September Gem Wise 2018 Purchase

Magic of Rome

Juno is the Roman goddess of women, marriage, marital love, pregnancy, and childbirth. She is a protector of community and finances, and especially of the bond between intimate partners. A traditional matron, she is a strong leader with an exceptional dedication to her state, people, and causes. Juno is said to be the giver of light during the new moon and to bring children into the light as they are born. As the patron goddess of the Roman empire, Juno was given the surname Regina, meaning Queen, and was worshipped as part of the Capitoline Triad in an elaborate temple in Rome along with Jupiter and Minerva.

In mythology, Juno appears as a majestic figure, wearing a diadem or crown. The peacock is her sacred symbol and stories tell of her riding a chariot throughout the skies pulled by her peacocks. She is regal, representing benevolent force and authority. She stands for women who rule over anything, from the home to office to entire nations. Her theology is complex and an issue of dispute in Roman religion. This is why she has so many descriptions and names with different meanings. Some of her titles are Juno Sospita, Juno Lucina, Juno Moneta, and Juno Regina.

Juno Sospita
The Protector

Juno Sospita refers to Juno’s role as the protector of those in confinement, referring to pregnant women awaiting the impending birth of their child. Juno Sospita was also the chief deity of Lanuvium, a city located to the southeast of Rome, and her aid was especially invoked in the pacification of the rebellious Latins. Later, Juno Sospita was seen as The Protector of Rome during war. Her temple in the Forum Holitorium, Rome, was dedicated to her in honor of their victory over enemies. As Juno Sospita, she is depicted wearing a horned goatskin helmet and brandishing shield and spear.

Juno Lucina
Childbirth and Light

Juno Lucina (the bringer of light) was worshipped from the beginning of time, and in many parts of Italy. All goddesses of light are also considered goddesses of birth – as light coming out from darkness is observed as birth. As Lucina, Juno was honored as the mightiest of the goddesses of birth. Her temple, in a sacred grove in Rome, was one of the most ancient and venerated. No offering could be made at her temple unless all knots were untied, because it is believed that the presence of a belt could hinder the delivery of the woman’s child. Individualized, she became a female guardian angel; as every man had his genius, so every woman had her Juno. Juno represented, in a sense, the female principle of life.

Juno Moneta
The Mint

In the Temple of Juno Moneta, the first Roman coins were minted, and continued to be minted there, for over four centuries. Money comes from the Latin word Moneta, which means ‘to warn’, and is named after the Roman Goddess, Juno Moneta. According to legend, a flock of geese kept in Juno’s sanctuary saved Rome by warning of an impending invasion. The Roman General, Marcus Furius Camillus, built a temple on the hill in gratitude for the Goddess’ warning. Approximately one hundred years later, the first Roman mint was built adjacent to the temple and the coins, struck with the head of Juno Moneta on the face, were called Moneta. She has since been considered the guardian of finances.

Juno Regina
The Queen

Juno Regina, or Juno the Queen, is Juno in her aspect of Queen of the Gods and Queen of Heaven. Juno Regina played an important part in the Roman conquest of Italy. She was especially worshipped by matrons, either with Jupiter or alone, as Juno Regina, being the wife of Jupiter Rex, and as the highest celestial goddess. In this capacity, she had her chief temple in Rome, on the Capitol, close to Jupiter’s temple.

Juno Regina is connected with the idea of a Queen who represents the land, and whose approval is required before sovereignty can be granted. This may be part of why Juno was especially invoked for protection during the Second Punic War, when the foreign general Hannibal invaded Italy. During this war, the matrons (married women) of Rome organized and donated gifts to the temple of Juno Regina on the Aventine, seeking protection on behalf of all the people.

Juno and the Peacock
The Peacock

The Peacock is the animal associated with Juno. In many myths, she is seen riding a chariot around the world pulled by her peacocks. Juno, queen of the gods, had the most beautiful, white cow, guarded by a watchman named Argus. Argus had one hundred eyes, and no one ever saw them fall asleep simultaneously. Juno and the gods loved playing tricks on one another, and the King was next to play. He wanted her majestic cow. And with the help of trickster Mercury, he succeeded. Mercury went to Juno’s fields and filled Argus’ ears with mundane stories and songs, in hopes of making him fall asleep. He wasn’t successful. And so Mercury drew a hollow reed he had brought from the river, and began to play it. And as he played, Argus heard water rippling gently on the shore, and the breath of the wind in the pine-trees; with stars twinkling softly in the summer sky. Argus started closing one eye and then the other until all hundred of his eyes were fast asleep. Juno arrived angrily and put every one of his eyes on the tail of her peacock. To this day, whoever looks at the peacock can count a hundred eyes that once belonged to Argus.

• Discussion Question: Which crown of Juno interests you the most?

These stones each resonate with the essence and attributes/crowns of Juno.

Morion Smoky Quartz for Juno Sospita

Planet: Saturn
Zodiac: Libra, Capricorn
Element: Earth, Fire
Quality: Feminine
Chakra:Earth Star, Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Crown

Morion Smoky Quartz is a protective stone with a strong connection to Mother Earth, resonating with the Root and Earth Star Chakras. It brings a deep sense of stability and helps release and transmute stored negative emotions. Morion is a rare form of smoky quartz that is naturally black but has faded to gray over time through direct sunlight. Smoky quartz is incredibly transformative. A stone of cleansing and protection, any negative energy within a space is turned positive. This stone is also used for divination, as it deepens psychic impulses. Morion smoky quartz will center you in your sacred space and provide emotional calm.

• Discussion Question: Do you use Morion Smoky Quartz in Chakra meditation?

Picture Jasper for Juno Lucina

Planet: Saturn
Zodiac: Leo
Element: Earth
Quality: Feminine
Chakra: Root, Third Eye

Picture Jasper is the stone of creative visualization. It helps you experience a union with all levels of the Mother or Goddess energies. It also motivates, inspires, supports bone growth, and boosts immune function. Using picture jasper allows you to uncover the hidden parts of your psyche and bring them to surface. It helps you to work through mental and creative blocks with confidence, vision, and application, making it easier for you to follow through with your pursuits. It is believed that picture jasper contains secret messages from the past, with its mysterious and intimate connection to Earth. Picture jasper is truly a remarkably nurturing and protective stone. It not only stimulates your Root Chakra, comforting and grounding you, but also activates the Third Eye Chakra, deepening your intuition.

• Discussion Question: Are you working through an artist’s block?

Emerald for Juno Moneta

Planet: Jupiter, Venus
Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius
Element: Earth
Quality: Feminine
Chakra: Heart

Emerald is known as the quintessential stone of the “Green Ray” which activates the Heart Chakra and brings domestic happiness. It opens the heart space and provides for healing and happiness in a relationship. Emerald possesses the ability to attract both financial prosperity and love. It helps attune your vibrational pattern to the spectrum of abundance, magnetizing what you need and desire. Emerald has mystery embedded in its long history – tales of theft, betrayal, and bad luck, but also many stories of good luck, wisdom, and goddess energy. It is rumored that Roman Emperor Nero watched gladiator battles through a sheet of Emerald because he believed it helped him determine the winner in advance. They say that couples should each have a piece of emerald that they carry as relationship “charms”. These two pieces of emerald are said to bind them in matrimony.

• Discussion Question: Have you been manifesting more abundance in your life?

Heliodor for Juno Regina

Planet: Sun
Zodiac: Leo
Element: Fire
Quality: Masculine
Chakra: Solar Plexus, Crown

Heliodor, also known as golden beryl, teaches enlightened leadership and self-determination. It assists in rapidly learning whatever is necessary in order to accomplish your dreams and helps align your will with divine purpose, so you may overcome any obstacle. Heliodor radiates warmth and light, making it a powerful Solar Plexus Chakra activator. It instills you with an unrivaled sense of personal power and stimulates your intellect. Heliodor also works to open your Crown Chakra, bringing a higher level of awareness and wisdom. It balances your intuitive and conscious self, bridging your duality into single alignment.

• Discussion Question: Do you feel you need to regain your power?

Peacock Ore for Juno and the Peacock

Planet: Venus
Zodiac: Cancer
Element: Fire, Water, Earth
Quality: Feminine
Chakra: Third Eye

Peacock ore, or bornite as it’s commonly known, is known as the stone of happiness. It helps you see joy in all situations. It heals, aligns, brings wisdom, and attunes you to all of the rays of light and sacred energies. Peacock ore acts as protection stone to shield you from negative energy, and helps you recognize the source from which negativity comes. As a stone of the astrological sign of Cancer, peacock ore brings balance to the emotional body and helps you flow through life with more ease. When we clear out dense energy, we become less visible to those who are bogged down by their own dense energy, and peacock ore can help with this. This stone builds intuition, allowing you to make choices based on feeling, and gives you the power to trust your intuition and the energy surrounding it.

• Discussion Question: What is peacock ore showing you?

Acrylic Grid

To channel Juno and the magic of these stones, this acrylic grid was designed with images of the many beautiful crowns of Juno. May it connect you deeply with the essence and attributes of Juno.

Place your picture jasper at the center of the grid, on the image of Juno Lucina. Picture jasper is used in meditation to merge the consciousness of Earth. Earth is the ultimate creator, the ultimate mother. When Juno Lucina energy is combined with that of Earth, you may experience major healing and comfort.

Place your emerald on the symbol for Juno Moneta, at the upper left corner. Juno Moneta was the protector of the city’s finances. Money was coined in her temple for over four centuries. Emerald was chosen for this symbol because it has the ability to attract both financial prosperity and abundance.

Place your heliodor on the symbol for Juno Regina (diadem), at the upper right corner. Heliodor assists you in conjuring your own leadership. It helps you align your will with divine purpose to overcome any obstacles. Heliodor instills a sense of power in you, asking you to do what is necessary so you can live your life the way you always dreamed you would. Long live the Queen!

Place your peacock ore on the symbol of the peacock, at the lower left corner. According to Aesop’s fables, Juno’s peacock was envious of a nightingale – even though his beauty was beyond comparison. He desired to have a voice of a nightingale, but Juno persisted. She said, “You are my favorite bird. Be content, because you cannot be the best at everything.” From then on, the peacock wanted for nothing, always seeing his own beauty. Peacock ore infuses positive forces in us, helps identify the causes of negativity, and filters it out of our bodies. It helps identify new ways and opportunities that may be useful in accomplishing our dreams and goals.

Place your morion smoky quartz on the symbol of Juno Sospita, at the lower right corner. Juno Sospita was known as The Protector, and that is why I have chosen morion smoky quartz for this corner – because it can attune you to a deep sense of protection, stability, and transmutation.

• Discussion Question: What energies are you sensitive to right now?