Here’s March!

Remember last Saturday, March 1st? That first day of March came in like a lamb. We’ll have to wait until the 31st to see if this month goes out like a lion.

Is there any truth to that old saying? It’s actually more of a rhyme than a true weather prediction. With March being such a changeable month where we can see warm spring-like temperatures or late-season snowstorms, one can understand how this saying might hold true in some instances.

Other March lore goes like this: A dry March and a wet May: fill barns and bays with corn and hay. As it rains in March, so it rains in June (I want to keep up with that to see if it’s true). March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.

The traditional birthstone for the month of March, and also this reporter’s birthstone, is aquamarine. I never realized that the name of this stone has a double reference to blue: aqua (water) and marine (sea). Because of its lovely blue color, aquamarine is most often associated with the sea.

With its clear blue hue, this stone is especially suited for the blue skies of spring. It shimmers and shines with the magic of the ocean. No wonder I love to go to the beach just to watch the waves – I was born in March!

Ancient Greeks believed that aquamarine could protect sailors from disasters at sea. There is much evidence that through the ages, sailors of many cultures and time periods wore aquamarine or slept with it under their pillow.

The Greeks weren’t the only culture to prize aquamarine for their sailors. In Thailand, it was believed that wearing the stone could not only keep seasickness away but could save you from drowning.

Ancient doctors believed that a tonic created by dropping a piece of aquamarine into a cup of water could reverse the ill effects of poison. Since earliest times, the stone was thought to soothe anxiety when worn. I wear my ring occasionally but think I’ll wear it more often since discovering this!

In New Age traditions, aquamarine symbolizes security and safety, which makes it a popular gift for loved ones. It is supposed to be soothing to sensitive folks and promote non-judgmental interactions and peace. Aquamarine also symbolizes loyalty, honesty and beauty.

Actually, March has a second birthstone, the bloodstone. This stone is green and spotted with red or yellow dots and veins and is often carved into pendants or shaped into beads for necklaces and bracelets.

In the United States, aquamarine deposits are found in our eastern states of Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and North Carolina as well as the western state of Colorado. It is Colorado’s state gem. Aquamarine is also mined in India, Russia, Nigeria and Pakistan, but the best gems are said to come from Brazil.

Aquamarine is the most flawless of all crystals and has excellent transparency and clarity. It is so flawless that when eyeglasses were first made slivers of aquamarine were used to correct near-sighted vision.

This stone is quite durable and scratch resistant, making it well suited for rings and bracelets.

We’ll all keep an eye on this March weather but it’s nice to know that the aquamarine birthstone for this month is a soothing stone. We’ll just keep hoping for a soothing March!