Peridot is most commonly connected to the month of August, and because this is the birthstone for August, it is also a symbol for the LEO star sign. Peridot is both a day stone and a night stone, keeping its shining color even under artificial lighting. For this reason, it is sometimes called “Evening Emerald”.
Peridot is one of the very few gemstones that are created deep below the earth’s crust in the fiery mantle, and brought to the surface by volcanic activity. It is an exotic stone that shares its means of formation with both diamonds and sapphires, although Peridot is a much less expensive gemstone.
Peridot has one of the oldest and most detailed historical traditions of any healing stone. Peridot jewelry dates back as far as the second millennium BC. These ancient Egyptian gemstones came from deposits on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea called Topazios, now known as St. John’s Island or Zabargad.
Peridots have a rich history dating back to ancient Egyptian times, when deposits were found on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea. Ancient Egyptians called peridot the “gem of the sun,” believing it protected its wearer from terrors of the night. Some historians believe that Cleopatra’s famed emerald collection may have actually been peridot. Egyptian priests believed it held the power of nature, using goblets encrusted with peridots to communicate with nature gods. The Egyptians called peridot the “gem of the Sun” and believed it had special healing powers.
For many years, the gem was often confused for emeralds. In fact, it is thought that a portion of Cleopatra’s emerald collection was in fact made up of peridots. And it is not the only time the gem was confused for an emerald: the 200 carat stones that made up the Three Holy Kings shrine in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral were also found to be peridots.
Through medieval times, people continued to confuse these two green gemstones. The 200-carat gemstones adorning one of the shrines in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral were long believed to be emeralds as well, yet they are also peridots. In the Middle Ages, peridots were worn to provide foresight and inspiration. Romans used the stones to protect against enchantment.
Peridot and its base mineral, Olivine, were formed in Earth’s infancy, created in magma and spewed to the surface by active volcanoes. Falling to the ground, the molten crystals were forced to take on the shape of a teardrop, and was the reason ancient Hawaiians thought Peridot and Olivine were tears of the volcano goddess Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands.
Peridots were seen as a way to help with respiratory ailments, insomnia, and bleeding. At one time, it was also thought to improve memory and ease labor and delivery. For years, peridot beads and talismans were believed to offer protection, as well as promote love, happiness, and wealth.
This gemstone saw a revival in the 1990s, when new deposits were discovered in Pakistan. These deposits produced some of the finest peridots ever found. In fact, some of these “Kashmir peridots” measured more than 100 carats. The most productive peridot deposit in the world is located on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. An estimated 80 to 95 percent of the world’s peridot supply is found here.
Peridot, in shades of olive, is one of the few gemstones that forms in only one color. Beautifully faceted, it evokes the lateness of summer and the onset of fall, as leaves morph from green to gold and hang like jewels in the sunlight. It is a crystal of warmth and well-being, mentally stimulating and physically regenerating. It is said to carry the gift of inner radiance, sharpening the mind and opening it to new levels of awareness and growth, helping one to recognize and realize one’s destiny and spiritual purpose.
People who used the properties of gemstones in their mind and body healing practices believe that Peridot is a wonderful crystal for healing the emotional body and promoting harmony within relationships. It cleanses and heals hurt feelings and an over-sensitive ego lessening anger, jealousy, resentment and spite, while teaching one to understand that holding onto people, or the past, is counterproductive to one’s growth. It is an excellent aid to self-forgiveness, and teaches us to forgive others in a healthy, compassionate way.
Peridot stimulates psychological clarity and inspires a sense of happiness and contentedness in one’s life. It empowers one to detach the mind from outside influences and have confidence in one’s own abilities, looking inward for guidance and accessing the wisdom of the higher mind.
Like every other gemstone, cleansing the Peridot enables you to keep its wonders intact. It is very important to purge any impurity that has been absorbed by a Peridot gem. Otherwise, you may not enjoy its full potential.
Peridot is not a vulnerable nor a formidable gemstone. It needs constant care to function well. There is no need for you to do any special trick in cleaning it. All you need to do is to wash it with water and soap. Remember to use a soft, smooth cloth when drying it. Never use any rough fabric because it may cause abrasions.
Sources
www.meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com
