If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it.

November Birtthstone: Citrine Birthstone Properties: Increases creativity and feelings of joy Alternative Birthstone: Yellow Topaz

Citrine is the birthstone for November and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the 13th year of marriage. Its name comes from an old French word for lemon -- "citrin". A variety of quartz and the "sister stone" to the purple variety known as Amethyst, citrine comes in a wide range of colors. Some believe that some citrine may have actually begun as amethyst, but that nearby molten rock changed it to the yellow form of quartz.

Mined mainly in Brazil, but also found in Bolivia, citrines come in vivid yellows and oranges, and also the unusual and extremely popular "madeira red." (Citrines that are pale yellow or yellowish-brown are often mistaken for yellow or golden topaz.) Natural citrine can also be found in the Ural Mountains of Russia, in Dauphine, France, and in Madagascar

Cure-All Citrine, like all forms of quartz, was believed to have magical powers. People carried citrine as a protective talisman against the plague, bad skin and evil thoughts. It was also used as a charm against the bites of snakes and other venomous reptiles. Yellow and orange colors of the citrine gemstone were said to offer protection from dangers when traveling, to ward off evil, and to keep sickness away on land or on sea.

Through history, citrine has been used extensively in improving the function of the body's organs including the heart, liver, kidneys and digestive system. It is still used by healing practitioners to remove toxins from the body and to treat muscular disorders, as well as help stimulate healing in general. Citrine is also said to help provide relief from the effects of radiation, and to facilitate absorption of antioxidants.

Mental Health Citrine is believed to be especially powerful for stimulating one's mental capacities, thereby enhancing creativity and bolstering self-confidence. It is said that wearing citrine will improve memory, make you feel more optimistic, and give you more energy in everything you do. The magnetic powers of citrine are believed to relieve depression, fear, and give you the confidence that you need to continue with success in your life.

Giving citrine as a gift symbolizes wishes for hope and strength. Bursting with sunshine-yellow brightness, it is the ideal gemstone for helping anyone get through tough times!

Buyer's Guide A tremendous amount of citrine that is available on the market today is heat-treated amethyst. Natural citrine is much lighter than the heat-treated material which is dark orange-brown to reddish-brown in color.