Guide to Birthstones

 

   A lot of people believe that wearing their birthstone will give them good luck and protect them. Ancient civilisations even thought that these stones have magical powers. Although at first gems were associated with zodiac signs, in time they became associated with calendar months. Today people wear all types of stones, regardless of their month of birth. If you wish to find out what your birthstone is and what powers it supposedly has, read the following list.

January - Garnet
   If you are a January baby, garnet is your birthstone. This gem comes in every colour except blue, so you can find a green, pink, and orange garnet amongst others. It reportedly gives its wearer protection from nightmares and cures snake bites and food poisoning.

February - Amethyst
   This variety of quartz comes in pale lilac to deep purple hues. It is also a durable stone and comes in all shapes and sizes. It is believed that amethyst prevents intoxication and is a symbol of peace, protection and tranquillity. Since royals have always loved the colour purple, this gem was often worn by ancient Greeks and Egyptians, and can even be found in the British Crown Jewels.

March - Aquamarine
   Due to its sea blue color it is said that this stone protects sailors, which makes it an ideal gift for someone who often goes on cruises. Wearing aquamarine should bring you love and affection and it is a symbol of youth, hope, and health.

April - Diamond
   It is not a coincidence that engagement rings usually contain diamonds. This stone has been the traditional symbol of love since ancient Greece. Most people are familiar with colourless diamonds, but there are also coloured ones that come in green, red, pink, blue, canary yellow and amber hues. They are more expensive than regular ones.

May - Emerald
   The famous green stone supposedly cures poor eyesight and infertility and even helps the wearer to predict the future. If you wish to own this gem, make sure you properly protect it from scratches, sharp blows, and household chemicals.

June - Pearl
   This gorgeous product of oyster's defence mechanism over bacteria (not a grain of sand!) comes in a wide range of colours. It is a symbol of modesty, chastity and purity.

July - Ruby
   Beautiful red stone is known as the "Lord of the Gems" because of its rarity and it is said that it protects its wearer from all kinds of misfortune. You can find more information on this gem on https://moonmagic.com/blogs/news/july-birthstone

August - Peridot
   People born in August should wear peridot as an amulet against all evil. It has a lively lime green colour and is available in larger sizes.

September - Sapphire
   Although blue sapphire is very popular, this gem comes in other colours such as pink, green, orange, and golden yellow. Interesting fact – Princess Diana’s engagement ring was with a blue sapphire. In the past it was believed that this gem refused to shine when worn by the wicked.

October - Opal
   While white opal has a white body colour with flashes of various colours black opal has a dark body with vivid flashes of colour. It is a symbol of hope, innocence, and purity and medieval writers believed this gem could make its wearer invisible when needed. One gem to rule them all!

November - Topaz
   The most popular topaz is a golden yellow gemstone, but it also comes in other colours, such as red, light green, blue, and pink. The Greeks believed that this stone restored sanity, cured asthma, gave strength and relieved insomnia.

December - Turquoise
   When it comes to turquoise, colours range from sky blue to blue-green and apple green. This gem was used in the 16th century as currency by the Southwest Indians who believed that it could bring winnings to the warrior, animals to the hunter, and happiness to everyone.

Would you wear your birthstone?
I certainly would - but I adore garnets, anyway!

How to Adopt a Calmer Way of Life

   Is it time for you to start living life a little differently? If you’re someone who’s overwhelmed by life and want to take a step back, there are plenty of ways in which you can change your mindset. It’s not about just taking time to relax but also about living life in a different way and adopting a calmer way of operating. Here are some great examples of how you can do exactly that.

Trust Yourself
   Sometimes, you just need to trust yourself and your own instincts. There are right and wrong ways to treat yourself in life and if you’re too harsh and you’re constantly doubting your decision-making for no good reason, you’re only likely to cause yourself unnecessary stress and that’s never a good thing. It’s a shift in mindset that more of us should adopt.

Rely More on Those Around You
   Relying on those around you and not trying to do absolutely everything yourself is not something that should be seen as a sign of weakness. For your own wellbeing, you should reach out when you need help and rely on those around you when necessary. That applies to your colleagues at work and your friends and family in your personal life as well.

Change Your Outlook
   Changing your general outlook and how you look at life is one of the major challenges you’ll face as you start trying to lead a calmer lifestyle. Knowing when it’s alright to feel insecure and when you need to stop fretting and stressing out about things will give you a much more healthy way of dealing with the new challenges you face each day.

Try Essential Oils and Other Options
   There are lots of ways to relax and there are some products that make it easier for you. Essential oils are great for helping to relax your mind, and you might also want to try other options. If it’s available in your area, you could make use of CBD oil - to find out how much to use, this guide to CBD oil dosage will give you the information you need. Alternatively, if you like to try things in different flavours, there are gummys and other edibles that you can find in any flavour you fancy.

Take One Thing at a Time
   If you’re the kind of person who tends to multitask, it’s best to curb that instinct and instead focus on one thing at a time. By instead taking one thing at a time, you’ll be able to ensure you get things done properly and don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to juggle a range of different tasks at the same time because that only leads to stress and burnout in the end.

   There’s a lot to be gained from leading a calmer life and cutting out as much day to day stress as you possibly can. By following the advice above, you’ll be able to go about adopting a calmer and more laid back way of life and hopefully stop stressing over things that don’t warrant it.