Star Stones
STAR STONES
The ancient art of working with gemstones and crystals for each of the Zodiac signs is both magical and mystical, and is one of my favorite ways to work more deeply with astrological magic. Working magically, and astrologically with gemstones can be found in almost all cultures, along with the belief that gemstones and crystals correspond to planets, stars, and constellations. It is said that a gemstone or crystal contains the energy of the heavens, and each one contains the essence of its corresponding heavenly body. Working with them magically connects one to this essence, and so I call them ‘star stones'. You can work with a specific star stone for the day of the week, the hour of the day, the month, the season and a Zodiac sign…which can really help to deepen your magic, rituals and spells.
HISTORY
If you do a bit of research, you will find that there are many different associations of gemstones for each of the Zodiac signs and planets, and this can be confusing. I love ancient practices, ancient wisdom and ancient magic, so I tend to gravitate towards these correspondences more than others, but every now and then a modern association will feel ‘right’ for me, and so I will use that in my magical workings. The history of gemstones and astrology is age old, and we find this wisdom within may cultures, such as ancient Egypt, ancient Persia, ancient India's Vedic texts, the Bible, Gnostic Christianity, and European magic.
First century Jewish historian Josephus observed a connection between the twelve stones mentioned in the bible that were set in Aaron's priestly breastplate, and which signified the 12 tribes of Israel, along with the twelve months of the year, and the twelve signs of the zodiac, and from this in the eighth and ninth centuries a religious practice began of associating each of the 12 stones with an apostle, calling them 'Foundation Stones'. This practice instructed those who were pious to keep all twelve stones as a collection, then to wear one each month, according to their order on the breastplate, and this may have been the origin of the more modern practice of wearing one's ‘birth stone’.
In 1912 gemological associations from around the world gathered to standardize (and modernize) the list of stones with their associated months, which of course had little to do with magic or sacredness, and much to do with increasing sales. Since then the list has changed over and over until we find ourselves with the lists we use today, all of which have departed quite a bit from the original, ancient lists of breastplate and apostle stones.
MAGICAL WORKINGS
There are several ways to work magically with star stones; I like to work with a specific moon phase and the Zodiac sign that it is in. I then choose a planetary day of the week, and hour of the day to activate my stone with a special blend of incense, anoint it with a special blend of aromatic oils, bless it with floral water (hydrosol), and then ritually call upon the moon, and invoke the spirit of the stone to assist my magic, and then I may choose to wear the stone, place it upon my altar, and/or create an amulet to carry it with me.
FULL MOON STAR STONE
On February 24th, the full moon will be in the sign of Virgo, at 5 degrees. This is a sign that was once deeply associated with Isis as the magician-goddess, and Hathor the mother-goddesses of ancient Egypt, the Babylonian goddess Istar, the Sumerian goddess Ishtar, the Roman goddess Ceres, the Greek god Dionysius's daughter Erigone, the Greek goddess Athena, or Artemis, and all goddesses who represented the abundance of the earth, as well as goddesses who spend some of their time between the this world and the underworld, and rise from the underworld in the Spring, such as the Greek goddess Demeter, her daughter Persephone.
Today this sign is represented by a virgin (sovereign) woman with wings, who holds a staff of wheat, and sometimes also the caduceus. Virgo's energy is very specific, very orderly and very fact-based. Virgo guides us to see where in our lives we need to think clearly, become clear emotionally, create order and set things in order.
The full moon is a time of ending, culmination and the completion of a six month cycle from new moon in Virgo (six months ago) to this full moon in Virgo. Whatever you may have wished for or set an intention for on the new moon six months ago may be materializing now, or you may need to revisit what it was so that you can do further work on it. You can find more clarity on what to focus on by looking at your birth chart, to see what house 5 degrees of Virgo is in, and then let the theme of that house guide your magic. As an example, if Virgo is at 5 degrees in your 6th house, (which is the native house of Virgo ) your magical focus will be related to taking care of everyday, routine tasks and responsibilities, honing your skills or perhaps furthering your expertise with education and training. This is also the house of service, strength, health, wellbeing, and the life-force as your vitality, so magical workings to deepen this will be well supported. Magically speaking, Virgo's associations with The Goddess, her placement in this house would also indicate a focus on creating sacred rituals for your ordinary, mundane activities, performing service in a very ritualistic, sacred way, and elevating the mundane by performing self-care, health and wellbeing rituals.
As Virgo is ruled Mercury, her oldest star stone association is Emerald, and her more modern association or birthstone is Blue Sapphire. While this is not the month when the sun is in Virgo, we work with her now because the moon is in this sign. For this reason, I suggest working with emerald, as it is her planetary association, not her solar association. If you do not have an emerald, you can use any deeply green stone.
STAR STONE MAGIC
Emerald is a stone that can be used for making connection to and for receiving wisdom from The Divine, spirits, and for traveling to the spiritual realm. It is also associated with the serpent, and women's mysteries.
Activate your emerald by holding it in between your palms as if in prayer, first at the place of your third eye, and say; I open my inner eye to see within you, then at the place of your heart, and say; I open my heart to feel you. Then hold it at the place above your head, and say; I open my crown to know you. And so it is.
Bless your emerald by passing it through the smoke of dried roses, and misting it with rose water.
Anoint your emerald with frankincense and rose oils.
Place an emerald over your third eye while meditating, or under your pillow to enhance dreams. Wear an emerald near your heart as a necklace, on your right arm as a bracelet, or as a ring on the pinkie for ring finger. Journal your experiences with each of these magical practices.
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