Gemstones: Birth Month or Zodiac Sign?
If you were born near the end of the month and your zodiac sign is different from the one that begins the month, your birthstone will be listed as belonging to the month that follows you.How did this happen? Consider that gemstones are as ancient as civilization, while contemporary calendars have their origins in recent human history.
When the Romans introduced the Julian calendar in 45 BC, the chance to align each month in correspondence with the beginning of a zodiac sign was ignored in the face of other political concerns. The state had official gods and goddesses while groups who believed in astrology, primarily the Chaldeans, were not the most influential powers in ancient Rome. In the late 16th century, the Gregorian calendar made up for imprecise measurements of leap years in the calendar of Julius Caesar.
Incorrect leap year measurements revealed themselves over a 1700-year span when spring began on March 10, 1580 (spring begins when the Sun aligns with the equator on March 20 or 21 of each year). The radical adjustment of the Gregorian calendar was to remove ten days from the 1582 calendar. Europe followed suit, slowly over the next few years. Russia held out until the early twentieth century and had to erase 13 days in 1922.
These calendar adjustments could have easily been lined up to signal the start of each zodiac sign, but other interests prevailed. And so, ancient alignments of gemstones with their naturally harmonious zodiac signs are imbalanced based on the newer calendars.
>While wearing your zodiac birthstone empowers you with the best energy that represents your potential, the birthstone of the zodiac sign before you is known as your twelfth house gem. The twelfth house is the zodiac’s code for psychic energy, so wearing such a stone may not give off the energy of who you are, but it will help you pick up on the energy of those around you.Zodiac gemstones are also known as Astral stones. The word Astral is derived from Astrology and has been an important part of holistic beliefs for centuries. Astrology is not a science, but was created originally as a method for telling time. It is used to tell us when one time has passed and also to let us know when another is coming, essentially acting as the calendar for the universe.These periods of time are divided into twelve sections, which are believed to represent the twelve tribes of Israel in the book of Exodus. Each section, or Zodiac sign is associated with a particular gemstone. The idea is that your Astrological sign is linked to a gemstone on earth that enables the wearer to tap into his or her hidden power. Gemstones also have holistic meanings and healing characteristics to benefit the mind and body.
Birthstones by Month
Birthstones by Zodiac Sign
Which gemstone is right for you?
It is common today to have a personal stone. The personal stone may be associated with a zodiac sign or a birth month. It may be a gem stone that has been passed down in a family or even a favourite colour. Your personal stone is one with which you feel a deep connection.