Welcome to Gaia! ::

Larimar - The Stone

Larimar (misspelled: lorimar), also called "Stefilia's Stone", is a rare blue variety of pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. Its coloration varies from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue.

The radiant blue color and the beach where it was first seen gave rise to the belief that the Larimar stone is the remains of Atlantis, the lost continent. Hence, Larimar is also referred to as the Atlantis Stone.

History
The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Mining records that on 22 November 1916 Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren of the Barahona Parish requested permission to explore and exploit the mine of a certain blue rock he had discovered. Pectolites were not yet known in the Dominican Republic and the request was rejected.

In 1974, at the foot of the Bahoruco Range, the coastal province of Barahona, Miguel Méndez and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling rediscover Larimar on a beach. Natives, who believed the stone came from the sea, called the gem Blue Stone. Miguel took his young daughter's name Larissa and the Spanish word for sea (mar) and formed Larimar, by the colors of the water of the Caribbean Sea, where it was found. The few stones they found were alluvial sediment, washed into the sea by the Bahoruco River. An upstream search revealed the in situ outcrops in the range and soon the Los Chupaderos mine was formed.

Geology
Larimar is a variety of pectolite, or a rock composed largely of pectolite, an acid silicate hydrate of calcium and sodium. Although pectolite is found in many locations, none have the unique volcanic blue coloration of larimar. This blue color, distinct from that of other pectolites, is the result of cobalt substitution for calcium.

Miocene volcanic rocks, andesites and basalts, erupted within the limestones of the south coast of the island. These rocks contained cavities or vugs which were later filled with a variety of minerals including the blue pectolite. These pectolite cavity fillings are a secondary occurrence within the volcanic flows, dikes and plugs. When these rocks erode the pectolite fillings are carried downslope to end up in the alluvium and the beach gravels. The Bahoruco River carried the pectolite bearing sediments to the sea. The tumbling action along the streambed provided the natural polishing to the blue larimar which makes them stand out in contrast to the dark gravels of the streambed.

Los Chupaderos
The most important outcrop of blue pectolite is located at Los Chupaderos, in the section of Los Checheses, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city of Barahona, in the south-western region of the Dominican Republic. It is a single mountainside now perforated with approximately 2,000 vertical shafts, surrounded by rainforest vegetation and deposits of blue-colored mine tailings.

Jewelry
Larimar jewelry is offered to the public in the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere in the Caribbean as a local speciality. Most jewelry produced is set in silver, but sometimes high-grade larimar is also set in gold. It also has become available elsewhere. Some Far-East manufacturer have started to use it in their production and buy large quantities of raw stones as long as this is still permitted.

Quality grading is according to coloration and the typical mineral crystal configuration in the stone. Larimar also comes in green and even with red spots, brown strikes etc. due to other matters and / or oxidation. But the more intense the blue, and the contrasts in the stone, the higher and rarer is the quality. The blue color is photosensitive and fades with time if exposed to too much light and heat.

Specifications
* Name: Larimar
* Family: Pectolite
o Variety of: Pectolite, NaCa2Si3O8(OH)
* Composition: Hydrated sodium calcium silicate with manganese
* Origin: Barahona, Dominican Republic, La Hispaniola, Caribbean
* Hardness: 4.5-5
* Color: varies between white, light blue, sky blue, green-blue, and deep blue
* Uses: ornamental stone and semi-precious stone
* Cleavage: perfect in two directions, but not seen in this compact form
* Crystal System: triclinic

Proprieties
Not only is Larimar beautiful to look at, many people believe it to have a spiritual effect.

In metaphysical circles Larimar is considered to have potent healing powers, and a general well-being as well as positive auras have been reported by various people when holding or wearing Larimar. (Notwithstanding, none of these reports have been scientifically and medically verified.)

Larimar is said to help us to view events from a different perspective; it softens, enlightens and heals in a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual way, stimulates the heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras facilitating inner wisdom and outer manifestation. It represents peace and clarity radiating healing and love energy. It is recommended for people who are stressed.

Power of the gemstone is perfectly expressed whenever and wherever the person wears Larimar – perhaps in the form of jewelry, frequently in direct contact with the skin, or when it is placed near the person, for example in the pocket or under the pillow.

Larimar is thought to supports the healing process (thymus), soothe and uplift hurt, fear, depression, pain of life and changes with love. It pleasantly uplifts the heart and eases stress. Larimar facilities control of the emotions without repression.

It helps self-expression, patience, ability to be accepting, simplicity, creativity and artwork.

AU :: Ankou, the Spirit Guide

A well known figure from Brynhildr's past, indeed. Her beloved Lord and Master of old. Though distant and withdrawn, the Spirit Guide never forced her to be anything else that what she was - and to be anything else than what she would be. While not as personally close to their lord than Hrist, the valkyrie commander, her faith in Ankou was immense. When he faded, she had nothing else to live for.

But yet, death is never truly the end, is it ?

Eventually, the leftover strands of his mana was re-gathered by the Twin Crown, and he too was reborn - though a mortal shell. Eventually, he took over his host, and then recently ascended to something much closer to his former glory.

But the valkyries were not the only ones that had changed. Brynhildr will find a much different Lord awakening her - yet, deep in her heart, he is still the only thing she needs, and the one thing the wanted and needed the most.

IC :: Lenneth

Lenneth Armanda is not your typical 17 years old young lady. (though she certainly looks the part). She can see ghosts, you see. (And no, they're not all like Casper the friendly ghosts. Dicks.) This has certainly made her more superstitious peers afraid of her, and even in a world like Gaia, that fact, along with her shyness, leaves her a bit in between a rock and a hard place - feared and rejected by 'normals', and not 'special' enough to truly get the interest of any of the more supernatural beings roaming the streets. She is ultimately nice, but skittish, shy, and with a low self-esteem.

She is rather talented, however - she isn't shy and skittish enough that she can't interact with people, though she might be a little distracted. She's very good with numbers, and excels at tarot reading - though that's not exactly something she flaunts, even though there's almost always a deck in her purse. The reason to this is that Lenneth's high awareness of the spiritual also allows her to charge the cards with her own energy, which she might then throw to defend herself. (Hey, Gambit did it and it was awesome, okay ?)

She moved from her small town after graduating - wanting a new start, somewhere where people don't quite know how weird she actually is and where she actually thinks she might have a chance of making friends and living somewhat normally. However, that's all well and good, but she will need a job...

And one day, her steps will lead her to a certain jewelry store...