Zen Gem: Turquoise
· colored pencil drawing zen gem zentangle 
Turquoise. If you ask Google to show you images of turquoise stones, you‘re going to see a very wide range of colors and a large range of markings. This is because these stones are found all over the world, and each location has it‘s own special characteristics. This stone has long been used for protection against traumatic injuries. It was thought that the stone would shatter, thus warning the wearer of imminent physical danger. It was also used to decorate the bridles of horses, to protect them against broken bones from falls. Among the Native Americans of the Southwestern United States, Turquoise is believed to be a connector of Earth and Sky. It is one of the four “elemental” gemstones of the Pueblos; (the others are coral, jet and abalone shell). This is considered to be one of the Birthstones for December.