There is a tipping point around mid-August (in the Northern hemisphere north of the tropics) where the air starts releasing a dew-like moisture carrying the scent of the earth and beaches. The time of humid earth evokes the qualities of Virgo, a time to check the health of home, garden and self, to start organising for the Autumn. Harvests are well underway and the orchards are starting to heave with fruit. The animals know it. They are gathering as much food as possible.
In the Zoroastrian wheel of the year we’re in the month of Sherevar or Khshatra Vairya, the Amesha Spenta (cardinal principle–guiding spirit) of Desireable or Chosen Dominion and keeper of minerals, metals and resources. Sherevar has an energy that gives the impulse to learn and hone practical skills, craft and making. Like Virgo energy it is productive, but needs discipline and practice. The time of humid earth also brings to mind the goddess Dvaraspa, translated as, ‘she who looks from afar’. This is the primal spirit of a mare also closely associated with the Moon. She is protective, but not in that rescuing–let me do this for you–way, but that kind of way where you learn from trying things out by yourself, making mistakes and learning from your actions. Subtly similar to the Romano-British goddess Epona.
All of these qualities I find in the gemstone peridot, the modern birthstone for August, and one found in many ancient cultures too, not least the High Priest Aaron’s breastplate as described in the Hebrew Bible (called chrysolite) and mistaken for, or loved as much as, emeralds by the cultures of Classical northern Africa and Iron Age and Roman Mediterranean. Peridot’s golden-yellowish green is the perfect stone to represent this time of year. When found as an orthorhombic crystal it has a priestly presence. Some specimens have arrived as heavenly visitors on meteorites. Its high birefringence is eye-visible under 10x loupe which gives beautifully-cut stones a mesmerising quality. While not the most adored of gemstones popularly, peridot’s understated but powerful beauty is beginning to be better appreciated and marketed such as by Fuli Gemstones.
Peridot is a cuddle of a gemstone, waiting to befriend you. Here is my homage to peridot this August.
