Greetings, Beloved GemPowerment Family! I love when Guidance throws us something from left field! Today’s post is about the metalloid, Germanium (Ge).
This grayish and rare element is 32 on the Periodic Table, and part of Group 14 – The Carbon Family, which includes Carbon (C), Silicon (Si), Tin (Sn), and Lead (Pb). Elements in the same group often display similar bonding characteristics, due to their outer electronic shells having the same configuration. Like Silicon, one of its sisters in this group, Germanium is considered not *quite* a metal, due to its resistance to electrical conductivity vs. true metals, thus it is named a semi-conductor. Germanium is used commercially in transistors and integrated circuits. People used to take this element as a nutritional supplement to kill certain bacteria, but that was back in the “old days” and its prowess in this regard has not been proven. One of the most recent applications of Germanium is in the product Argentium Silver, in which some of the Copper in Sterling Silver (at least 92.5% pure Silver), is replaced by Germanium. This offers a resistance to oxidation as it is “lighter” than the other metals (being a metalloid) and it floats the the surface to provide a protective coating by forming Germanium Oxide, vs. the Cuprous Oxide, which is what tarnishes traditional Sterling Silver. This also has the effect of reducing fire scale when one is Silversmithing, because it reduces the availability of native Oxygen.
You’re probably thinking what I was thinking when this came up, “This is neat information, but what does it mean?” The message I received is about asking what are the little adjustments we can make in our lives that will improve things and make them less apt to tarnish? How can we slightly change the way we look at things, believe in things, do things, etc., that are outside of the traditional way, which will allow things to flow more naturally and give us better energy and endurance, using what is currently available to us as a resource? The thing about Germanium is that it’s very rarely found on its own, but is usually found as part of Silver, Lead, and Copper ores. This is why it was discovered only very recently in 1886 vs. these other metals which have been known since the beginning of the Metal Age. Another really interesting thing is use of Germanium in glass for clarity outside the visible light spectrum. Lenses made with Germanium that are opaque in visible light are completely clear in Infrared light. Again, this is Spirit asking us to consider altering our view to widen our field of view and perhaps consider something new.
The Deva of Germanium says, “I am your Guide in the Elemental Kingdom to open to new possibilities and see what has not been possible to perceive before. Ask me for assistance when you would like to pursue a new aspect of your current processes on the selected level on how to improve something with only slight, but very important changes. As this is an alchemical process, know that I work with Master Merlin, and we can offer assistance as a team.”
Submitted in Loving Service,
Lisa – GemPowerment Gemagician ♥