Tammuz

There afterward, a light among them brightened. So that, if Cancer one such crystal had, Winter would have a month of one sole day.
— Dante Alighieri, Paradiso

Welcome!

We are in the middle of Tammuz. The study of the month and the phases of the moon will be deeper this month. I apologize for previous blog posts where I didn’t explain what God’s heart desires for us to know. Like I have stated before, it’s a journey. Frequently,  even when we are the right path, we end up forging a trail along the side from the path because a truth God has for us.  He has revealed and we have to add it along the way as a part of hearing His heart beat better, and filling our body, soul and mind with His presence of the Seven Spirits of God. The chart below is my study and what I believe that God had placed in Man at Creation.  The colors were changed to represent Chakras. I don’t use Chakras, but found that the areas that the were used were common to what God had placed in us.  Genesis 1:26 says : “Let us make Man in our Image.” These were the same Spirits that hovered over the Earth in Genesis 1:2.  I am making up a recipe book of foods that help these areas function as God intended.

During this month, we will find a connection to events mentioned in the Bible. 

3 Tammuz (c. 1272 BCE)-Joshua stops the sun (Book of Joshua, 10:1–15)

5 Tammuz (c. 592 BCE)–Ezekiel receives his “Chariot” vision (Book of Ezekiel, 1:4–26)

9 Tammuz (c. 586 BCE)–Jerusalem walls breached by Nebuchadnezzar II, a date observed as a fast day until the second breaching of Jerusalem’s walls by the Roman Empire on the 17th of Tammuz (70 CE)

17 Tammuz (c. 1312 BCE)[ citation needed]–golden calf offered by the Jewish people, 40 days after the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai. In response to worshipping an idol, Moses smashed the first tablets. On this day, five national tragedies are mourned.

17 Tammuz (c. 586 BCE)–The koban in Solomon’s Temple were discontinued.

The 17th day of Tammuz—A fast day that commemorates when the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans (in 69 C.E.) begins a period known as “The Three Weeks.”

Tammuz is a month of mourning for the Jewish people. The walls of Jerusalem fell because of an attack from Romans in 69 C.E. It marked this as a time called “The Three Weeks”, a time of mourning. It’s a tough time to be joyful during this time. But remember the freedom we have in Christ. He conquered death on the Cross, and rose from the grave, giving us joy and freedom from times like these, reminding us of the life Christ gave for us. 

I can relate to not being joyful for a season. We moved to Southern Oregon in 2019 to help take care of family in their later years. Covid appeared on the scene when my parents should have been enjoying being in their new place at a Senior Facility. Living in a home for 46 years that was in beginning stages of lack of livability, they moved, and in a few short months, they were in lockdown in the facility for a year. It’s hard to watch them in this new season of life, after working as hard as they have to have tolive in a situation they had never had to live in before.

Let’s move on to the Zodiac symbol. In Astronomy, there is a story that God placed in the stars when He began Creation. We will look at them thoughtfully in the next few months of what God’s design were. He always has a plan. We who are not Jewish are graphed into this much like a branch of one bush is graphed into another bush not related.

When the crab grows, he has to break his shell and find a new one. What a great example it gives us in as it breaks his own shell when it out grows the shell he was born with. We break off the stony heart we carry through life as we gain more and more knowledge of the love of God that can not be contained.

Birthstones:

Birthstones representing July fit in with the Moon phases. Ruby, with the Carnelian (in the Moon phase section below) this month, will bring you support to have the energy to fulfil the dreams you have put on the back burner and want to find yourself closer to the finish line. Ruby, in its glorious red color, deals with issues of the heart emotions. It expands love and compassion. God’s love expounds through this stone and His provision and grace. 

The first stone on the Row of the Breast plate was Ruby. Ruby represents the tribe of Reuben. It’s a perfect stone to work alongside the Spirit of Council (heart). It’s a love stone that works with the body, mind and soul.  

The first jewel of the breastplate is still important. Upon it was engraved the name of Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob. Among the Hebrews, the oldest son was, in the father’s absence, the representative of the family. To him, all the household would look for guidance and judgment. Jesus the Anointed is brought to mind as the representative of the Heavenly Father and “the creation of God” (Rev.3:14). To Him will all humankind look for guidance and judgment when “the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6,7).

Black Onyx is the two stones engraved with the names of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun, while on the other stone were inscribed the names of Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph and Benjamin. The purpose of the location on the Onyx stones was so that “Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial” (Ex. 28:12). Exodus 28:9-10  “And you shall take two onyx stones, and engrave upon them the names of the children of Israel; there shall be six names on one stone, and six names on the second stone in the order of their birth. “They were on the shoulders of the person wearing the breastplate, representing the government on God’s shoulders. What a great stone that grounds us in strength and vitality! Getting rooted will help raise your self-confidence gain self-control to focus on what the truth is you are looking for. Balancing task orientated projects while giving us creative ideas. Black Onyx helps us through the mourning process to see things. Black Onyx was also used as a for carving seal ring. These rings were dipped in wax and known as Signet rings that sealed a decree from the king. In Esther, Mordicai was given the ring after it was taken from Hamen and he seals an order from the King with the King’s ring which saved God’s people in the book of Esther.  

Turquoise is sometimes referenced in newer translations as the first stone in the second row. Many differences of opinions among various scholars to the identification of the stones of the Old Testament.

There was a widespread use of turquoise in those times. It is likely that one of those obscure terms refers to this beautiful gemstone. There are more legends associated with turquoise than with any other gemstone. Turquoise, the captivating sea-green stone of the ancients, represents wisdom, tranquility, protection, good fortune, and hope. Ancient peoples believed in its profound power to protect, as well as its tranquil energy and its association with enduring love, prevent accidents, and to cure diseases of the head and the heart. It was also believed to make one invulnerable, and it was placed on body armor, turbans, swords, and knives. It works with the Spirit of Might (the stomach area) in helping to strengthen the emotions of faith and integrity.  

Moon Phases:

There are 8 phases and I include the stones associated with moon phases in each bracelet. Other stones for the moon phases will change in future bracelet projects.

I have several friends who do various studies on similar topics and because of that, I will have my blog posts in the middle of the month starting with the full Moon.

July’s full moon is called a Buck Moon and occurs on the 13th of this month. This it the time that the antlers to deer are grown. If you haven’t known this, the Farmer’s Almanac (https://www.farmersalmanac.com/) is full of fun ideas for the summer and what is going on with our solar system. Again, we serve an amazing God who knows what crop can be planted where, and what type of content in the soil works with the plant to keep it nutritious for us.

Other names for the Full Moon including Feather Molting Moon (Cree) and Salmon Moon, which is a Tlingit term (The Tlingit are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast), showing when fish returned to the area and were ready to be harvested. July’s Moon is a Super Moon too.

Where New Age, witchcraft and others use these stones for their purpose, God was the creator of them and had them set in place with the moon and its phases. In my last blog post, I mentioned Lucifer was arrayed in clothing made of the very stones that God created. He was aware of what God had set in the vibrations of the stones because, as the worship leader, the music he led vibrated the stones, and the worship meshed with God’s heartbeat. So as I write about the Moon phases and the stones that I use in the bracelet I sell on Etsy, I am writing from what I know from His word.

Selenite is one of those stones. It associates with the full Moon because of the Newness this stone brings to the season. ‘When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?’ (Psalm 8.3–4). He cares for us, and the burning of the incense that is used on the stone is no longer needed to get His attention. The stone, I believe because of its MOH that is a 2 (Method of hardiness level is based on the hardiness of the stone. A 7 MOH would be that of a glass pane window), it uses of emotional healing are deeper. Selenite is said to be a powerful healing crystal that promotes peace and calm, mental clarity, and well-being. It’s also believed by some that this crystal can remove negative energy and help you connect to higher realms.

Bloodstone is a gem of noble sacrifice, offering courage and solace. It is associated with the Waning Gibbous. The most altruistic character comes from the Spirit of the Lord. It is said that drops of Christ’s blood dropped onto this stone where it gets its name as it has Jasper properties. Bloodstone gives a sense of prophecy with the Spirit of Wisdom. The stone fills you with a surge of courage, self-esteem, energy, and protection. It works with the Spirit of the Lord, stability to goals to live a pleasing to God. (One of the great mysteries of the Love of the Father!)

Last Quarter: Moonstone calms over reactions to situations and to emotional triggers. This stone is filled with receptive, passive, feminine energy. Restoring emotional balance. This is also a stone of reflection, helping you to look within yourself and helps the Spirit of the Lord and the Spirit of Wisdom to raise your spiritual growth.

Rose Quartz show how to love who are you in Christ. God put this stone to associate with the Waning Cresent, the time of the month, when things need a bit more compassion and love. This stone, much like the breaking of the crab’s shell, breaks off the areas of self doubt and insecurity that hinder us. Because of the sense of love that it invokes inside of us, we can see during the other phases of the moon what God had intended in hearing His voice and heartbeat in the world’s clatter.

New Moon: Black Laborite combines itself through change, imparting strength and perseverance. It balances and protects, raises consciousness and works with the Spirit of the Lord. It is possible to see things as they were created by God. Powerful in revealing the truth behind illusions, Labradorite banishes fears and insecurities, and strengthens faith in the self and trust God. It stimulates the imagination and calms an overactive mind, developing enthusiasm and new ideas.

The moon moves around Earth, the side we can see becomes more illuminated by direct sunlight. This thin sliver is called the waxing crescent.

The Waxing Crescent was created by God to bring positive vibes. God created the Carnelian to work with The Waxing Crescent to bring positive outlooks. Carnelian will give you the courage to keep going and embrace this change. 

First Quarter: A week after the new moon, the moon is 90 degrees away from the sun in the sky and is half-illuminated from our point of view — what we call first quarter because it is about a quarter of the way around Earth.

Red Jasper associates with this phase and has elements to life. Its blood red color and its connection to earth show so much of God’s design in making this stone from the elements of the ground that formed over centuries. It helps to raise courage, strength and wisdom, giving it a beautiful landscape to its color. It’s not a surprise that is also a splendid companion to the Carnelian after the Wanning Crescent.

A few days later, the area of illumination continues to increase. More than half of the moon’s face appears to be getting sunlight. This phase is called a waxing gibbous moon.

Citrine cleanses out the junk that we encounter in life, releases negative traits, depression, fears and phobias, and replaces the negativity with joy, wonder, happiness. This stone raises self-esteem and self-confidence, giving us the courage to gain wealth and prosper by stimulating the brain, giving us intelligent thoughts.

The Element for this month is Fire, but it doesn’t appear just yet. We are coming out of a water element from last month.

Fire signs are intuitive and to rely on gut instincts, one reason I think now is the perfect time for this blog post. We need that fire to get us to move to closing up some projects that have simmered in the past so we can start new in the next season.

Since fire’s is so inspiring, coming of of water’s desire of meaning. Often in projects we have to have a purpose for what we are setting out to accomplish and need that time to think and plan.

We covered a lot this time. I would love to see how it has affected you. Leave a comment below!