SPINEL

Polished by the Spirits
Jewel of the Crown
Bring in new hope
And healing when down

Spinel is one of the birthstones of August.  It may be a gem that you think that you don't know, but in reality, those "rubies" may be spinels.  This is a gem that has been used for a very long time and was once thought to be ruby.  In 1783, it was discovered that this gem and ruby were actually different minerals.  At that time, spinel was taken from the Latin word for little thorn, spinella.

Spinel is magnesium aluminum oxide with a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8.  The "ruby" form of this gem gets its color from traces of chromium.  Spinel is actually found in a wide range of colors including blue, green, violet, black orange, clear, and of course red.  Deposits of this igneous gem are found in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, Madagascar, and other places as well.

Spinel truly is a stone of royalty.  The rubies in the British crown jewels are actually spinel.  The largest spinel found is in the Iranian crown jewels.  The Burmese consider spinel to be "Polished by the Spirits."

This fiery gem does more than project a sense of wealth and royalty.  It is believed to be a stone of alignment.  It helps to bring every aspect of your being, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual into alignment.  It helps with your energy flow and connection with earth, spirit, and other beings.  These connections promote wholeness, healing, compassion, and mental awareness.

This is a gem of hope, gratitude, and inspiration.  When you face the difficult challenges in life, spinel can act as a catalyst for new ideas and helps develop the confidence to take action for success.  It is believed to be a stone of healing, vitality, and immortality.

Since spinel does come in many colors, the color can be used to focus in on a specific energy of the gem.  Here are some of the attributes of the colors:
BLACK - aids with protection, stamina, and
            those things in the material realm.
BLUE - is calming and aids with
            communication and channeling.
BROWN - is used for grounding and connection
             to the physical body.
GREEN - is for the heart, love, compassion
             and kindness.
ORANGE - enhances creativity and intuition
              and promotes balance.
RED - is for royalty, physical vitality, 
               and strength.
VIOLET - brings spiritual development and
               connects with the crown chakra.
YELLOW - promotes intellect and 
               personal power.
CLEAR - is what you need for mysticism and
               communication with higher realms.

No matter what color you choose, a little bit of hope and positivity benefits everyone.