CITRINE & TOPAZ

Gemstone Therapy: Topaz

Feeling a little less than confident lately? Tap into your imagination and replace that negativity with joy - it just takes a touch of topaz! The name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "fire," and the stone was believed by the Egyptians to be colored by the glow of the sun god Ra.

Despite being a particularly hard gemstone, topaz (just like diamond) can be split with a single, well-placed blow. (Speaking of diamonds, there's a giant, colorless speciment of 1,640 (!) carats that was set in a 17th century crown originally believed to be a diamond.) If you, like us, usually think of topaz as blue (Imperial Topaz was a favorite among Russian Czars in the 1800s) its spectrum of hues also include pink, green, red, gold, yellow, blue, white, reddish yellow, brown, and even grey and a colorless sort. Deep yellow and pink are considered the most valuable. 

If you're into that sort of thing, the metaphysical properties of topaz include being able to correct unloving behaviors, to bring about lightness of spirit, stimulate metabolism, and to enchance clear-sightedness - physically and spiritually. It's also known as a protective stone - from everything from harm of all sorts to sleepwalking. The ancient Greeks even believed it could make the wearer invisible in times of emergency (we'd like to hear the story behind that one)! 

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Birthstone: November (Sagittarius) - orange topaz
Anniversaries: 4th, 19th, or 23rd years of marriage
Symbolizes: Friendship
Comes from: Russia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Utah, and others