = west (problems and death). Brown is good, but yellow means trouble or strife.
NavajoFor the Navajo, the Four Sacred Mountains and directions are associated with specific colors. Their belief is that the Creator placed them on the land between the Four Sacred Mountains which represent the four cardinal directions. White:Mount Blanca (Tsisnaasjini' = Dawn or White Shell Mountain) is the Sacred Mountain of the East; male/dawn. It is near Alamosa in San Luis Valley, Colorado. Blue:Mount Taylor (Tsoodzil = Blue Bead or Turquoise Mountain) is the Sacred Mountain of the South; female/daylight. It is north of Laguna, New Mexico. Yellow:San Francisco Peaks (Doko'oosliid = Abalone Shell Mountain) is the Sacred Mountain of the West; female/twilight. It is located new Flagstaff, Arizona. Black:Mount Hesperus (Dibé Nitsaa = Big Mount Sheep) is the Sacred Mountain of the North; male/night. It is found in the La Plata Mountains of Colorado.
White Mountain ApachesWhite:north, source of snow Yellow:east, where the sun comes up Green:south Black:west, home of the setting sun
Hopi
Yellow = north (kwiníwi) Red = south/SE (tátöqa) White = east/NE (hópóqa) Blue = west/SW (tévengá) Black = above ('ómi) All colors = below ('atkámi)
ASTROLOGICAL COLORSAries = white Taurus = yellow Gemini = red or purple Cancer = bright green Leo = golden yellow/orange Virgo = pale blue or violet Libra = violet Scorpio = reddish brown Sagittarius = orange or purple Capricorn = brown or blue Aquarius = dark blue Pisces = white or purple
CROSSES
The Equilateral Cross:
The cross might be one of the oldest know symbols; right up there with the circle and the spiral. What could be easier than drawing two straight, intersecting lines? As with the shortest words in the English language, the simplest symbols have acquired many different meanings over time. One of the oldest know meanings for the equilateral cross associates it with sun worship. In Troy, it was alternated with rayed discs and sometimes the two symbols were juxtaposed. In Central America, the cross alludes to the four winds, which are the source of rain. Often, the four arms of the equilateral cross represent earth, air, fire and water. Some think it symbolizes the four quarters of the moon; others the uniformity of the seasonal year. The Swastika, or crux gammata or gammadion, is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. The word is derived from the Sanskrit (svastika), meaning "conducive to well being." It was prominent on Mesopotamian coinage. The arms are bent at a right angle and usually rotate clockwise or to the right. Left facing gammadions can be found in Hindu art. It can also be found in Native American art. It is thought that it came about as the result of weaving baskets. The pattern emerges frequently, quite naturally.
GARNET Garnet is powerfully energizing and regenerating. It has long been said to be able to warn of approaching danger and was worn as a talisman. There are many different varieties of Garnet and each is said to have its own distinguishing characteristics. Almandine brings strength and stamina. Andradite stimulates creativity. Grossularite teaches relaxation. Hessonite imparts self-respect. Melanite strengthens resistance and promotes honesty. Pyrope gives the wearer charisma and vitality. Rhodolite stimulates contemplation, intuition and inspiration. Spessartite strengthens the heart and gives one a willingness to help others. Uvarovite brings out individuality without egocentricity.
Knots, Celtic
an example of a Celtic Knot
The Celts have a number of endless knots. What these knots truly meant to the Celts is not specifically known. They left very few records of any kind. Many people ascribe meanings to the knots based on how they use them. However, the continuous looping of these knots suggest eternity and interconnectedness. These knots may have, at one time, been made to foil evil spirits. Possibly, the spirit could have been trapped in the never ending pattern.
Knots, Endless
an example of a Tibetan Endless Knot
The endless knot found in Tibet and Mongolia is an ancient symbol representing the interweaving of the Spiritual Path, the flowing of Time and Movement within That Which is Eternal. Various interpretations are: wisdom and compassion or ancestors and omnipresence.
Knot, Isis or Tyet
an example of an Isis Knot
The ancient Egyptian symbol called Tyet is also known as the Isis Knot. Not much is really known about this symbol that closely resembles the Ankh. Tyet is often translated as "life" or "welfare."
THE MOON and it's three aspects (waxing, waning and full) represent, for the Wicca, Mother, Maiden and Crone. In this context, crone does not have a negative meaning. Instead, it refers to the wise older woman.
One of the oldest correspondences for the moon is water. Symbolizing a woman's cyclic nature and the tides.
For the Chinese, the moon and sun balance each other with the moon being "yin" (female) and the sun being "yang" (male).
To the Romans the moon was "Luna", "Lucina" or the goddess Diana. To the Greeks she is "Selene" or "Artemis."
In the Tarot, the High Priestess is associated with the symbology of the moon.
A crescent moon and star were used to represent the goddess Tanit or the Greek goddess Diana. This use pre-dates Islam by several thousand years.
In numerous recent studies, it has been shown that a woman's "moods" tend to follow the cycle of the moon. Many women are most creative and receive inspiration during the waxing of the moon, particularly as the moon just precedes and then just passes half full. Frequently, a woman will feel more reflective and inner directed as the moon is waning. Also, many woman feel the need for time alone during the dark of the moon (New Moon).
MOONSTONE occurs in a number of colors. It can be a creamy color, peach, gray and a very pale green. There is also a rainbow moonstone that is very beautiful. It is the stone of new beginnings. Moonstone makes conscious the unconscious and promotes intuition.
OPAL Opal enhances cosmic consciousness and induces psychic and mystical visions. Stimulating creativity, it helps in finding one's true self. Opal strengthens the will to live.
PERIDOT Peridot (Dianne's birthstone) has long been thought to keep away evil spirits. It is a protective stone for the aura. It is also said to be a powerful cleanser; releasing and neutralizing toxins on all levels.
SPIRALS The spiral is probably the oldest symbol of human spirituality on record. It has been found scratched into rocks from thousands of years ago, on every continent in the world. For the Celts, the religious significance can only be guessed at, but it has been found on tombs. It possibly has a connection with the sun. The sun makes a spiral shape every three months in it travels. A triple spiral motif found on Celtic tombs is drawn in one continuous line suggesting a cycle of rebirth or resurrection. In modern times, the spiral is still spiritually significant. It is the symbol of spirit in Wicca, an emblem of the Goddess. For the Native Americans, the spiral most often represents water, the basis for all life.
TIGER'S EYE Tiger's Eye is a protective stone that was once carried as a talisman against ill will and curses.
TURQUOISE Turquoise is a protective stone and has been used for amulets since time immemorial. It was once believed to change color to warn of danger of infidelity.
