​         Peridot, also known as the "extreme gem" by the GIA itself, is an apropos birthstone for anyone born under the intense August sun. One of the oldest gemstones, it comes from the volcanic island of Zabargad (currently St. John) off the eastern coast of Egypt and was discovered around 1500 B.C. This gem forms in the hot magma deep beneath the Earth's mantle and only surfaces during volcanic activity. When Hawaii's Kilauea volcano was erupting for over a month during this past summer, people found the olivine crystals "raining" from the sky. Much like a Leo, the peridot is literally born of fire and made present by eruption. The “true topaz” of the Bible, peridot is now found mostly in Egypt, Myanmar, Norway, and even right here in Arizona and New Mexico along the Navajo reservation.

Talismanic Properties:
         The serenely olive-colored gemstone is a common go-to in terms of crystal healing, as it associated with the Anahata – or heart – chakra. Along with the emerald, the peridot aids in restoring balance to our 4th chakra, fostering security, prosperity, and abundance - as well as unconditional love, joy, and physical health - in all matters of the heart and lungs, particularly during hardships such as divorce. Such close ties to the heart make the “Hawaiian diamond” a perfect alternative engagement ring gemstone! Additionally, peridot’s extraterrestrial origins in pallasite meteorites likely explain the ancient civilizations’ obsessions with August’s transformative gemstone, as they considered it a gift from the sun to protect them in (and from) darkness.

Wear And (Peridon't!) Tear:
             Peridot jewelry will also splash your wardrobe with a charming amount color: these gems receive their light green color from the amount of ferrous iron within the gem and may also have a more intense vibrancy to them depending on the amount of chromium they possess. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 - 7, they demand extra caution and care, as they will chip easily if hit against any hard surface. These gems also have sensitivity to acid and should only be worn directly against the skin occasionally. In most cases, it is recommended that you avoid cleaning peridots using ultrasonic or steam-cleaning technology due to the extreme, sudden changes in temperature; instead, use warm, soapy water.

​          July babies; revel in your royalty because it's officially time for rubies! The name Ruby comes from the Latin word "ruber", meaning red, and creates a world of riches and mystique every time the name is uttered. Seen as a symbol of success for hundreds of years, these intensely saturated gems of the corundum family are much rarer than their popular diamond counterparts, and can range from one to several thousand U$D per carat. The rubies get their vivid red color from their chromium content, and depending on the ratio of chromium and iron, the colors can range anywhere from a pinkish purple to an orange or brownish red. Because of the ruby's high durability, they can be treated at very high temperatures to achieve that sought-after deep red color we all fall in love with instantly.

    

​     June can be an incredibly rewarding month during which to be born for anyone who enjoys options in their birthstone jewelry.  Not only are June babies privileged with the illusory Alexandrite, but for those with more traditional tastes, there is also the option of pearls. Even in some areas of Europe, the moonstone reigns king

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​     Boasting one of the most remarkable color changes in the realm of gems, the alexandrite is a relative newcomer after having only being discovered in Russia during the 19th century and named after Czar Alexander II. This gem is an almost emerald green in direct sunlight, and veers  toward the more ruby side of red once exposed to artificial light; the clearer and more distinct the color changes from green to red, the higher its value. Being one of the rarest and most expensive gems on the market today, most have never had the privilege of seeing a natural alexandrite face to face.

     As the rare and beautiful birthstone of May, the emerald has brought honor and status to royalty and deities throughout cultures both ancient and modern worldwide. A gem that encompasses wit and foresight, eloquence and power; a gem that Cleopatra herself adorned and gifted to foreign dignitaries. A gem that mystified a slew of ancient cultures from Arabs to the Spanish, as emeralds were thought to cut through spells, dampen lust, and void someone of poison and dysentery; a gem that was rumored to coat entire walls of palaces in India. With its reputation in the ancient world, it's no wonder experts still refer to the emerald "The Jewel of Kings"...

     The emerald is a beryl gemstone which gets its fetching green color from the impurities such as chromium, vanadium, or a combination of both. Depending on the region it comes from, such as Zambia, this precious gem may contain more iron than usual and thus can even give off a more blue hue. The emerald's deep green color is also said to be soothing to those who are prone to eye strain from long hours on the job. So, if you tend to be rubbing your eyes after a long day of staring at the computer screen, a nice emerald on the desktop might just be the cure you need!
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Natural Diamonds are a unique and rare find in the wild world that is Nature, and are known to be one of the hardest substances on our planet. Diamonds are said to provide the wearer with better relationships and a boost to their inner strength. Wearing diamonds is said to provide other benefits such as clarity, increased balance and abundance. Derived from the Greek word ​Adamas, meaning "invincible", Diamonds come naturally in a range of colors. Black, blue, green, yellow, pink, red, purple, orange, and the more common white/clear. Diamonds can also have color introduced artificially. The natural colors that occur are dependent on the type of impurities present in the stone. In the Encarta, sanskrit texts that date back before 400 B.C. found that people associated significant value and wonderment with crystals. Research from the year 1330 links diamond cutting to have been occurring in the city of Venice. The diamond trade began to flourish around the 15th Century due to the opening of Eastern Trading Routes. There are many ancient theories touting the prevalence of diamonds containing magical powers. Some thought lightning bolts formed diamonds, others believed them to be the tears of the gods. During the Middle Ages, diamonds were thought to have healing properties, and to cure ailments stemming from the pituitary gland and brain. By heating the crystal and taking it to bed, it was thought to remove all of the harmful toxins that were crippling the body. As April's gemstone, Diamonds have garnered the hearts of many and is the most coveted crystal to date. No wonder it is commonly referred to as the "King of Birthstones"!

St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17 by Irish communities around the world. Although shamrocks, leprechauns and Guinness are synonymous with the holiday, there's more to the day. We take a look at some of the most popular myths about this day.
Born around A.D. 390, and the main patron saint of Ireland, Patrick was not actually Irish. He is believed to have been born into a wealthy Christian family in Wales or Scotland. St. Patrick had no interest in Christianity as a young boy. But at the age of 16, he was kidnapped and sent to Ireland by Irish raiders who enslaved him as a shepherd for many years.
The myth that St. Patrick exterminated all the snakes from Ireland is not true, because Ireland never actually had snakes. Scholars suggest the tale is symbolic. Serpents are symbols of evil in Judeo-Christian tradition, and this story may be a nod to St. Patrick's Christianizing influence. Because the color green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day, people wear green clothes, drink green beer and even dye the Chicago River green to celebrate. However, the earliest depictions of St. Patrick from the 18th century show him wearing blue clothing. In fact, King George III created a new order of chivalry for the Kingdom of Ireland, the Order of St. Patrick, its official color was a sky blue, known as "St. Patrick's Blue".
St. Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Christian Holy Trinity. The shamrock has been linked with him ever since. The color green has become associated with Saint Patrick because of Ireland's rich green landscape. Until the 1700s, St. Patrick’s Day was considered a Roman Catholic feast. It was celebrated only in Ireland, where people would pray at home or in the church. The tradition of parades started in the United States, not Ireland. The first parade to honor St. Patrick took place in Boston in 1737. Ireland started their own parade tradition in Dublin nearly 200 years later in 1931. On this day, revelers fill their plates with traditional Irish foods like corned beef and cabbage, battered sausages and baked beans, or colcannon, a side dish made with potatoes, cabbage or kale and often onions. The dish is also known as "bubble and squeak".

Early references to griffins are found in ancient Persian and Egyptian mythology dating back as far as 3300 B.C. and were often used as statues in Persian palaces. Ancient Persepolis was covered in stone carved depictions of griffins all across its walls, and towering statues throughout the city.
The griffins are popular mythical creatures used extensively in the movies and fiction novels. The griffin is a chimera or hybrid mythical creature. These legendary creatures have the body of a lion and the wings and head of eagle; thus representing the kings of both animals and the birds. They may also bear  the ears of a horse. Traditionally known for guarding treasures and possessions, griffins are protectors from evil, slander and witchcraft as well. Sculpted in some churches, the griffin is known in Christian symbolism and depicts both the divine and the human. ​In heraldry, griffin stands for courage, leadership and strength.  Pictured as fierce, they have gained respect over ages too. They appear regularly on the coats, arms, and flags of the noble and highly respected important families in Europe. The roots of this fascinating mythological creature reach from Western Europe to the Eastern edges of Indian subcontinent and beyond.
Powerful and majestic, the griffins guarded gold and treasure. In the medieval era, they came to be regarded as symbols of monogamous marriage and discouraged fidelity. Known to be strictly loyal to its partner, in the event of the death of one partner, the other griffin never mated again. They started representing Jesus as they were able to traverse in both air and earth with equal ease, which symbolized the human and divine nature of the Christ.
The griffins represent both power and wisdom. They are commonly associated with strength during war. The Genoa Republic used griffins as symbols to all its seafaring ships in the Middle Ages.

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Nowruz (Persian: نوروز‎‎, literally "New Day") is the name of the Persian New Year, and has been celebrated by Iranian peoples worldwide as the beginning of the new year for over 3000 years.
Nowruz is the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (or northward equinox), which marks the beginning of Spring in the northern hemisphere and usually occurs around March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and families gather together to observe the rituals.
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Although having Persian and religious Zoroastrian origins, Nowruz has been celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.

​Before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Iran was the only country that officially observed the ceremonies of Nowruz. When the Central Asian and Caucasus countries gained independence from the Soviets, they also declared Nowruz as a national holiday. The UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Nowruz, describing it as a spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. During the meeting of The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of the United Nations, held between 28 September – 2 October 2009, Nowruz was officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

According to Persian scholar Abu Rayhan Biruni, it is the belief of the Persians that Nowruz marks the first day when the universe started its motion.

Zoroastrians worldwide celebrate Nowruz as the first day of the New Year. Parsi Zoroastrians of Central Asian origin celebrate it as "Nowroj", "Navroz", or "Navroj" on the fixed day of March 21, while Zoroastrians of Iranian background generally celebrate, like other Iranians, on the actual Spring Equinox date. Because different Zoroastrian communities in India/Pakistan and Iran have evolved slightly different calendar systems, there is some variance. Adherents of the Fasli variant of the Zoroastrian calendar celebrate Nowruz in March, but today, most other Zoroastrians also celebrate on this day.

Zoroastrians of Iranian origin generally put up a Haft Sheen table while Muslim Iranians put up Haft Seen table. The difference is because Muslims can not put wine (Sharab) on the table. Zoroastrians of Parsi (South Asian) origin do not traditionally use a Haft Seen. They set up a standard "sesh" tray – generally a silver tray, with a container of rose water, a container with betel nut, raw rice, raw sugar, flowers, a picture of Zarathustra and either a floating wick in a glass filled with water topped with oil for fuel, or an "afargania", a silver urn with a small fire nourished by sandalwood and other fragrant resins.​