Daily Horoscope:

A gust of courage sweeps you along. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your beliefs and learning. Nervous Aries energy crackles like a live wire channel this restlessness into creative bursts rather than erratic sparks. Lunar Influence: Molten honey your usual speed slows to savor lifes golden sweetness.A steady hand shapes your path. Your generosity risks becoming self-abandonment overflowing cups must first be filled. Practice sacred selfishness. This especially affects your daily routines. Love's shadows reveal hidden contracts whose ancient wounds are you still trying to heal through others? This especially affects your daily routines. Lunar Influence: An ancient oak roots deep, you stand unshaken by passing storms.Sharp insights light your way. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your relationships. Communication breakdowns spark like faulty wiring sometimes the message isn't in the words but in the silences between. This especially affects your relationships. Lunar Influence: A butterfly on a stone your restless mind meets unwavering calm.Caring energy warms your spirit. Your generosity risks becoming self-abandonment overflowing cups must first be filled. Practice sacred selfishness. This especially affects your home life. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your daily routines. Lunar Influence: A bakers kitchen warmth, nourishment, and love fill your heart today.A radiant heart drives your path. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your creative pursuits. Nervous Leo energy crackles like a live wire channel this restlessness into creative bursts rather than erratic sparks. Lunar Influence: A gilded sunflower you bask in attention yet remain grounded.Structured calm anchors your day. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your home life. Communication breakdowns spark like faulty wiring sometimes the message isn't in the words but in the silences between. Lunar Influence: A woven basket practical and beautiful, holding all you cherish.Graceful vibes color your day. Your generosity risks becoming self-abandonment overflowing cups must first be filled. Practice sacred selfishness. This especially affects your personal expression. Love's shadows reveal hidden contracts whose ancient wounds are you still trying to heal through others? This especially affects your personal expression. Lunar Influence: A marble statue elegance and endurance define your emotional state.Fierce resolve lifts your journey. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your values and resources. Nervous Scorpio energy crackles like a live wire channel this restlessness into creative bursts rather than erratic sparks. Lunar Influence: A diamond in the rough intensity polished by patience.Free-spirited vibes lift your day. Your generosity risks becoming self-abandonment overflowing cups must first be filled. Practice sacred selfishness. This especially affects your social connections. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your personal expression. Lunar Influence: A rolling meadow wideopen joy with hidden depths beneath.Determined calm marks your pace. Thoughts move like quicksilver channel this mental velocity before brilliant ideas evaporate in the noonday sun. This especially affects your spiritual side. Nervous Capricorn energy crackles like a live wire channel this restlessness into creative bursts rather than erratic sparks. Lunar Influence: A stone bridge reliable arches over emotional waters.Rebel thoughts steer your steps. Nervous Aquarius energy crackles like a live wire channel this restlessness into creative bursts rather than erratic sparks. This especially affects your social connections. Communication breakdowns spark like faulty wiring sometimes the message isn't in the words but in the silences between. Lunar Influence: A geode unassuming outside, dazzling within.Imaginative energy lifts your soul. Your generosity risks becoming self-abandonment overflowing cups must first be filled. Practice sacred selfishness. This especially affects your inner transformation. Action becomes prayer your movements align with cosmic rhythms, making even mundane tasks feel hallowed. This especially affects your career ambitions. Lunar Influence: A foggy vineyard mystery and richness infuse your mood.

Libra Birthstone:

Peridot (pronounced pair-a-doe) is the gem variety of olivine. Peridot is the birthstone for August and the Zodiac stone for the constellation Libra (astrological sources refer to peridot as Chrysolite). Peridot is associated with the values of fame, dignity, protection, and success.

Olivine, which is actually not an official mineral, is composed of two minerals: fayalite and forsterite. Fayalite is the iron rich member and forsterite is the magnesium rich member. Olivine's formula is written as (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 to show the substitution of the magnesium and iron. Peridot is usually closer to forsterite than fayalite in composition although iron is the coloring agent for peridot. The best colored peridot has an iron percentage of less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements that may also contribute to the best peridot color.

Gem quality peridot comes from the ancient source of Zagbargad (Zebirget) Island in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt; Mogok, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma); Kohistan, Pakistan; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Eifel, Germany; Chihuahua, Mexico; Ethiopia; Australia; Peridot Mesa, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Gila County, Arizona and Salt Lake Crater, Oahu, Hawaii, USA. The best quality peridot has historically come either from Myanmar or Egypt. But new sources in Pakistan are challenging that claim with some exceptional specimens. The Arizona gem material is of lesser quality, but is far more abundant and is therefore much more affordable. An estimated 80 - 95% of all world production of peridot comes from Arizona. The Myanmar, Pakistani and Egyptian gems are rarer and of better quality and thus quite valuable approaching the per carat values of top gemstones. Possibly the most unusual peridot is that which comes from iron-nickel meteorites called pallasites. Some are actually facetted and set in jewelry.

Peridot is perhaps derived from the French word peritot which means unclear, probably due to the inclusions and cloudy nature of large stones. It could also be named from the Arabic word faridat which means gem. In either case, peridot has been mined as a gemstone for an estimated four thousand years or better, and is mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name of pitdah (see Biblestones). Peridot gems along with other gems were probably used in the fabled Breastplates of the Jewish High Priest, artifacts that have never been found. The Greeks and Romans referred to peridot as topazion and topazius respectively and this name was later given to topaz, to end the confusion with the two gems. Historical legend has it that peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra. Pliny wrote about the green stone from Zagbargad Island in 1500 B.C.. Even until recently jewelers have used the term "chrysolite" (latin for golden stone) in referring to peridot gems for some reason. This term has also been used to refer to other gemstones, of a more golden color.

Zagbargad (Zebirget) Island has been known as St John's Island and was mined for centuries. Before World War I, this island was extensively mined and produced millions of dollars worth of gems. Since then the mining has been off and on and at present is all but nonexistent. Still, specimens from here are available at times and it certainly is a classic mineral locality.

Throughout time, peridot has been confused with many other gemstones, even emerald. Many "emeralds" of royal treasures have turned out to be peridots! And although peridot is distinctly a different shade of green, many jewelers refer to peridot as "evening emerald". Emerald is a dark green as opposed to a yellow green and always contains inclusions. Other green gemstones confused with peridot include apatite (which is much softer); green garnets (have no double refraction), green tourmaline and green sinhalite (both of which are strongly pleochroic), moldavites (no double refraction) and green zircon (significantly heavier). All of these gemstones rarely have as nice a yellow component to their green color as does most peridot, but darker green peridot can be confusing when good crystal form is not discernible.

Peridot is a beautiful gemstone in its own right and is widely popular. Its popularity is said to be increasing yearly and with new finds in Pakistan producing exceptionally well crystallized specimens, peridot can be fun to collect for years to come.

Olivine has the same overall composition as the Earth's mantle, and thus can be considered to be the most common mineral INSIDE the Earth (the 1600 mile wide solid iron core is second). In a sense then, peridot may be by far the most common gemstone. Some volcanoes, including Hawaii, occasionally produce sands which are composed of transparent green grains of peridot. On the Big Island, the sands mostly appear black except on a beach near the southernmost tip of the island.

Element: Air
Ruling Planet: Venus
Life Pursuit: To be consistent
Vibration: Unsteady
Secret Desire: To live an easy, uncomplicated life.

Description:

Every adolescent Libran's fantasy is to find the Prince or Princess of their dreams. As their lives unfold, the experiences, false starts, dramas, broken hearts and disillusionment they encounter seeking this personal Holy Grail, often shapes their futures in the most extra-ordinary manner. Love and love-lost makes a big difference to the Libran although their often happy-go-lucky appearance against all kinds of odds may not reveal this as fact.

Librans can switch off from the world around then and during these periods much more occurs on the deep innermost levels of the Libran's psyche, than their closest companions imagine. Many Librans after establishing a lifestyle that somehow falls short of their childhood dreams, manage to conjure up a most independent life and keep up an image of being dedicated to a "close relationship". They can escape into obscure role playing - and often this makes them extremely successful business people. When it comes to romance and love, Librans can be difficult to fathom yet in business many Librans discover they can not only be creative, but it provides an opportunity to express the more diverse sides to their personalities. Their charm can win jobs and provides powerful friends. But in both work and play, looking for peace and harmony, Librans often say "yes" when they should be saying "no".

It is a sad fact about many a Libran's personal or business lives to say - many would have faired far better had they remained alone! But for those Librans who do find their secret dream and meet up with their Prince or Princess, that's another story! You'll find them living in some exotic, distant beautiful place, probably running the local bar or restaurant, designing the beach or ski gear, looking wonderful, sipping cocktails and finding life to be the total paradise they knew it could be. What Librans always have to remember when looking to fulfil their dreams is they should never undermine their own integrity and hold out until their dreams do come true - not simply take whatever is offered.