Birthstone: December
• Bible •
The King James Version does not mention turquoise, but the New International Version does. I will include the stones mentioned in the NIV in their entirety so that you can see them all in context.
the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; Exodus 28:18 (NIV)
the second row was turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; Exodus 39:11 (NIV)
With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. 1 Chronicles 29:2 (NIV)
Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. Isaiah 54:11 (NIV)
Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise. Ezekiel 27:16 (NIV)
You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. Ezekiel 28:13 (NIV)
the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise . . . Revelation 21:20
• Cayce Readings •
Turquoise is mentioned eight times in eight documents.
One client wanted information about oil drilling possibilities:
. . . on Arizona lands, for drilling oil, in which information was volunteered about . . . turquoise. In subsequent readings for Mr. (195) no mention was ever made of the Arizona Lost Sheep Mine.
195-1, Report #4
I did some research on this Lost Sheep Mine and discovered that it was located in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, home to the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. The Superstition Mountains were supposedly cursed so that no one could locate the riches thought to be buried there. Apparently the site of the treasure is known only to the Apaches, who have kept the location hidden since the 1500s to prevent outsiders from finding the treasure there. The area has captivated the imaginations of people throughout the world who search for this legendary treasure.
. . . minerals might be obtained . . . turquoise. These could be made to pay. These will be good lands.
195-5
Q: . . . where does . . . turquoise outcrop . . . ?
A: . . . in the ridge that lies in the Western half of this Section . . .
195-7
. . . influences that may bring the greater force around the body . . . in the turquoise blue . . .
608-7
Q: What shade of blue should the entity use in her dress?
A: Turquoise!
694-2
More on Turquoise
Turquoise has been a treasured stone for cultures around the world for millennia. Sacred to many Native American peoples, the Navajo believed that turquoise fell from the sky, the Zuni believed it warded off demons, and the Apaches believed that turquoise assisted in the hunt.
I grew up in New Mexico and had the opportunity to explore all of the major mining areas as a child. One of the most interesting stories is about the Cerrillos turquoise mine, located near the little town of Madrid. The Cerrillos mining district was once a major source of gold, silver, lead, and zinc, and Cerrillos turquoise was taken by the Spaniards to be used for the crown jewels of Spain.
Today you can drive for miles on what is called the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, which runs on Highways 14 and 536 through the Sandia, San Pedro, and Ortiz mountains between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Along the way, you can visit several old mining towns that have been transformed into artist colonies and explore a variety of interesting historic places.
In connection with New Mexico, one fascinating discussion about turquoise in the Edgar Cayce readings involved the Mystery Rock in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Some call it the Decalogue Stone, which is another term for the Ten Commandments.
Commandment Rock, located thirty-five miles south of Albuquerque, contains an abridged version of the Ten Commandments in an obscure form of Hebrew, which scholars say proves the existence of ancient Hebrews in the early Americas.
While I had not heard of the Mystery Rock mentioned in the report for reading 5750-1 before doing this research, I can assure you that I’ll be making a stop in Los Lunas the next time I visit friends and relatives nearby.
Undoubtedly, the New Mexico and Arizona region is geologically significant. The topography of this area is strikingly similar to that of the ancient Holy Land.
The Biblical references above do not substitute turquoise for lapis lazuli. The two stones do have a similar chemical composition, so I wanted to research the possibility.
Also, the King James Version cites emerald in place of turquoise. In several of the biblical passages listed above, the stone is not mentioned at all in the KJV. It is as though someone threw it in where it had not been originally. Debate over the true identity of these stones will continue.
Turquoise in Healing
Turquoise vibrates at a far higher frequency than many other stones and for that reason can be used in the center of the body to send out healing vibrations from the solar plexus throughout the entire being.
Turquoise helps physical situations by raising the frequency to such a high point that lower vibrational ailments will no longer be compatible. On a spiritual level, turquoise helps you to communicate and commune with the highest levels of spiritual wisdom.
Turquoise is highly sensitive to the temperature and oils on the body. Be sure to take off rings before washing your hands. Turquoise is a very delicate mineral, and the color can change or fade from too much sun, water, perspiration, cosmetics, or oil on the skin.
Many ancient peoples including the Aztecs, Mayans, Incans, Toltecs, Olmecs, and Spaniards wandered through the Southwest and Central and South Americas. The Cayce readings indicate that this area was part of the lost continent of Lemuria. Did Semitic tribes also wander this area, perhaps before the Mayan/Pre-Columbian influences settled in the region? We can only speculate.
All of these cultures worked with turquoise as well as with the minerals lapis, malachite, and azurite. These stones contain copper aluminum silicates and are not minerals found just anywhere in the world. They are special. The chemical composition provides an ideal conductive energy by which many people throughout history have connected to their individual understanding of the Creator.
Based on the influence turquoise has had on the people of the Americas to the indigenous peoples of Tibet, China, and India, the stone will not lose its popularity any time soon.
ZIRCON
Found in: Australia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, France, India, Russia, Sri Lanka, USA, and ubiquitous in the Earth’s crust
Named for: Zircon is derived from the Persian word zargun, which means “golden-colored.” It includes hyacinth, or yellow zircon, and jacinth, a transparent red variety of zircon.
Birthstone: December
• Bible •
Jacinth is mentioned one time in the King James Version of the Bible:
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. Revelation 9:17
Jacinth is mentioned three times in the New International Version:
. . . the third row shall be jacinth . . . Exodus 28:19
. . . the third row was jacinth . . . Exodus 39:12
. . . the eleventh jacinth . . . Revelation 21:20
• Cayce Readings •
Jacinth is not mentioned in the readings.
Hyacinth is mentioned two times in two doc
uments.
One reading referenced Hyacinth as a street name; the other described hyacinth as a symbol. The symbolic reference probably relates to the term as it denotes the flower, a member of the lily family, which has ties to the Greek god Apollo:
Q: Please give my seal . . .
A: . . . On either side, at the top, would appear a bell; or the shape, as it were, of a bell from a hyacinth rather than a bell of a commercial thought or of such natures . . .
993-4
Zircon is mentioned one time in a letter written after Cayce’s death:
. . . whenever I saw a zircon with its bluish-greenish tints and I looked for the ‘reddish’ spectrum I was seeking that contrast which in reality gave the stone some life, regardless of the art of the lapidarist . . .
531-9, Report #11
More on Zircon
In the King James Version of the Bible, ligure is the stone named in place of the jacinth in Exodus. Modern geologists do not acknowledge the existence of any stone called ligure, but there is one called ligurite, which is a synonym for an extremely rare stone called titanite, containing the element titanium. Based on the rarity, I would imagine that a jacinth, which is a form of zircon, would be more likely to be a stone in the breastplate of the high priest.
These days you will find a large variety and many colors of zircons on the market, and they are priced based on the depth of their color. Many are from Asia.
The blue zircon is good for communication and helps primarily in the business sector rather than for interpersonal relationships. Blue zircon will give you eloquence in speech and allow your communication to be persuasive and effective, particularly if you are attempting to convince someone of your point of view. Zircon will benefit anyone in the communications professions and is also useful if you are in sales.
Red or brown varieties of zircon are called either jacinth or hyacinth. These colors can provide grounding, help prevent food poisoning, alleviate symptoms of food poisoning such as a stomachache, or assist with other digestive issues.
In general, zircon protects you and your belongings from accidents, bad storms, floods, or hail damage. By belongings, I mean your home and car. Placing a piece of zircon in the glove compartment of the car will prevent theft.
Prized in India, zircon is believed to bring success and material abundance, protect a person from poison, and create the energy of honor and wisdom.
If you need more material success in your life, especially related to your personal efforts in the business community, zircon is the gem for you.
PART
THREE
3Stones of the Bible
In this section, we will explore some of the other aspects of the Bible and how stones played a significant role in those early times.
The Twelve Tribes
Edgar Cayce gave a reading in 1937 to the Glad Helpers, who were studying the last book of the Bible, Revelation.
Q: Please explain the 12 names which represent the 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
A: The same as the twelve gates, the twelve angels, the twelve ways, the twelve understandings; or the approach to Israel the seeker—all seeking not then as the expression of self but as one in the Holy One!!
281-37
Breastplate of the High Priest
There are several other aspects to explore concerning biblical stones, and one of the major points is the identity of the stones found in the breastplate of the high priest that is described in Exodus. For your reference, in this section I will list the tribes found in the King James Version of the Bible. In my book published in 2005 by the A.R.E. Press, Edgar Cayce Guide to Gemstones, I compared the various versions of the Bible as they relate to the stones, but I do not want to duplicate that information here.
The KJV mentions the twelve tribes several times, including the following passage:
1) Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3) Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4) Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5) And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6) And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. Exodus 1:1-6
According to the King James Version, (Exodus 28:17-20), here are the stones in the breastplate:
BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST, KJV
There are many differing theories—too many to count—about which stone represents which tribe. The previous list shows the tribes in the order presented in the King James Version, with the exception of Joseph. Normally, Joseph is second to last, represented by the stone onyx because the Bible states he was already in Egypt.
STONES AND TRIBES
TRIBE
STONE
Reuben
Sardius
Simeon
Topaz
Levi
Carbuncle
Judah
Emerald
Issachar
Sapphire
Zebulun
Diamond
Benjamin
Ligure
Dan
Agate
Naphtali
Amethyst
Gad
Beryl
Joseph
Onyx
Asher
Jasper
Studies from various spiritual organizations list variants of these stones, and several newer versions of the Bible offer different interpretations based on more recent knowledge about geology.
I have spent over a decade looking into this topic, and I can say that while trying to identify the stones has fascinated me, I am no closer to a definite conclusion about their true identities. Some things must remain a mystery.
CORNERSTONE
In biblical times, a cornerstone was used as a foundation for an entire structure. Once the cornerstone was in place, it provided the stability needed for the rest of the building. If left out or placed improperly, the entire foundation and structure would crumble. Once in place, the rest of the building would conform to the size, angle, and shape of the cornerstone.
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; Job 38:6
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Psalm 118:22
. . . that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: Psalm 144:12
Messianic prophecy describes the Messiah as a cornerstone:
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah 28:16
And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 51:26
The Lord of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. Zechariah 9:15
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous [sic] in our eyes? Matthew 21:42
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: Mark 12:10
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Luke 20:17
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Acts 4:11
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:20
The apostle Peter spoke of Jesus as a cornerstone:
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion
a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 1 Peter 2:6
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 1 Peter 2:7
The metaphor of constructing a house on a solid cornerstone to tell the people about the importance of Jesus communicated the message in a way they could understand. The idea of a good foundation is still powerful today as a symbol for the importance of Christ in the church.
BIBLICAL ROCKS
Rocks, dens and caves, But I in none of these Find place or refuge . . . Paradise Lost, IX. 6 118-119
Rock of Ages
The Bible mentions rocks as metaphors for the power of the Creator. “Rock of Ages” is a legendary hymn about a limestone hill in an area called Burrington Combe near North Somerset, England. The hymn’s author, Augustus Montague Toplady, wrote the following about the miraculous protection he received from a sudden and terrible storm while taking shelter in an outcropping of rock:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Edgar Cayce's Sacred Stones Page 18
