AMETHYST BIRTHSTONE

Happy Birthday to all who share this month; Amethyst is your birthstone.

It seems only appropriate that amethyst is the birthstone for February as St. Valentine, the patron of romantic love, wore an amethyst ring carved with the image of Cupid.  Amethyst is known for being the most common purple quartz stone, but it has various shades of purple that range from light lilac to deep and intense royal indigo to earthy purple.

Amethyst is found in clustered specimens and it grows in mineral grains or granite rocks in a beautiful six-sided columnar crystal with the top shaped like a pyramid.  Amethyst was the "diamond" from the years before Christ to the Middle Ages.  Amethyst was also once considered equal to emerald, ruby, and sapphire in value until more deposits were found and Amethyst was no longer considered rare.

Ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and also made drinking goblets from it; they believed that the stone would prevent intoxication, control evil thoughts, and increase intelligence.  Amethyst has also played prominent roles in royal crown jewels and religious jewelry for ages; it has adorned the fingers of bishops and royalty.

The amethyst gemstone is said to strengthen imagination and focus, enhance one's creativity and passion, and is worn for protection and intuition.

Enjoy your birthstone, February babies! May it bring you all these qualities and more.