The Mayan gemstone horoscope – 18 stones and their personalities

The Maya priests who watched the heavens divided the year into 18 months of 20 days each. The Mayan gemstone horoscope, popular today, is based on this division – each of the eighteen periods has been assigned a different precious or ornamental stone and, with it, a set of personality traits. It is a modern, symbolic interpretation that combines the ancient calendar with the tradition of attributing special powers to stones.

Below you will find all eighteen signs in calendar order, with their dates and a description of the personality.

Malachite (8 January – 1 February)

People born under Malachite stand out for their exceptional gentleness and calm. They are thoughtful, take life very seriously, and are hard-working and meticulous. In friends they value wisdom and intelligence. In love they are faithful and affectionate. You can rely on them in any situation – they are dependable, and sociable too.

Turquoise (2 February – 21 February)

Those born under Turquoise are kind-hearted and have a strong sense of justice. They are marked by courtesy, discretion and personal charm. They are loyal and honest, which wins them devoted friends. Hospitable and generous, they know how to give in such a way that no one feels embarrassed by their generosity. In love they are affectionate and calm. At work they can be a little melancholy, but they know exactly where they are heading.

Onyx (22 February – 13 March)

People born under Onyx sometimes lack strength of character and perseverance in pursuing their goals, and life puts plenty of difficult situations in their path. They can be inconstant in their feelings and behaviour, often changing their aims, interests and views. They are easily influenced by others, especially by strong personalities. They like to escape into a world of imagination and dwell on past mistakes more often than they look to the future. In life they value peace and a predictable daily routine.

Diamond (14 March – 2 April)

Those born under Diamond are distinguished by strong will, perseverance and vitality. They are stubborn and hard to steer. Deeply convinced they are right, they want to win others over to their views – even at the cost of a heated exchange. They have plenty of temperament, vitality and stamina – they are born fighters. Diamond women can be firm and like to lead, but they can also be flirtatious. Love does not always go smoothly for Diamonds, as they find it hard to reach an understanding with a partner. They are, however, realists who make their way through life wisely.

Ruby (3 April – 22 April)

Rubies are strong, sometimes gruff, and have their own individual approach to many things. Decisive and stubborn, they pursue their goals at any cost. They value material possessions. They always want to come first and expect those around them to recognise their authority. They are very practical and resourceful in overcoming difficulties, and most often homebodies as well.

Sapphire (23 April – 12 May)

Sapphires are marked by good sense, prudence and worldly wisdom. They achieve a great deal of success, helped by their diligence and perseverance. They are practical and value material things – they love beautiful objects and happily collect them throughout their lives. In relationships they are faithful and responsible.

Agate (13 May – 1 June)

Agates have very varied characters: some are hard-working and reliable, others thoughtless and fickle. They are usually intelligent but not very consistent in what they do. They often change friends, surroundings and interests.

Chalcedony (2 June – 21 June)

Chalcedonies are thinkers – practical, everyday matters interest them less. They are intelligent and full of warmth. In relationships their feelings are not always constant, because they value their independence highly and want to keep it for as long as possible. When they want to, they can amaze those around them with their industriousness and a sudden rush of brilliant ideas.

Selenite (22 June – 11 July)

This lunar stone is linked with people of a calm and mysterious disposition. They do not need to hold important positions or seek power – what they value most is peace. They cannot stand coarseness and rudeness. In love they are constant and devotedly play the part of wonderful partners. They are homebodies and traditionalists, highly sensitive and blessed with good hunches, on which they base their choices.

Emerald (12 July – 31 July)

Those born under Emerald are kind and selfless, though life does not always go their way. They are intelligent, dynamic and full of ideas they want to put into practice. They are often talented, especially artistically. For them, love matters most – romantic and full of finesse.

Topaz (1 August – 20 August)

Topazes are kind and warm towards others. They value comfort and elegance and adore compliments and flattery. They have many plans and ambitions, and they often achieve what they set out to do. They know how to win over the people who matter to them.

Jadeite (21 August – 9 September)

Luck often smiles on those born under Jadeite. They are skilful diplomats and good strategists. They approach matters of the heart very soberly and usually choose strong personalities as partners. They can be self-centred, enchanted with their own virtues, and reluctant to admit defeat. They love travel and constant movement.

Carnelian (10 September – 29 September)

Carnelians have a warm disposition and plenty of common sense. They are all-round talents, blessed with innate wisdom and prudence. They sensitively steer clear of life’s difficult paths. They are communicative and open, which quickly earns them authority and recognition.

Lapis lazuli (30 September – 19 October)

Lapis lazuli people are easy-going and kind to others. They are aesthetes who love music and beautiful surroundings. They dislike dull everyday routine and quickly lose heart. They can be self-confident, even self-centred. They easily fall under the spell of others and fall in love quickly.

Opal (20 October – 8 November)

Opals are decisive, firm and sometimes downright aggressive in pursuing their goals. They want to be an authority to everyone and cannot bear opposition or indecision. They are passionate and full of temperament – if they want something, they get it. Self-assured and magnanimous, they can nonetheless lack tact and diplomacy. Opal women have strong characters and can be possessive; weak people do not attract them, and their hearts are not easily won.

Aquamarine (9 November – 28 November)

Those born under Aquamarine have complex personalities. They are courteous, kind and selfless. Feelings matter most to them – what counts is less who their partner is than whether they can respond to their emotional needs. They attach little importance to material things.

Coral (29 November – 18 December)

Corals are bold, full of verve and energy. They make decisions very quickly, and so not always wisely, but failures do not make much of an impression on them – they simply move on. A hunger for new experiences and curiosity about the world are their life’s programme. They make friends quickly and drop them just as fast. They live for today, and work is not their greatest passion.

Amethyst (19 December – 7 January)

Amethysts are marked by energy, diligence and worldly wisdom. They are good judges of people, so they often surround themselves with true friends. When they help someone, they expect the same in return. Their love life can be difficult, because they like to impose their views and find it hard to stay in a relationship. Amethyst women are usually practical and reserved, approaching everything with a certain detachment.

How should you treat the gemstone horoscope?

The Mayan gemstone horoscope is above all a beautiful, symbolic tale that links the calendar of an ancient civilisation with the charm of precious stones. You can treat it as inspiration for reflecting on your own character – or as a hint when choosing a stone that will feel especially close to you.