Pearl: The Pearl is a perfect symbol of femininity, purity, light and wisdom. An organic gemstone, Pearls are created when a foreign object becomes embedded in the tissue of an oyster. In response, the oyster produces a layer of nacre, or Mother of Pearl, that surrounds the object and forms a Pearl.
Due to their extraordinary beauty, Pearls have been prized by many cultures throughout time and are associated with the moon, fertility and rebirth. The Romans wore Pearls in homage to Isis and used them as talismans against all types of calamities They considered them to be a symbol of wealth and social standing and only people above a certain social rank were allowed to wear them.
The Egyptians valued Pearls so highly that they were buried with them. The Hindus were said to believe that Pearls carry the energy of prosperity and longevity, and they were believed to possess magical powers by both the Incas and the Aztecs. The Persians believed that Pearls symbolized the moon and its energies.
It's been written that during the Dark Ages, knights often wore Pearls onto the battlefield because they believed they contained magic that would protect them.
In Europe, during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, pearls were considered very fashionable and often the clothing of both men and women were embroidered with them. Pearls were considered an exclusive privilege for royalty and there were laws that mandated who could and could not wear pearl.
Pearls have long been seen as the sacred gem for weddings and marriage. The Greeks believed that Pearls attract love and would adorn all the wedding attendees with them. There is ancient Hindu story that tells of how Krishna discovered pearls when he plucked the first one from the sea and presented it to his daughter, Pandaïa, as a gift on her wedding day. Today it is still a symbol of purity that is used in modern marriage ceremonies. The Pearl is also known as the third eye of both Buddha and Shiva.
Native Americans used pearls and shells for decorative purposes and some tribes used them as a way to pay honor or tribute. It's been said that Pocahontas' father, Powhattan, had an immense store of Pearls that he was given in tribute.
Pearls were seen as both medicinal and sacred and according to ancient texts, Pearls have been used for medicinal purposes for over 5000 years. They have been used to treat all types of ailments from detoxing the system, to balancing the liver and the nervous system. Known to promote glowing, pearl-like skin, Pearls are used in a variety of cosmetics in many countries. In the Orient, Pearls are known as an aphrodisiac and there is a funerary custom of placing a Pearl in the mouth of the dead as a symbol of transfiguration.It was written that on his 3rd voyage to the Americas, Columbus fell out of favor with the King of Spain when he failed to reveal the discovery of Pearls in the New World.
In more recent times, Pearls have continued to be seen as symbol of status and wealth. There is an extraordinary story of how Pierre Cartier traded a magnificent double strand of natural pearls worth $1 million for the landmark Cartier store located on New York City's famed Fifth Avenue.
Mother of Pearl also has a long history of legend and lore attached to it. The ancient Chinese would slip beads or small figures of deities between the mantle and the shell of a living mollusk, which would then become overlaid with mother-of-pearl. They would then take these beads and figures to the temples and offered them to the gods in the hope that it would bring good luck. The Chinese also used mother-of-pearl for medicinal purposes and prescribed it to help with high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and dizziness.
In ancient Mesopotamia, exquisitely carved wooden ornament and musical instruments inlaid with Mother of Pearl were found in the tombs of Sumerian Royalty.
The Toltecs inlaid treasures of ornamental jewelry and sculptures with mother-of-pearl and the Yaqui Indians, said to be descendants of the Toltecs, wear necklaces made of Mother of Pearl, which is thought to protect the wearer from harm.
In Polynesian myth, the iridescence color of Mother of Pearl is said to come from the Spirit of sand and coral.
Thailand has a long history of using of Mother of Pearl to adorn objects. In the past, temple doors and windows, boxes, and bowls were masterfully embellished with it and today, you can find beautiful furniture, boxes and numerous other items inlaid with this shell.
Color: Pearls can be found in a wide range of colors. While the most poplar colors are white and pink rose, they can also be found in cream, yellow, golden, black, silver and gray colors. Mother of Pearl appears in a variety of iridescent colors from white to black and nearly every other color in between.
Birthstone: June
Zodiac or Magical Birthstone: A great stone for Gemini and Cancer.
Signification: Pearls are said to be in tune with women, particularly pregnant women, and to stimulate feminine qualities. Known to ease stress, exhaustion, and digestive problems.