"I feel safe, protected and secure." - October Affirmation
I love to look for the beauty in the bits of everyday life. That's where the magic happens. Somehow, October brings that feeling of excitement and somewhat magical presence into the air. It's the start of winding down the year; we already have those pre-holiday feels, and what better way to celebrate October than with the fascinating and mystical birthstone, Tourmaline!
We all mostly know Tourmaline for its sultry deep black tones, but it can be found in almost all colours and shades - from delightful blues and greens to rosy pinks and purples to light to vibrant yellows and radiant reds. Ancient Egyptians believed Tourmaline had such an impressive variety of colours, as it broke through a rainbow and gathered all the beautiful colours while pushing its way up to earth. I love this delightful image!
A single tourmaline gemstone's colour can appear completely different when viewed from different angles. It may even showcase a separate set of hues, a characteristic called pleochroism. This is a unique phenomenon and one of the attributes that set Tourmaline apart. These glorious gemstones are often colour-zoned through their cross-sections or along their length, which means that a single crystal will contain two or more different colours. This results from changing conditions during their growth, and the former colour is usually overgrown by the latter. For example, if you look at a Watermelon Tourmaline, it is a delectable-looking crystal with a fruity pink interior and a green outer layer. Colour-zoned crystals are often sawn into thin cross-sections, polished and used in jewellery.
The most common occurrence of Tourmaline is found as an accessory mineral in metamorphic and igneous rocks. Spectacular crystals can form in fractures during hydrothermal processes, as the hot water and vapour transport the elements needed to these voids, which form the ideal environment for crystal growth. It involves not only undissolved water from hot magma but also rainwater. This mix of minerals and water fills the cavities in the magma as it cools and hardens. It will also absorb the elements in the surroundings, which influence the colour. The crystals can vary significantly – from tiny specs to massive prisms of over a hundred kilograms. Wow, how genuinely remarkable is nature!
Although I am fascinated by all the hues tourmaline has to offer, we mainly use black and pink Tourmaline at Down to Earth Jewellery.
Black Tourmaline is known as Schorl and is considered the Tourmaline with the highest positive energy. When heated, it becomes electrically polarised and can attract and repel dust and small pieces of paper. Dutch traders discovered this property and harnessed it using heated Tourmaline to draw out ashes from their pipes. They aptly named the stone "aschetrekker". Schorl is used in the walls of space stations as it absorbs electromagnetic or solar radiation and is seen to protect and repel negative energy.
As in many ancient cultures, black Tourmaline is still perceived today as a symbol of protection. It is believed to provide a psychic shield deflecting negative energies, entities, or destructive forces. It is also perceived as useful in purifying and neutralising negative thoughts and internal conflicts and turning them into positive energy. It is also believed to guard against radiation from various electronic devices and environmental pollutants.
On the other hand, the symbolism of pink Tourmaline can mostly be traced back to love. It serves as a token of romantic love, love for one another, reconciliation, compassion, love for your family and self-love. Furthermore, it is also tied to emotional healing and hope. Pink Tourmaline is said to instill a sense of calm, comfort, peace and relaxation, which is used in times of distress.
Whether you resonate with some of the properties of Tourmaline or want to mark and celebrate a special occasion, I hope that you find the creation process, beauty and variety of these magical gemstones just as fascinating as I do!
Next month, we will explore the beautiful golden hues of November's birthstone, the magnificent Citrine.
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With love from me to you
Rethea xoxo