PLANETS AND GEMSTONES
It is a long standing tradition amongst traditional astrologers and magicians to associate a number of gemstones with the appropriate planets.
Certain gemstones were, for example, used for talismanic magic whereby the influence of the planet associated with that particular stone was of great importance.
One of the earliest sources of such associations between planets and gemstones is the book Picatrix, written about 1000 A.D.
In recent years the focus has been shifting towards the association of gemstones with the 12 signs of the zodiac. From a traditional astrologer’s point of view this approach does not make a lot of sense. What we are interested in is the particular Essence which is similar in gemstone and planet and this has nothing to do with the signs of the zodiac at all.
In his ‘Dictionary of Astrology’, Fred Gettings writes under the entry ‘Birth Stones’:” […] A similar series of (varied) associations to those above [association with zodiac signs], though between the planets and the range of magical stones, is too varied to be recorded here.”
This is only one example of a range of sources which do not give any details about the correlation between planets and gemstones.
I have tried to collect information about these correspondences from various important astrological and magical books, written between about 1000 A. D. and the 17th century.
Planet |
Picatrix |
Al -Biruni |
Ibn-Ezra |
Lilly |
Agrippa |
Ramesey |
Saturn |
Onyx, black stones, Magnet |
Hard stones |
Black stones, Magnet stone |
Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli |
Golden Marcasite, Onyx, Camonius, Ziazaa 4), Sapphire, Brown Jasper, Chalcedon, Loadstone, |
Lapis Lazuli, Loadstone, unpolished black stones |
Jupiter |
Chrysolite, yellow and white Corundum |
Marcasite, Diamond |
Sapphire, Onyx, Crystal, any white and brilliant stone |
Amethyst, Sapphire, Emerald, Hyacinth, Topaz, |
Hyacinth, Beryl, Sapphire, Emerald, Green Jasper |
Topaz, Amethyst, Marble, Emerald, Crystal, Sapphire, Hyacinth, Bezoar 5), Freestone |
Mars |
Carneol, dark red stones |
|
Every red stone |
Loadstone, Bloodstone, Jasper, Amethyst (many coloured), |
Diamond, Loadstone, Bloodstone, Jasper, Amethyst |
Bloodstone, Loadstone, Jasper, Amethyst |
Sun |
Ruby, Agate, golden Marcasite, Hematite |
Lapis Lazuli |
Marcasite, any sparkling stone |
Hyacinth, Chrysolite, Adamant 1), Ruby |
Aetites 3), Carbuncle 2), Chrysolite, Iris, Heliotrop, Pyrophylas, Topaz, Chrysoprase, Ruby, Balagius |
Carbuncle 2), Chrysolite, Iris, Heliotropion, Hyazint, Topaz, Ruby, Diamond |
Venus |
Pearls |
Pearls, Emerald |
|
Cornelian, Sapphire (sky-coloured), Coral (red & white), Margalite, Alabaster, Lapis Lazuli, Beryl, Chrysolite |
Beryl, Chrysolite, Emerald, Sapphire, Green Jasper, Corneola, Aetites 3), Lazull stone, Coral |
Beryl, Chrysolite, Emerald, Sapphire, Green Jasper, Carneol, Aetites 3), Lazul, Coral |
Mercury |
Chrysolite |
Amber, all yellow and green stones, Turquoise, Coral |
|
Marcasite, Agates, Topaz, |
Silver Marcasite, Emerald, Agates, Topaz |
Emerald, Agate, Red Marble, Topaz, Marcasite |
Moon |
Pearls (small) |
Emerald, Moonstone, Pearls, Crystals |
Crystal, Onyx |
Selenite, Crystals |
Crystal, Silver Marcasite, Selenite, Pearls, Beryl, |
Marcasite, Crystal, Senenite (sic) |
1) See Norse Mythology where Loki is bound by adamantine chains.
2) Another name for Red Garnet
3) Another name for Bezoar (see 5)
4) A fabled black and white stone
5) A red precious stone with magical properties, found in the bodies of certain animals
Sources:
“Picatrix” Das Ziel der Weisen von Pseudo-Magriti, (around 1000 A.D.) London 1962
Al Biruni: The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology, 1029
Ibn Ezra: The Beginning of Wisdom, 1148
Lilly, William: Christian Astrology, 1649
Agrippa von Nettesheim: The Book of Occult Philosophy, 1651
Ramesey, William: Astrologia Restaurata, 1653
|
