Colour is light, waves of energy at specific lengths. Colour and all living beings radiate energy. Colour vibration can be used without harmful side effects to treat many physical and emotional disorders.

In the Vedic sciences it is thought that the planets transmit energy to us on earth. The planets are said to have effects on our body, mind and subtle consciousness. So in Vedic astrology gemstones are prescribed to counterbalance adverse planetary effects.

Gemstones receive their potency from the cosmic energies of various planets and are similar to a lightning rod. They create a protective field around the body, regulating which cosmic forces are absorbed by the body. Gemstones are very powerful and wearing the wrong gem can have harmful effect, so it's important to have a qualified astrologer recommend the appropriate stone to you. They are worn touching the skin and are at least two carats in size.

Aura-Soma works on similar principles. It offers us colours which balance us in the jewel like bottles and the protective pomanders and quintessences. The difference is that it is entirely helpful and can have no serious side effects.

Each planet has a colour, and a related gemstone. Look at your birth chart and see if you are attracted to the colours that link to your ascendant ruler, your Sun and Moon signs. (Bear in mind that the Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, so deduct 23 degrees from the position of each planet).

It is worth noting that the birthstones set out by the jewellery industry bear no relation to astrology. The list was complied arbitrarily and is purely a commercial system.

Signs, ruling planet and gemstones are:-

Aries and Scorpio:- Mars, Red coral. Secondary stones are red garnet, red zircon, red tourmaline.

Taurus and Libra:- Venus, Diamond. Secondary stones are clear quartz, turquoise and white coral.

Gemini and Virgo:- Mercury, Emerald or Jade. Secondary stones are peridot, green tourmaline and green zircon

Cancer:- Moon, Pearl. Secondary stone is moonstone

Leo:- Sun, Ruby. Secondary stones are red garnet, red zircon, red tourmaline

Sagittarius and Pisces:- Jupiter, Yellow sapphire. Secondary stones are yellow topaz, yellow citrine

Capricorn and Aquarius:- Saturn, Blue sapphire. Secondary stones are lapis lazuli and amethyst.

Further reading:-
Mantras, Yantras and Fabulous Gems by Howard Beckman

Pam Carruthers is an Aura-Soma colour therapist. She has her own web design and hosting company Pam Carruthers Design Ltd www.pamcarruthersdesign.com and her vision is to bring beauty into the world through the world wide web.