| Since the beginning of recorded history, | | | | how the powerful beliefs in gems have |
| precious stones and gems have been held | | | | proliferated over the ages. A person in |
| in great regard. Ancient peoples have | | | | possession of a ruby may have an |
| been putting jewels on monuments, | | | | experience that cannot be explained |
| jewelry, caskets, and many other places. | | | | through reason and logic. In the absence |
| Today, as in ancient times, people have | | | | of a logical explanation, the person may |
| been putting more than just monetary | | | | very well be apt to assign some power to |
| value on gemstones. | | | | the stone. |
| The magi, the wise men, the seers, and | | | | If the supernatural powers of certain |
| the astrologers of the ages have found | | | | gems or anything for that matter cannot |
| importance in gemstones besides personal | | | | be fathomed by people, than how is it |
| adornment. It was thought that all the | | | | that people can believe in the |
| evil in the world could be kept at bay | | | | supernatural power of a god. |
| by wearing certain gemstones. | | | | Paracelsus was a bright and talented |
| In medieval times, the influence of gems | | | | thinker during the sixteenth century AD. |
| and stones continued. It was not until | | | | Paracelsus was thought to possess |
| the Renaissance period that an effort | | | | extraordinary mental powers and believed |
| was made to find reason for these | | | | he had mystic powers over supernatural |
| traditional beliefs. In earlier times, | | | | agencies. |
| there was little doubt that beliefs | | | | He was the owner of a talismanic jewel, |
| existed, and were taken granted. It was | | | | which Paracelsus claimed was the |
| not until later that people attempted | | | | dwelling of a spirit named Azoth. Old |
| find plausible explanations as to how | | | | portraits of the philosopher have been |
| these gems were given their strange and | | | | found with him wearing the jewel. Few |
| mystic powers, and how they affected the | | | | people thought that Paracelsus believed |
| health, character, or fortunes of the | | | | that his jewel was home to a spirit, but |
| gems owner. | | | | rather that he sported the paraphernalia |
| When the existence of a miracle is | | | | in order to gain influence over |
| noted, there will always be a tendency | | | | nonbelievers. |
| for people to regard every strange and | | | | It was once thought that long |
| mystifying happening as a miracle. A | | | | concentration of vision on an object |
| miracle is often described as something | | | | tended to produce a partial paralysis of |
| that happens outside of, or in spite of | | | | certain functions of the brain. The |
| the laws of nature. The combination of | | | | effect was noted in a bird gazing into |
| visual impression and imagination are | | | | the eyes of a hungry serpent, or the |
| powerful forces. An adult entering a | | | | obedience of a lion when made to look |
| dimly lit room may see pile of laundry | | | | into the eyes of an intent trainer. |
| not think much of it. A young child | | | | Staring without interruption on a glass |
| entering the same room may imagine that | | | | ball, opal or moonstone was thought to |
| the indistinct outline is that of a | | | | cause the gazer to become partially |
| monster. | | | | hypnotized or even fall into a profound |
| Miracles are often investigated, and | | | | sleep. Whether these phenomenons are the |
| there is usually a way to explain the | | | | imaginative workings of the brain, semi |
| event scientifically. Even with the | | | | trance, or hypnotism, it is believed to |
| marvelous secrets that have been | | | | give insight to the future. |
| revealed to us by science, we may be | | | | The hypnotic effect of these stones may |
| foolish to think that not all of the old | | | | be from some gleam or point of light in |
| beliefs of gems powers are without some | | | | the stone, fixing the beholders gaze. In |
| basis in fact. If you think of all of | | | | the early part of the 1800s, extensive |
| the new ways that information is | | | | tests were designed to test the effects |
| transmitted, none is more powerful than | | | | produced upon a sensitive subject by the |
| word of mouth. Ever since humans have | | | | touch of the precious stones and |
| used language as means of communication, | | | | minerals. Test subjects claimed to feel |
| words have held great power. So powerful | | | | certain effects from certain stones. |
| is language that entire civilizations | | | | With precious stones as hypnotizing |
| have been influenced by the words of a | | | | agents, the mental impression is widely |
| few. | | | | different, for here the physical |
| Even in the face of science and reason, | | | | impression is heightened by the |
| closely held beliefs have been | | | | consciousness of the value and rarity of |
| reinforced by tales of enchantment and | | | | the material. |
| magical influence. If the subconscious | | | | This help may help to explain the |
| of one individual can affect the | | | | fascination that a fine set of jewels |
| thoughts and feelings of another over a | | | | has on the mind of a woman, who sees the |
| great distance without mechanical means, | | | | glory and radiance upon another womans |
| could this be due to some yet to be | | | | neck or wrist. This is not only due to |
| discovered power? Should we be | | | | the beauty of the spectacle, but is also |
| dismissive of a magician and his spells, | | | | owed to the consciousness that they are |
| or the predictions or a seer? | | | | rare and valuable objects, and perhaps |
| The theory of autosuggestion may explain | | | | eloquent witnesses of the power of love. |