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crystals,
gems and minerals
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Carnelian
(Alternate July Birthstone)
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Scientific:
Ok, I tried to find
information on carnelian, but since it is a
variety of chalcedony, there wasn't a lot
scientifically to be found. The name is said
to be derived from the Latin word "Carnis"
which means flesh due to it's color.
Carnelian is a brownish red to orange,
translucent to opaque chalcedony variety.
The coloring agent is iron, and it can be
enhanced by heating. Most carnelians today
are agates that are dyed then heat treated.
When held against the light, the color
variety shows in stripes, while natural
carnelian shows a cloudy distribution of
color.
Deposits are found in Brazil, India,
Australia, Russia, Madagascar, South Africa,
U.S., and Uruguay.
Because of its color, carnelian can be
confused as jasper. Darker and browner
carnelians are usually called sard.
Carnelians are used for the most part as
jewelry or in arts and crafts.
Variety of: Chalcedony
Chemical Composition: SiO2 Silicon Dioxide
Hardness: 7 |
Carnelian Runes, occasionally available at
Tigerblossom
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History:
Carnelians were used as early as 1500 BC as
talismans and beads in Egyptian tombs.
Goethe wrote:
Carnelian is a talisman,
It brings good luck to child and man;
If resting on an onyx ground,
A sacred kiss imprint when found.
It drives away all evil things;
To thee and thine protection brings.
The name of Allah, king of kings,
If graven on this stone, indeed,
Will move to love and doughty need.
From such a gem a woman gains
Sweet hope and comfort in her pains.
The Lapidario of King Alfonso X of Spain
recommended the wearing of carnelians to
those who have a weak voice or are timid in
speech, for the warm colored stone will give
them the courage they lack so they will
speak both boldly and well. |
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Lore:
It has been used for
centuries to stop the flow of blood. It has
been suggested that this stone will stop
nose bleeding.
Some believed in the old Roman times that
the darker Carnelian represented males and
the lighter, females.
There were many ancient beliefs associated
with this stone of which many centered
around protection during travels after death
and against evil. It is also believed to
combat bad tempers.
Carnelian has long been associated with
courage and cleansing of the blood. It was
believed that the stone would improve one's
outlook, making the individual cheerful and
expelling fears.
Throughout the East, people were afraid of
the envious. They believed if you envied a
person for any good thing that he had, he
would lose it in a short time. So, it was
supposed that by wearing a carnelian,
bearing the following prayer, other people's
envy would do the wearer no harm.
"In the name of God the Just, the very Just!
I implore you, O God King of the World,
God of the World, deliver us from the devil
Who tries to do harm and evil to us through
Bad people, and from the evil of the
envious." |
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Metaphysical:
Carnelians, like rubies,
are said to be very healing of physical
wounds and blood disorders because of their
red color. They are very good for the first
chakra, and are thought to bring passion to
the wearer. It is recommended for
infertility or impotency.
Carnelians are very balancing stones; they
calm those who are on hyper-driver, and they
energize those who are mellow. Because of
their ability to balance, carnelians are
good for family areas of homes, as well as
for in a bedroom where more than one child
sleeps.
I have a very deep colored carnelian,
probably heated, that I find to be very
grounding and therefore healing. It is a
little too grounding for my upper chakras
sometimes, but I certainly use it for my
lower chakras when the need arises. |
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Teresa's Rock of the Week, formerly Gail's Rock of the Week |
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