February - the traditional birthstone is the Amethyst
Amethyst is a member of the quartz family. It consists of a trigonal system and has a hardness of 7. The element for amethyst is wind. Its color can vary from pale to deep purple and is derived from the combination of trace amounts of iron and aluminum. Amethyst crystals are found in numerous locations throughout the world, including Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Africa, Canada, Russia, the United States and Europe.
People have prized its beauty and metaphysical properties for thousands of years. It was known to be used twenty-nine thousand years ago and ancient Egyptians made it into beads and amulets.
Early societies viewed the amethyst as a stone of royalty; it was often used in crowns, scepters and the rings of bishops. In fact, it is listed as the ninth stone in the breastplate of the high priest of Israel.
Ancient Greeks believed that amethyst would prevent intoxication. It is now also considered a stone of spiritual protection and purification. Additionally, amethyst is used as an enhancement of one's physical environment. Because of the rich purple color, amethyst crystals are often placed in the wealth or prosperity corner of their homes or offices.
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