Augusts birthstone is peridot, a transparent lime or olive green stone. Peridot is found in Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Myanmar, Norway, and the United States. According to lore, the peridot intensified the effects of the drug if the medicine was taken from a cup made of peridot. . Pirates considered peridot powerful amulets against all evil, and when set in gold, were said to protect the wearer from the terrors of the night.

Two thousand years ago, in the Roman empire, peridot was called "olivine." Italian peridot is olive in color. American peridot is a light yellow-green.
Anciently, large chunks of peridot were found in Hawaii. These large pieces found their way around to the Egyptians, who made small drinking vessels out of them. They were used in rituals, and the priests would drink soma from them. The soma would put them in touch with the nature goddess, Isis.
The breast plates of Solomon and the high Priest Aaron were said to carry them among them 12 stones to protect them from wounds and death in battle. These 12 stones were credited with the showing of true spiritual teaching by creating miracles of healing performed by the high priests.
Legend has it that King Solomon traded many cedar trees from Lebanon for 12 soma drinking cups and 144 liters of soma. The Egyptians made this trade for ramp logs to build their pyramids at Gisa. King Solomon was said to have been made wise and enlightened by the drinking of soma from the peridot cups.

Peridot is an August birthstone. A warm, friendly, happy stone. Tonic for the whole body. Protects the user from negativity. It is associated with stress reduction and relaxation. Egyptians used Peridot for cleansing and healing the physical heart.

Peridot Care & Where:
Peridot is a transparent lime or olive green. It has a hardness of 6.5. As with all gems, protect peridot from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes (such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car). Do not clean peridot in a home ultrasonic cleaner. Peridot is found in Australia, Brazil, China, Eygpt, Myanmar, Norway, and USA (Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and New Mexico).

Birthstone Months with Peridot
August: Modern Birthstone
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22): Lucky Charm
Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): Birthstone

Peridot is the anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of marriage. It's mystical properties is used to help dreams become a reality.

Gemology

Born in fire, small crystals of Peridot are often found in the rocks created by volcanoes. Peridot is treasured in Hawaii as the goddess Pele's tears. You will treasure its lively sparkle and pleasing color. Our genuine Peridot is a very bright medium yellowish-green to green, clean to the naked eye. It is the August birthstone.
Peridot (pronounced with the "T" silent) is one of the few gems which occurs in only one color, green, ranging from lime to olive shades. Peridot is a member of the olivine family, so named because of its olive color.
Much Peridot comes from a volcanic site on the Apache Indian reservation in Arizona. Interestingly, it has also been found in some meteorites, making it one of the few gems known to exist outside of our solar system. Small stones of Peridot have also been found on the beaches of Hawaii. These stones were deposited in the sand after the volcanic rocks of the island weathered. Though rarely seen in large sizes, the Smithsonian Institution has a cut olivine weighing 319 carats!

It is a powerful protection stone when worn mounted on a piece of gold jewelry. One of its strongest powers is its protection from nightmares and fear. When attached to the bed or to your clothing, it will change or remove the context of the nightmare. Peridot is also used against depression, obesity, constipation, ulcers, diabetes, prostate problems and influenza.
This is a healing and spiritual stone used in divination. Peridot is a semi-precious stone and known as the stone of the seer. It counteracts negativity and aids the development of inner vision by attracting occult powers to the seer. It also enhances feelings of inner joy and lightness and opens you to giving, receiving, and expressing this joy. Used in healing, it has a beneficial affect on cleansing the liver when charged in water. It accelerates personal growth, resonates well with the heart, and aids in reducing stress. Peridot is light green in colour, and associated with the birth sign of Leo.

Lore

Egyptians called the Peridot the "gem of the sun" and counsel priests used it to "keep their minds free from envious thoughts and jealousies concerning the pharaoh's powers" (from Dorothee L. Mella's "Stone power"). In ancient times Peridot was used as a medicinal stone for the healing of such physical problems as lack of muscle control and disease of the liver. Today Peridot can be used for the soothing of the digestion system, including the stomach. Ms. Mella also informs us that "you could use Peridots as your sun stones to prevent personal darkness from your fears and guilts."
Peridot, the August birthstone and the gem of a sixteenth anniversary, has been known to escalate personal growth. Because this may be too intense for some, wearing an Amethyst and a Citrine with the Peridot can regulate the growth aspect and keep the wearer balanced. Peridot has beneficial influence on the heart, pancreas, spleen, liver, and adrenal gland. It increases intuitive awareness, reduces stress and stimulates the mind. Wear a Peridot if you want to accelerate your personal growth and open new doors of opportunity.
Sleep-moonstone, Peridot, blue tourmaline
PERIDOT:... Dispels fears, guilt, and depression. Used to counteract negative emotions and healing of the spirit. Once worn as a means of gaining foresight and divine inspiration. Protection, prosperity, emotional calming, purifies, balances. Light green clear stone.

PERIDOT: Found in meteorites. Completely aligns all the subtle bodies. This helps one receive information from the higher self more easily. Good stone for channeling. Visionary stone - it helps connect us to our destinies and to an understanding of the purpose of existence. Keeps the mind free from envious thoughts and jealousies. A good stone for people who cannot relate to realities beyond the physical world. Aids in manifesting physical work into material abundance. A healing stone working with the heart and solar plexus chakras.
Olivine: Balances glandular system. Aids tissue regeneration. Has beneficial influence on heart, pancreas, spleen, liver, adrenals. Purifies body. Enhances bloodstream. Overal balancer and tonic for body/mind. Aligns subtle bodies. Increase intuitative awareness. Reduces stress. Stimulates mind. Accelerates personal growth. Opens new doors or opportunity. (2,3,4)
It is a stone corresponding with the cold moon ( full moon) december.
Uses:collection, magick
Magickal Properties: Protection, health, wealth, sleep,
Rids stress, fears, guilt, Repels Evil, Calming, Prevents Anger, Healing, happiness, clarity of mind, peace, healing, calming, purification, digestion, protection,Dispels fears, guilt, and depression,prosperity, emotional calming, balances.
Used to counteract negative emotions and healing of the spirit. Once worn as a means of gaining foresight and divine inspiration.

Ruling Planet: Mercury

A visiounary stone - (stimulating and life affirming) buffered with blue (spiritual and serene). Suggested healing properties, helps connect us to our destinies and attain spiritual truth, boosts confidence and assertive energy. Said to release toxins and bring them to the surface to get rid of them and thereby aid in mental cleansing by highlighting problems. Said to benefit the stomach and digestive tract organs and stimulate tissue regeneration. Not recommended for those who are without a sense of control of their lives nor prepared for their future as it may work too quickly for comfort. Aids in visualization - both of spiritual and physical areas.

More Peridot Lore:

Peridot is given as a symbol of fame, dignity, and protection. Legend has it that pirates favored peridot to protect them against evil. When the peridot was set in gold it also protected the wearer from terrors in the night. Peridot has been mined from St John's Island in the Red Sea for over 3500 years. Peridot is the created during volcanic action. Occassionally, Peridot crystals are found on the black sands of Hawaii. Peridot is the US State Gemstone of Nevada.