Peace Day ~ September 21

Today is International Day of Peace. Established by the United Nations and celebrated around the world, this is a day of non-violence and ceasefire. I have a bittersweet feeling about Peace Day. One day of peace a year is a good thing, however can we not devote more, say 365? Ah... but I'm a dreamer...

At World Peace Jewelry we're celebrating with a sale on some of our peace themed jewelry. You'll find an asssortment of necklaces, bracelets, earrings with peace signs and some with world globes. Shown above is our The World is My Country necklace. While you're browsing, take a look at our new jewelry.

We do have a special discount for new customers. When checking out of the shopping cart, enter WPJNEW (you'll see where) to receive 10% off your entire order plus free standard shipping.

Turquoise

A favorite stone of mine? All I will say is …. She who dies with the most turquoise wins… or something like that. Shown above is a turquoise and copper peace bracelet. Healing copper jewelry is such a boon for arthritis sufferers, plus it happens to be gorgeous with turquoise.

Turquoise is an aluminum acetate phosphate usually found in the seams of aluminum rich rocks in the area of copper mines. Colors range from light blue, sky blue, turquoise blue to green-blue. Turquoise can be found in Arizona, Mexico, Tibet, China, Poland and France. Some of the most beautiful turquoise is found in Arizona.

Discovered in Turkey by Crusaders, turquoise has been a popular protective gemstone since ancient time. In the thirteenth century Turquoise was said to protect the wearer from injury from falling, particularly from horseback. Turks attached the stone to the bridles of horses as amulets; it was believed to render them more surefooted and enduring. Long considered a holy stone by American Indians, they believed turquoise was a magic stone that protected against all harm. Indian legend says that a man who could go to the end of the rainbow and dig in the earth would find a turquoise. In the Middle Ages it was believed to give women a sense of happiness and contentment, while guaranteeing success and power to men.

Turquoise is beneficial for the whole body, but especially the respiratory and immune systems. Those strongly affected by pollution can find turquoise very helpful. Turquoise is also helpful with general stomachaches, rheumatism, infections, inflammation, and speeds recovery after illness.

Turquoise symbolizes beauty. It elevates goals and understanding; encourages creative problem solving. Turquoise can help you get more in tune with others and increase communication skills. Stabilizing extreme mood swings, it counteracts apathy.

With zodiacal affinity for Aquarius, Turquoise is also an important gemstone for all the zodiac signs. It is the common birthstone for December.

Explore the Gemstone Guides at World Peace Jewelry. Check out our guide to birthstones: modern, traditional, cabochon, and astralogical zodiac gemstones symbolically associated with the date of your birth. You might also want to have a look at symbols and totems, too.

The Bee

The Bee symbolizes industrious and cooperative teamwork, dilligence and a sense of order. In mediterranean civilizations, the bee was seen to be brave, chaste, industrious, clean and lives harmoniously. Symbols of purity and abstinence. In the secular world, the bee was a royal symbol and the queen bee was long regarded as a King.

The bee is also a sign of creativity, wealth and eloquence. The Egyptians used it as a symbol of regal power.

Bees are, in many cultures, a symbol of hope, and also inspire cleanliness, social organization, tireless work, honey-sweet rhetoric, intelligence and poetry.

The bee is often seen as the original source of all life and inspiratin. Looked upon as a symbol of the potency of nature, because while creating a magical elixir, known for its preservation properties, they were also pollinating flowers, increasing plant fertility, and abundance. Because of these symbolic meanings, the bee has been used as an emblem by those who wish to associate themselves with the inpiration of the Gods.

Shown above is a World Peace Jewelry bracelet featuring a honey bee surrounded by natural agate in shades of honey golden yellows. Agate is said to protect against danger, bring prosperity and prevent miscarriages. It promotes happiness and good health.

See more jewelry featuring the Bee as a symbol or totem.

Read more about bees as a symbol or totem. Read more about the healing properties and symbolism of gemstones.

The Cross - Consecration

The Cross is used not just for ornamentation, but also religious significance. The cross is a sign of consecration. For Christians it symbolizes God's act of love and atonement in Christ's sacrifice and Jesus' victory over sin and death.

Shown above is an extra long Sardonyx and Carnelian necklace that features a large Sardonyx hand cut cross that I imported from China. Exceptionally beautiful!

Sardonyx is the stone of the senses. Said to improve sensory perception and sharpen the mind. It encourages optimism and confidence, plus is said to halp bereaved people see the positive side of life again. Carnelian symbolizes activity. It promotes idealism, increases vitality and zest for life, while enhancing stability and the courage to carry out daily tasks. Read more about the properties and symbolism of gemstones.

At World Peace Jewelry we offer pieces in the theme of Faith, including crosses, WWJD (What Would Jesus Do), Angels, Judaica, Celtic and Chinese symbols of faith and religious belief.

Read more about symbols and totems at World Peace Jewelry

The Lucky Frog

Frogs symbolize good luck, abundance, transformation, and fertility. The Egyptians saw frogs as symbols of life and fertility and they worshiped the frog Goddess Heget. Greeks and Romans saw frogs as symbols of fertility and harmony. Frogs assisted their Goddess Aphrodite. The Chinese believe the spirit of the frog means healing and good forturne in business.

Shown above is a lucky jasper frog necklace combining more jasper with Botswana agate. The gemstones make a good combination with the frog totem. In the Middle Ages Jasper was the warrior's stone. It stimulates fertility, combats exhaustion and balances energies. Agate strengthens the effect of other stones. It promotes happiness and good health. Read more about the properties of gemstones.

Read more about symbols and totems or view more symbol jewelry or fertility jewelry at World Peace Jewelry.

Barns, Recycling, Repurposing

More than 4 million farms have disappeared since the 1930's. That number is stunning for a number of reasons.

We're both diehard historic preservationists and, as such, we're aware that America's barns are disappearing at an alarming rate. Long a taken-for-granted symbol of the very founding and growth of our country, barns are being torn down to make way for development. Imagine our landscape without barns.

The Natinal Trust for Historic Preservation has a program called Barn Again! which assists folks who want to restore these historic structures and adapt them for new purposes. Community centers, residences, shops, the possibilities are endless. Their site shows examples of finished projects, gives technical advice and links to grant sources.

A great example of recycling and re-purposing!

New World Peace Jewelry KIVA Loan

World Peace Jewelry's new KIVA loan recipient:

Don Mateo Miguel Turnil Tumax is 30 years old, married, and has three children. He is dedicated to the art of making traditional fabrics from his small workshop in the village of Chuipachaj de la Aldea Chipuac, which is in the town and district of Totonicap, Guatamala. He does not generate enough revenue to hire any workers. However, his current demand is growing, so he applied for a small loan to purchase raw materials. The increase in capital will result in more employment and more products from his small workshop, as well as generate additional income to give his family a better life.

Kiva Loan Update

World Peace Jewelry's loan has been repaid in full by Catherine Birungi's Group.

You may remember that Catherine is twenty-five years old and married with one nine-year-old child. She rents a one-room house with her family. She doesn?t have access to electricity or piped water. Catherine has a market stall, and that is how she makes a living. She rents her stall at $9.25 a month and gets about twenty customers a day. She buys her produce from Nakawa market and works seven days a week. She has worked at this business for three years now. Prior to this she was frying edibles. This is her seventh loan since she joined MCDT, a Kiva field partner, and has been with them for four years, working with the same group members. Catherine used her loan to buy boxes of tomatoes and also to start buying directly from farmers. She hopes to build a house from her savings.

For more information about such loans, visit KIVA on the web.

Energy Savings

Worried about energy costs - in money and our planet? Consider the following:

• American homeowners are eligible to receive $1500 in federal tax credits this year and next toward the cost of a new furnace or other energy-saving improvements. Click for details.
• Seal leaky windows, doors, and attics against drafts and energy losss.
• Consider replacing lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Unplug coffeeepots, TVs and other small appliances that consume electricty even when they're not in active use or use power strips that cut the power automatically.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees.
• Wash full loads of laundry and use cold water. Air dry when possible.
• Check your faucets and fix leaking ones. Install aerators and low-flow showerheads.
• Use drip hoses to water your garden plantings.