Hi everyone! This weeks crystal is Red Jasper.
Crystal Family
Red Jasper is part of the Quartz family and is a finely grained Quartz. It is a sedimentary stone and is formed via silicic acid penetrating clayey or sandy rock. This then solidifies and changes to quartz however the particles in the soil or sand get trapped with in the quartz making the quartz opaque. Most jasper has 20% of the stone containing foreign materials that make each jasper unique. Red Jasper has Iron oxide, usually Fe3 in it. This creates the red-brown colour that is Red Jasper's unique characteristic. It is also known as Silex and there is red jasper within Brecciated Jasper as well.
Red Jasper is Red Brown in colour and always opaque. It occurs in fissures, crevices or as nodules. Red Jasper is found in India and Brazil.
Red Jasper is 7 on the Mohs Hardness scale so can be easily used in jewellery and in tumble stone form and can be used regularly. It also can be cleansed in all ways.
Red Jasper Formation: Trigonal - mircocystalline aggregates
Red Jasper is formed in hexagonal pillars.
Chemical Composition: SiO2 + Fe,O
Red Jasper has a silicon oxide base with Iron oxide inclusions, generally from 3 valency iron (Fe3+).
History and Mythology of Red Jasper
Jasper has been revered since Ancient times as one of the most precious stones. The Egyptians, believed that Red Jasper was the fertilising blood of their mother Goddess Isis. They used it in their gem cutting called glyptics. It was also used in scarab amulets which were placed on the neck of the deceased to protect them and bring them back to life. They were usually inscribed with the 156th chapter of the Book of the Dead.
The name 'Jasper' is of Greek origin and means 'spotted stone'. It was extremely popular with the Greeks and Romans for amulets and seals as it was believed that the gemstone could create rain and drive away evil spirits and demons as well as scaring away wild animals. It was also believed this gemstone could help orators and senators to gain power and success.
In the Middle Ages, Jasper had the same name as Quartz. It was known as the Stone of Warriors as there was in the legend of Siegfried the Dragonslayer, Siegfried's sword has a Red jasper within the hilt of his sword, 'Balmung'.
Native Americans believed it helped bring rain and was the blood of Mother Earth and was used for health and rebirth.
In 1583, Leonhard Thurneysser in his book omasticum stated jasper could help epilepsy and helped stop wounds and close them.
Crystal healing Properties
Red Jasper, like all jasper, is a great grounding stone. It is believed to help sort out unjust situations and bring problems to the surface.
Used with Jet, it can offer protection.
When placed under a pillow, it can help you with dream recall.
Holding Red Jasper when you are dowsing will help your dowsing accuracy improve.
Placing it in your home, can help reduce arguments in the household. Placing it in your car, will help prevent accidents and road rage.
Red Jasper also can help ground crystals that are more energetic or electrical.
Mentally, it helps by holding the stone to give you new ideas and helps strengthen your survival instincts. It also helps in stressful situations to calm you.
Emotionally, it can act like a 'worry bead' in that when holding and rubbing it, it can calm you. It creates and strengthens boundaries to prevent you gaining inappropriate attachments or feelings to other people. When placed at the foot of a bed it can increase your passion for your sex life. Red Jasper also can help you take responsibility for your emotional health. If you are alone in the bed, place next to it to help comfort you when you are lonely. It also helps to strengthen your willpower and gives your courage and strength.
Spiritually it assists rebirth of oneself. When wore it can cleanse and stabilise the aura, keeping it balanced. It helps with astral travel and meditation too. It helps strengthen your connection to Mother Earth and the Earth itself, especially when held during meditation.
Physically it can aid with:
Strengthens and detoxifies the circulatory system (Can use as an elixir)
Strengthens and detoxifies the Liver (Can use as an elixir)
Bile ducts
Illness prevention
Bladder
Gallbladder
Detoxifies the Large intestine
Constipation
Ulcers
Spasms
Balances the body's metabolism
Increases sexual desire and fertility
Carrying with you, it can prevent colds and flu
Increases stamina
Increases endurance
Stops bleeding
Heart
Anaemia
Exhaustion
Haemorrhoids
Epilepsy
Gout
Helps sensory loss of smell
Zodiac sign: Aries and Taurus
Chakra Association: Base Chakra
That's this weeks crystal. All pictured products can be purchased on the website.
Hope you enjoyed reading.
Bibliography
Crystal Power: Mythology and history, Andreas Guhr and Jorg Nagler, 2006
The Crystal Bible, Judy Hall
Crystals: The Modern Guide to Crystal Healing, Yulia Von Doren
The Crystal Healer, Philip Permutt, 2015
Crystal Tips and Cures, Philip Permutt, 2015
Crystal Co-creators, Dorothy Roeder,1994
Sacred Crystals, Hazel Raven
Gemstones of the World, Walter Schumann
Crystal Power, Crystal Healing: The Complete Handbook, Michael Gienger