References & Recommended Reading
Websites and Books for Your Gem Journey:
Vedic Astrology:
Sites:
*Please note: All of these sites also sell services and/or jewelry. I have not purchased from any of them and am not affiliated with any of them. These sites are here for reference purposes.*
India Divine's Vedic Astrology section features articles and a forum.
BirthTime astrology offers birth time rectification and other services, plus calculators to determine how much your horoscope is offset if you know your birth time's margin of error.
This page lists where to get your free Vedic charts and gemstone recommendations done online.
Vedic Chants & Mantras has planetary power mantras.
Sites & Articles about Jyotish Gemstones:
Astrogems has both Vedic gem info, lore and beautiful handmade bangles/armbands/jewelry.
Astrologicalgem.com offers info, articles and Jyotish quality gemstones and jewelry designs.
Planetarygems.com has info on and sells Jyotish gems.
I Was A Vedic Virgin: How I Bought My First Jyotish Gemstones by Natori Moore is an interesting article about the experience of buying Jyotish gemstones.
Gemstone Universe: excellent exploration of Vedic gems by a Vedic astrologer. The first article in the list gives examples of why Vedic gemstone therapy may fail and how important it is to get the right gemstone recommendation.
Vedic Astrology:
Sites:
*Please note: All of these sites also sell services and/or jewelry. I have not purchased from any of them and am not affiliated with any of them. These sites are here for reference purposes.*
India Divine's Vedic Astrology section features articles and a forum.
BirthTime astrology offers birth time rectification and other services, plus calculators to determine how much your horoscope is offset if you know your birth time's margin of error.
This page lists where to get your free Vedic charts and gemstone recommendations done online.
Vedic Chants & Mantras has planetary power mantras.
Sites & Articles about Jyotish Gemstones:
Astrogems has both Vedic gem info, lore and beautiful handmade bangles/armbands/jewelry.
Astrologicalgem.com offers info, articles and Jyotish quality gemstones and jewelry designs.
Planetarygems.com has info on and sells Jyotish gems.
I Was A Vedic Virgin: How I Bought My First Jyotish Gemstones by Natori Moore is an interesting article about the experience of buying Jyotish gemstones.
Gemstone Universe: excellent exploration of Vedic gems by a Vedic astrologer. The first article in the list gives examples of why Vedic gemstone therapy may fail and how important it is to get the right gemstone recommendation.
Books:
AstroAmerica's selection of Vedic gem books with helpful comments. The main Vedic catalog is vast; one gets an idea of just how complex Vedic astrology is by looking through these titles.
AstroAmerica's selection of Vedic gem books with helpful comments. The main Vedic catalog is vast; one gets an idea of just how complex Vedic astrology is by looking through these titles.
The Healing Power of Gemstones: In Tantra, Ayurveda, and Astrology by Harish Johari
Good starting point for exploring gemstones in Vedic astrology; contains the rituals, mantras, and talisman instructions for all the planetary gemstones. Also contains instructions for making gemstone healing pastes/medicines as per the ancient texts. (This book is included for reference purposes only!!! Not responsible for gem elixers gone awry!!! I personally would not ingest anything of this type >_<) |
General (Western) Astrology Links:
The National Council for Geocosmic Research, Inc. has a Planetary Hours tool.
AstroDienst features free Western charts and interpretations. Also has daily horoscopes.
Cafe Astrology is an awesome Western astrology site.
366 Days Astrology Profiles is a fun page with profiles for each birthday.
Stone Lore and Metaphysical Properties:
Take metaphysical lore with a grain of salt; individual stones may vary in their temperaments. A lot of new age books tend to overstate the positives. There are just some rocks out there that don't want to be prodded at by humans (*cough* cursed stones) :)
Take metaphysical lore with a grain of salt; individual stones may vary in their temperaments. A lot of new age books tend to overstate the positives. There are just some rocks out there that don't want to be prodded at by humans (*cough* cursed stones) :)
Books:
Love is in the Earth by Melody
This may be the most well-known of the crystal books out there, covering pretty much every stone. If you have some kind of rare mineral, it's probably in here. |
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall
Comprehensive crystal bible covers metaphysical properties of over 150 stones in full color. Judy Hall has many crystal books out, but The Crystal Bible is the bestseller. |
The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian
Has full color photographs and covers a great amount of stones. Comments on each stone from 2 authors. |
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
A good starter reference book on crystal lore. |
Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Kunz is a classic text on the folklore, superstitions, and symbolism of precious stones. Kunzite is named after George Kunz, highly influential mineralogist and former vice president and gemologist of Tiffany & Co. This book was written in 1913 and is now in the public domain. Free download from Google Books or Archive.org. Also available in print on Amazon.com.
|
Stone Empowerment by Jane Hightower
I personally have not read this book but read much about it. This book covers descriptions, healing, and uses of stones, focusing mainly on healing.
Daoist Mineral Magic by Jerry Alan Johnson
This book covers much of what other gemstone books cover but with Daoist mysticism, Feng Shui and more. The gem descriptions include how to recharge each type of gemstone.
I personally have not read this book but read much about it. This book covers descriptions, healing, and uses of stones, focusing mainly on healing.
Daoist Mineral Magic by Jerry Alan Johnson
This book covers much of what other gemstone books cover but with Daoist mysticism, Feng Shui and more. The gem descriptions include how to recharge each type of gemstone.
Websites:
*Please note: All of these sites also sell jewelry. I have not purchased from any of them and am not affiliated with any of them. These sites are here for reference purposes.*
Crystalsandjewelry.com
I think this may be the most quoted and used site for metaphysical crystal lore online. It's the first of the most comprehensive sites I came across in my crystal research.
Healing Crystals For You
Another comprehensive site; it references the Book of Stones and other popular crystal publications, along with the author's own experiences.
Crystal Cure has an alphabetical list of crystals and crystals grouped by purpose. Handy for quickly looking up crystals for love, wealth and health.
Glimmerdream has a Gem Journeys section with properties, history, and healing info.
Shimmerlings
Very pretty site with neatly organized info on stones and lovely pictures.
Gemisphere has useful healing stone profiles and top quality (& very pricy) gemstone necklaces. I've heard good things about their necklaces.
*Please note: All of these sites also sell jewelry. I have not purchased from any of them and am not affiliated with any of them. These sites are here for reference purposes.*
Crystalsandjewelry.com
I think this may be the most quoted and used site for metaphysical crystal lore online. It's the first of the most comprehensive sites I came across in my crystal research.
Healing Crystals For You
Another comprehensive site; it references the Book of Stones and other popular crystal publications, along with the author's own experiences.
Crystal Cure has an alphabetical list of crystals and crystals grouped by purpose. Handy for quickly looking up crystals for love, wealth and health.
Glimmerdream has a Gem Journeys section with properties, history, and healing info.
Shimmerlings
Very pretty site with neatly organized info on stones and lovely pictures.
Gemisphere has useful healing stone profiles and top quality (& very pricy) gemstone necklaces. I've heard good things about their necklaces.
Also of interest:
Ring Shui: Move Your Rings, Change Your Life - how wearing rings on certain fingers can change your outlook and vibrations.
|
Ellen Steiber's fantasy novel, A Rumor of Gems, is based around gem lore. She has a page of gem properties here.
|
Scientific Reading:
For chemical compositions, geology, new developments in the gem industry, etc.
Mindat.org is the comprehensive resource for gemology, mineralogical data, and more. Includes discussions, dealer news, mineral show info, tons of photos, scientific tidbits and a store.
GemologyOnline has mineralogical data, lore and legend, and a large and helpful forum.
GIA's news and research page: keep up to date on the latest discoveries of GIA researchers.
Barbara Smigel's Free Gemology Course focuses on scientific gemology and has fantastic photos.
Books:
Gem Identification Made Easy: A Hands-on Guide to More Confident Buying and Selling by Antoinette Leonard Matlins
My favorite gem id book; has a useful chart on gem fluorescence. I usually check my gems with a blacklight first. This is all around one of the best starter guides I've come across for gem identification (and unfortunately, there aren't many books like this out). |
luckandfortune.com's sister sites:
[Under Construction]
[Under Construction]