In my weekly astrological weather forecast I talked about two gemstones which are the most beneficial to balance the challenging energies of Scorpio and Pluto activities, the Herkimer Diamond and the whole family of Opals. We talked about Herkimer Diamond and here is the birthstone article for Scorpios you have been waiting for. Remember that whenever you feel attracted to a specific gemstone you know that stone has some helpful properties for you, even if it only might be short term. If you choose gemstones based on your horoscope you can determine the stones which are beneficial for you throughout your life.

Scorpio: Phoenix Rising from the Ashes   (October 23–November 22)
Birthstone: Opal

Scorpio Has Depth and Charisma
Scorpio is a feminine water sign ruled by Pluto who governs the 8th House, Death & Regeneration. Scorpios are powerful, intense, complex people with a touch of the dark side. The energy of Scorpio is symbolized in the stinging tail of the Scorpio, which can be used for either positive or negative purposes. People are strongly drawn to the intensity, charisma, mystery, and energy of Scorpios.

Pluto rules the underworld, and Scorpios are very keen on discovering what lies beneath the surface of things. They don’t rest until they have gotten to the bottom of a matter. They are perfectionists and relentless in their pursuit of their goals.

While they like to dig deep, they prefer to keep their own true selves somewhat hidden and secret. It can be difficult to know what they’re really thinking and planning. Along with this deep side, they tend to have good intuition and understand people and situations well, making them very good strategists. In relationships Scorpios are fiercely loyal, committed, and protective—but possibly also possessive and jealous.

Phoenix: Rising from the Ashes
A keyword for Scorpio is “transformation.” I like to think of Scorpio—like Pluto—as a phoenix rising from the ashes. Scorpios have the ability to deeply transform themselves and their lives through their determined focus on their goals and their intuitive understanding. They use the natural cycle of endings and new beginnings to further their aims.

Scorpios do well in any profession that involves research and uncovering new or hidden information, such as detective, medical researcher, or scientist. A Scorpio would make a great spy!

How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Scorpio Experience
Gemstones are the perfect way for Scorpios to descend even further into their deep nature and focus on their goals.

Gemstones have both physical and metaphysical qualities that can enhance all aspects of your well-being. The perfectly aligned crystal structure of gemstones creates an energy field that interacts with our own when you hold it or wear it on your body. In this way, the gemstone can be used to calm you, bring you mental clarity, increase or balance your energy, enhance your creativity, and much more.

Astrology and Gemstones
Astrological principles manifest at all levels of creation, from the largest bodies in the cosmos to the tiniest particles of atoms—all are part of the same network of universal energy. Based on the hermetic principle “As above, so below,” those universal principles allow us to read relations among the planets and extrapolate those principles to things here on Earth, to events in our lives, as well as to our natural environment. The universal principles that govern the planets are also seen on the much smaller level of gemstones, crystals, and metals.

The Signature of Gemstones
Each gemstone is associated with specific planets. You are already aware that each planet has its own personality in astrology. And each gemstone has a personal “signature”—specific metaphysical qualities, different for each stone, that arise from the stone’s association with its planets.

How to Make Gemstones Work for You
By considering the individual signature of gemstones, you can select the right gems for very specific purposes, according to their astrological qualities. The signature is based on the personality formed by the individual qualities of a stone like the color, chemical composition and their crystal structure.

Gemstones can be enjoyed and used in three different ways:

1.    They are precious objects of beauty that may hold a special meaning for us. We enjoy their beauty by giving them a special place on a shelf, desk, or altar.
2.    They can be used in meditation by tuning into their frequency for the purpose of balancing our energy field.
3.    They can be made into jewelry pieces for our pleasure, enhancing our individual expression of beauty and sense of empowerment.

You can learn more about the metaphysical properties of 67 gemstones through my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul.  I give you an introduction into the astrological way of thinking, and teach you how to read your personal horoscope and blue print for your life. Then you will be able to balance yourself in your most important areas with your 12 main healing gemstones, I call your true birthstones.

My book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery is a treasure chest of ideas on how to select, purchase, and wear jewelry that will enhance your body, heart, mind, and soul. And it will give you a new perspective onto the beauty in your life and teaches you how to align yourself with the cosmic forces for more joy and happiness in your life. Let us have a look at the metaphysical qualities of Opal.

Opal: A Gemstone to Support Your Transformation
Opal is one of the true gemstones of Scorpio. The Opals make up a large and beautiful family divided into three groups: the opalescent Precious Opals, the yellow-red Fire Opals, and the Common Opals. The first two are characterized by their opalescence, a rainbow-like sparkling and iridescence that changes when viewed from different angles. Each gem is an individual and unique, but this is especially true in the world of the Opals—there are no two Opals alike.

Opal is the stone of the mystic, shaman, artist, and healer in all of us. It is a stone for support during times of transition and intense change.

Precious Opals are always a mixture of all the energies of the outer planets. The color of the stone determines the planetary principle that it represents: the dark blues lean more toward Pluto and the green-blue-turquoises toward Uranus, while the very colorful Opals and the Black Opals express the energy of Neptune.

The Black Opal (dark grey, dark blue, dark green, red, or gray-black) leans toward the energy of Neptune, deepening our intuitive knowledge of who we are and the experience of feeling connected to the creator of the universe.

The Boulder Opal is famous worldwide for its vibrant colors, stability, strength, and uniqueness. It comes in all kinds of sparkling colors, including green, blue, turquoise, yellow, red, and violet. Because of its connection with the matrix rock, the energy of the Boulder Opal is very grounding. It helps us to stay rooted during times of upheaval in our lives.

Opals in the blue-violet-turquoise color range work with the throat chakra and the third eye. They give us a more holistic view of things and help us to let go of old thoughts, memories, and issues that may be blocking us. These Opals also stimulate our creativity and our search for meaning and vision in life—qualities that help to ease our challenging transitions. The green-blue variety gives us more understanding in working with the heart and the throat chakras. This Opal will help heal the heart, bringing awareness of our true feelings.

The Crystal Clear Fire Opal is the female Fire Opal: transcendent, brilliant, sparkling in many hues. It represents the Amazon woman, strong and independent, never giving her power away.  This stone connects us to the collective unconscious and all its treasures. It fuels our intuition with sudden sparks of insight and wisdom. But it is also the universal mother guiding and nourishing us, sustaining us in times of trouble and transitions.

The Fire Opal (orange) is a great energizing stone. When our movement in a particular direction is long overdue, the Fire Opal imparts its fire to us to get us moving. The wearer of this gem is an adventurer, a pioneer. The Fire Opal also represents a Don Juan and a tantric master who loves playful sexuality accompanied by true intimacy.

The Fire Opal is not only powerful, but also gentle and healing in its transmission of energy. It can offer support during recovery from sexual abuse. It helps us to rise out of conceiving of ourselves as victims, helps us to develop forgiveness, and empowers us by releasing those toxic thoughts from our system. It bolsters our sense of personal power and mastery.

Lightning Ridge Opal: The town of Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia, yields some of the most striking Opals in the world, famous for their exceptional color and brilliance. These are Black and Crystal Opals that occur in a beautiful deep blue and other color combination. The most desirable and expensive Opals are those with the strongest, most sparkling colors and the most interesting color formations and combination. Lightning Ridge is the seal of quality in the world of Opals.

White Opals bring in the transforming and refining energies of the outer planets along with the soothing Moon qualities, making us feel nourished, balanced, and in touch with our feelings. The White Opal invites us to embark on an inner journey, diving down into the depths of our being to find unknown and unimaginable treasures. Being renewed, rejuvenated, and deeply changed as a result of this journey, we have a new outlook on life.

I hope you enjoyed this and wish you a very enchanted journey into the mysterious world of healing gemstones and looking at them in a new way! If you enjoyed this article, you can have a look at my other birthstone articles.
Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

Scorpio: Phoenix Rising from the Ashes   (October 23–November 22)
Birthstone: Opal

Scorpio Has Depth and Charisma
Scorpio is a feminine water sign ruled by Pluto who governs the 8th House, Death & Regeneration. Scorpios are powerful, intense, complex people with a touch of the dark side. The energy of Scorpio is symbolized in the stinging tail of the Scorpio, which can be used for either positive or negative purposes. People are strongly drawn to the intensity, charisma, mystery, and energy of Scorpios.

Pluto rules the underworld, and Scorpios are very keen on discovering what lies beneath the surface of things. They don’t rest until they have gotten to the bottom of a matter. They are perfectionists and relentless in their pursuit of their goals.

While they like to dig deep, they prefer to keep their own true selves somewhat hidden and secret. It can be difficult to know what they’re really thinking and planning. Along with this deep side, they tend to have good intuition and understand people and situations well, making them very good strategists. In relationships Scorpios are fiercely loyal, committed, and protective—but possibly also possessive and jealous.

Phoenix: Rising from the Ashes
A keyword for Scorpio is “transformation.” I like to think of Scorpio—like Pluto—as a phoenix rising from the ashes. Scorpios have the ability to deeply transform themselves and their lives through their determined focus on their goals and their intuitive understanding. They use the natural cycle of endings and new beginnings to further their aims.

Scorpios do well in any profession that involves research and uncovering new or hidden information, such as detective, medical researcher, or scientist. A Scorpio would make a great spy!

How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Scorpio Experience
Gemstones are the perfect way for Scorpios to descend even further into their deep nature and focus on their goals.

Gemstones have both physical and metaphysical qualities that can enhance all aspects of your well-being. The perfectly aligned crystal structure of gemstones creates an energy field that interacts with our own when you hold it or wear it on your body. In this way, the gemstone can be used to calm you, bring you mental clarity, increase or balance your energy, enhance your creativity, and much more.

Astrology and Gemstones
Astrological principles manifest at all levels of creation, from the largest bodies in the cosmos to the tiniest particles of atoms—all are part of the same network of universal energy. Based on the hermetic principle “As above, so below,” those universal principles allow us to read relations among the planets and extrapolate those principles to things here on Earth, to events in our lives, as well as to our natural environment. The universal principles that govern the planets are also seen on the much smaller level of gemstones, crystals, and metals.

The Signature of Gemstones
Each gemstone is associated with specific planets. You are already aware that each planet has its own personality in astrology. And each gemstone has a personal “signature”—specific metaphysical qualities, different for each stone, that arise from the stone’s association with its planets.

How to Make Gemstones Work for You
By considering the individual signature of gemstones, you can select the right gems for very specific purposes, according to their astrological qualities. The signature is based on the personality formed by the individual qualities of a stone like the color, chemical composition and their crystal structure.
Gemstones can be enjoyed and used in three different ways:

1.    They are precious objects of beauty that may hold a special meaning for us. We enjoy their beauty by giving them a special place on a shelf, desk, or altar.
2.    They can be used in meditation by tuning into their frequency for the purpose of balancing our energy field.
3.    They can be made into jewelry pieces for our pleasure, enhancing our individual expression of beauty and sense of empowerment.

Opal: A Gemstone to Support Your Transformation [1]
“Opal is one of the true gemstones of Scorpio. The Opals make up a large and beautiful family divided into three groups: the opalescent Precious Opals, the yellow-red Fire Opals, and the Common Opals. The first two are characterized by their opalescence, a rainbow-like sparkling and iridescence that changes when viewed from different angles. Each gem is an individual and unique, but this is especially true in the world of the Opals—there are no two Opals alike.

Opal is the stone of the mystic, shaman, artist, and healer in all of us. It is a stone for support during times of transition and intense change.

Precious Opals are always a mixture of all the energies of the outer planets. The color of the stone determines the planetary principle that it represents: the dark blues lean more toward Pluto and the green-blue-turquoises toward Uranus, while the very colorful Opals and the Black Opals express the energy of Neptune.

The Black Opal (dark grey, dark blue, dark green, red, or gray-black) leans toward the energy of Neptune, deepening our intuitive knowledge of who we are and the experience of feeling connected to the creator of the universe.

The Boulder Opal is famous worldwide for its vibrant colors, stability, strength, and uniqueness. It comes in all kinds of sparkling colors, including green, blue, turquoise, yellow, red, and violet. Because of its connection with the matrix rock, the energy of the Boulder Opal is very grounding. It helps us to stay rooted during times of upheaval in our lives.

Opals in the blue-violet-turquoise color range work with the throat chakra and the third eye. They give us a more holistic view of things and help us to let go of old thoughts, memories, and issues that may be blocking us. These Opals also stimulate our creativity and our search for meaning and vision in life—qualities that help to ease our challenging transitions. The green-blue variety gives us more understanding in working with the heart and the throat chakras. This Opal will help heal the heart, bringing awareness of our true feelings.

The Crystal Clear Fire Opal is the female Fire Opal: transcendent, brilliant, sparkling in many hues. It represents the Amazon woman, strong and independent, never giving her power away.  This stone connects us to the collective unconscious and all its treasures. It fuels our intuition with sudden sparks of insight and wisdom. But it is also the universal mother guiding and nourishing us, sustaining us in times of trouble and transitions.

The Fire Opal (orange) is a great energizing stone. When our movement in a particular direction is long overdue, the Fire Opal imparts its fire to us to get us moving. The wearer of this gem is an adventurer, a pioneer. The Fire Opal also represents a Don Juan and a tantric master who loves playful sexuality accompanied by true intimacy.

The Fire Opal is not only powerful, but also gentle and healing in its transmission of energy. It can offer support during recovery from sexual abuse. It helps us to rise out of conceiving of ourselves as victims, helps us to develop forgiveness, and empowers us by releasing those toxic thoughts from our system. It bolsters our sense of personal power and mastery.

Lightning Ridge Opal: The town of Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia, yields some of the most striking Opals in the world, famous for their exceptional color and brilliance. These are Black and Crystal Opals that occur in a beautiful deep blue and other color combination. The most desirable and expensive Opals are those with the strongest, most sparkling colors and the most interesting color formations and combination. Lightning Ridge is the seal of quality in the world of Opals.

White Opals bring in the transformative and refining energies of the outer planets along with the soothing Moon qualities, making us feel nourished, balanced, and in touch with our feelings. The White Opal invites us to embark on an inner journey, diving down into the depths of our being to find unknown and unimaginable treasures. Being renewed, rejuvenated, and deeply changed as a result of this journey, we have a new outlook on life. ”

[1]Adapted from Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul © 2008 by Shakti Carola Navran. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. All rights reserved, used by permission of the publisher.

You can find more articles on true birthstones in my birthstone series for the different astrological signs of the zodiac on my website.

I hope I have inspired you and wish you a very enchanted journey into the mysterious world of healing gemstones and looking at them in a new way! If you enjoyed this article and my perspective on things, I like to invite you to come back and re-visit my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss the actual, universal, astrological forces and gemstones and inspire you to use them wisely for a more successful and joyful life.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

[1] Adapted from Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul © 2008 by Shakti Carola Navran. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. All rights reserved, used by permission of the publisher.

My book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul is about meaningful jewelry for the soul as I call it. It teaches you about looking at the world through the eyes of astrology and how you can balance and support yourself with your personal 12 main healing gemstones and create a personal power piece of jewelry if you like.

Why do you love gemstones? Why do you think they might do something for you in the way of healing or balancing or do you not? Do you believe it or did you have an experience with them?

Is it their beauty and radiant sparkle that attract you or is it more then that? Do you believe that they are little bits and pieces of the divine creation, radiating a specific frequency which intermingle with your own energies? Is there some kind of consciousness?

For me it always was the beauty of the gems that touched me first! I had an open mind about the metaphysical properties and played around with meditating with them a little. And then I had that earth shattering, wonderful, uplifting experience with a Rubellite Tourmaline where I was love, every cell of my body was infused with that sweetness and exhilarating energy. It was an enlightening experience and totally shifted my perspective onto myself and my ability to not only feel love but be it! That happened 30 years ago and set me on a path of spiritual evolution and removed any doubt I might have had to the relevance of healing powers of gemstones.

I believe if we are open to the mysteries of the universe, visible to us in so many forms, we will feel a part of something bigger and greater then us, which is very comforting and can help to be more present with the moment.

So here is another birthstone article for you to enjoy! The Herkimer Diamond is one of my special friends! I used to make many pendants using this marvelous gem. The picture you see is more an elaborate one…

Libra: The Judge and Harmonizer  & the Herkimer Diamond

The Search for Harmony
“The symbol for Libra is the scale of justice, representing this sign’s affinity for balance and fairness. Those themes are seen in all areas of a Libra’s life, from relationships to the home environment.

Libra is the home of Venus, the goddess of love, harmony and beauty. The 7th House is attributed to Libra and the theme of Partnership & Relating to Others.

Libras are very oriented toward other people, and they continually seek harmony in both personal and professional relationships. This trait is so strong that Libras make excellent mediators, diplomats, psychologists, and judges. They are sociable and have excellent communication skills. But Libras are not patsies—they are willing to fight for justice for people who are defenseless.

Libras need to take care to not be caught in indecisiveness, as their search for balance makes them open to influence by all sides of issues. Because they are so other oriented, they also need to remember to get their own needs met while attending to the needs of others.

Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of passion and romance, and no Libra is truly happy without a harmonious love life. Venus is also the planet of beauty, and Libras are drawn to beauty everywhere, in the arts, clothing, the home, and nature. They do well in careers in those areas. They are refined in both their appearance and their behavior.

How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Libra Experience
Gemstones are the perfect way of finding the balance that Libras seek.

Gemstones have both physical and metaphysical qualities that can enhance all aspects of your well-being. The perfectly aligned crystal structure of gemstones creates an energy field that interacts with our own when you hold it or wear it on your body. In this way, the gemstone can be used to calm you, balance, . bring you mental clarity, increase your energy, enhance your creativity, and much more.

Astrology and Healing Gemstones
The healing power of gemstones can be understood when we look into the bigger picture!

Astrological principles manifest at all levels of creation, from the largest bodies in the cosmos to the tiniest particles of atoms—all are part of the same network of universal energy. Based on the hermetic principle “As above, so below,” those universal principles allow us to read relations among the planets and extrapolate those principles to things here on Earth, to events in our lives, as well as to our natural environment. The universal principles that govern the planets in the universe are also seen on the much smaller level of gemstones, crystals, and metals.

The Signature of Gemstones
Each gemstone is associated with specific planets. You are already aware that each planet has its own personality in astrology. And each gemstone has a personal “signature”—specific metaphysical qualities, different for each stone, that arise from the stone’s association with its planets. It reflects the chemical composition, crystal structure and color of each unique stone.

How to Make Gemstones Work for You
By considering the individual signature of gemstones, you can select the right gems for your very specific purposes and needs, according to their astrological qualities.

In general gemstones can be used in three different ways:

(1) They are precious objects of beauty that may hold a special meaning for us. We enjoy their beauty by giving them a special place on a shelf, desk, or altar.

(2) They can be used in meditation by tuning into their frequency for the purpose of balancing our energy field.

(3) They can be made into jewelry pieces for our pleasure, enhancing our individual expression of beauty and sense of empowerment.

If this interests you, you can learn more about the metaphysical properties of gemstones mostly used in jewelry making through my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul. In my book I teach you how to find your true birthstones based on your horoscope and how to find your main 12 healing gems. It also gives you an introduction into the astrological perspective to life and how to use it for your advantage.

Below you will find a description of one of my very favorite stones the Herkimer Diamond, one of the true birthstones for Libra.

The Herkimer Diamond: [1]
The Herkimer Diamond is one of the true birthstones of Libra. Found in Herkimer, New York, is a double-terminated  rock crystal with such clarity and brilliance that it was named after the most reflective and brilliant stone there is, the Diamond. A handful of Herkimer Diamonds are as dazzling as real Diamonds. The most common material on earth, silica, becomes a sparkling little gem in the Herkimer Diamond.

This stone grows in small air pockets in the mother matrix rock material. It starts as a small seed crystal and grows outward from the center. Some collector’s pieces are displayed still embedded in a pocket of air in the mother matrix.

This stone is amazing in its beauty, clarity, and perfection. Unlike the Diamond, which must be cut and polished to bring out its beauty, the Herkimer Diamond is perfect in its natural state and requires no cutting or polishing at all. It is untouched by the human hand.

Balancing the Aura and Stabilizing Our Energy
The Herkimer Diamond has a very special place among the gems because of its superior qualities. It is worn most beneficially over the heart. Sitting on the heart chakra, which is the middle one of the seven, it balances the whole energetic system. Thus it is able to strengthen our auric field against all kinds of radiation, including electro smog and negative thought projections. We are constantly targeted by radiation in our daily lives, especially in urban areas. It is known that sitting in front of a computer for several hours can lower our white blood cell count, which inevitably impacts our health. The Herkimer Diamond in its perfection and balance between the negative and positive points can balance us and strengthen our own energy field.

This stone also strengthens our auric field against negative emotional or mental projections. I have made many Herkimer Diamond pendants for people who work in the healing professions to help them stabilize and treat their clients without picking up their imbalances. The more sensitive you are the more likely you are to pick up on disharmony in your outer field. The Herkimer Diamond is your ally in maintaining your own balance and strength.

Balancing the Brain
This stone also balances the right and left hemispheres of the brain, the creative and logical, the female and the male sides in us. Most of us tend toward one side or the other. The Herkimer Diamond balances us out in the middle between the two. The creative mind and the logical and scientific mind are enhanced by each other’s qualities: the creative mind benefits from greater focus and logic and the scientific mind draws on
more creative and intuitive resources. The two hemispheres join forces, resulting in inventions and discoveries beyond the known.

Stimulates Creativity and Inspiration
The Herkimer Diamond’s brilliancy stimulates our inspiration and connection to higher truth and wisdom. Clarity of thought and a peaceful mind are a matter of balance.

The Herkimer Diamond can be worn very beneficially over your heart or as earrings close to the brain. For jewelry seek the clearest and most perfect crystals. For meditation or even under your pillow you may choose a larger crystal, which might not be quite as perfect as the smaller ones. The larger stones have inclusions  and rainbows that make them very beautiful nonetheless. The Herkimer Diamond is a gift in its perfection and balancing qualities, a visual reminder of God’s perfect creation.”

I hope you enjoyed the discovery of this truly magnificent stone! I wish you a very enchanted journey into the mysterious world of healing gemstones! If you enjoyed this article and my perspective on things, you might want to come and visit my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss the actual, universal, astrological forces as well as gemstones and inspire you to use them wisely for a more successful and joyful life.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

[1]Adapted from Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul © 2008 by Shakti Carola Navran. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. All rights reserved, used by permission of the publisher.

The Moon is Our Emotional Filter and Motivating Force

Moon is our emotional filter towards the world and how we might perceive people and events around us. When Moon is interacting with other impactful planets it will always be felt in some way. Keep in mind that the Moon moves through one sign about every two ½ days. It is our fastest moving planet and many people do feel the waxing and waning of the inner tides in sync with the outer Moon.

After the expansive high feelings of the Moon in Leo the last two days, Luna moves on into the more level headed astrological sign of Virgo.

Virgo Moon

Virgos have none of the fiery dominance of their summer predecessor, the Lion. They are reserved people who don’t boast about themselves or behave flamboyantly. They are quietly reliable, attending to the smallest details of any project in an organized way, making them good lawyers, doctors, and scientists.

That trait can be carried to a fault when they fail to see the bigger picture. They are more intelligent and analytical than emotional, which serves them well in complex tasks but may prevent them from establishing deep relationships. Virgos are practical people, good with their hands, and combining those qualities with their attention to detail they could excel in professions as jewelers and dentists.

As far as the Virgo Moon goes, our feelings will be intertwined with our reasoning mind and we might feel inspired to tackle some organizational chores like putting the garage or our desk in order; some kind of project which has been waiting for our attention. We will feel more in tune with focusing on details and take steps to implement changes if needed.

Moon Square to Mars

When Moon is moving into this square there will be a potential for irritation and impatience. Find a pathway for those more edgy emotions to let them flow into something useful! Cleaning the garage might be a great idea after all! It will give you a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment and you can look foreword to a nice shower or bath afterwards.

Moon Conjunction with Saturn

The Moon in conjunction with Saturn will bring in a more somber note. Saturn represents restriction, boundaries, limitations, consolidation, slowing down or blocking the energy flow, and challenges us to have a look into our fears and unconscious structures. If we comply, we then experience clarity and the right course of action to take. What seemed to be a problem before isn’t one any longer.

We can give in to our fears and hesitancy and stay in bed with a good book or a blanket over our head. Or we can use Saturn in his capacity of bringing light, clarity and focus into our inner world and bring order into our garage in the outer world…

The Inner World Reflects the Outer World

The inner world is reflected in the outer world! The law of attraction can explain how we always attract what is aligned to our vibration.

Every journey starts from where you are. Only if you become aware of the feeling you have, you will then have the conscious choice of redirecting your focus towards better thoughts and feelings. That can become a practice for your mind!

“You are always molding yourselves into a better feeling place. And you will never get it done. It will never be completely finished. It will never be absolutely right. You will always have some dominant thoughts that are not a vibrational match to the new found desire. But that is always what your work is. And it’s time for you to just begin relaxing about it, and not make it a personal issue of your own valor, or your own value, or your own integrity.” — Abraham- Hicks

The Moon teaches Us about Impermanence

Nothing is going on forever! Remember the aspects with the Moon are very swift and may be changing in hours to a new and different quality and perspective. Naming them and looking at them with consciousness is just a good way to allow the flow of life with all its different challenges and qualities to move through without resistance. The gift of astrology to us is to release resistance to what is but focus instead onto where we want to go and how we want that quality to play out in our life.

Astrology used that way is a journey of inquiry and self-growth and is giving us a feeling of interconnectedness with the whole universe and mankind. I like that! I have been practicing astrology now for 31 years and have always come back to it and found it extremely valuable in its practical applications for my life!

If you like to read more about the qualities of Virgo and their balancing true birthstone you can look at my last blog.

You might know by now how passionate I am about the healing and balancing qualities of gems and that I have written a whole book about the connection between astrology and healing gems. Because I am a jeweler my joy is to help clients to create their own personal piece of soul jewelry as I call it. If that interests you check out my site about my book
Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul and let me know how you like it.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

The Blazing Summer Sign of Leo
By the end of July the summer sun is blazing and crops are bursting with their life force. Leo is a highly energetic, masculine fire sign. Leos can be none other than kings, leading all types of enterprises with their strong personalities. They need to be independent in their work, not submissive to others. They have a sense of entitlement and expect to be served. Fortunately, their strong, egocentric, masculine side is balanced by devotion to their children, a warm heart, and generosity. Leos’ courage pays off in the business world, where they take risks that lead to success.

The Ruler of the Star Sign Leo is the Sun
The Sun is a decidedly male heavenly body. It is the ruler of our universe and the source of all life and consciousness on Earth—our father. Life is consciousness! Because it is the center of our universe, it is associated with the center of our conscious selves—our self awareness, ego, personality, identity, and spirit. This is a most creative, powerful, and energetic heavenly body, giving us our life force, health, and vitality, our strength, willpower, and determination.

The male quality of the Sun is associated with authority figures, leadership, husbands, and fatherhood. The creative power of the Sun is associated with all creative endeavors, including the arts, procreation, and even commercial enterprises. In the horoscope the Sun lends its energy to the other planets.
The Sun rules Leo and the 5th House (Children & Creativity). In medicine it rules the heart and circulatory system.

How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Leo Experience
Leo is a masculine fire sign. Gemstones and especially Diamonds perfectly represent the life force energy, power, and fire of Leos.
Gemstones have both physical and metaphysical qualities that can enhance all aspects of your well-being. The perfectly aligned crystal structure of gemstones creates an energy field that interacts with our own when you hold it or wear it on your body. In this way, the gemstone can be used to calm you, bring you mental clarity, increase your energy, enhance your creativity, and much more.

Astrology and Gemstones
Astrological principles manifest at all levels of creation, from the largest bodies in the cosmos to the tiniest particles of atoms—all are part of the same network of universal energy. Based on the hermetic principle “As above, so below,” those universal principles allow us to read relations among the planets and extrapolate those principles to things here on Earth, to events in our lives, as well as to our natural environment. The universal principles that govern the planets are also seen on the much smaller level of gemstones, crystals, and metals.

The Signature of Gemstones
Each gemstone is associated with specific planets. You are already aware that each planet has its own personality in astrology. And each gemstone has a personal “signature”—specific metaphysical qualities, different for each stone, that arise from the stone’s association with its planets.

How to Make Gemstones Work for You
By considering the individual signature of gemstones, you can select the right gems for very specific purposes, according to their astrological qualities.

Gemstones can be used in three different ways:
1.    They are precious objects of beauty that may hold a special meaning for us. We enjoy their beauty by giving them a special place on a shelf, desk, or altar.
2.    They can be used in meditation by tuning into their frequency for the purpose of balancing our energy field.
3.    They can be made into jewelry pieces for our pleasure, enhancing our individual expression of beauty and sense of empowerment.

You can learn more about the metaphysical properties of gemstones through my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul where I teach you more about astrological concepts, how to read your horoscope and how to find the main themes in your chart.

You will know how it all fits together into the bigger picture and you will be able to balance yourself with your 12 main healing gemstones, you could call your true birthstones. If that interests you have a closer look at it.

Below you will find a description of the Diamond, one of the true astrological birthstones for Leo. The astrological signature of Diamond is Sun, Saturn, Mars and Venus. That means if you want to support those planetary principles in your chart Diamond is one of the best stones to do that!

Diamond: The King of Gemstones [1]
“Like Leo, the Diamond is the royal king of gemstones. Throughout the ages it has been accorded a place of honor as the most beautiful and precious of all gemstones. It has the highest reflection of light and is the hardest and most durable of all gems.

The Diamond represents the life force energy of the sun, the highest expression of light and consciousness in our solar system and therefore serving as the gateway to higher perceptions of reality, other realms and dimensions.

Many of our myths and stories show the individual hero struggling against some challenge; conquering that challenge requires growth and evolution to a higher state of  understanding and consciousness. This is the quest that we all pursue. The Diamond is a metaphor for this process: it is mined, cut, and polished, evolving toward a state of ever more refined perfection until it becomes a perfect manifestation of light and wisdom. Does this not mirror our own path toward a greater state of enlightened perfection?

The Diamond helps us to connect with our creativity and the power radiating out from the center of our being. Supported by the Diamond, we delve below our outward personality and discover our true selves.
As Diamond is the hardest stone, it supports us by helping us to achieve structure, self-discipline, and endurance in our lives so that we may extend the boundaries of our capacities.
The Diamond represents the crown chakra, our connection to unity consciousness, to all that is. It refracts light prismatically like a rainbow, representing our eternal connection to the divine source.
Given all of these superb qualities, we can all benefit from wearing a Diamond, wherever we are on our path. Its strength is enhanced when it is worn with the right awareness, helping us, through our human consciousness, to discover that we are part of the divine consciousness.
Whenever we wear a Diamond in combination with other colored stones, it enhances the qualities of the colored stone. I love to combine Diamonds with other stones in my jewelry; it’s like shining the light of consciousness into specific areas of your life.

The Green Diamond is very rare. It teaches us about the riches of the heart. It is an androgynous being with both male and female qualities. She is the lover and the beloved. He is the healer of the heart and makes it strong to protect it from hurt. Abundance of the heart and spirit and the grace that ensues from them—those are the lessons of Green Diamond.
The Yellow Diamond is also a unique and highly coveted stone. It represents the Sun and pure life energy and joy, meaning also love. Its golden light radiates into our body and soul, reminding us of the truth of who we are: eternal beings of light and spirit.

The Yellow Diamond stimulates and enhances our creativity and self-expression. It represents an artist of life who is able to celebrate and respond to life and its challenges. The wearer of the Yellow Diamond can stay very focused, determined, and patient as projects unfold.
This Diamond imparts the ability to keep the bigger picture in mind without getting lost in details, making us very successful in all our endeavors. We become winners with a golden touch like King Midas.”

If you enjoyed this article and my musings, I invite you to come back and visit my actual forecast and Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss the universal, astrological forces and inspire you to use them wisely for a more successful and joyful life.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

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[1] Adapted from Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul © 2008 by Shakti Carola Navran. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. All rights reserved, used by permission of the publisher.