Jyotish Star of the Month

A Conversation with Vedic Gem
Experts Terry and Shawn O'Sullivan

By Christina Collins Interview Date: May 20th 2013 Christina Collins: Where did you find yourself interested Gems and then in Vedic Gemology? Terry O�Sullivan: First, as a kid interested in geology and finding quartz rocks at a nearby creek and then years later after jewelry school. We started studying Vedic sciences and meditation in our later teen years and loved the interconnectedness of the planets, gems and metals. In the early 1980�s we began filling �gem prescriptions� from Vaidyas and Jyotishis. Shawn & I loved Vedic literature and we�ve both amassed quite a library over the years. Shawn O'Sullivan: I think most kids have that innate love of shiny rocks. I certainly did and it was easily cultured as both of our parents were involved in the jewelry trade. I recall being awed by the Saints and Gurus wearing mala bead necklaces around their necks. In 1986, on our first of many trips to India, we were inspired to start studying Jyotish (Eastern or Vedic astrology). It was a clarifying experience that gave us a fuller understanding of the influence of gemstones. Christina: Where did you grow up, and what brought you to and kindled your devotion to your spiritual path? Terry: We grew up in Wyncote, a suburb of Philadelphia, in a Catholic family of eight. When we were 8-10 years old, Shawn and I used to sit in �lotus� or �sitting Indian style�, as we used to call it. We would stare at a candle and have a �punk� (incense) burning � in an effort to meditate. Years later I was moved by a Buddhist Monk who spoke at Allentown College at a Comparative Religion & Philosophy course I was taking. A short time later Shawn & Marian (now his wife) learned TM (Transcendental Meditation) and I was inspired to also learn. I loved the ease of the practice and its immediate results and we all went to Belgium to become TM teachers. Shawn: We grew up in the Northeast burbs of Philly. Our parents were very devout Catholics and a strong sense of spirituality was always present in all of their 8 children. We delved into books on yoga in our early teens and initiated into meditation at age 19. Christina: What teacher(s) inspired you, mentored you, or have been your strongest support along the way? Terry: I would say having a twin brother, a �best� friend, who is always there -- we shared the roles of teacher and student, having the greatest influence in our growing-up years and continuing even today. Tony Frattone of Frattone Jewelers was our mentor during and after jewelry school. We learned from many jewelers and gem dealers over the years but he stands out. We also studied many years with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and learned much about Vedic Literature and Vedic Sciences and traveled to India several times researching gems and their historical references. Shawn: In the field of jewelry and gemstones, we had one of the finest teachers, Mr. A.C. (Tony) Frattone. He was our family jeweler who was a mural artist, watchmaker, jeweler, and was a perfectionist. In the field of Astrology, I have found and continue to find inspiration from a wide array of spiritual teachers. It was in 1974, while studying to become a teacher of meditation in Belgium that I first heard the word "Jyotish" uttered by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. I was fortunate to have studied with many brilliant luminaries but I would name Hart deFouw and the late Narendra Desai as the two of my many teachers that influenced me the most. Christina: What advice would you give that could be helpful for students regarding Gems and Vedic Astrology? Do you find more people recommend the gems for the benefics in the chart, or the hungry tiger theory where you wear the stones of the enemy planet to feed it so it won�t produce harm? Terry: I think that Gems are an effective upaya, or remedial measure, for a person. Everything in creation is made up of energy � some more obvious or �stronger� than others. The Gems used for Vedic recommendations have to be natural, of a certain size, well cut and shaped, ideally flawless or free from certain inclusions, and of a certain color. As gemologists we grade �color� in 3 areas � hue, tone and saturation. We then look at clarity, cut and brilliance. For Jyotish, the gems then have to be set in a particular metal, for a particular finger and hand, set to touch the skin, on a particular day, preferably during a waxing moon, with certain mantras, and with good intentions. I find people generally are being told to wear the gems for the benefics in their chart, but occasionally �feeding the hungry tiger� recommendations come in too. It really depends on the individual chart and the Vedic astrologer. Understanding that we are all �energy�, we find ourselves in harmony with certain places, or people or things and the properly prescribed gem should produce a resonance and harmony with the wearer. Shawn: This is a great question! There are many answers as to why one would recommend the wearing of a certain gem or multiple gemstone combinations. I am fond of the �strengthen the benefics with gemstones and pacify the malefics with propitiation� approach. The most important advice I can offer is that one should always �test drive� the stone to make sure that they feel �at home� with it. Many people feel a difference even within a few hours�for the positive or even the negative. Some reactions may be very noticeable while others may just feel subtle. Bottom line: Feel it out for yourself! Christina: Yes, I agree with that myself. I advise wearing the stone adhered with porous surgical tape for various periods of time, and in the case of some stones, putting it under your pillow for a night and observing your dreams if any. Every case, as you know is different, just as every Jyotish chart is unique. I also sometimes recommend that people visit a chiropractor or other professional to get "muscle tested" holding the stone, to see how they react to a gem at a subtle level. Please tell us a little bit about your own writing, do you have books, either that you have written, or that you recommend to help the aspiring student? Do you plan this for the future? Terry: We have given lectures on Vedic Gemology at many venues and a book has been in the works for a while. Christina � we would love to take you up on your offer to write a book on gems together! Christina: Sounds like a plan to me! What fun! Shawn: A book is in the planning stages. There are many wonderful books that I could recommend for the aspiring Jyotish student�too many to mention actually. If you can locate Light on Life by deFouw and Svoboda, grab it! There are also many brilliant books have been written by ACVA (American College of Vedic Astrology and CVA, Council of Vedic Astrology) teachers. Christina: Tell us; were there any other gem experts in your family? Or were you twins the first in the lineage? Terry: Our father was a jewelry salesman and Shawn and I became jewelers in 1980 -- then our younger sister, Mary Beth, who had just graduated with a degree in Earth Science went on to attend GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and became a Graduate Gemologist. Shawn and I later studied at GIA and also became Graduate Gemologists. My daughter Lauren is continuing the tradition. She attended GIA and then lived and worked in NY at a large diamond house for three years and then worked with me in Glenside, PA for seven years. She is now married and lives in San Francisco. Her office there is: LaurenO, Inc. An interesting note is that our Great Grandfather came over from Ireland and was a Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia until 1920. Christina: How interesting! So easy to see how your interest in Jyotish (astrology/astronomy combined) filtered down. Shawn: Yes, we are the 1st set of twins in our family. We have had many insightful Jyotish consultations as to why this has occurred. We do of course have the four family members involved in the gemstone/jewelry trade; three of them Graduate Gemologists. Christina: What do people report as the great benefits for wearing their prescribed gems? Terry: In the jewelry industry we have a common list of accepted �birthstones� which people feel is their lucky or appropriate gemstone. This list was made up in 1912 in Kansas City! When carefully explained that this Gem recommendation is their �true� and unique birthstone, there is a greater sense of appreciation and awareness of the power of their gem. Some feel it is like a kavach and provides a sense of protection; some feel healthier, some luckier. Shawn: As one understands Jyotish more and more, one can see how "fixed" one's karmas can be. Sometimes, the wearer notices dramatic influences straight away while others may feel more the influence to be more subtle. We can fill a book with anecdotal stories on this topic! Christina: And we will! Sounds like a plan to me! Tell us, did you have an Indian influence, spiritual teacher, or mentor that attracted you to Jyotish and Vedic Gemology? Terry: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi would be my main influence, as a spiritual teacher, and introducing me to Ayurveda, Jyotish, the Vedas, Upavedas and Upangas. Christina: What advice would you give to the beginner, just starting their studies in the Vedas, and learning more about gemology? Terry: I would strongly suggest a daily practice of meditation (I prefer TM) and reading Vedic literature, like the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Upanishads. Reading texts like Rig or Sama Veda is a bit challenging in that you should not try to understand it like a story, but know that the Vedas are a �blueprint� of creation and just reading them begins to structure the rhythm of Nature in your awareness. GIA offers courses in gemology that you can even do through correspondence on-line. Shawn: For any field of study: Find a good teacher! For learning more about gemstones, the most important piece of advice that I can offer is the first lesson we received when we started our �formal� studies in 1979: �Handle every gem�put it under a loupe (magnifier)�. You will soon develop a real �feel� for gems. Christina: What did you do prior to becoming a Gem Master? Did you have a different educational path, or, have you always been on your current path, from a very young age? Terry: There has always been a strong interest in science and mysticism � electronics, botany, biology, chemistry, physics, and metaphysics � from a young age. Shawn: We studied and taught Transcendental Meditation for six years prior to starting our venture into becoming jewelers and gem merchants. Christina: Would you care to share your Jyotish charts with our readers? Twin: Charts can be very insightful but I prefer to keep my chart private. Maybe some general references can be made about Gemini rising and twins. Christina: Good idea! I wrote an article on twins years ago when I was editor of the ACVA News � I�ll pull that out and update it for our readers! (Editor�s note: We interviewed each twin separately, one twin declined to share his birth data, and the other twin supplied his data � such is the yin/yang of twins -- so out of consideration for both, we have decided not to print the charts, birthday or time for either � but I must say they are blessed with beautiful charts!) Christina: Would you care to comment on being a vegetarian, or on yoga or on following an Ayurvedic diet? Terry: I haven�t eaten red meat in 40 years. I have gone through many years as strict vegetarian, 1 year doing the �raw� diet (100%), and now eat some fish and fowl. I also have practiced TM and yoga daily for 40 years. Certainly seeing an Ayurvedic physician (Vaidya) and knowing your �dosha� or constitution is helpful in determining what foods to eat or avoid, especially when the seasons change. Shawn: Eat well! Eat what is healthy! Christina: Great advice! Now I�m hungry. (Laughter) Christina: Terry, would you like to tell us something more about your and Shawn�s Gem Company? Terry: Shawn & I had an insight in the early 1980�s to �brand� our product as different from other jewelers or gem dealers. We had been receiving gem recs for Ayurvedic and Jyotish purposes and after much research, coined the term �Vedic Gems�. It had not been used prior to our use. We have held this registered trademark since 1986. Vedic is an umbrella trademark for anything in the gem or jewelry field - Vedic Gems, Gemstones, Birthstones, Jewelers, Jewelry, etc. Together, we have a company called Vedic Gem Company, that makes jewelry for Ayurvedic and Jyotish recommendations and we are also completing some designs for Vaastu jewelry. (Vedic Architecture) Most recently we are making some beautiful rare gem Ganesh pendants that are hand-carved ruby, turquoise and emerald and set in hand-made and hand-engraved 18 karat yellow gold pendant frames. Christina: Perfect! Ganesha the Protector of householders and astrologers! Christina: Shawn, do you have any conferences or events coming up? (an ACVA webinar, a gemstone event or your own webinar�s? Shawn: Not at this time�maybe we need to plan one! Christina: That is a really great idea; I know that there are many people interested in Vedic gems! Thank you Shawn and Terry for wonderful interviews! Terry and Shawn O'Sullivan Vedic Gem Company 115 East Glenside Avenue, Suite 6 Glenside, PA 19038 www.VedicGems.com 215-885-7252 Office 215-806-2906 Cell Christina Collins Biography: Christina Collins, Jyotish Visharada, CVA, Jyotish Kovid, ICAS and CVA, Jyotish Vachaspati, ICAS ,Jyotish Medha Pragya, ICAS and Jyotish Mahasagara from Raman and Rajeshwari Foundation 2013, is a third generation Astrologer specializing in the Vedic system. She received her honorary titles from the late Dr. B.V. Raman, former President of the ICAS (Indian Council for Astrological Sciences) in New Delhi and Bangalore, India, from CVA (Council for Vedic Astrology, USA),from the ICAS in Bangalore 2012, and from the Raman and Rajeshwari Foundation in 2013. From1997 to 2012, she was the first and sole American woman to be honored by the highly held title of Jyotish Vachaspati (Jyotish - the light bearer and Vachaspati - the one who speaks the truth and whose predictions come true. (In Sanskrit, Vac = speech and Brihaspati is a name of Jupiter the planet of wisdom and truth. Her most recent titles from India, are the Jyotish Medha Pragya title, which means that consciousness has merged with Jyotish, from the ICAS, and from the Raman Rajeswari Foundation, the title Jyotish Mahasagara which means the great ocean of Jyotish. As a founding member, she currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American College for Vedic Astrology (ACVA online), and was former Editor of the ACVA News. President of Celestial Resource (The Timing Coach) she serves corporate and private clients from students to celebrities. For the Jyotish Star you can reach her in Boulder CO at [email protected]: Christina's Consultation Contact information: Christina Collins, J.K., J.V. Editor in Chief The Jyotish Star Lafayette, (Boulder County) CO, USA web site: http://www.christinacollinsastrology.com email: [email protected] phone: 303-665-9996