RUBY

Royal stone
Speak truth to power
Courage, faith,
​And passion empower

Ruby is the gemstone that is most often recognized as the birthstone for July.  It is a red corundum, an aluminum oxide, with a Mohs hardness of 9 and a hexagonal crystal structure.  It is the same class of stone as sapphire.  The red color of ruby is from traces of chromium.  Ruby is one of the four precious stones, along with diamond, emerald, and sapphire.  Some of the best sources for this gem are Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Brazil, and the US.

Natural ruby is a rare stone of incredible beauty.  Our ancient ancestors saw this gem as the highest value of the precious gems.  It was the stone of royalty and wealth.  Ruby symbolizes abundance and prosperity, love and passion, power and courage.  In some cultures, only royalty owned ruby.  In Burma, ruby was inserted into the arm of soldiers for protection.  This stone shines so brightly in the red, that the ancients believed that it emitted its own light.

If you are sensitive to the energies in the stones, this is a strong one.  Some sources indicate that ruby brings fire to the base chakra, increasing the flow of chi through the whole body.  Other sources indicate that it acts onthe heart chakra.  In all casesm this gem has the energy of passion ans sensuality.  It brings the energy of abundance and prosperity.  If you need courage and to connect to your power, this may be the stone for you.  It is thought to protect the person who carries it, both psychically and physically.   Some believe that ruby helps with concentration, motivation, and self confidence.  And, of course, it is a stone of love and fidelity. 

So, if you need to speak truth to power, or just more energy and motivation in your life, ruby might be the stone for you.

Just another note on ruby.  This stone of fire has lab grown variations now.  This brings the expense down for some of the gems, but it is important to be sure of what you are getting.  I don't normally carry ruby because of the expense.  I encourage you to do your research and work with a reputable source.  If you would like ruby in your life, find one that speaks to you and enjoy.