Page 8 - The Flickering Cauldron Magazine - May 2022

Taurus Star Sign Gemstone,
Modern & Traditional
How wonderful to have a birthday in May! Spring is well underway and the warmer winds tell us that summer is coming!
May is the time when the renewal of nature is most evident and the wheel of life is clearly turning.
The reawakening and resurrection of the Earth could not be more perfectly represented than by the Birthstone of May, the Emerald.
Changed by word of mouth over millennia, this gorgeous green stone is believed to have been first named by the Greeks as ‘Smaragdus’, which would explain the Latin word of the same name, which means ‘green precious stone’.
The stunning Emerald is one of a group or type of gemstone known as Beryl - along with, for example, Amethyst. This group of stones are minerals that develop with six sides and can form up to a foot long!
It’s estimated that the oldest Emeralds in existence were formed nearly 3 billion years ago.
Whilst Emeralds have been revered throughout time, we know they were actively mined in ancient Egypt as early as 330 BC.
The most famous figure in ancient history to appreciate not only the beauty but to also believe in the power of Emeralds, was the legendary Pharaoh and Empress, Cleopatra. She was so convinced of their power and properties, that during her reign, she claimed personal ownership of all of the Emerald mines in ancient Egypt.
We know that Emeralds have been used in jewellery for over 5,000 years and were (as they are now), recognised as a symbol of status and wealth.
Today, Emeralds are believed to seriously enhance inspiration, especially in the written word and with personal expression, which is undoubtedly why this stunning stone is often referred to as the Poet’s Gemstone.
8 | The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - May Birthstone - Emerald
May Birthstone Emerald