The international Blogathon is going live on March 19, 2010 as promised. That is a great chance to read different perspectives and articles by 50 different astrologers and how to best adjust and make the best out of the so much talked about T-square of Saturn, Uranus with Pluto.

Below you see one of my two articles I have written for the event and is featured in Pluto Problems Got You Perplexed? Here’s What Helps! published by Skywriter as Part of the 2010 International Astrology Day Blogathon. The other one Saturn and the Healing Power of Crystal Quartz you can find here. The purpose of this web-based event is to create a permanent library of articles about how to deal with the stresses of the Cardinal T-Square of Pluto, Saturn and Uranus. The main page for the Blogathon collections is at The Cardinal T-Square of 2010: Saturn, Uranus, Pluto.

Online starting Friday, March 19, 2010: Pluto Problems Got You Perplexed? Here’s What Helps!

Pluto in Sagittarius was an era of speculation and easy credit, and we expanded far past what was wise. Pluto in Capricorn is a time of facing reality, getting grounded, paying the bills, and being accountable. Coordinated by Donna Cunningham, the 15 articles in the Pluto collection help you understand a variety of Pluto-related difficulties and suggest resources and healing tools to sort them out. They include the debt trap, sleep disorders, bullying, fertility issues, erectile dysfunction, grief, patterns we carry over from previous generations of our families, grief, healing from abuse, and a variety of other persistent problems. here

Online starting Saturday, March 20, 2010: Look After Saturn and Saturn Will Look After You:

Transiting Saturn’s oppositions to Uranus were accompanied by sudden change and shocks to upset the status quo, resulting in economic crisis. As ripples reached our personal lives, our ability to remain flexible in the face of disruptive change is being tested by Saturn in Libra’s square to Pluto in Capricorn and the upcoming entry of Uranus into Aries. Coordinated by Mandi Lockley, the 17 articles in the Saturn collection will help you work with a variety of Saturnian issues. Experienced astrologers invite you to view Saturn not as a planet to be feared, but as a necessary, helpful teacher whose lessons can help you through life’s challenges. Others provide useful resources, down to earth advice, and inspirational coping and healing tools. here

Online starting Sunday, March 21, 2010:  Uranus in Aries:

Claiming a Self-Reliant Future ~ Unpredictable Uranus is ending his sojourn in Pisces and will soon enter irascible Aries. Following a period of reluctantly dealing with the real world, Uranus steps up to proclaim personal freedom. This is not the freedom bell that Uranus usually rings for everyone, but the unabashed self-proclamation of “My Rights, Every Day!” Coordinated by C.J. Wright, the 17 articles and additional media presentations in the Uranus collection are as erratic as Uranus himself. You will discover some of the disruptive changes Uranus loves to spring on us and receive suggestions on how to work with rather than against yourself as you evolve and grow.

Pluto and Opal – The Gemstone for Transformation

A strong Pluto in your personal horoscope or a hard aspect of the transiting Pluto to personal planets is one of the most challenging and transforming constellations we talk about in astrology.

This dark, mysterious god is known for his challenging touch and his powers for renewal and regeneration.

Pluto governs the sign of Scorpio as well as the 8th House, the area of Death & Rebirth. Scorpios are powerful, intense, complex people with a touch of the dark side. A keyword for Scorpio is “transformation.” I like to think of Scorpio—like Pluto—as a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Especially throughout this year we all are collectively called to adjustments or soaring from the ashes with Pluto energy in our economical, societal, political and corporate structures because of the big T-square in which Pluto in Capricorn is squaring both Saturn and Uranus in opposition to each other.

This is not an easy process and it has a very personal impact on each one of us as an individual and we are called to action with adjustments in our personal lives. Your personal power lies in your own adaptation with circumstances and the answer to the question:

What Can You Do for Your Own Balance?
Wherever the early degrees of Libra and Capricorn fall in your chart and the connecting aspects to your planets you will feel personally challenged and called to grow into more clarity (Saturn) while building and re-negotiating your place in relation to others (Libra), allow rebirth (Pluto) of a new YOU with the dissolving of old beliefs and values (Uranus).

Consciousness is the key to keep your own balance and works as an antidote to fear and anxieties. You can find ways to focus on solutions instead of problems, you can use proper tools helping to raise your personal frequency and align with the highest potential of the astrological constellations. One of the most elegant ways to support your process is with the healing powers of gemstones.

Healing Gemstones
Gemstones can by your allies for healing and balance because they represent the most balanced, light filled, highest vibrational representative of the planetary principles we have easy access to. They touch us through their beauty and perfection, their radiant colors, magically born in the womb of unimaginable heat and pressure within Mother Earth. They are ancient beings filled with consciousness of the Mineral Kingdom. 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.

Opal: A Gemstone to Support Your Transformation
Opal is one of the true gemstones of Scorpio and is therefore ruled by Pluto. 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 gray, 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.

Another one of my favorite gems for easing our journey in troubled times is the Herkimer Diamond because it is one of the most amazing gemstones able to support our inner growth towards balance between the polarities because it is a double terminated crystal. I believe the Herkimer Diamond is also a must have gemstone because of its pacifying qualities for Saturn’s, Uranus’ and Pluto’s turbulent energies. You can read another article about the Herkimer Diamond and his stunning metaphysical properties.

I wish you an 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, you can sign up for my free weekly newsletter on my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss the actual universal astrological forces and the special powers of 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
1135 Makawao Ave. Suite 310
Makawao, Maui, Hawaii 96768
Phone: 808.878.8182

Bio:
Shakti Carola Navran has been an astrological coach, jeweler, spiritual teacher and healer for over 30 years. Her practice spans hypnotherapy, meditation, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and healing with gemstones. She creates beautiful jewelry for the soul and spirit at her studio on Maui, Hawaii. She has written many articles and is the author of the book Jewelry & Gems for Self Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul.

In her book she teaches you about astrology and how to read the blue print of your own chart. If you know where your challenges are, you can then take steps to support or balance yourself with your 12 personal healing gemstones, those enchanting allies to raise your frequency and experience more joy. Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery is a treasure chest of ideas about Soul Jewelry; on how to select, purchase, and wear jewelry that will enhance your body, heart, mind, and soul.

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

This weekly astrological weather forecast is from October 19 to 25, 2009 and will support your ability to ride the wave of changes in your life. It is also valuable for you to read if you have Sun or Moon in Scorpio in your personal chart or strong Pluto aspects.

We can look into the time quality of the present to be better prepared for the requirements of this moment in time. If we know the time quality we can adjust ourselves accordingly and relinquish unnecessary struggle and resistance with what is. We have the choice to align ourselves with the flow of the moment.

I am living in Hawaii and have a very healthy respect of the ocean and the power of the waves. People break their necks here once in a while or have other, less severe accidents when they don’t go with the flow and try to fight their way against the currents and waves. You learn to respect the flow and learn to either dive under the wave in just the right moment or let it carry you and ride it to the shore. Ignorance is no excuse and can be lethal!

And you can even have really fun with it. You can learn how to body surf or surf with a board and enjoy the rush of being taken and carried by the ocean. It is totally exhilarating, a moment of oneness with the divine force and makes you feel really alive and in the moment.

You can use astrology in a similar way. If you know the astrological time quality of the present moment you can let it carry you and enjoy the ride. You can even use it to get you where you want to go. If you align yourself with the universal forces you know the time to put seeds in the ground and when to harvest. There is always a right time to do the right things. For me astrology is a special pair of glasses I use to look into the world to help guide me in my decisions and intentions. It gives me a broader picture and higher perspective of what is asked of me. I enjoy the intro perspective and guidance I receive that way.

When I research and write my weekly forecasts I enjoy seeing the main theme of the week crystallizing itself for me to see. Obviously I am not commenting on every planetary aspect happening in the week. Instead I allow that crystallization process and I am always amazed how it becomes clear what the week is about. Last week we had relationship as the highlight with 4 planets in Libra. The week before the Mercurial activities and communication was at the forefront. And so it goes on this week with the theme of Scorpio. Scorpio energy is not an easy one for most of us so I thought it deserved a longer introduction.

Moon Astrology

Scorpio energy was already introduced to us with the Moon entering Scorpio last Saturday till Tuesday 20. Because the Moon is often unconsciously motivating our actions it is helpful to follow the position of it throughout the zodiac. Moon astrology is giving us more awareness of those inner promptings and always changing inner tides of emotions. The Moon moves through the whole circle of the zodiac in one month and is the fastest moving planet we watch in astrology.

When we experience the turbulence of those inner feelings going through the monthly changes we may get more compassion for ourselves and relaxation around their constant changes. Often there is nothing much you can do about it, besides feeling what is there to feel and bringing full awareness to it. Only then we will have the chance to take the next step and reorient ourselves into better thoughts and feelings.

Moon in Scorpio
With this Moon position we will have a tendency to see things black or white, look into the world through glasses of duality, extremes and polarities. We want to have things our way and need to be in control of others around us. We tend to be controlling, manipulating, and openly pushy or whatever it takes to get what we think is right. This is not a Moon position of compromise and interest for the other person’s position. This is often a time of passionate and righteous action.

But experienced with awareness it can be an initiation and door way into a whole new level of being. If we allow ourselves to see the dark shadowy parts in us where we just care for ourselves and our own well being, we can acknowledge and embrace those rejected parts and become conscious of them. Then there is a good chance for us to channel those darker energies in an appropriate way for our own benefit and for the others in our life as well.

We live in a world of polarity and opposites like light and dark, day and night, life and death. The yin yang symbol is showing us how the light and the dark shape the whole circle balancing each other. The two sides of the yin yang can never be separated from each other, they coexist. Let us have a deeper look at the qualities of Scorpio.

The Sign of Scorpio: Phoenix Rising from the Ashes   (October 23 to November 22)

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.

Mars is the Co Ruler of Scorpio
Before the discovery of Pluto only Mars was attributed to Scorpio. Mars is the fierce warrior in mythology. Mars represents our aggression, our will to succeed, our life force energy, determination, focus, sexual drive and creative energy.
Mars and Pluto, they are a formidable pair we need for our inner strength, growth and self expression. They are not just the “bad guys” who make us work hard, but we need their sincerity, drive and passion in our live. Only when we allow them to remain unconsciously driving us we might get in trouble. They give us a depth, transformation and rejuvenation we need in our live. Growth is a human need and we feel empty, depressed, stagnant and ultimately die if we don’t change and grow.

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.

When we have Pluto transits in our life it is usually a very challenging and turbulent time. We might experience one mishap after the other, “bad” things happen. What helps us is to become more aware of other ways to live the required changes and allow that deep transformation to happen without to much resistance, pain and struggle.

The same applies for the time the Sun in Scorpio is bringing in the general quality of challenging the status quo for all of us. We can expect higher waves in politics, power struggles between the parties or even countries. This will become more prevalent with Saturn moving into Libra next week with a square to Pluto.

The Scorpio Birthstones are Opal and Herkimer Diamond
Besides a higher awareness we can support ourselves with gemstones which represent the astrological principles and help balance that specific energy in our system. The most beneficial gemstones for Pluto energy are the Herkimer Diamond and the Opal. Opals can be very pricey and are wonderful companions to have in a piece of jewelry if you have a strong Scorpio or Pluto in your chart. The Herkimer Diamond also makes wonderful jewelry pieces and you can just have one in your pocket or use it for meditation.

This is the perfect stone for bringing together the opposing poles of the dark and the light, the yin and the yang. In this double terminated Crystal Quartz one tip is charged minus and the other plus. They are in perfect balance with each other. When you lay a Herkimer Diamond onto your body where you have pain it might help with that.

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 others 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.–   (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.)

If you like my approach to astrology, you can sign up for my newsletter and I will send you a free weekly astrological weather report forecast on the universal flow and planetary positions. If you know what is going on in the heavens you can then align yourself for more joy and success in your life. What I like about the abilities of the gemstones is that they offer a remedy to relax stressful aspects and positions in our personal chart as well as for the time quality of the present moment.

I am looking forward and hope you enjoyed my musings, aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

Shakti Carola Navran has written the book: Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul and many articles about the healing properties of gemstones and their use in daily life for meditation, balance and meaningful jewelry making. She teaches you about true Birthstones which are based in astrology and their possible application for Soul Jewelry.

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.

With Moon moving on into Leo and gaining more strength coming out of the New Moon, we will feel more optimistic, full of energy and confidence.

Leo is a fire sign, full of creativity, action and always the eternal optimist.

Leo – The Lion King

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.

You might find yourself being more initiative then usual and full of new ideas. Because Moon is our emotional filter to the world you will feel very different and more outgoing then you did the last few days with Moon in Cancer.

Pluto – One of the Outer Planets

Pluto is seen as a less then favorable guy in astrology by many. He represents the principle of transformation and death but also the promise of a rebirth into something new. Still it is not a process most of us like to go through in our live.

When we have a hard aspect to a personal planet in our chart with Pluto, we feel challenged in that area throughout all our lives. Pluto brings with him insecurity, self-doubt, extreme experiences and forces us to let go at some point into the inevitable. He requires surrender to constant change and challenges us with his not so subtle touch.

People with a strong Pluto in their chart are constantly going through that deep transforming, inner process and are not aloud to rest on their laurels. With the intensity and depth they are capable of Pluto people are gaining deep insight into the human nature and their own. Usually they become very successful in their ventures because they don’t give up easily or ever.

It might not be so easy to live with them but it is never boring or superficial.

Sun Opposition Pluto

Pluto is impacting all of us because he has moved recently into Capricorn, a new sign in the journey through the zodiac. I believe that is the reason for all the big changes we are seeing today all over the world.

Obama has been elected as president of the United States and has become one of the most powerful, enigmatic figures of the world. With his promise for change and a better future based on more equality he is shaking up the old power structures and ways in Washington. On the brink of his election the world economy has been starting to collapse and with it the old governing structures which belong to Capricorn.

Having the Sun in opposition today will have an extra impact for a few days. We might have to face some of our most elemental fears of how to survive in this changing world. But don’t forget there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We are in an amazing process of transformation worldwide we all have been dreaming about. It is happening now and you are contributing to that process with your own personal way of adjusting and growing out of the old paradigm.

The Law of Attraction

You know by now that I am a firm believer in the law of attraction, because I can see it operating in my life.

It is easy to experience and verify for yourself that whatever you focus on the most becomes the reality of your life. If you spend 10% of your time thinking about fruits and vegetables and 90% of your time thinking about hamburgers and french fries, I think you can predict where your waistline is going to end up. “Where you end up” is referred to as manifestation: you manifest in your life whatever you think about most intently.

From this premise it seems important to focus on what we like to see in the world and not to concentrate on all the things that go wrong. Our TV news don’t make that an easy task and I know many people who have stopped exposing themselves to that negative impact.

I have written an article about The Audacity of Hope you might enjoy.

Phoenix Out of Ashes – A New Life is Waiting

The promise of Pluto is the resurrection of the eternal spirit into a new form often called Phoenix. That new form of life is carrying the hope and life force of the young into the eternal cycle of life and death.

I feel very excited and optimistic about the time I am living in, witnessing the necessary

That’s where the art and science of astrology comes in! The purpose of astrology is to help you gain a deep understanding of the workings of the world and your place in it—just where you are situated in this vast universal web of existence, what unique role you are called to fulfill.

As you embark on that journey of discovery, you will soon feel that it fulfills the longing of your heart and soul for peace, wisdom, inspiration, and right action. So step up to the plate and take up your indispensable place in the universe! Never doubt for a second that you are a vital part of all that exists by adding the very individual touch of your being.

Live the kind of life you believe in and leave the world a better place because of that.

If you like to deepen your understanding of Pluto forces in your life there is a great book called Pluto, Volume 1 The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul by Jeff Green, I can recommend for you today.

Maybe I got a little carried away here with Pluto, but it seems to be in his very nature that we need to take a deeper look unto ourselves and be very honest. I hope I have inspired you to a new way of thinking about the challenges we are facing today. Be the change you want to see in the world!

I would love to hear your thoughts about the transformation you are facing, leave me a comment and I promise to write back to you.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.