Tag: Witchy Gifts

Topaz and citrine: the golden stones of November, their meaning, colour and history

The November birthstone is topaz, with citrine as its modern alternative. Both glow in the warm golds of late autumn. Here is what each stone means, where the tradition comes from, and how to choose one as a gift.

Topaz: the Traditional November Birthstone

Topaz is a hard, bright gemstone that forms in a wide range of colours. The golden and honey shades are the ones linked with November.

Topaz meaning

In crystal tradition topaz is a stone of warmth, clarity and generosity. It is often described as bringing light into the darkening part of the year, which suits a birthday month when the evenings close in.

The name

The Roman writer Pliny the Elder described a stone called topazos, named after an island in the Red Sea. Many scholars think the stone he meant was actually peridot, a green gem, and that the name only later settled on the golden stone we call topaz today. It is a good reminder that the names of stones have wandered as much as the stones themselves.

Citrine: the Modern November Birthstone

Citrine is a golden member of the quartz family. Its name comes from the French citron, meaning lemon, after its sunny colour.

Citrine meaning

• Warmth and confidence: citrine is traditionally kept as a stone of sunshine and optimism.
• Abundance: modern crystal lore calls it the merchant’s stone, which is why so many people keep a piece by the till, in a purse or on a desk.
• Solar plexus: it is linked with the solar plexus chakra, the centre of personal will.

Because citrine is quartz, it is a sensible stone for everyday handling, pockets and altars.

Where the November Birthstone Tradition Comes From

The idea of a stone for each month grew from much older lists of twelve stones, but the birthstones most people use today are surprisingly modern.

• 1912: the American jewellery trade published the first standard birthstone list, with topaz for November.
• 1937: the National Association of Goldsmiths drew up a British list, which also gives topaz.
• 1952: citrine was added to the American list as an alternative for November.

So when someone asks whether topaz or citrine is the real November birthstone, the honest answer is both: topaz is the older choice, and citrine has held an official place for more than seventy years.

Topaz or Citrine: Which to Choose

	Topaz	Citrine
Status	Traditional November birthstone	Official alternative since 1952
Colour	Honey gold, also many other shades	Lemon yellow to warm orange
Family	Its own mineral	Quartz
Traditionally linked with	Warmth, clarity, generosity	Confidence, abundance, sunshine
Best for	Fine jewellery	Crystals for the home, altar and pocket

For crystal work, raw points and tumblestones, citrine is the natural choice, and it is the November stone we stock.

November Birthday Gifts

A simple way to welcome a November birthday

1. Light a small gold or white candle on the morning of the birthday.
2. Hold a piece of citrine and name one thing you want more of in the year ahead.
3. Keep the stone where you will see it every day, such as a windowsill, desk or bedside table.

The November Birthstone and the November Star Signs

November births fall under two signs, and citrine sits comfortably with both.

Scorpio, 23 October to 21 November

Scorpio is a water sign of depth, privacy and transformation. Citrine brings a little sunshine into that intensity, which is why many Scorpios like to pair it with a darker stone such as smoky quartz or obsidian.

Sagittarius, 22 November to 21 December

Sagittarius is a fire sign of travel, learning and good humour. Citrine’s bright, outward warmth suits it naturally, and it makes a cheerful stone to carry on a journey.

Caring for Citrine

• Cleaning: wipe with a soft dry cloth, or rinse briefly in cool water and dry well.
• Light: keep it out of strong sunlight for long periods, as many people find the colour can soften over time.
• Cleansing: many people rest citrine on a selenite bowl overnight, or pass it through incense smoke.
• Storage: keep it apart from softer stones in a pouch or a lined box.

A November Altar With Citrine

November is the month the light really draws in, so a small golden altar is a lovely way to hold onto it.

1. Lay a cloth in a warm colour, such as gold, rust or deep red.
2. Place a citrine point in the centre as the focus stone, with a few tumblestones around it.
3. Add something from outside: an oak leaf, a pine cone or a sprig of rosemary.
4. Light a gold or white candle on the new moon of 9 November and set an intention for the darker months ahead.

November Birthstone Colours: More Than Gold

Ask most people the November birthstone colour and they will say golden yellow. That is the classic answer, but topaz in particular comes in far more shades than that.

Stone	Colours	Worth knowing
Topaz	Honey gold, sherry, peach, pink, pale blue and colourless	The rare orange pink shade is called imperial topaz and is the most prized.
Blue topaz	Sky blue to deep teal	Almost all blue topaz on sale starts out colourless and is treated to turn it blue.
Citrine	Pale lemon to deep amber orange	Much of the citrine sold worldwide is amethyst that has been heated.

So if you are choosing a November birthstone gift and the person prefers blue, a blue topaz is still a November stone. The golden shades are simply the traditional ones.

Natural and Heated Citrine: the Honest Answer

This is the question crystal lovers ask most, so here it is plainly. Natural citrine forms when quartz is gently warmed deep in the earth, and it is usually a soft, pale yellow or smoky honey colour. It is not common.

A great deal of the deep orange citrine on the market began as amethyst and was heated to change its colour. You can often spot it because the colour is strongest at the tips of the points and paler towards the base, the opposite of how amethyst grows.

Heated citrine is still quartz, and many people work with it happily. What matters is knowing which you are buying. The Gemological Institute of America’s November birthstone guide covers both stones and their treatments in more depth, and it is the source jewellers themselves use.

If you are unsure about a piece in our shop, ask us on a TikTok live or through Ask the Grove and we will tell you what we know about it.

Topaz or Citrine: Which Is More Valuable?

As a rule, fine topaz is worth more than citrine. Topaz is harder, at 8 on the Mohs scale against 7 for citrine, and good golden or imperial topaz is much rarer.

Citrine’s gift is that it is affordable and easy to find in larger sizes. That is why it suits points, clusters and tumblestones for the home, while topaz is mostly cut for jewellery. Neither is better in crystal practice. They simply suit different uses and budgets.

Before the Lists: the Twelve Stones

The modern birthstone lists of 1912 and 1937 grew out of a far older idea. The Book of Exodus describes a breastplate worn by the high priest Aaron, set with twelve stones for the twelve tribes of Israel.

Later writers in the first centuries of the Common Era, including the historian Josephus, linked those twelve stones to the twelve months and the signs of the zodiac. Over many centuries the habit grew of wearing the stone of the current month, and only much later of keeping one stone for the month of your birth.

The ancient stone names do not always match the modern minerals, which is why lists from different times and places disagree. The honest answer is that birthstones are a living tradition rather than a fixed ancient rule, and it has changed more than once.

Ways to Keep Your November Birthstone Close

• On your desk: a natural citrine point standing upright, a small golden light through the dark months.
• In your pocket or purse: a citrine tumblestone, smooth enough to carry every day.
• On your altar: citrine at the centre with a sunstone tower beside it, both golden stones for the returning light.
• By the window: a citrine cluster catches the low November sun, but move it out of strong light in summer so the colour stays.

November in Numerology

November is the eleventh month, and 11 is treated as a master number in numerology, a number of intuition and insight. It is also why 11 November, the 11:11 portal, is such a talked about date.

For a November birthday, many people like to add their day of birth to 11 and reduce it to a single number, then keep a citrine for the year ahead as a token of that number. It is a small, personal way to make a birthstone feel like yours.

Quick Questions About the November Birthstone

What is the November birthstone?

Topaz is the traditional November birthstone, and citrine is the official alternative.

What colour is the November birthstone?

Golden yellow to warm orange, the colours of autumn leaves and candlelight.

Is citrine a November birthstone?

Yes. Citrine was added as an alternative November birthstone in 1952.

What is the November birthstone in the UK?

The British list of 1937 gives topaz. Citrine is widely accepted in the UK as the alternative.

Which is more valuable, topaz or citrine?

Fine topaz is usually worth more, as it is harder and rarer. Citrine is more affordable and easier to find in larger crystals, which is why it suits points, clusters and tumblestones.

Is blue topaz a November birthstone?

Yes, blue topaz is still topaz, so it counts as a November stone. Golden topaz is the traditional shade, and almost all blue topaz has been treated to create its colour.

How can you tell if citrine is natural?

Natural citrine is usually pale yellow or smoky honey with even colour. Heated amethyst tends to be deep orange with the strongest colour at the tips. If in doubt, ask the seller.

What is the oldest birthstone tradition?

The idea goes back to the twelve stones of the high priest’s breastplate in the Book of Exodus, later linked to the twelve months. The modern lists date from 1912 and 1937.

The November moons, Mercury retrograde ending, the November birthstone and the first Christmas lists

Welcome to This Month’s Edit for November 2026. Everything happening this month is below, in UK time, with the stones that suit it and what to have ready before each date.

November 2026 Key Dates

Date	What happens
Until Fri 13 Nov	Mercury retrograde in Scorpio
Thu 5 Nov	Bonfire Night
Sun 8 Nov	Remembrance Sunday and the dark moon
Mon 9 Nov, 7.02am	New Moon in Scorpio
Wed 11 Nov	11:11 portal and Armistice Day
Fri 13 Nov	Mercury and Venus turn direct
Mon 16 Nov	Night of Hecate
Tue 17 into Wed 18 Nov	Leonid meteors peak
Sun 22 Nov	Sagittarius season begins
Tue 24 Nov, 2.53pm	Beaver supermoon in Gemini
Late on Wed 25 Nov	Mars moves into Virgo
Sun 29 Nov	Advent Sunday
Mon 30 Nov	Mercury leaves its shadow

Mercury Retrograde November 2026: When It Ends

Yes, Mercury is retrograde as November begins. It turned back at 20 degrees Scorpio on 24 October.

It turns direct on Friday 13 November at 5 degrees Scorpio, then clears its shadow on 30 November.

The whole cycle stays in Scorpio, so the theme is what lies under the surface: old conversations, private plans and shared money. The first half of the month is for finishing and mending. The second half is for moving on with what you have sorted.

Stones people keep close

• Sodalite for clear thinking and calm words
• Smoky quartz for a grounded, steady feeling
• Black tourmaline in quartz by the door or the router

The full guide, with what to do and what to leave, is in Mercury retrograde November 2026.

Venus turns direct the same day

Venus has been retrograde since 3 October. It turns direct at 22 degrees Libra on 13 November. One source times this on the evening of the 13th in American time, which would be the early hours of Saturday 14 November in the UK.

The slower retrogrades

Saturn and Neptune are retrograde in Aries all month and turn direct on 10 and 12 December. Uranus stays retrograde in Gemini until 8 February 2027, and Jupiter turns retrograde in Leo on 12 December. These are background notes. Mercury and Venus are the ones you will feel.

New Moon November 2026: Scorpio, Monday 9 November

The only new moon this month is exact at 7.02am on Monday 9 November, at 16 degrees Scorpio.

It lands while Mercury is still retrograde in the same sign, so it suits quiet intentions and private promises more than big launches. The night before, Sunday 8 November, is the dark moon, long kept in honour of Hecate.

Ritual, crystals and grid: New Moon in Scorpio 2026.

Full Moon November 2026: the Beaver Supermoon in Gemini

The full moon is exact at 2.53pm on Tuesday 24 November, at 2 degrees Gemini. It is one of three full supermoons this year, with a closer one to follow on 24 December.

A supermoon looks a little brighter rather than noticeably bigger. Look east around sunset on the 24th to see it rise.

The honest history: Beaver Moon is a North American name that reached British use recently. The old English name for November, recorded by Bede in the eighth century, was Blotmonath, the blood month, when animals that could not be fed through winter were slaughtered and some were offered.

Meaning and ritual: Beaver Moon 2026.

Sagittarius season from Sunday 22 November

After weeks of looking inward, the Sun’s move into Sagittarius turns attention outward: travel plans, study, generosity and the first real feeling of the festive season.

The November Birthstone: Topaz and Citrine

Topaz has been the November birthstone since the first American list of 1912, and the British list of 1937 agrees. Citrine was added as an alternative in 1952 and is now the stone most people choose, for the same golden warmth at a gentler price.

For a November birthday, our birthstone tumblestones come with citrine for November, and a natural citrine point makes a lovely gift on its own.

Meaning, history and gift ideas: November birthstone: topaz and citrine.

Sacred Nights and the Leonids

Bonfire Night, Thursday 5 November

Bonfire Night marks the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The fires of early November also sit close to much older customs of lighting fires against the dark half of the year.

Remembrance and the 11:11 portal

Remembrance Sunday on 8 November shares its day with the dark moon. On Wednesday 11 November the country falls silent at 11am, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, which is also the date many keep as the 11:11 portal. Both can be held with respect.

The Night of Hecate, Monday 16 November

16 November is kept by some people today as a Night of Hecate. It is a modern date. In ancient Athens Hecate was honoured at the dark of each moon. Read Night of Hecate 2026 for the history and a simple way to keep it.

The Leonids, 17 into 18 November

The Leonid meteor shower peaks on the night of Tuesday 17 into Wednesday 18 November, with up to around 15 meteors an hour under dark skies. The Moon sets around midnight, so the small hours are best. Our Leonid meteor shower 2026 guide has when and where to look.

Advent Sunday and the Christmas List

Advent Sunday falls on 29 November, so November is the month to sort gifts before the post gets busy.

More ideas by budget: Christmas gifts for witches UK 2026.

Moon Phases November 2026, in UK Time

Every main phase of the Moon this month, in UK clock time (GMT). Times are from the Royal Observatory Greenwich and timeanddate for London.

Phase	Date and UK time	Traditionally a time for
Last quarter	Sun 1 Nov, 8.28pm	Clearing out, finishing and letting go
Dark moon	Sun 8 Nov	Rest, reflection and Hecate’s supper
New moon in Scorpio	Mon 9 Nov, 7.02am	Quiet intentions and private promises
First quarter	Tue 17 Nov, 11.47am	Taking the first real step
Full moon in Gemini	Tue 24 Nov, 2.53pm	Saying it out loud, gratitude and release
Last quarter	Tue 1 Dec, 6.08am	Tidying up before December

A Week by Week Plan for November 2026

Week one, 1 to 8 November: finish and mend

Mercury is still retrograde and the Moon is waning. Reply to old messages, finish half done jobs and sort the paperwork you have been avoiding. Bonfire Night on the 5th is a good moment to burn a written list of what you are done with, safely, in a fire proof pot.

Week two, 9 to 15 November: plant quietly

The new moon on the 9th opens the month’s cycle, with the 11:11 portal on the 11th and both Mercury and Venus turning direct on the 13th. Set one intention and keep it to yourself for now.

Week three, 16 to 22 November: take a step

The Night of Hecate on the 16th, the first quarter Moon on the 17th and the Leonids that night all point to choosing a road and walking it. The Sun moves into Sagittarius on the 22nd, and the mood lifts outward.

Week four, 23 to 30 November: speak and celebrate

The Beaver supermoon on the 24th is the high point of the month. Say what you decided during the retrograde, give thanks, and begin the festive season with Advent Sunday on the 29th.

November on the Wheel of the Year

For many pagans the year turns at Samhain, on 31 October, into the dark half of the year. November is the first full month of that dark half, a time traditionally kept for rest, remembering and looking inward before the light returns at Yule on 21 December.

It is no accident that so many remembrance days fall in November, from All Souls on 2 November to Remembrance Sunday on the 8th. The month has long been one of honouring those who came before. A small ancestor candle on the altar is a gentle way to keep it.

November 2026 in Numerology

In numerology 2026 is a universal year 1, since 2 + 0 + 2 + 6 makes 10, which reduces to 1. It is a year of beginnings. November is the eleventh month, and 11 is a master number of intuition and insight.

Together they make November 2026 a universal month 3, a number of expression, words and creativity. That sits neatly with Mercury, planet of words, turning direct mid month, and with the full moon in talkative Gemini.

Crystals for November 2026

Moment	Stone	Why
Mercury retrograde	Sodalite	Clear thinking and calm words
New moon in Scorpio	Smoky quartz	Grounding for a deep, private new moon
November birthdays	Citrine	The modern November birthstone
Scorpio season	Scorpio crystal set	Stones traditionally paired with Scorpio
Full moon in Gemini	Gemini crystal set	Stones traditionally paired with Gemini

If you only choose one stone for the month, sodalite covers the retrograde, the 11:11 portal and the Gemini full moon, all of which turn on words and messages.

Quick Questions About November 2026

When does Mercury retrograde end in November 2026?

Friday 13 November 2026. Mercury leaves its shadow on 30 November.

When is the full moon in November 2026?

Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 2.53pm UK time, in Gemini. It is the Beaver Moon and a supermoon.

When is the new moon in November 2026?

Monday 9 November 2026 at 7.02am UK time, in Scorpio.

What is the November birthstone?

Topaz, with citrine as the modern alternative.

Watch it live on TikTok

See every piece up close on our TikTok lives at @trace.mysticgroveuk: Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 11am. Bring your questions about the retrograde, the moons or anything on your altar.

What are the moon phases in November 2026?

Last quarter on 1 November at 8.28pm, new moon on 9 November at 7.02am, first quarter on 17 November at 11.47am and full moon on 24 November at 2.53pm, all in UK time.

What is the spiritual meaning of the November full moon?

The November full moon is traditionally a time for gratitude and preparation for winter. In 2026 it falls in Gemini, so it is often read as a moment to speak plainly about what you have decided.

Is November 2026 a good month for new beginnings?

The new moon on 9 November and Mercury turning direct on the 13th make the middle of the month a natural fresh start, after the first week of finishing and mending.

Moon times are from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, in UK clock time. Meteor timings follow the Royal Observatory’s Leonid guide.

Birthstones by month, the traditional gems and the crystals you can hold today

Everyone has a birthstone, but not everyone wants a diamond, a ruby or a sapphire on a Tuesday afternoon. This guide to birthstones by month gives you the traditional gem for every month, where those lists actually came from, and the crystal or tumblestone that carries the same colour and story for a pound or two.

Birthstones by month at a glance

Here is the whole year in one place. The first column is the traditional gem most people know. The second is the crystal we suggest starting with, chosen because it is either on an official birthstone list already or shares the colour and character of the gem. The third shows the star signs that fall in each month, because your birthstone and your zodiac crystals are two different things, and most people only ever hear about one of them.

• January: Garnet. Start with garnet itself, or red jasper. Capricorn and Aquarius.
• February: Amethyst. Start with amethyst. Aquarius and Pisces.
• March: Aquamarine or bloodstone. Start with Dragon Bloodstone. Pisces and Aries.
• April: Diamond or rock crystal. Start with clear quartz. Aries and Taurus.
• May: Emerald or chrysoprase. Start with green aventurine. Taurus and Gemini.
• June: Pearl or moonstone. Start with moonstone. Gemini and Cancer.
• July: Ruby or carnelian. Start with carnelian. Cancer and Leo.
• August: Peridot or sardonyx. Start with prasiolite. Leo and Virgo.
• September: Sapphire or lapis lazuli. Start with lapis lazuli. Virgo and Libra.
• October: Opal or tourmaline. Start with pink tourmaline or rose quartz. Libra and Scorpio.
• November: Topaz or citrine. Start with citrine. Scorpio and Sagittarius.
• December: Tanzanite or turquoise. Start with lapis lazuli. Sagittarius and Capricorn.

Where birthstones really come from

The story usually starts with the breastplate of Aaron in the Book of Exodus, set with twelve stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. In the first century the historian Josephus linked those twelve stones to the twelve months and the twelve signs of the zodiac. Later, St Jerome suggested the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem would suit Christians just as well.

That is the ancient root, but it is a long way from a jeweller’s window. Nobody agrees exactly when people began wearing one stone for their birth month. The gem writer George Kunz placed the custom in eighteenth century Poland. The Gemological Institute of America puts it earlier, in Germany in the 1560s. What is certain is that the modern lists have very little to do with the breastplate at all.

The list most websites copy is American. In August 1912 the National Association of Jewelers met in Kansas City and adopted an official list, and it has been revised several times since, with tanzanite added to December in 2002. Britain has its own version. The National Association of Goldsmiths drew up a standard list in 1937, and the current UK list gives a second stone for several months: rock crystal in April, chrysoprase in May, carnelian in July, lapis lazuli in September and citrine in November. You can see every version side by side on the Wikipedia birthstone page.

The British list already names crystals. A clear quartz point is an April birthstone, not a stand in for one.

Why a crystal can carry your birthstone

Birthstone lists were written by jewellers, so they lean towards stones that sell well in a ring. That is fair enough, but it means a lot of people assume their birthstone is out of reach. It is not. The UK list itself offers a crystal option in five months, and the older traditions were always about colour first. Before anyone could test a stone in a laboratory, a red stone was a red stone, and a green stone was a green stone.

So we have matched each month in two ways. Where a crystal is on an official list, we say so. Where it is not, we choose the closest colour match and tell you plainly that it is a different mineral. A birthstone you can keep in a pocket, hold during a quiet moment or set on a birthday altar is worth more to most of us than one that stays in a box.

Your birthstone month by month

Winter birthstones

January: garnet

Deep red garnet has been January’s stone on every list, British and American, so this is one of the easiest months to keep traditional. Our Blood Garnet Bracelet is real garnet you can wear every day, and the Almandine Garnet Sphere in Matrix is the showpiece version for a shelf or altar.

If you would like a tumblestone, red jasper shares the same earthy red and sits in our Crystals for Grounding tumbles. It is a jasper rather than a garnet, but it suits a month spent getting through the cold and dark. You can now choose red jasper as January in our Birthstone Tumblestones.

February: amethyst

Amethyst is February’s stone on every list, so the tumblestone is the traditional birthstone in its simplest form. Choose February in our Birthstone Tumblestones. Amethyst has long been linked with clear thinking and calm, and the Greek name itself means “not intoxicated”.

December: tanzanite, turquoise and lapis lazuli

December has changed more than any other month. The 1912 American list gave turquoise and lapis lazuli. The current UK list gives tanzanite and turquoise. We suggest deep blue lapis lazuli, which has a genuine place in December’s history and is the same velvet blue as a winter night. Choose December in the Birthstone Tumblestones, or look at the Lapis Lazuli Tower and Lapis Lazuli Bracelet.

Spring birthstones

March: aquamarine and bloodstone

March has two traditional stones: pale sea blue aquamarine and dark green bloodstone with its red flecks. We do not currently stock either, so here is our honest suggestion. Dragon Bloodstone, in our Crystals for Confidence and Crystals for Grounding tumbles, has the same green and red colouring as bloodstone. It is a different mineral, a mix of green epidote and red piemontite, so treat it as a colour companion for March rather than the classic stone. It is now March in our Birthstone Tumblestones too.

April: diamond and rock crystal

This is the month that surprises people most. The UK list names rock crystal alongside diamond, and rock crystal is simply the old name for clear quartz. So an April birthday can be marked with a clear quartz tumblestone from the Birthstone Tumblestones, a Clear Quartz Point or a Clear Quartz Palm Stone, and it is every bit as traditional as the diamond.

May: emerald and chrysoprase

May belongs to green: emerald on every list, and apple green chrysoprase on the UK list. Our suggestion is green aventurine, which shares that fresh spring green and has a soft shimmer in the light. You will find it as a tumble in Crystals for Luck, and as a Green Aventurine Tower or Green Aventurine Bracelet. It is a colour match rather than an emerald, and a lovely one. It is also May in our Birthstone Tumblestones.

Summer birthstones

June: pearl and moonstone

June is one of the few months where a crystal has been on the list since 1912. Moonstone sits alongside pearl on both the American and British lists, so a moonstone tumble from the Birthstone Tumblestones is fully traditional. For something larger, the Moonstone Sphere and Rainbow Moonstone Tower both catch the light beautifully.

July: ruby and carnelian

Ruby is the headline stone, but the UK list gives carnelian too, the warm orange red stone worn as seals and amulets since the ancient world. Choose July in the Birthstone Tumblestones, or look at the Carnelian Druzy Palm Stone and Carnelian Sphere.

August: peridot and sardonyx

Peridot is the olive green gem of August. We suggest prasiolite, sometimes called green amethyst, as a gentle colour match. It is a quartz rather than a peridot, and we are happy to say so, but its soft green sits well with the late summer month. Choose August in the Birthstone Tumblestones.

Autumn birthstones

September: sapphire and lapis lazuli

Sapphire is the famous one, but the UK list gives lapis lazuli as September’s second stone, so the deep blue tumble is a true birthstone here. Choose September in the Birthstone Tumblestones, or the Lapis Lazuli Sphere for a centrepiece.

October: opal and tourmaline

October has opal on every list and tourmaline on the American one, so a pink tourmaline is a real October birthstone. Our Pink Tourmaline Tower is a single statement piece. For an everyday stone, choose October in the Birthstone Tumblestones, which gives you rose quartz in the same soft pink. A quick word on opalite: it is a lovely glass, not an opal, and we would always rather you knew. There is more on this month in our October birthstone edit.

November: topaz and citrine

Golden topaz is the traditional gem, and the UK list gives citrine alongside it, so citrine is a genuine November birthstone. Choose November in the Birthstone Tumblestones, or see our Citrine Point. Much of the bright yellow citrine sold today is heat treated amethyst. Natural citrine is usually paler and smokier, and both have their place as long as they are described honestly.

Birthstone or star sign? Use both

Here is the part most birthstone guides leave out. Your birth month and your star sign do not line up. Signs change around the twentieth of each month, so someone born on 25 March has March’s birthstone but is an Aries, not a Pisces. That gives every one of us two sets of stones to work with: one from the calendar and one from the sky.

Pairing them makes a thoughtful birthday gift. Choose the birthstone tumble for the month, then add the zodiac set for the sign. Our Zodiac Tumblestone Sets at £9.99 bring together several stones traditionally linked to each sign, and the Zodiac Crystal Sets with Selenite at £11.99 add a selenite piece to rest them on.

• Aries, 21 March to 19 April: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Taurus, 20 April to 20 May: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Gemini, 21 May to 20 June: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Cancer, 21 June to 22 July: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Leo, 23 July to 22 August: set with selenite
• Virgo, 23 August to 22 September: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Libra, 23 September to 22 October: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Scorpio, 23 October to 21 November: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Sagittarius, 22 November to 21 December: set with selenite
• Capricorn, 22 December to 19 January: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Aquarius, 20 January to 18 February: tumblestone set or set with selenite
• Pisces, 19 February to 20 March: tumblestone set or set with selenite

Exact sign dates shift by a day from year to year, so if a birthday falls right on the change, a birth chart will tell you which side of the line it lands. Our guide to the zodiac signs and their planetary rulers goes further into each sign.

How to work with your birthstone

The traditional way is the simplest. Birthstones were worn or carried, close to the body, as a personal token for the year. You can do exactly that: keep the tumblestone in a pocket or purse, wear it as a bracelet, or keep it on a bedside table.

• Cleanse it first. Rest it on selenite overnight, leave it in moonlight on a windowsill, or pass it through incense smoke.
• Set an intention. Hold the stone and say aloud what you would like the coming year to bring. Some people like to write it down and keep the stone on top of the paper.
• Mark your birthday. Place your birthstone and your zodiac stones together on a small altar on the day itself, with a candle, and take a quiet moment before the celebrations start.
• Revisit it each month. Hold it, notice how it feels in your hand, and let it remind you of the intention you set.

If you are creating a crystal grid for the year ahead, a birthstone makes a natural centre. Our solar return crystal grids guide shows how to build one around your birthday.

The October birthstone, the Hunter’s Moon, Samhain and the first quiet Christmas lists

Welcome to This Month’s Edit, your guide to the weeks ahead at Mystic Grove. October brings the October birthstone, a New Moon in Libra, the Hunter’s Moon, the clocks going back and Samhain at the turn of the month. Here is what is coming, the stones that suit it, and what to have ready before each date arrives.

The October birthstone: opal and tourmaline

October is one of only a few months with two birthstones. Opal is the traditional October birthstone, and tourmaline is the modern alternative. The birthstone lists most of us use today are surprisingly recent: American jewellers agreed a standard list in 1912, giving October both opal and tourmaline, and British goldsmiths published their own list in 1937. The idea behind them is far older, going back to the twelve stones of the high priest’s breastplate in the Book of Exodus, which the first century historian Josephus linked to the twelve months and the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Opal

Opal is silica that holds water inside its structure, and the flashes of colour come from light bending through tiny ordered spheres within the stone. It has long been linked with hope, imagination and emotional honesty. Precious opal is a fine jewellery stone, which is why we name it here as the traditional October birthstone rather than as a shop piece.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline comes in more colours than almost any other mineral, often several in a single crystal. Pink tourmaline is the October favourite, associated with gentleness and an open heart, while black tourmaline is one of the best known protection stones of all. For an October birthday, a pink tourmaline tower makes a special gift, and a tourmaline in quartz bracelet is an everyday way to carry the October birthstone. Rough black tourmaline rounds off the set for the protection lovers.

New Moon in Libra: Saturday 10 October

The first new moon of the month falls in Libra at 4.50pm. Libra is the sign of balance, partnership and fairness, so this is a gentle moment to set intentions about relationships, harmony at home and the give and take in your own life. Good stones to sit with are rose quartz for kindness and rhodonite for mending what has frayed. The Libra crystal zodiac set gathers the sign’s stones together, and the Libra zodiac candle with bracelet is a lovely gift for a Libra birthday.

A simple new moon practice: hold one stone in each hand, ring a bell once, and in the quiet after the sound say aloud one thing you want more balance in. Write it in your journal and keep the stones by your bed until the full moon.

Scorpio season and the clocks going back

On 23 October the Sun moves into Scorpio, the sign of depth, transformation and things beneath the surface. Two days later, on 25 October, the clocks go back and the dark evenings arrive in earnest. It is a natural time to turn inward: longer candlelit evenings, journalling and slower rituals.

For Scorpio birthdays, the Scorpio crystal zodiac set, the Scorpio set with selenite and the Scorpio zodiac candle with gemstone bracelet are all ready to wrap.

The Hunter’s Moon in Taurus: Monday 26 October

The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon, and its name comes from the old idea of hunting by moonlight once the fields were cleared. This year it is full at 4.12am in Taurus, the morning after the clocks change, so the best views are on the evenings of Sunday 25 and Monday 26 October.

Taurus is an earth sign that loves comfort, the senses and what we value. A Taurus full moon is a time to give thanks for what you have, and to notice what you are holding on to out of habit. Leave your stones out on the windowsill overnight if you like to moon charge them, and keep amethyst and rose quartz out of strong daytime sun afterwards, since they can fade.

Samhain: Saturday 31 October

The month closes with Samhain, the old turning point into the dark half of the year, kept today by people of many paths. Our full Samhain guide covers the honest history, how to say the word, the stones for the season and a gentle home ritual of candlelight and spoken names: Samhain meaning, history and a home ritual.

For the altar, the season’s stones are black obsidian, Whitby jet and smoky quartz, with our raven skull carvings as quiet guardians. Or take the whole altar in one: the Samhain crystal set holds seven stones and a grid card, ready to lay out on the night. Order by around 21 October to have everything in good time.

Bonfire Night: Thursday 5 November

The fires of early November have a long history in these islands, from the Samhain bonfires lit on hilltops in Ireland and Scotland to the bonfires of Guy Fawkes Night, kept since the early 1600s. If you mark the night quietly at home, a candle and a warm, fiery stone such as carnelian or red jasper carry the spirit of the evening. For pets who dislike the fireworks, a calm corner with a soft blanket helps far more than anything on a shelf.

Starting the Christmas list, quietly

It is early, but the most thoughtful gifts are the ones chosen without a rush. A few favourites for stockings and small presents:

• Angel number crystal balls, each number with its own meaning
• Crystal angel figurines in a choice of stones
• The Magic Spell Candle Jar Gift Set
• A brass singing bowl gift set, a gift you can hear
• Zodiac candles with bracelets for every sign

Next month’s edit will be all about Christmas, from the Christmas table to stones for every person on your list, so this is a good moment to start a note of who loves what.

Watch it live on TikTok

Every piece in this edit can be seen up close on our TikTok lives at @trace.mysticgroveuk, every Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 11am. Bring your questions about the October birthstone, the moon or anything on your altar, and they may end up answered here in Ask the Grove.

Moon times in this edit are from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, given in UK clock time.