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