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 The
Lore and Beliefs
The lore, beliefs and myths of turquoise not
just date back to the ancient times, but some people still hold some of
these beliefs today. Read on and you will get to know...
Good Luck Charm:
Because, over the
millennia of its use, much of the world's supply of the
stone has come from Persia, the number of superstitions
surrounding Turquoise that originate from Persia and the
surrounding area of the Middle East is great. To begin,
Hebrew tradition states that Isaac opened the first
mines in Persia. Having seen the reflection of the new
moon in a stone of Turquoise, a person was believed to
encounter good luck soon, according to Persian lore.
Arabian superstition said it was a lucky stone and that
it had good powers of benevolence. They also attributed
the accumulation of wealth and prosperity with the
stone.
Holy Stone:
In many cultures of the Old and New World this
gemstone has for thousands of years been appreciated as a holy stone, a
good-luck-charm or a talisman. It is a virtual 'peoples gemstone'. The
oldest proof for this lies in Egypt, where in tombs from the period
around 3000 B.C. there were found artifacts set with Turquoise.
Also in South, Middle and North America Turquoise has always been
enjoying a special position among gemstones. For example, the ancient
Aztecs in Northern Peru used to decorate their ceremonial masks with
this stone, a 'holy stone' in their belief. The North American Indians,
who are still producing quite a few pieces of traditional silver jewelry
set with Turquoises today, believed that the gemstone the color of the
sky would establish a direct connection between the sky and the lakes.
For Protection
In Asia, turquoise was considered as
effective protection against the evil eye. In the ancient Persian
Kingdom the sky-blue gemstones were originally worn around the neck or
on the hand as protection to ward off unnatural death. If the stones
changed their color, there was an imminent danger for the wearer. (It
was later discovered that Turquoises may in fact change their color, but
this reaction is not necessarily an indication of danger impending. The
reason for the color change is rather the influence of light, cosmetic
products, dust or even the ph-value of the skin, which may all trigger
off chemical responses.)
At all times in history Turquoise was worn as protection to ward off the
influence of dark and evil powers. In former times thought to protect
riders and horses from accidental falls, they are nowadays considered
the ideal good-luck stones for aviators, flight staff and other
professions, which need special assistance to ward off accidents.
In the United States South West, the Apache believed that turquoise
helped warriors and hunters to aim accurately. The Zuni believed that it
protected them from demons. Another belief was that turquoise had the
power to protect the wearer from injury from falling; especially falling
from horseback, and that it made the horse more sure-footed.
For Prosperity
In earlier times Turquoises were sometimes
thought responsible for the material wealth of their bearers. For
example, Persian philosopher Al Kazwini wrote: "The hand wearing a
Turquoise and using it as a sealing stone, will never be poor.
Turquoises were loved as ornaments decorating turbans, often set in a
border of Pearls, in order to protect the wearer from the 'evil eye'.
Healing Power?
In the contemporary teachings of the
Healing Power of Stones, wearing Turquoise is recommended to solve the
problems caused by a depressed outlook on life. The bright and happy
color is supposed to lend self-confidence to subdued personalities, and
it is also very popular as a token of friendship, since Turquoise is
reputed to be responsible for faithfulness and reliable relationships.
Ancient Persian and Egyptian doctors used it to prevent one from getting
hurt in an accident. Other doctors used it to prevent blindness. Still,
others turned it into a salve to prevent or cure other illnesses from
stomachaches to psychological disorders.
The Birthstone for December
Turquoise is the one of the
official birth stones for the month of December as adopted by the
American National Association of Jewelers in 1912 and the Planetary
stone for Aquarius, Taurus and Sagittarius. See the birthstone tables
for additional references to this stone.
To Please the Rain God
Native American Indians believed
the turquoise stones joined the spirits of the sky and oceans to bless
warriors in battle. The Navajo Indians, on the other hand, felt that
casting a turquoise stone into a waterway and summoning the spirit of
the rain god resulted in a good rainfall.
Other ancient people used it to gain insight into the future, prevent
danger, influence dreams, predict weather events, protect animals and
gain wealth and other good fortunes.
In ancient Mexico, turquoise was reserved for the gods and could not be
worn by mere mortals.
In Tibet even today, turquoise is by far the most popular of all
materials used for personal adornment, and still play an important part
in religious ceremonies.
A sacred stone for the North American Indians as well as the Tibetans,
it is often used by shamans in rituals and ceremonies. It is said to
promote mental and spiritual clarity and expansion and to enhance
wisdom, trust, kindness and understanding.
In Modern World Too
Europeans give Turquoise jewelry as
forget-me-nots or as a pledge of adoration. In The Merchant of Venice,
Shakespeare uses this symbolism when Leah gives a turquoise ring to
Shylock to win his favor. Some Russians use Turquoise in wedding rings.
Modern Spiritualists consider Turquoise to be a stone of spiritual
attunement, cleansing, protection and prosperity and a symbol of the
Earth and sky, good fortune and success.
Turquoise Facts
Turquoise came in Europe through Turkey, but
its origin was Persia, where it has been mined for thousands of years.
The blue color of turquoise was thought to have powerful metaphysical
properties by many ancient cultures. In ancient Mexico, turquoise was
reserved for the gods and could not be worn by mere mortals. In Asia,
turquoise was considered as effective protection against the evil eye.
In Tibet even today, turquoise is by far the most popular of all
materials used for personal adornment, and still play an important part
in religious ceremonies...
Read more...
Turquoise Myths
Turquoise has been a treasured gemstone around the world for thousands
of years. It was used for beads by the Egyptians as early as 5500
BC. The deposits in Sinai were already worked out by 4,000 BC. In many
cultures, Turquoise is regarded as a harbinger of good fortune, success
and health. In ancient Persia it was once believed that the wearing of
turquoise talismans would protect the wearer from death. It was
also believed – not only among Persians but also among a number of other
cultures – that a change in the color of the turquoise was a sign of
danger or illness...
Read more...
History of Turquoise
Turquoise is one of the oldest known gem
materials. The Egyptians were mining turquoise in the Sinai as early as
5,500 BC. Turquoise was worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings. Its prized
blue color, is so distinctive that its name is used to describe any
color that resembles it. Pre-Columbian Indians used turquoise for beads
and pendants. From,500 BC Burial grounds, in Central America and Mexico.
Teeth were found decorated with turquoise. A tribute to early dentistry
as well as a different idea for adornment. It was also extensively used
around 200 BC, by both southwestern US Native Americans and by many of
the Indian tribes in Mexico. The Anasazi and Hohokam mined turquoise...
Read more...
Back to 'All About Turquoise' Summary
Turquoise, the robin's egg blue gemstone worn by Pharaohs and Aztec
Kings, is probably one of the oldest gemstones known. Yet, only its
prized blue color, a color so distinctive that its name is used to
describe any color that resembles it, results in its being used as a
gemstone. The true value of turquoise is in the beauty of the
stone. Buy at the level you can afford and buy what speaks to you, what
you find most attractive. There's no stone like turquoise, and rarely
are two pieces alike...
Read more...
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Turquoise Lore, Turquoise Beliefs
