Jasper is a form of chalcedony. It is found in red, pink, grey, white, yellow, brown, and green varieties and sometimes blue and purple.
The name jasper is derived from the Old French jaspre and the Latin iaspidem. It means “spotted or speckled stone.”
The classification and naming of the various types of jasper varies greatly. They may be named after locations, they may describe the stone design, or they might just be whimsical. Some of the names include dalmatian, leopard, forest fire, rainbow, ocean, and bruneau.
Seals carved from jasper, circa 1800 BC, have been found at the palace of Knossos on Minoan Crete. 4th century folklore said jasper brought rain. During the Middle Ages it was known as the warrior’s stone.
Magical and mystical properties include:
- bringing balance to the yin and yang
- stabilizing the body
- detoxifying the body and spirit
- driving away evil spirits
- protecting from harmful energies
- increasing sexual pleasure
- All the varieties of jasper have special properties. Here is a list of additional properties associated with the color:
- yellow offers protection during spiritual times, channels positive energy, aids in digestions, and strengthns the immune system
- red protects from nighttime hazards, calms emotions, reduces exhaustion, and simulates sexuality
- green helps rid obsessions and reduces inflammation
- blue connects the wearer with the spirit world and helps to sustain energy
- purple eliminates mental contradictions
- brown simulates past life regression and aids in traveling the astral plane
- black is used for scrying and bringing on prophetic dreams
To recharge jasper, run lukewarm running water over the stone, then place it among tumbled hematite stones overnight. (In stone therapy, when using stones to heal, their energy is used up, requiring the stones to be recharged.)
This is a reference for fiction writers and should not be taken as medical or spiritual advice.