Red Jasper: Crystal information and crystal healing
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.