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February was named for the Roman god Februus, it is the shortest month (even in a leap year); it contains the celebration of St Valentine (14 February). It is month when birds start to pair off and you frequently see them together winging through the skies. Lovers celebrate and spring flowers begin to brighten up the end of winter.
We are now in the Chinese Year of the Dog, which traditionally follows the character of dogs; loyalty and respect will be more in evidence from leaders, with a more easy-going style, but a tendency to be selfish and detached from reality.
February moves from Aquarius to Pisces; air to water and these are the last two signs of the Zodiac year. The gems for February are Amethyst and rainbow Fluorite, both mainly purple stones (there are also green versions of them).
Amethyst legend states that it was a clear crystal until Bacchus / Dionysus poured wine over it as penance and made it purple; it is reputed to protect against drunkeness. Amethyst once heated (naturally or artificially) turns into citrine, cairngorms and other yellow quartz. Ametrine is a combination of amethyst and citrine with flashes of gold deep in the purple (or vice versa). Amethyst colours range from lightest clear pink thru deep purple. There is also a variety of green amethyst which is green tinged with mauve and lilacs.
It is considered sacred to Buddha and in Christians consider it represents fidelity and loyalty. Beads of amethyst have been found in early Anglo-saxon graves and it was highly prized in ancient Egypt.
Fluorite, used as a flux in steelmaking, gets its name from its ability to fluoresce in utra-violet light is a relatively new gem – and comes in every colour. Rainbow fluorite is the most popular, with predominantly purple, clear and green colour mixes, there are also single colour Fluorites - green, purple, red and blue.
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