Pearl – a symbol of purity, higher wisdom and truth

Pearl – a symbol of purity, higher wisdom and truth

White pearls are believed to be ruled by the Moon (both Western and Vedic astrology agree on this), while black pearls are associated with Saturn. They are said to help those seeking higher wisdom and truth. They are believed to absorb negative energies from the person wearing them and help that person see and accept the truth about themselves.

Characteristics:

Hardness: 2.5–4.5 on the Mohs scale.

Types: marine and freshwater

Other names: pearl, margarite

Chemical composition: Marine: aragonite – 80 to 95%, organic substance conchiolin – 10–15%, water – up to 4%; freshwater: aragonite – 10–95%, conchiolin – 5–85% and water – up to 4%.

Colour: white, grey, brown, black, pink, yellow, light blue, red, etc.

Deposits: warm seas; clean, fast-flowing and cold rivers; for marine pearls – the coasts of the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, Mexico, Florida and California, northern Australia, Japan, China and others; for freshwater pearls – Northern Europe, Asia and North America; in Bulgaria – rare finds in the Black Sea.

Today, nearly 90% of the pearls sold on the world market are cultured on farms. Japan is a leader in the production of cultured marine pearls, while China is a leader in freshwater pearls.

The practice of artificially placing irritants inside molluscs was used in China as early as the 13th century. A small piece of mother-of-pearl was placed beneath the shell, after which the molluscs were arranged in woven baskets and lowered into the sea, suspended from special rafts. Three or four years later, the “harvest” was collected. Even in those times, pearl growers inserted miniature wax images of the Buddha into the molluscs; once coated with nacre, they were sold to temples.

Three small varieties of molluscs from the genus Pinctada are used for pearl production, named after the colour along the edge of the mantle – “silver-lipped”, “gold-lipped” and “black-lipped”. The first produces white pearls, the second pink and yellowish pearls, and the third black pearls. The mollusc Strombus gigas in the warm waters of the Gulf of California produces large, beautiful pink pearls with flame-like patterns on the surface. Pearls are among the most expensive organic gem materials. They contain about 2% water and should not be stored in very warm places, because they may dry out and develop hairline cracks on the surface. In addition, after about a century and a half they may deteriorate and darken.

Description. Pearls, like amber and jet, are not minerals but hardened organic matter. Yet for thousands of years they have been highly valued and used for various magical purposes. They form inside mussels and other molluscs when a grain of sand or another irritant gets beneath the shell; to reduce the irritation, the animal automatically begins secreting special substances.

History and legends:

The word “pearl” is said to come from the Latin pilula, meaning “little ball”. Pearls have been known in the East since ancient times and were highly prized by the old Mediterranean civilisations. The Romans dedicated them to the goddess Isis and wore them to attract her attention and favour. Divers used them for protection against sharks.

The metaphor “golden garments” appears in many ancient manuscripts, but it does not mean clothing woven from gold threads. It actually refers to fabric made from organic material produced by certain molluscs. Pearl mussels attach themselves to underwater rocks by a bundle of copper-golden threads. In ancient times people collected these threads and wove the famous “golden garments” from them.

Many legends tell of the origin of pearls. One, recorded by Pliny, says they formed from drops of dew that fell into the open shells of molluscs while they were reproducing. This idea came from the East, where people said that at the full moon the molluscs captured drops of heavenly dew that had fallen from the Moon; the drops then hardened and became pearls. This may also be the origin of the legend that pearls glow at night. People in Pliny’s time also believed that lightning stopped pearls from growing and that thunder caused the molluscs to “miscarry”. The ancient Arabs had the same legend but added that the molluscs rose to the surface only in April to catch the dew.

In China, people believed that pearls were drops of dragon saliva that fell during the rain the dragons produced in the heavens. For this reason, many Chinese regarded pearls as talismans against fire. They were also believed to keep their owner pure and unblemished.

In Ancient India people knew that pearl molluscs produced pearls, but at the same time believed that pearls could sometimes be found in the stomach, head or brain of elephants. Pearls were regarded as powerful talismans against all kinds of danger and were associated with the Moon. Some traditional Indian love elixirs contained finely ground pearl powder.

In Scandinavian lands there is also a tale connecting pearls with the god Balder. When he was killed by an arrow of mistletoe during a contest, his mother, the goddess Frigg, wept. Her tears turned to stone and became pearls.

During the Middle Ages, powdered pearls were added to antidote potions. Such a remedy was even given to the French king Charles VI in futile attempts to restore his sanity. Physicians of the time believed that pearls could treat haemorrhoids, coughing or vomiting blood, heavy menstruation and heart disease, and also drive “evil spirits” from the mind. An ointment made from burnt pearl and coral was applied to the bodies of people with leprosy.

Fortunately, finely ground pearl powder later replaced face powders containing arsenic, which French and English ladies had applied generously to their faces; pearl powder was believed to improve the texture and radiance of the skin. Some cosmetics companies still add pearl powder to face powders and creams today.

Pearls are associated with the zodiac signs Cancer, Gemini and Pisces.

Whoever dreams of them is said to have many faithful friends.

Healing properties: They are believed to balance and heal all chakras and to help with stomach pain, colds, bronchitis and lung infections.

Qualities: White pearls are believed to be ruled by the Moon (both Western and Vedic traditions agree), while black pearls are associated with Saturn. They are said to help those seeking higher wisdom and truth. They absorb negative energies from the wearer and help that person see and accept the truth about themselves.

Pearl is said to bring clarity when meditating on a difficult person or situation. But you may also see the truth about yourself and your own actions in relation to the same problem, so be prepared to face it and accept it. When it comes to taking responsibility, Saturn is said never to leave you alone. You may think you have escaped a problem, but time passes and suddenly you find yourself in a similar situation. This time you may not be allowed to hide from the truth and may receive a stronger reminder so that you do not forget the lesson. It is therefore considered best to deal with an unpleasant situation the first time it appears.

• It is believed to soothe and heal negativity and conflict in our lives.
• It surrounds negative energy with light, disperses negativity and heals negative thoughts and thought-forms.
• It is said to remove attachments and psychic attacks from the aura, facilitate the release of negative karmic patterns and fill the aura with healing light.
• It soothes and calms the emotions and is believed to heal the negative inner voice and sub-personalities.

Pearls should be worn close to the skin and kept away from perfumes and make-up. When not worn, they should not be left in the dark. After use, they are traditionally placed overnight in water with sea salt and kept during the day in a seashell. It should be remembered that the lifespan of a pearl is often compared to a human lifetime, although archaeological discoveries have found pearls more than 400–500 years old in good condition. If stored improperly, pearls may deteriorate much earlier. This process is expressed in loss of lustre, darkening and damage to the integrity of the shape. Pearls contain about 2% water and therefore should not be kept in very warm places, so that they do not dry out and crack.

Our special creations made with Pearls