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May - Agate. |
May ? Agate.
It comes in variously distributed and an accurate description is difficult, but the usual shade is Brown Grey, Black and White striped and Bended.
Agate is the most accepted birthstone for May but the Emerald has an equal claim and is definitely favoured by the Americans. It is the gem of Gemini (The twins) May 20th to June 20th.
The Guardian Angel for May is Ambriel whose talismanic gem is the Carbuncle.
The Special Apostle is Bartholomew.
The flower is the Hawthorn or Wild Rose.
Lucky charms ascribed to this month are the Scales, Mask, Cupid, Lovers knot, Heart, Clasped hands, Bull or Cow.
The Agate is one of the least expensive of gems but is tought enough to withstand hard wear for a lifetime and longer. It is a variety of Quartz, closely associated with Onyx, Carnellian and Blood stone.
Several medicinal properties have been attributed to the Agate, which has been quoted as good for thirst, hemmorrhage, gravel and kidney troubles, insanity, and as a prevention of contagion. Powdered Agate mixed with water was used to cure the poison of snakebite and it is recorded that Queen Elizabeth was presented with an Agate by the Archbishop Parker with a parchment on which was written all the medicinal and mysterious properties of the stone.
One early interesting belief was that an Agate assured a good harvest if tied to the arm of the ploughman or the horn of the Ox.
Agate is widespread all over the world and may even be found on the beaches in parts of England but the best quality to-day comes mainly from Brazil in varieties known as banded Agate, Eyed Agate, Fortification Agate and Moss Agate.
The colours are variously distributed and an accurate description is difficult, but the usual shades are brown grey, black and white, striped and banded; generally in parallel layers, often mottled, and sometimes, as in the case of Moss Agate, it has growths or dendritic inclusionsin the stone giving an appearance of actual moss or small ferns.
The alternative birthstone for May is also the birthstone for June.
The talismanic gem of Ambriel is actually a red Garnet cut with a plain domed top. This style of finish is called ?Cabochon cut? and a Garnet cut in this manner is know as a Carbuncle.
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