Astro

if you were born on the: 1st, 10th, 19th, 28th of any month you are number 1. 2nd, 11th, 20th, 29th of any month then you are number 2. 3rd, 12th, 21st, 30th of any month then you are number 3. 4th, 13th, 22nd, 31st of any month then you are number 4. 5th, 14th, 23rd of any month then you are number 5. 6th, 15th, 24th of any month then you are number 6. 7th, 16th, 25th of any month then you are number 7. 8th, 17th, 26th of any month then you are number 8. 9th, 18th, 27th of any month then you are number 9. number 1 you are smart, a straight talker, funny, stubborn, hardworking, honest, jealous on a competitive basis, kind hearted, temperamental, friendly, and popular. you always want to be on the top and most likely to be independent. you are most likely to fall in love at a young age, but will marry once you mature! you are likely to have problems with people who have opposite views and you are most likely to take revenge over your enemies in a long time basis. you are a spender, but you will have a good profession in the future. if you are guy you will be very popular. you can go anywhere from the local shop to the heart of the parliament because you are positive and talented in numerous areas. but in your life you will always have some people who will work hard to bring you & your name down. because of your intelligence, some might hate you. you are a pioneer, independent & original your best match is 4, 6, 8 while a good match would be with 3,5,7 number 2 no matter what, every one will love you because you are ruled by the moon. you day dream a lot, you have a very low-self esteem, you need to have a back up for every move in your life, you are very unpredictable. you tend to change according to time and circumstances, selfish, have a very strong sense of musical and artistic talent and powerful verbal communication. you can be sweet as an angel and can be ruthless when double-crossed. some might say you have a sixth sense. you will become a poet, writer, an artist or a businessperson. you are not strong in love, so your relationship will be in disarray until you settle down. if you are a girl, you will be responsible for your family. if you are a man, you tend to get involve in fights & arguments in the family. you will sacrifice your life for your family. you are gentle, intuitive with a broad vision. you make a well-balanced person. your best match is 2, 7,5, and 9 no other people can put up with you!!! number 3 you are hardhearted and selfish most of the time. you always tend to have lots of problems within your family in the early stages but you will be able to cope with everything. you seem to have your way in everything. and from birth you would always have to work hard to achieve anything you want. you always make a point to set examples on others, especially the younger ones. generally you are not a cool person. it's not easy dealing with you. a tough player you are! but once you are comfortable with

someone, it will be a lasting friendship. you always earn respect from others. your ilk seems to have lots of worries and problems but they won't be for long. you will have brilliant kids! you love money a bit too much so temptation will push you to try endlessly. you will look after your family and help friends, so you will spend a life time just being generous and kind (except for men born on the 21st). you love your freedom, creative and ambitious, a person who brings beauty, hope & joy to this world!!! your best match 6 and 9. good match 1, 3, and 5 number 4 you are very stubborn, very hard working but unlucky in important matters in life, very cool and helpful. you might repel people away from you, you may cause nuisance to others if you area man, as you gifted are with understanding other people's problems. if you are a girl, you excel in your studies and arts. if you are a guy you spend most of your time with girl friends and you tend to have too much fun with your mates & girls. your friends will spend your time & money and get on with their life and you will be left empty handed. so be careful! you love to spend. your positive side is that you are always around to help family and friends. you always fall in love with those younger than you. you often live with disappointments but you will take good care of your family. you need to be careful of people who will take advantage of your kind heart. and beware of your relationships too. you are radical, patient, persistent, and a hit old-fashioned; you live with foundation & order. your best match 1, 8. good match 5, 6, and 7 number 5 you are very popular and you can get things done only by talking. even to your enemies! you are business-minded and like to do things spontaneously. you will be famous if you get involved in any business. your friends and families will always ask for your help, and you are the one actually with the money to help your friends. you will have more than one relationship, but when you settle down you tend to be selfish. you tend to go for other relationships - even if you are married at times because of your popularity. you tend to get along easily with anyone because the numbers is a middle number. you love freedom and changes. you learn your life through your personal experiences. your best match 1, 2, good match 6, 8. number 6 ooopppss... you were born to enjoy! you don't care about others. i mean you always wanted to have a lifetime of enjoyment. you will excel in either education or business management! you are talented, kind (but with only people who you think are nice), and popular. all good things come easily to you. your mind and body is just made perfect for love. you are loveable by any number. but if you are a number 6 men, you will be involved in more than a few relationships until you get married. if you are a girl, most of you will get married/engaged early. you are a caring person towards your family and friends. you are a person of compassion, comfort & fairness, domestic responsibility, good judgment, and after all you can heal this world's wounds to make peace for everyone because you have the great power and caring talent to take the world of love one step further.. your best match 7, 6, and 9. good match 4, 5

number 7 you are realistic, confident, happy, and talented in education, music, art, singing, and most importantly in acting. you also have a bad temper! you value your family status a lot; you will be in the top rank when you reach a certain age. if you are a guy you are popular with girls. most of the number 7s faces lots of problems with their married life. only a few are happy. you have everything in your life but with worries throughout your lifetime. you need to get ready looking for a partner rather than waiting. if you don't, then you might end-up being single. you are born to contribute to everyone's joy. your best match is 2. good matches are 1, 4 number 8 you have a very strong personality and people will find it hard to understand you. you are more likely to suffer in your younger years. you might be also the one responsible to look out for your family. you often suffer all the way through life. you will learn life in a very practical way. you are the one who will fight for justice and may even die in the war too. you are normally very reserved with a handful of friends and most of the time, live life alone and always prepared to help others. however, once you settle down, (which is often late), then your had lucks will disappear. you will face unexpected problems such as encountering poisonous animals, and accidents. you are highly- disciplined, persistence, and courageous, and it is your strength that will take you to success. you are a great part of a family team. you are a fighter! your best match 1, 4 and 8. good match 5 number 9 you guys are the most incompatible people in the world. you are so strong, physically and mentally. you often have big-aims. you will work hard and will think it's still hard to get there, even if you already have gotten there! normally you suffer in the early age from family problems and generally you will have to fight in life. you are respected by others. you were however very naughty in your childhood, and often got beaten up by your parents and had been involved in fights and you seemed to have suffered lots of injuries. but when you grow older you become calm and will fall into the quiet and dignified macho type. love is not an easy matter for you. you are however good in engineering or banking jobs because people always trust you. your family life is very good, but you will always worry over your children. your finer qualities are that you are humanitarian, patient, very wise & compassionate. you are born to achieve targets and serve every one equally without any prejudice. you are a role model for everyone. your best match 3, 5, 6, and 9. good match 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

is your birthday day 1 of the month? your life you are very curious and dedicative. when you are interested in something, everything else has to wait. this is your quality. but if you learn to be more patient and complete what you have started, you will be successful in life. your love you believe in love at first sight. you won't wait to learn more

about the person. vise versa, people who fail to impress you will hardly get a chance to be your friend. your emotion is on the extreme. you can only love or hate, nothing in between and this often shows in your __ex-pression. try not to end a relationship in a quarrel.

is your birthday day 2 of the month? your life you have great common sense but usually fail to follow through. this might happens because you are too busy with your mission and shut yourself from the outside world. you are clever and profound so there's a slight chance for self-control problem. your love your love progress slowly, and quietly. you seem to be contented with your unrequited love. your are a romantic and loyal lover.

is your birthday day 3 of the month? your life although you are innocent and romantic but your __ex-pression often mislead others that you are an active, fun loving kid. because of your double personality, it's hard for others to really know the real you. you are careful and patient. your love your love is the greatest which often surprises others. no one can bring you to light when you are in love. your confidence might lead you to the track your parents disagree.

is your birthday day 4 of the month? your life you usually think before acting which makes your life quite easy. but you often are the one who give yourself a hard time by being paranoid. people might not truly understand you but you are really nice to be around. you are cheerful and friendly. your love still water runs deep, that's what you are. you always surprise others with your new character when you are in love. your love trap often comes unexpectedly and your love life is full of surprises.

is your birthday day 5 of the month? your life although you are on the quiet side, but you enjoy excitement and changes. routine is something you cannot stand. because of your extreme confidence, you hardly ask others for opinion. you believe in leading your own life, and you have got the gift in doing so. your love nothing can stop you from making progress in your love life. once you are in love, you feel the ownership of your lover. a third party can only makes your jealousy becomes worse.

is your birthday day 6 of the month? your life you are generous with people in need, sometimes to an extreme that people find you nosey. your hidden courage and dedication often surprise others. your imagination is extremely unique. your love your love life is on the smooth track because it grows from friendship. although you may not make a sweet lover but your sincerity bring happiness to your couple.

is your birthday day 7 of the month? your life you are sensitive to changes around you but your feeling is hardly expressed. you hate exaggerations. under your quiet personality, you are rather stubborn and self-centered. these qualities are the force behind your extreme persistence. your love you have enormous courage to please your lover. your relationship often progress quickly.

is your birthday day 8 of the month? your life you have pleasant and friendly personality. people look u to your wit and imagination. you are unpredictable and hardly

complete what you started, which sometimes create negative impact to people around you. your love falling in love becomes your routine. most of the time you are lucky. you fascinate people with good taste but you never have enough with one. although your love progresses very fast, it never lasts.

is your birthday day 9 of the month? your life you often have problem in promoting yourself, just because you don't know how to express your true self. on the other hand, you don't really care what they think. this is why people misunderstand you until they really get a chance to learn about your pleasant personality. opposite sex find you mysterious and worth searching. your wit is remarkable but sometimes you are too fast to follow. your love you won't reveal your feeling even after dreaming about the same guy over and over. your first love lasts forever. you are responsible to the feeling of your lover. the chance to betray your lover is none. you have luck with children.

is your birthday day 10 of the month? your life you are very capable. if you are a woman, you have high chance to be a renowned workingwoman. if you are a man, your path to fame and honor is near. as an innovator, you are not a good follower. you are good in implementing your imagination and share it with others. you are always well dressed. your love you often lose your love ones from being too jealous. you always feel like you own the person you fall in love with and that often blows your relationship.

is your birthday day 11 of the month? your life you are gracious, elegant and prudent. people admire your qualities and some even become jealous of you. you are

realistic, flexible and adaptable. you are remarkably kind and moral person. your love you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the one you love. your lover will always have your gentleness, care and loyalty. you will always be happy to hand around the one you love.

is your birthday day 12 of the month? your life you are friendly, humorous and full of energy. you are openminded and do not care for minor details. your weak point is your hot temper. your love you are willing to start off in one-sided love affairs because you strongly believe that you will eventually win his/her heart. on the other hand, once you are together, you always want to do things your way, which is often the fire starter. you usually run in and out of love quickly.

is your birthday day 13 of the month? your life you are sincere and easy going. flattering and charming around are not your style. you care so much for freedom that often leads you to the difficult path. because of your sincerity, most people find you easy to be around although you are sometimes too straightforward. your love your gentleness, care and sincerity make you an attractive person. eventhough you don't intend to be charming, but you naturally are, especially in the eyes of opposite sex.

is your birthday day 14 of the month? your life you are so confident that sometimes you forget about the people around you. if you have to be in one of the two teams, you will choose to be in the winning team. on the other hand, you are kind and caring but above all, you care for your own benefits. your imagination is unique and often gets implemented shortly after it comes across.

your love you will not get soft with the one you don't really like, no matter how hard he/she tries. but once you feel for someone you have chosen, there's no getting back.

is your birthday day 15 of the month? your life you are outgoing and love to be at the center of attention. from the outside, you may seem flashy, flirty, and tricky but your true self is strong, full of hope to be the leader. when you fail to convince someone, you will get frustrated, and perhaps let your temper shows. your love you are emotional. many can win your heart at once, but not for long. this is why you hardly win a decent relationship.

is your birthday day 16 of the month? your life you always follow the good and the right instead of listening to your heart. another word, you are a perfectionist. you care for every word people say about you. you often seen isolated while you are, by nature, curious and a dreamer who is ready to get over the edge to make your dream comes true. your love you often fall in love with a person who is much different from you, in age and other aspects. your relationship grows on friendship. love at fist sight is not your style.

is your birthday day 17 of the month? your life you neither want to be interfered nor have the desire to mess with others' life. but you are friendly and occasionally a party animal. you are always in a circle of friends. you often do things in your own way that occasionally go beyond the acceptable limit. people may find you childish and not very attractive in that sense. your love your fun-loving character attracts opposite sex. many of those are great.you often find yourself trapped among a few great

guys while you have to choose only one.

is your birthday day 18 of the month? your life at first glance, people think you are quiet type of person. actually you are cheerful, but conditionally. you will show your joyful character only in good mood. one the other hand, when you are moody, no one would dare to be around. because of your emotion fluctuation and frank character, some find you hard to be around. your love you hardly show your feeling towards opposite sex no matter how much you like him/her. your partner also has similar character so your love affairs often take quite a while to flourish. time tells it all. your sincerity makes you very attractive.

is your birthday day 19 of the month? your life you are great in managing everything in your life and this is how you gain respect from others. because of this quality, you sometimes feel that you are better than the rest. extreme confidence might lead you to the wrong path. you are a free bird and want to lead your own life. your love you love life is rather different from others'. when you are in love, nothing can stop you. you may often fight with your partner but, soon after that, you will make up in a way that surprises others.

is your birthday day 20 of the month? your life you are prudent, circumspect and take things seriously. before you make any move, you will think of a few alternatives that might take a while. you are patient, imaginative and target oriented. you value friendship more than anything else. your love you usually study your partner carefully before making any move. you never demand anything beyond the natural quality

of that person. your sincerity doesn't bring excitement in your love life but it brings deeply grown relationship.

is your birthday day 21 of the month? your life you are curious and a true follower. you can please someone so much that it seem like you are trying to charm that person. you hide your disagreement under your smiling face. this is a charming quality of yours. your love you are quite unlucky in love. you are loved by someone you don't like while your dream man is so far away. your love life is occasionally under turbulence. sometimes you don't have the clear view of the guy in your heart.

is your birthday day 22 of the month? your life you have the boss character, but not a leader. most people look up to you for your capability and confidence although they find you quite stubborn. you should listen more to others. you are a unique and charming individual. your love you hardly take the moderate track. you either love or hate someone. whom you call friends are the chosen ones. if any of them betray you, you won't let them get away without having hard time.

is your birthday day 23 of the month? your life you never live your life in the way others want you to. you are an independent individual who loves challenges and excitement. you are ready to face with the result of your decision. you are usually the one your friends count on. your love because you love excitements, you occasionally get involved in forbidden love affairs. you may fall in love with a married person and no one can stop you from making progress. you are very charming, although you might not realize it.

is your birthday day 24 of the month? your life you are very optimistic and that's why you always enjoy life. you are gifted in entertaining others. your friends love and trust you. you'll be the first they come to when they are in need of someone to speak their heart out. your love sometimes you fall in love just because you want to be in love, not that you really like that person. you always be seen as a sweet couple but you can't really get over your love ones from past. your partner is usually crazy about you because you are remarkably charming and romantic.

is your birthday day 25 of the month? your life you are a warrior. no obstacle can stop you from reaching your goal. you always keep yourself busy. this quality plus your responsibility will eventually bring you success. your love you adore your partner as the number one priority. you value your love one more than yourself. your love is the greatest of all and your have potential to get married young.

is your birthday day 26 of the month? your life you are always curious and responsive to changes. routine life is not the way you choose to live. travelling is your favorite hobby because excitement is what you are after. your love you will not stand being around the one you dislike. your love comes and goes quickly. you can be deeply in love but soon after you will be looking around for the next one.

is your birthday day 27 of the month? your life you are sensitive and vulnerable. tears often run down your

cheeks even when the matter is not that bad. this might be the result from being to pessimistic. you might seem cold on the shell, but your inner self is a kind loving person. your love you will be elegantly dressed, no matter how casually dressed your date may be. you are emanding in love and sometimes to an unacceptable extend.

is your birthday day 28 of the month? your life you are a capable person but you usually underestimate your own ability. this is the cause of missing numbers of opportunity to step forward. if you try to give yourself a chance, you can be successful in life. try to see things on the bright side and you will be happier than ever. your love you are quite unlucky in love. the one in your arm is not the one in your heart. your love has so many ups and downs. you often chicken out before seeing any progress in love.

is your birthday day 29 of the month? your life you can trust your sixth sense. life is exciting so routine job is not your interest. you have great ideas and fantastic imagination. you often feel tired of things and people around you. your love you can tell what's in the mind of another person just from looking into his/her eyes. you are paranoid and jealous and these are the cause of fights between you and your lover. sometimes the thing you believe in is just your imagination.

is your birthday day 30 of the month? your life you are always surrounded by a circle of friends. you are friendly and fun to be with. though you occasionally disappoint them by being stubborn, but over all, they love your qualities. your love you want to have full control of your love and that's not a nice way to treat your partner. you take your time in saying yes to his wedding proposal or if you are a man, you will not propose

anyone until you are certainly confident which might take ages.

is your birthday day 31 of the month? your life your emotion is hard to predict. you can be sad this minute and happy in the next. people might find it difficult to follow your emotion and understand you. you tend to take things seriously. your love you take your time to study a person before falling in love. once you decide that he or she is the one, no one can stop you from making progress, even your partner ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~*~birthday chart~*~ january 01 - 09 ~ dog january 10 - 24 ~ mouse january 25 - 31 ~ lion april 01 - 03 ~ dog april 04 - 14 ~ panther april 15 - 26 ~ mouse april 27 - 30 ~ turtle july 01 - 09 ~ mouse july 10 - 15 ~ dog july 16 - 26 ~ dove july 27 - 31 ~ cat october 01 - 15 ~ monkey october 16 - 27 ~ turtle october 28 - 31 ~ panther

february 01 - 05 ~ cat february 06 - 14 ~ dove february 15 - 21 ~ turtle february 22 - 28 ~ panther may 01 - 13 ~ monkey may 14 - 21 ~ dove may 22 - 31 ~ lion august 01 - 15 ~ monkey august 16 - 25 ~ mouse august 26 - 31 ~ turtle november 01 - 16 ~ lion november 17 - 30 ~ cat

march 01 - 12 ~ monkey march 13 - 15 ~ lion march 16 - 22 ~ mouse march 23 - 31 ~ cat june 01 - 03 ~ mouse june 04 - 14 ~ turtle june 15 - 20 ~ dog june 21 - 24 ~ monkey june 25 - 30 ~ cat september 01 - 14 ~ dove september 15 - 27 ~ cat september 28 - 30 ~ dog december 01 - 16 ~ dog december 17 - 25 ~ monkey december 26 - 31 ~ dove

if you are a dog: a very loyal and sweet person.your loyalty can never be doubted. you are quite honest and sincere when it comes to your attitude towards working. you are a very simple person, indeed. absolutely hassle free, humble and down-to-earth!! that explains the reason why your friends cling on to you! you have a good taste for clothes. if your wardrobe is not updated with what is trendy, you sure are depressed. popular and easy-going. you have a little group of dignified friends,all of them being quality-personified. if you are a mouse: always up to some sort of a mischief! the mischievous gleam in your eyes is what makes you so cute and attractive to everyone. you are an extremely fun-to-be-with kind of person. no wonder, people seek for your company and look forward to include you for all gettogethers. however, you are sensitive, which is a drawback. people need to select their words while talking to you. if someone tries to fiddle around and play with words while dealing with you,

it is enough to invite your wrath. god bless the person then! if you are a lion: quite contradictory to your name, you are a peace loving person. you best try to avoid a situation wherein you are required to fight. an outdoor person, you dislike sitting at one place for a long duration. you are a born leader, and have it in you how to tactfully derive work from people. you love being loved, and when you receive your share of limelight from someone, you are all theirs!!!! well, well... hence some people could even take an advantage, flatter you to the maximum and get their work done. so be careful..... if you are a cat: an extremely lovable, adorable person, sometimes shy,with a passion for quick wit. at times, you prefer quietness. you love exploring various things and going into depth of each thing. under normal circumstances you're cool, when given a reason to, you are like a volcano waiting to erupt. you're a fashion bird. people look forward to you as an icon associated with fashion. basically, you mingle along freely but don't like talking much to strangers. people feel very easy in your company. you observe care in choosing your friends. if you are a turtle: you are near to perfect and nice at heart.the examples of your kindness are always circulated in groups of people.you, too, love peace. you wouldn't like to retaliate even to a person who is in the wrong. you are loved due to this. you do not wish to talk behind one's back. people love the way you always treat them. you can give, give and give love, and the best part is that you do not expect it back in return.you are generous enough.seeing things in a practical light is what remains the best trait of you guys. if you are a dove: you symbolize a very happy-go-lucky approach in life.whatever the surroundings may be, grim or cheerful, you remain unaffected.in fact, you spread cheer wherever you go. you are the leader of your group of friends and good at consoling people in their times of need. you dislike hypocrisy and tend to shirk away from hypocrites. they can never be in your good books, no matter what. you are very methodical and organized in your work. no amount of mess, hence, can ever encompass you. beware, it is easy for you to fall in love.... if you are a panther: you are mysterious.. you are someone who can handle pressure with ease, and can handle any atmosphere without going berserk.you can be mean at times, and love to gossip with your selected group.very prim and proper. you like all situations and things to be in the way you desire, which, sometimes is not possible. as a result, you may lose out in some relationships. but otherwise, you love to help people out from difficult and tight spots when they really need you. if you are a monkey: very impatient and hyper!!! you want things to be done as quick as possible. at heart, you are quite simple and love if you are the center of attraction. that way, you people are unique. you would like to keep yourself safe from all the angles. shall your name be dragged or featured in any sort of a controversy, you then go all panicky. therefore, you take your precautions from the very beginning. when you foresee anything wrong, your sixth sense is what saves you from falling in traps. quite a money minded bunch you people are. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

birthstone

s! most gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones. arose from the breastplate of aaron: a ceremonial religious garmentset with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of israel. many found a correspondence with the twelve signs of the zodiac. in later times, the stones became associated with the twelve months of the year and many believed that the stones possessed power when worn or owned. thus, the tradition of giving and wearing birthstones began!

january!

birthstone: garnet

legend has it, that noah hung a large garnet in the ark for illumination! the garnet was believed to protect from nightmares and give guidance at night.the crusaders used them as protection against wounds and accidents during their journeys. today, it is a symbol for guidance and constancy.

february! birthstone: amethyst

the greeks believed that if an amethyst was placed under the tongue while drinking it would prevent intoxication! for many years the amethyst has been a symbol of peace and tranquility! it is also said to be the stone of saint valentine, who wore an amethyst engraved with the figure of his assistant, cupid. saint valentine's day is still observed in february.

march! birthstone: aquamarine

people believed this stone had the ability to aid seafarers. it was also believed that if you dreamed aquamarine it meant you were going tomeet a new friend! aquamarine has also been a symbol for youth and health for many years!

april! birthstone: diamond

the diamond is the hardest of all gems. in ancient times they were believed to be hardened dewdrops or splinters of lightning and stars that fell to the earth. warriors believed if they wore diamonds into battle that the gems would give them strength and courage. in ancient times, only men wore diamonds.the tradition of giving diamond engagement rings came much later. today, the gem is a symbol that reflects

birthstone: emerald

the emeralds magnificent color has been said to rest and relieve the eye. romans dedicated the gem to the goddess venus because it symbolized the reproductive forces of nature. early christians considered the gem a symbol of the resurrection of christ! in present time, the emerald is asymbol for happiness and fertility.

birthstone: pearl

according to indian mythology, a pearl was formed when dew drops during a full moon fell from the heavens into the sea and were captured by shellfish. warriors in india encrusted pearls into the handles of their swords to symbolize the tears a sword can bring. in present time, the pearlis a universal symbol of purity.

birthstone: ruby

the ruby is known as "the lord of the gems"! in the orients it was believed to be the spark of life and was thought to be drops of blood from the heart of mother earth! in other parts of the world, the ruby was perceived as self-luminous and was called glowing stone or lamp stone. during medieval times, many thought the ruby could warn of misfortune or illness to its owner by turning a deeper red. today, it is a symbol for nobility.

august! birthstone: peridot

the peridot is formed by a volcanic action. greeks believed it brought royal dignity upon its wearer and it was also considered a symbol for the sun. ancient legends considered the peridot as a powerful amulet that warded off evil.

birthstone: sapphire

it is a common theory that the ten commandments were written on tablets made of sapphire. in ancient times, the sapphire was believed to hold special powers. many felt the gem gave its owner the ability to foretell the future. it has been a symbol for wisdom ever since!

october! birthstone: opal

throughout history, there are as many different legends about the opal as there are colors in this precious gem. there is an indian legend about the origin of the opal. quoted from "gemstones" by willard heaps: "...the gods brahma, vishnu and shiva once vied in jealous love for a beautiful woman. this angered the eternal, who changed the fair mortal into a creature made of mist. thereupon each of the three gods endowed her with his own colorso as to be able to recognize her. brahma gave her the glorious blue of the heavens, vishnu enriched her with the splendor of gold, and shiva lent her his flaming red. but all this was in vain, since the lovely phantom was whisked away by the winds. finally, the eternal took pity on her and transformed her into a stone,the opal, that sparkles in all the colors of the rainbow." in australia,a legend existed of a huge opal that governs the stars and guides human love, as well as controls the gold in all the mines. the aborigines have an altogether different legend concerning the opal. they believed it to be the devil that lurks in the ground made up of half man and half serpent that lures men to destruction. arabs believed the wearer of an opal had the power of invisibility, hence it became a popular talisman of thieves and spies. the romans considered the gem to be a symbol of love and hope. in the orients, it was called the anchor of hope. the two beliefs of love and hope, above all the others has carried over into today's beliefs.

birthstone: topaz

the name topaz is derived from the sanskrit word meaning "fire". in ancient lore, it was believed that topaz could control heat and cool boiling water, as well as calm excessive anger. during the middle ages, the topaz was used mostly by royalty and clergy. a 13th century belief held that a topaz engraved with a falcon helped its wearer cultivate the goodwill of kings and princes. topaz was once thought to strengthen the mind, prevent mental disorders, and increase wisdom.

december! birthstone: turquoise

turquoise was used in some of the earliest jewelry known to man. pharaohs in egypt have been unearthed wearing turquoise jewelry that dateback to 55oo b.c. native americans in the southwest called turquoise "chal-cui-hui-ta" which means "the highest and most valued thing in the world." they believed the blue represented heaven and the green earth. turquoise was considered by some as a symbol of good fortune and success. it was also believed to bring prosperity to its wearer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------