tThe most popular June birthstone is the elegant and simple pearl. Unlike other birthstones, it comes from a living organism, which makes it unique in its own right. In general, the June birthstone is a powerful reminder that beauty and wisdom can be drawn from experience, and can help provide calm and enhance one’s intuitive knowledge during times of conflict.
According to multiplayer healing practitioner and Reiki master Laura Ellis, a crystal expert with over 15 years of experience, it can also help ease the transition from Gemini to Cancer season. “Incorporating these gems during June will help during the transition through the intermittent Gemini season and the beginning of the emotionally sensitive Cancer season,” which astrologer Christina Varela previously told Well + Good would “spur a lot of searching within.”
June Birthstone Characteristics: The pure, wise, and elegant pearl
- birthstone color: diverse
- an item: Metal
- planet: moon
- chakra: Crown
- Origin: diverse
Most gems are formed in the inner worlds of the Earth by extreme pressure and intense heat. However, pearls are produced by mollusks, and are essentially a by-product that occurs when an irritant, such as a grain of sand or a parasite, enters the mollusk’s mantle. As a means of protection, the mollusk secretes a calcium carbonate called nacre or mother-of-pearl—the same iridescent substance that makes up its shell. It encapsulates the intruder in layer upon layer of nacre, and over the course of several years, a lustrous pearl can result.
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Since natural pearls are hard to come by, people have turned to making cultured pearls, which involves methods that mimic the process that occurs in nature. According to the Gemological Institute of America, there are four common types of cultured pearls, all of which are sourced from different parts of the world, including China, Japan, Australia, Tahiti, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Pearls can also come in a range of colors, though they’re usually associated with white or cream tones—in any case, they’ll always be highlighted by an iridescent sheen.
The meaning of the birthstone and the symbolism of the pearl
Pearls are believed to have vital properties since ancient times. Greek mythology believed that Aphrodite threw pearls, which symbolized love and femininity. In Chinese tradition, pearls have been associated with wisdom, spiritual energy, and strength, while Western cultures have long regarded pearls as a symbol of humility and purity.
“Pearl reminds us that beautiful things can come from discomfort.” —Laura Ellis, multiplayer therapy practitioner, and Reiki master
Today, pearls continue to retain their indescribable allure—if not for their iridescent beauty, then for what they have come to symbolize. “The pearl reminds us that beautiful things can come from discomfort,” says Ellis, recalling the years-long process of making a pearl from a mollusk. It’s also helpful in calming tension and negativity that may arise, she says, and provides “a loving, caring energy” to energize you in times of conflict. According to Maria K. Lyons, Astara Founder, Reiki Master, and Crystal Healer, gemstones also serve as an energizing reminder that “pearls of wisdom” can be drawn from experience.
Lions, who also happen to be Gemini themselves, say that Gemini born in June can harness the energetic powers of the pearl. Quick, engaging, and intelligent, “They are intuitive communicators who can translate high-concept ideas into concrete ones,” she says, a notable skill that is a core among Gemini traits. “The pearl helps Gemini translate, communicate, and emanate the wisdom they have drawn from their life experiences and share that with others. It also helps Gemini process the information they receive intuitively and in their own intellectual pursuits.”
“Pearls are also associated with the moon and the different stages of femininity that women go through in the different stages that women go through in their lives, but also biologically in their lives,” Lyons says. In astrology, the Moon is the ruling planet of Cancer. A feminine force radiating passionate, introspective, and empathetic energy, the Moon reflects many Cancer personality traits. We often think of Cancer as the sign of the mother. “They’re very nurturing and delicate, and as a water sign, they’re very intuitive,” Lyons says, and pearl can bring out Cancer’s full feminine and intuitive abilities. “It helps enhance their capacities for recovery, nurturing, and motherhood, whether they are project mothers, plant mothers, mothers of children, or help birth different creations into the world,” she says.
Because pearls can help one gather information and tap into their intuitive knowledge, they are also commonly associated with the crown chakra, Lyons says. Known in Sanskrit as Sahasrara Or the “thousand-petalled lotus chakra,” it is the center of enlightenment, “connecting you to your spirit, higher self, purpose, universe, source, and deity,” as Reiki practitioner Serena Boone formerly said Well + Good.
Another thing that sets pearls apart from other birthstones is their healing properties. “In Chinese medicine, they have been used for thousands of years,” says Elizabeth Trattner, MD, integrative and crystal medicine expert, AP. “They can be taken orally for their mineral and amino acid profile, and they can be used topically to reduce scarring,” she says, citing one study from 2021 that confirmed the gem’s benefits.
Is there more than one birthstone for June?
According to the Standard Birthstone List of American Jewelers, alexandrite and moonstone are also listed as the June birthstones, but the pearl is thought to be the “main” stone. “Alexandrite is a very rare stone—rare than diamond—found in Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Africa,” says Ellis, adding that it is “dichroic, which means it changes colors depending on where the light comes from; it’s green in natural light and turns red in light industrial.” According to Ellis, it is said to promote physical and spiritual balance, bring joy and luck, and help one accept and embrace change.
Moonstone is a feldspar mineral that comes in a range of hues, from translucent to colorless and white with blue, silver, or white iridescence that looks like moonbeams. It serves as an active reminder of purpose. “From more mindful daily decisions to larger life changes, this crystal offers you support and guidance to help you live a purposeful life,” crystal expert Heather Askinosi, co-founder of Energy Muse, previously told Well + Good. Particularly, she says, people born under Gemini and Cancer can benefit from moonstone, as “both Gemini and Cancer signs tend to have a strong drive to connect with their purpose.”
What are birthstones?
Birthstones are gemstones that represent a person’s birth month or zodiac sign. Their origins are believed to date back to biblical times, and the twelve gems found on Aaron’s shield in the Book of Exodus were linked by the first-century historian Flavius Josephus with the months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac. However, the custom of wearing gems every month did not begin until around the fifteenth or sixteenth century in Germany or Poland. Birthstones are also found in eastern culture. The Ratna Pariksha, a fifth-century Hindu text, associated specific gems with deities, celestial bodies, and days of the week, while Vedic astrologers recommend certain gems to individuals based on their astrological birth chart.
In 1912, the Association of the American Council of Jewelers (currently known as American Jewelers) created a standardized list of birthstones for the United States. This list was updated by the Jewelry Industry Council of America and later by the Gemological Trade Association of America to include new types of birthstones for specific months of the year.
An overview of the birthstones for each month of the year
Want to choose a crystal that matches your birth month? Here is a quick overview of the birthstones for each month of the year:
- January Birthstone: Agate
- February Birthstone: Amethyst
- March Birthstone: Peridot and Bloodstone
- April birthstone: Diamond
- May Birthstone: Emerald
- June Birthstone: Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone
- July Birthstone: Ruby
- August Birthstone: Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx
- September Birthstone: Sapphire
- October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline
- November Birthstone: Topaz and Citrine
- December Birthstone: Tanzanite, Turquoise, and Zircon
Frequently asked questions about the June birthstone
What is the true birthstone for June?
There are three birthstones for June—pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone—but pearl is considered the traditional birthstone for the month.
What does the June birthstone represent?
The pearl can represent several things. In Chinese tradition, they symbolized wisdom, spiritual energy, and strength, while in Western cultures they were associated with purity and humility. Pearls have also been associated with the Moon, which in astrology is considered a feminine force with nourishing energy.
What are Gemini birthstones?
Geminis born in June have three birthstones – pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone. Geminis in May have the emerald as their birthstone.
