I firmly believe that we incorporate into our daily lives that which we focus on. If we focus on the negative, that’s what we notice and what we get. If we focus on the positive, then that’s what we bring forth.

Each morning I start my day with a journal entry outlining the qualities I want for the day, along with what I want to accomplish. Now, combining my focus on positive qualities (we call them Essences here) and my skills as a jewelry designer, you and I can both choose to wear our Essence for the day, brightening our day and our appearance.

If you want to have a hand in choosing the next month’s Essence, join us over at the Essential Glimmer Facebook Page. I’ll be hosting a poll each month so that you can tell me what Essence you desire. I’ve chosen the first one, Play, from now on, it’s up to you.

I’m looking forward to seeing you around, both here, and on Essential Glimmer’s Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages. If you have any questions, please contact me, I’d love to hear from you.

What does play even mean for an adult? Are we supposed to color and see how high we can swing? Sure, why not.

Wanna Hear a Story?

I have a low wide vase on my dining room table that I keep filled with coloring books, crayons and markers. A few months back a new friend came over for the first time and as we were sitting at the table talking, a confused look came over his face. He paused, then asked, “Do you have kids?”

I said no and he inclined his head towards the vase of my coloring supplies. I laughed and said that I like to color. Still confused, he looked at the coloring books and crayons and said, “But, you don’t have kids?” It was a half statement and half question, because in his mind, you have to have kids to enjoy coloring.

Come Play With Me

So, I pulled out two coloring books and opened up my boxes of crayons, asked him which book he wanted and proceeded to start coloring. He did too. And the thing is, it was fun. For him too, when he let go enough to get into it.

Play doesn’t have to mean coloring, or hula hooping, or swinging. Play can mean whatever you want it to mean. Play isn’t about shoulds, it’s about doing what you need to refresh your body and mind. It’s about remembering how you felt as a kid and finding a way to bring that feeling to life again as an adult.

Not If, but How

Personally I love to color, hula hoop, skip, take off in the middle of the day for ice cream, watch the fireflies, spin in the middle of a parking lot, blow bubbles, and other joys I’m sure I’m forgetting. Playing doesn’t make me less grow up, it makes me more capable of taking on everything else.

How do/will you play?

Some asked me where the rubies grew,
And nothing I did say;
But with my finger pointed to
The lips of Julia.
~The Rock of Rubies, and the Quarrie of Pearls., Robert Herrick

Ruby Red

Deep red to dark pink, rubies come in a wide variety of colors within the red family. Their color comes from the presence of chromium within the stone, corundum. Only red corundum is allowed to be called a ruby, all other colors are considered varieties of sapphire.

Rubies have long been considered a stone of royalty, worn by Catherine of Aragon and King Henry V, though the Black Prince Ruby was later found to be spinel, not a true ruby.

A Gift of Meaning

Along with being the birthstone for July, rubies are the stones of Aries, and the traditional gift for the 40^th anniversary. Additionally, the ruby is a stone associated with the root chakra, having lesser associations with the heart chakra, as well.

Historically, rubies were considered magical, darkening to signal impending danger, as Catherine of Aragon’s was said to have the day before Henry VIII announced their divorce.

Symbolic Strength

The red hue of rubies hold a variety of symbolic significance: the fire of courage, true romance, and blazing passion. With their significance in royal history, rubies also represent power, strength, and good fortune.

Some famous rubies include Sarah, Duchess of York’s engagement ring from Prince Andrew, Carmen Lucia’s 23.1 carat ring, now held in the Smithsonian Collection, Elixabeth Taylor’s ring and necklace auctioned by Christie’s.

Do you consider the Ruby to be your stone? What meaning does it hold for you?