There’s something quietly softening about October. The light changes, the air cools, and the world feels like it’s moving into a gentler season. If you’ve ever wondered what is the real birthstone for October? The answer is actually two: Opal and Tourmaline. While Opal is known for its shimmering play of colours, I want to focus on Pink Tourmaline, the one I use in my jewellery designs, and the one I have a very personal connection to.
October Birthstone Colour and Meaning
Pink Tourmaline is the October birthstone most often associated with emotional healing, self-love, and compassion. Its rich pink hues, sometimes soft, sometimes vivid like a sunset sky, feel like a reminder to be tender with ourselves, to soften the edges, and to move through change with kindness.
A Glimpse into Pink Tourmaline’s History & Lore
Tourmaline has been valued for centuries, not just for its colour but for its energy. Ancient stories tell of its ability to calm the heart and protect against negativity. In many cultures, it’s been seen as a stone of love and compassion, believed to open the heart to trust and healing. Opal, October’s other birthstone, carries its own magic, celebrated for its shifting rainbow of colours and seen as a symbol of creativity and inspiration. But Pink Tourmaline has always stood out as the gentler, more nurturing stone, and it’s the one I feel most drawn to.
What Pink Tourmaline Symbolises Today
In modern times, Pink Tourmaline is often thought of as a stone for the heart. It encourages balance, emotional healing, and kindness, both towards others and towards yourself.
It feels especially aligned with October, a month where the world around us is slowing down. The turning leaves, the cooler evenings, and the earlier sunsets all invite us to pause, reflect, and soften. Tourmaline’s pink colour feels like an echo of those autumn skies fuchsia tones that remind us to breathe a little deeper and move with compassion.
My Personal Connection with October’s Birthstone
October holds a lot of meaning for me personally. It’s my mum’s birthstone month, and also my son’s. That alone gives Pink Tourmaline a special place in my heart. I can’t see a vibrant pink or fuchsia sky without thinking of them both, and of the nurturing energy this stone carries.
For me, Tourmaline is a reminder that self-love isn’t selfish. It’s a necessary part of living well, of being present for ourselves and the people we care about. When I wear it or hold it close, it feels like a quiet nudge to soften my thoughts, be kinder with myself, and stay rooted in compassion.
How to Work with Pink Tourmaline
If you feel drawn to Pink Tourmaline, there’s no set way you have to use it. Here are a few simple ideas:
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Wear it as a reminder. A October birthstone necklace or ring with Pink Tourmaline can be a daily reminder of compassion, emotional healing, and self-love.
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Use it in quiet moments. Hold it during meditation, journaling, or reflection to invite gentleness, soothe emotions, and reconnect with your heart.
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Notice pink in nature. From autumn sunsets to the last blooms of the season, those soft pink and fuchsia tones mirror the nurturing energy of Tourmaline.
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Gift it with meaning. Birthstone jewellery is often chosen to mark milestones, birthdays, or new beginnings. Pink Tourmaline makes a thoughtful October gift filled with warmth and care.
A Piece of Guidance: The North Star Pendant with Tourmaline
One of my favourite designs to set with Pink Tourmaline is the North Star Pendant. This piece is about guidance and trusting your path, and when it holds Tourmaline, it feels even more powerful, like a reminder to follow your heart with compassion and courage. It’s a design that speaks to resilience, kindness, and self-trust, all qualities this birthstone carries.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not Tourmaline is your birthstone, October’s energy invites us all to soften, to be patient with ourselves, and to treat self-love as an essential, not an extra. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t about rushing, it’s about allowing.
Pink Tourmaline, with its heart-centred energy, feels like the perfect companion for this season of change. For me, it’s tied to family, to compassion, and to the beauty of slowing down. Like a pink October sky, it doesn’t need to shout to be noticed, it simply glows, steady and soft, reminding us to carry love in everything we do.
If you’d like to explore further, you can also read my other journal entry on Birthstone Jewellery or explore the full Birthstone Jewellery Collection.
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