JASPER

Jasper is an opaque and microcrystalline variety of silica that has the chemical formula SiO2, with additional trace elements and impurities being present in the structure. More specifically, it is a conglomerate of assorted variations of quartz and/or chalcedony. Typically, jasper forms in colors of red, orange, yellow, brown, and green, but it can be found in almost any color and combination. Most often, the colors of jasper are due to inclusions and weathering of Iron, or Fe; however, additional trace elements may have an impact on specific types or specimens. Jasper is renowned for its beautiful combinations of color, as well as its durability when being cut and polished as a tool, ornament, or gemstone.

JASPER HISTORY AND USES

Historically, the name ‘jasper’ can be linked all the way back to Ancient Arabic, Akkadian, Persian, Hebrew, Assyrian, and Latin, with the first known wide-spread uses of the word coming about during the rise of Mesopotamian Babylon, over 4,000 years ago. The name has been passed down through many languages, with the current and most common spelling, ‘jasper’, being derived from the Old French, ‘jaspre’. The name itself, which translates to “spotty or speckled stone”, is an allusion to its multi-colored appearance. Jasper is well-known to have been a favorite gem in the ancient world, where it was regularly crafted into tools, which were, in turn, used to create jewelry and other ornamental objects. As early as the 5th millennium BC, green jasper from present day Pakistan was thought to be commonly used in the making of bow drills; while later, during the Bronze Age, archaeological evidences recovered at the palace of Knossos, in Crete, suggests that jasper was also carved to produce wax seals. Throughout history, different types of jasper have also been used as amulets of protection and good fortune for soldiers going off to war.

JASPER METAPHYSICS

Metaphysically, jasper is primarily considered a stone of the Root and Sacral Chakras, but can be an energetic aid to additional Chakras, depending on its inclusions and trace elements. For instance, Red Jasper would be closely associated to the Root Chakra, and would help to facilitate grounding, foundational support, and protection for those who need structure in their lives; whereas, Ocean Jasper, from Madagascar, would work positively within the Root AND Heart Chakras, offering energies of foundation and strength, along with aiding in personal fulfillment of passion driven purpose and soul gratifying work. Each variation of jasper is used with its own distinct purpose, but most often they are energies and properties closely associated with the Root Chakra. Physically, jasper is said to aid the body with healthy blood flow, the reproductive organs, white blood cell count, and malfunctions of the heart and digestive tract. Jasper is also said to aid the physical body with appetite loss, as well as tension headaches.