Properties of pearls
For a pearl to begin to develop, a small grain of sand or other object must penetrate the shell. This will be the core of the future pearl. Over time, aragonite, which contains calcium carbonate, begins to be deposited on the surface of the foreign body.
In interaction with the protein produced by the mollusk, the pearl begins to look like a layer cake. Over the course of many years, the layers are layered on top of each other to form peas of varying sizes. It takes pearls about twelve years to become at least the size of a pea.
Origin of pearls
Previously, it was difficult for people to understand where pearls come from in a mollusk; human imagination was able to create many legends.
In India, one of the poets said that these are raindrops. They are caught by shells and subsequently grow into pearls. A similar explanation existed in early Christianity.
Arab scientists put forward their own version of the origin of pearls, claiming that they are born in the forehead of special elephants. In the Philippines, older people say that previously they could easily collect them with their hands where the sea allows them to walk far on foot. Wars over pearls led to them being hidden in the depths of mollusk shells.
Only over time were scientists able to unravel the mystery of pearls and give a logical explanation for their appearance in our world; moreover, humanity learned to grow them on their own.
When were pearls born?
Our ancestors knew about pearls and their special properties in BC. Ancient legends contain references to stones that adorned Indian leaders. Ancient manuscripts contain stories about precious pearls. In the Middle East, near the Indian Sea in South America and Northern Russia, they decorated weapons, armor, clothing and headdresses.
River and sea pearls
Sea pearls have regular, geometrically perfect shapes. River stones have a slightly uneven surface and, like sea stones, a rich color palette.
In Russian rivers you can find mineral formations of almost any shade. In addition, freshwater minerals are mined in Germany, China and the USA.
The largest is the “Pearl of Allah”. It is oblong, weighs 6.5 kg and was found in a mollusk weighing 300 kg.
Natural mining sites
Pearls were also mined on the territory of Russia; in the Black Sea basin there were enough pearls to be used in jewelry. A wide variety of pearls are presented in museums and temples, where you can look at clothes, weapons and other things decorated with them. Today this deposit has been completely depleted; we can only hope for the restoration of old reserves.
Most of the deposits have long been depleted, the reason for this was active mining and the long period of birth of the pearl. Places where you can still catch pearls are protected in order to leave at least something for other generations.
How and where are pearls mined?
Even shells caught in protected areas are first examined by x-ray. If the mollusk is empty, it is released back into the sea, as is the case if there are still very small pearls inside.
Pearls can be not only sea, but also freshwater. The color, shape, and, accordingly, the cost will depend on the water and the place where it grows. Pearl fishing is very common on Mississippi, but the fishing is carried out in an organized manner, without harm to nature. Most European rivers also contain pearl shells.
Oldest mining sites
One of the oldest pearling sites is the Gulf of Manara. The largest market for the sale of this mother of pearl is organized here.
During the reign of the Macedonian, mining began in the Persian Gulf. The pearls mined there are known all over the world, as are those that come to us from the Bahrain Islands.
Rich deposits of shells are located near New Guinea and Borneo. But the most famous pearl, which was presented as a gift to the Spanish King Philip 2, was found in the Caribbean Sea.
Meleagrin oysters produce the most expensive pearls. Banks for their cultivation have been organized around Japan, Madagascar, Australia and other countries.
The most famous legends
Humanity has always created incredible legends when it did not know how to explain certain phenomena in everyday life. Before technological progress was developed, human assumptions became the only correct explanation.
In the East they thought that pearls were born from moonlight, which, falling into the sea, solidified there in the form of small drops.
In Rus', the cause of pearls was lightning. She hit the shell of a mollusk, hence the pearls were formed.
There are legends not only about sea pearls, but also about river pearls. For a long time, it was believed that the fishing grounds were only in those rivers where sturgeon, that is, the king’s fish, lived. The pearl developed in his gills while he swam in the sea, and then arrived with him in fresh water.
According to Greek legend, pearls are nothing more than the tears of nymphs living in water.
The magical influence of belemnite
Every esotericist will tell you what the devil’s finger is and what magical properties it has. In ancient times, people always brought home a belemnite shell found on the river bank, as they firmly believed that it would protect their home from lightning strikes, floods, fires and other misfortunes. Many were convinced that as long as the devil’s finger stone was in the living room, evil spirits would not be able to penetrate it. To protect the house from harm, our ancestors hung rostras of shellfish in the attic.
According to modern magicians, the rostrum of belemnite is able to protect a person from negative energy and give him vitality. People who choose jewelry made of devil's stones as an amulet gain self-confidence, calmness and prudence. Belemnites help maintain peace in the family, have a beneficial effect on careers, and help in achieving life goals.
Astrologers advise representatives of all zodiac signs to choose Perun’s arrows as an amulet. Such a talisman will help a person find peace of mind and improve health, and will attract happiness and good luck into his life. But adherents of the ancient Slavic horoscope are sure that the devil's fingers most of all patronize people born in August. At the same time, some modern esotericists advise those who were born during the period of thunderstorms, that is, from May to September, to purchase jewelry with belemnite. For such people, the stone will serve as the best amulet.
Pearl processing
After the pearls are removed from the bottom of the sea or river, they are cleaned from the body of the mollusk. It does not require any further processing, only a hole is drilled for further use in decoration.
Recently, jewelers have learned to tint pearls so that they fit perfectly into products with other stones, but such coloring is not natural. Even by their nature, pearls can have white, pink and black tints; such natural mother of pearl is especially valuable, but depending on where it was mined.
What is made from pearls
Due to the huge variety of shapes and colors, pearls are used in jewelry, boxes and other products. This jewelry material has many possibilities for use, but it is used only in whole form, and not in crumbs.
Speaking specifically about jewelry, pearls look amazing in necklaces, beads, earrings and rings. Depending on the shape of the pearl, the master decides where it will fit best. There is a type of pearl that is never perfectly round; on the contrary, it has such bizarre shapes that you can’t always guess what you’re dealing with.
Such pearls are used in necklaces and earrings, but perfectly round pearls make beautiful beads.
Zodiac signs and pearls
Astrologers are actively studying how compatible the stone is with different zodiac signs. They have already managed to find out quite a lot - and this is what pearl jewelry brings to the representatives of the horoscope.
Cancers will find calm, balance and normalize blood pressure. Cancer women will no longer be afraid to express feelings, appear funny and inappropriate, but will become more sensual and seductive in love affairs.
Taurus will be able to overcome depression and understand that loved ones are not to blame for their troubles and problems. Aggression towards friends and acquaintances will go away, and with it the “black streak” will end.
Libra will calm down their vanity and pride, which will help them gain the favor of people. For women, the stone promises a successful marriage, happiness in the family and warmth at home.
Sagittarius - it will help them achieve a balance of energy and strength.
Aquarians will learn how to properly resolve conflict situations and create strong relationships with others. But he, on the contrary, will leave envious people aside: Aquarians more often than other signs become victims of revenge and gossip. The stone will direct them towards strong friendship and family values, pacify the eternal storm and restore balance in the soul. He will add tenderness and trepidation to the lives of Aquarius women.
Like any other water sign, Pisces are under the protection of pearls. It helps them intuitively choose the right path, protects them from the torment of love and reveals their potential - both intellectual and creative.
Scorpios, like Sagittarius , are categorically contraindicated for light-colored stones, but black pearls can qualitatively improve their lives: they will help them find true love, fill their lives with energy, and will consistently bring gifts of fate.
Capricorns will gain the ability to soberly assess any situation, achieve balance and tranquility. It is better to choose sea pearls, which will help overcome stubbornness and protect you from wrong decisions.
The mineral is able to calm down the haste and fussiness of Gemini , and also become a powerful shield for them from avengers and envious people. Well, Gemini women will be able to quickly decide on a profession.
Noble and exquisite pearls are favorable to strong and strong-willed people - to those who are firm in their position in life and clearly set goals for themselves. On the contrary, the stone can drag those who are indecisive and weak-willed into a bottomless abyss of anxiety and sadness. Black pearls are especially insidious in this case, but they help people who are suffering and weakened without love to find a worthy life partner and truly love.
Medicinal properties
Pearls are credited with many medicinal properties, including helping to cope with a hypertensive crisis. You cannot do without it if a person has a problem with the kidneys or liver, or poor intestinal function.
The stone has a beneficial effect on the nervous system; lithotherapists use pearls to identify tumors in the human body, since it is capable of reacting sharply to acid imbalance.
The healing properties of the stone were described long before we were born. Until the 18th century, pharmacies sold ground pearl powder, which was taken as medicine. People thought that it had great healing powers and was a panacea for all health problems, but over time such a bold statement was refuted.
In Chinese medicine, pearls were considered the feminine principle, so they are good for infertility and restore the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
In addition to all that has been said, pearls are associated with the ability to treat eye diseases.
Using the devil's finger for medical purposes
The healing properties of ancient mollusk shells are explained by the presence in their composition of a high concentration of aragonite, a mineral characterized by a pronounced antibacterial and wound-healing effect. In medicine in many countries, belemnites are used as a universal remedy to improve immunity and get rid of a number of diseases. Particular interest in the fossil has arisen in China, where it is used to combat ailments that do not respond to traditional therapy.
Traditional healers recommend using a drug obtained from belemnite rostra as a remedy. To prepare it, it is recommended to pour 0.5 g of shell powder into 100 ml of distilled water. The resulting liquid should be placed in a glass container and, tightly closing the lid, shake vigorously for 1 minute. Immediately after this, the solution should be drunk along with the sediment. The procedure should be carried out every morning on an empty stomach for several months.
According to traditional healers, a suspension prepared on the basis of belemnite-Devil's finger has a general strengthening effect on the body and helps prevent the development of osteoporosis. A solution of shell powder is also recommended to be taken orally for the following conditions:
- tuberculosis;
- gastritis;
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- poisoning;
- cold.
External treatment with the devil's finger is carried out for psoriasis, weeping eczema, furunculosis, thermal skin lesions, trophic ulcers, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and bone fractures. To get rid of these ailments, representatives of alternative medicine recommend that the patient take baths with the addition of powdered shells. Washing with belemnite water has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the skin. Such procedures restore radiance and elasticity to the skin, relieve pimples, acne, seborrhea, dermatitis and dermatoses. Belemnite powder also helps with warts: if you regularly sprinkle it on new growths on the body, after a short time they will disappear without a trace.
The healing properties of belemnites do not end there. Baltic healers use shell powder to neutralize the venom of deadly snakes. To save a person, they sprinkle powder on the bite site, after which they begin to read special prayers.
The powder obtained from the shell of a mollusk that lived during the time of dinosaurs has also found its use in veterinary medicine. Farmers add it to water and livestock feed. Thanks to this, animals become healthier, stronger and more resilient.
The magical properties of pearls
Like any stone, pearls are endowed with special magical abilities. They say that even Cleopatra not only wore jewelry, but also drank a solution of pearls and pomegranate juice every day. People. Those who are looking for the secret of eternal youth claim that it was this procedure that helped the queen stay young for a long time and maintain an attractive appearance.
To strengthen the love of a beloved in the Middle Ages, it was considered correct to present her with a string of pearls, which is guaranteed to give the chosen one fidelity. Girls never wore pearl jewelry that was inherited. It was believed that in this case the stone would give its owner not prosperity, but misfortune.
As soon as the pearls darken, this is the first sign that a person has health problems. Indeed, it actively reacts with enzymes secreted by the skin, which causes it to fade.
Can pearls heal?
It has been proven that gems are not only beautiful, but also useful - they have a lot of medicinal properties:
- disease warning;
- protection of the nervous system;
- protection of internal organs;
- treatment of eye diseases;
- preparation of healing powders and tinctures;
- good and understanding relationships with people around you;
- getting rid of vanity and pride;
- reducing the risk of losses;
- the ability to see benefits and benefit from a business.
If the stone has become tarnished, this is a dangerous signal: either its owner is seriously ill, or his mind is being corroded by sinful thoughts. You should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a medical examination.
The mineral has a beneficial effect on memory, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system and strengthens the psyche. With its help, stress, irritability and anxiety disappear.
Thanks to pearls, the liver and kidneys function better, and blood pressure returns to normal. The heart rhythm is restored, pain in the heart decreases.
Pearls are used to treat various infections and eye pathologies.
It is believed that these products effectively stop the blood and cleanse the body, ridding it of toxins.
- improvement of human qualities
The mineral is incredibly sensitive to the energy of its owner. If it ends up in the hands of a bad person, it will change his character for the better.
In Tibet, since ancient times, they have believed that when you hold a stone in your mouth, the blood is purified and the pain in the heart goes away. This mineral is simply irreplaceable for people suffering from heart disease.
