More Pearl lore

I was going to keep my history of pearls brief, but, in my research, I came across some nice lore about pearls that I just had to share. More about actual pearl types tomorrow!

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Pearls were once thought to be the tears of the gods.

In imperial China, the natural black pearl was regarded as a symbol of wisdom.

Some Hindu writers have linked pearls with clouds, elephants, snakes, wild boars, fish and --only sometimes-- with oysters, themselves.

The Greeks and Romans thought pearls were born in oysters as a result of a drop of rain or dew having penetrated between the layers. The Persians thought the same, but they believed that if a pearl was imperfect it was due to thunder in the sky. A more colorful version says pearls are born from the meeting of a rainbow with the earth.

In the Orient, pearls are sometimes associated with the tears of angels, mermaids or mythical nymphs in stories mixing pain and suffering with bliss. A Ceylon legend tells how the tears of Adam and Eve created a lake that gave birth to pearls --white or pink pearls from Eve's tears, and more precious and rare gray and black pearls from Adam's tears. Why the difference? Man knows better how to control his emotions, according to the legend.

According to one Polynesian legend, Oro, the Polynesian god of peace and fertility, came down to earth on a rainbow to offer a special type of pearl oyster to man. Another says that Oro offered the pearl from an oyster to the beautiful princess of Bora Bora as a sign of his love.

One of the most romantic legends tells how the moon bathes the ocean in its light to attract the oysters to the surface so that it may impregnate them with heavenly dew. Polished by time, this drop of light holds this heavenly radiance within its heart and cloaks itself in a garment with blue, green, pink and golden reflections that shine and blend in harmony.

Pearls are symbols of purity and clarity.

Associated with the ministry, pearls bring wisdom through experience; they quicken the law of karma, and bring engagements and love relationships.

Pearls are said to keep children safe. They are symbols of innocence; therefore, they are talismans for the innocent.

Pearls help to attune the chakras. Since it is a soft white, it helps bring soft, healing energy during meditation.

Pearls, like mother of pearl, are associated with the moon and water. This makes them very feminine in nature, and conducive to connecting with the goddess.