Items of Interest The Birthstone for February is the Amethyst If gazing into the sparkling purple depths of an Amethyst suffuses you with a sense of powerful well being, this is only to be expected. The ancient Greeks believed that this gemstone held many powers, among them protection against intoxication. In fact, the word Amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning sober. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence. Even today, Amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviors. February's purple birthstone has been found among the possessions of royalty throughout the ages. The intense violet hue of Amethyst appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color. Purple dye was scarce and expensive at one time, and so it was reserved for the garments of kings and queens. Amethyst has been found in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorning crowns, scepters, jewelry, and breastplates worn into battle. A large Amethyst is among the closely guarded gemstones in the British Crown Jewels. Amethyst is also symbolic of spirituality and piety. It has been used to ornament churches and crosses used in religious ceremony, and worn in rings and on rosaries by bishops and priests. The gift of Amethyst is symbolic of protection and the power to overcome difficulty. It is said to strengthen the bond in a love relationship, so it is an ideal anniversary or engagement gem. Whether or not Amethyst holds such power, it's stunning beauty will certainly make anyone who wears it feel like royalty!   The Flower for February is the Violet "Such a starved bank of moss Till, that May-morn, Blue ran the flash across; Violets were born!" Robert Browning, The Two Poets of Croisic Violets, although without an extensive and detailed written history, have made their appearance in the myths, paintings and literature of the past. They appear in the rites and rituals of the ancient East and in the classical world. Their significance varies, but usually they have been associated with the resurrection of the seasonally dying Earth god, Attis, who, according to one legend, mutilated himself under a pine tree and died from the flow of blood from his open wounds. According to a practice originating in antiquity, during the spring equinox, a pine tree was felled in the woods and brought into the sanctuary of the earth-mother goddess, Cybele, where it was venerated as a deity. It was wrapped in swaths of wool and garlanded with violets because of the belief that these flowers had appeared from the blood of Attis as it spilled on the ground from his self-inflicted wounds. Greek legend tells of a nymph named Io, who was beloved by Zeus. To hide her from Hera, his wife, Zeus changed Io into a white cow. When Io wept over the taste and texture of the coarse grass, Zeus changed her tears into dainty, sweet-smelling violets only she was permitted to eat. Roman myth tells a different story, one of lovely maids of antiquity who became the victims of Venus' wrath when Cupid judged them more beautiful than her. In her jealous fury, Venus beat the maidens until they became blue, and thus turned into violets. To dream of violets is a promise of advancement in life. It is said that a garland of violets worn about the head prevents dizziness. They are considered a good luck gift to any woman in any season, but where violets bloom in autumn, epidemics will follow within the year. When Napoleon married Josephine, she wore violets, and on each anniversary Josephine received a bouquet of violets. Following Napoleon’s lead, the French Bonapartists chose the violet as their emblem, and nicknamed Napoleon "Corporal Violet". In 1814, Napoleon asked to visit Josephine's tomb before being exiled to the Island of St. Helena. When he died, he wore a locket around his neck that contained violets he had picked from Josephine’s gravesite. To dream of violets is a promise of advancement in life. They are considered a good luck gift to any woman in any season, but where violets bloom in autumn, epidemics will follow within the year. Violets are a symbol of faithfulness. Blue violets say "I'll always be true" and signify constancy White violets depict modesty or the desire to "take a chance on happiness" Yellow violets convey modest worth. Astrology Signs for February Click The Horscope Symbols To View Today's Horoscope! About Aquarius (January 21 to February 19) The sign of the water-bearer. Aquarians are very friendly people, great conversationalists and thinkers. They are regularly involved in some kind of intellectual study or debate, but never really let on to others how well informed they really are. Because of this they are unpredictable and full of surprises, you can never tell what an aquarian will do next. Quality: Positive Ruler: Uranus Triplicity: Fixed Quadruplicity: Air Traditional Pisces Traits Friendly and humanitarian Honest and loyal Original and inventive Independent and intellectual On the dark side.... Intractable and contrary Perverse and unpredictable Unemotional and detached Likes Fighting for Causes Dreaming and Planning for the Future Thinking of the Past Good Companions Having Fun Dislikes Full of Air Promises Excessive Loneliness The Ordinary Imitations Idealistic About Pisces (February 20 to March 20) The sign of the fish. Pisceans are fairly free-flowing people in the space that they are allowed to flow in.They often feel trapped when they are not able to do the things that they want, or when things don't run smoothly and this makes them irritable. However, a piscean can make the best of a bad situation if they really want to and blend in with their surroundings. Quality: Negative Ruler: Jupiter Triplicity: Mutable Quadruplicity: Water Traditional Pisces Traits Imaginative and sensitive Compassionate and kind Selfless and unworldly Intuitive and sympathetic On the dark side.... Escapist and idealistic Secretive and vague Weak-willed and easily led Likes Solitude to dream in Mystery in all its guises Anything discarded to stay discarded The ridiculous Llike to get 'lost' Dislikes The obvious Being criticized Feeling all at sea about something Know-it-alls Pedantry Birthday Corner Main Page Mystickal Realms Main Page   MR Birthday Corner Designed & Maintained by Corvus the Familiar ©2003 & Up All rights reserved Mystickal Realms