Daily Meditation: Friday, August 27, 1999

Precious metals and precious stones belong to the element …

08/27/1999

Precious metals and precious stones belong to the element earth. They are of the earth but of a transformed, sublimated earth, a quintessence of all that is most pure in it. And because they represent the work of the earth, precious stones have been chosen as the symbols of the virtues human beings attain by working on their own matter. The custom of using precious stones to adorn the clothes of priests and the crowns of kings stems from the knowledge of this symbolism. They represent the qualities and virtues these people must possess in order to carry out their duty with dignity. And each virtue is associated with a stone: wisdom with topaz, peace and harmony with sapphire, love with ruby, etc. But let us not be waylaid by wondering whether these priests and kings deserve to wear all these precious stones. It is the symbolism that counts. Yes, if the terrestrial kings, if the popes and cardinals wear ornaments of precious stones on their heads, it is because the crown of the supreme Master of Creation is adorned with precious stones, and these stones are the angels, the archangels, the divinities, etc.