The deep blues and gold flakes make it easy to see why ancient people were so mesmerized by lapis lazuli.
Lapis lazuli in all shapes and sizes.
Hand-carved Native American bison in malachite.
This is a typical example of the gorgeous specimens of different kinds of mixed minerals found in the Southwest. As the Source described, stones like these often have parts that contain malachite and turquoise in the same stone.
An artificially created diamond can make a flashy ring. Some believe these stones are just as powerful to use in healing as the real thing—and for a fraction of the price.
Marble, a symbol of steadfastness.
This is the ring I purchased in India on the advice of a palm reader.
This egg is a good example of the typical brown varieties of onyx.
This “onyx” horse from Mexico is actually a form of marble known as Mexican Onyx.
The bright blue opal is one of many color varieties of this beautiful stone.
This remarkable blue agate from Oregon will help you to resolve grief.
My favorite pearl bracelet was blessed by a rabbi. It features the traditional Turkish bead to ward off the evil eye and provide spiritual protection.
These beautiful pearls are strung on pure silk string.
Natural pink rubies from India look quite different from the lab-grown, bright red variety that is sold in jewelry stores in the United States.
Sapphire carries the blue ray and will help you with communication.
Raw sardonyx is the same material used to carve cameos.
Egyptian alabaster scarabs represent the creation god Khepri, who rolled the morning sun across the sky.
The gorgeous pale blue topaz from Texas is a favorite stone for many people in the Lone Star State.
Beautiful turquoise from Arizona.
This piece shows how layers of turquoise form in sandstone in the desert over thousands of years.
My favorite agate of all time reminds me of a flying saucer. All agates have unique designs.
Reddish zircon is also known as hyacinth.
The challenge is that once we decide what we want based on what we lack, we often forget what is going well with the world around us and with ourselves. We often turn our full energy and attention to the one thing we lack. Whatever we focus on seems to be the only thing we need to fulfill ourselves. When we focus on what is missing, we wonder why the rest of our world, once so wonderful, is now unsatisfactory.
Apatite is a stone to use to call on the mineral kingdom for assistance in being grateful for what we already have. Apatite also helps us to obtain just what we need and nothing more. There is no need to be greedy. Nobody needs everything! What we all need is a little balance. For many people, my guess is that a few small adjustments in their daily lives would elevate most situations to their maximum benefit.
Another Benefit of This Remarkable Material
As noted, apatite is primarily composed of fluorite with calcium, which I listed in my “Top Ten Healing Stones of All Time.” Apatite, like fluorite, will assist your eyesight.
In the late afternoons, I often place fluorite on my eyes to energize them, and I have found it has helped me to ward off the use of glasses for many years. Eyeglasses have finally caught up with me, although primarily by choice since everyone in my writing club wears them. Nevertheless, if you want to postpone wearing glasses, these stones can help you.
Fluoride aids bone strength, and apatite works on that as well. If you or your loved one shows signs of osteoporosis, arthritis, or any other situation requiring bone strength and density, apatite can help.
JADE
The minerals jadeite and nephrite are also recognized as jade.
Found in: Australia, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, China, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, South America, Switzerland, USA
Named for: Jade is derived from the Spanish words piedra de ijada, which mean “loin or side stone,” and the stone was believed to cure kidney and hip issues.
• Bible •
Jade, jadeite, and nephrite are not mentioned in any versions of the Bible
• Cayce Readings •
Jade is mentioned five times in four documents.
About the entity we find unusual characters that may be called hieroglyphics. We find jade . . . unusual in their effect upon the entity . . .
. . . the entity gave forth in those activities that make for the influence of the vibrations from jade . . . in the experience in the present.
1189-1
Hence all forms of jade, of jewelry, of filigree, of particular odors, and the needs of such for the entity to even rest physically at times, become part of the entity’s experience.
2506-1
Q: Any special jewelry that I should wear?
A: Anything that is jade or green . . .
2522-1
More on Jade
Although the Bible does not mention jade, and it is only cited a few times in the Life Readings, it is considered to be a sacred stone for many ancient peoples. For that reason as well as the prevalent use of jade in modern Asia, I felt it was important to include it in this book.
Jade has been valued since prehistoric times when people used this tough material for tools and weapons, which is why some still call nephrite the axe stone.
Jade is considered sacred in China and prized in the Americas. I will begin this discussion by focusing on the Central and South American regions.
I had the good fortune to meet the men who discovered a giant cave filled with jade in Guatemala several years ago. Jade resonated with the ancient ones who roamed over those lands—the Aztecs and Mayans—and I began having visions when I worked with the stone in meditation.
In fact, after that, I spent a considerable period of my life studying the Aztecs and other ancient, indigenous peoples of those areas. Now that the Mayan Calendar has officially ended, I think some of the hype and interest in that part of the world has also faded. I’m not sure what people thought would happen in 2012. Perhaps they believed the lights would go out and the world would be plunged into darkness, but that date instead marked an end to an outdated state of consciousness.
Nevertheless, there was something significant about the selection of 2012 as the end of an era. Although the ancient cultures have disappeared, there is no doubt that those early people had a considerable amount of sacred knowledge.
The Mayans, Olmecs, and Aztecs fashioned jade into sacred objects, tools, and weapons. The Aztecs issued a tax that was payable in jadeite.
During the Spanish conquest of Central and South America, jade became more valuable than gold. After conquering the Americas, the Spaniards traveled back home, and that is when jade was introduced to Europe. Prior to that time, the stone was unknown in that part of the world.
Jade received its current name from piedra de ijada, which translates into “stone of the side or flank” in Spanish because it was believed to cure kidney and hip issues.
The fascination with jade led to more extensive investigation, and finally in 1863, the French discovered that jadeite and nephrite were two different minerals. Presently, jade is a term that is used to describe both of these stones.
With regard to many of the old superstitions about stones and the healing potential they possess, I am inclined to accept that there is much validity to what the ancient ones believed about minerals. In this case, jade has been used to help kidney and hip issues, which for today’s user would include aches and pains from arthritis, joint problems, or stiffness in general.
Discussed in other books is the fact that any green stone is helpful for pain. I’ve found this idea to be true across the board. What I had not previously considered was the idea of using jade as a stone for healing the kidneys.
When most of us think of jade, our minds connect immediately to China, where historically jade has been valued more than either silver or gold.
Like the Aztecs, the ancient Chinese fashi
oned jade into ornaments, tools, and weapons. Kings and nobility wore jade during their lifetimes, and like the Egyptians, they also took their treasures with them into the afterlife by placing these objects in their tombs. They believed jade would protect their bodies in death from decay.
Later, superstitious beliefs about jade diminished. The stones became more like a valued vehicle through which some of the sacred objects of the Ming Dynasty and others could be copied and preserved for later generations.
Jade from China, whose Chinese character is pronounced yù, was used in the Taj Mahal. The Chinese carved nephrite until the 1700’s, when they began importing jadeite from Burma. The imperial jade known in China these days is the Burmese jadeite variety, which is colored emerald green from the element chromium.
Lately, I have been drawn to learn more about China and have placed that area on the top of my bucket list for future exploration. I have long believed that I travel to different parts of the world due to past-life influences, and I don’t doubt that when I eventually arrive in China, I will discover something powerful there. I believe my interest in China stems from a past-life connection, and if you are attracted to Oriental carvings of jade, the artwork, or the culture in general, perhaps there is a past-life connection for you to explore, too.
Meanwhile, whether you are drawn to that area of the world or not, the fact that so many beautiful artifacts remain provides a window into the past for generations to come.
JASPER
Found in: Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Germany, Namibia, Russia, USA, Venezuela
Named for: Jasper means “spotted stone” and is derived from the Latin word, iaspidis and the Greek word, iaspis. Jasper is a polymorph of silicon dioxide and a variety of chalcedony.
Birthstone: Traditional birthstone for March
• Bible •
And the fourth row . . . a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings [sic]. Exodus 28:20
And the fourth row . . . a jasper: they were inclosed [sic] in ouches of gold in their inclosings. Exodus 39:13
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering . . . and the jasper . . . the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Ezekiel 28:13
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper . . . Revelation 4:3
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone . . . Revelation 21:11
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. Revelation 21:18
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper . . . Revelation 21:19
• Cayce Readings •
Jasper was mentioned two times in two documents.
The Source described past lives that included jasper:
. . . jasper and all those things that made for adornment. These were the interests . . .
1493-1
Not in the present, but we would give that which surrounds the source, place, force that is seen here. For the walls are jasper . . .
5756-12
More on Jasper
A member of the quartz family, jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony.
Jasper always reminds me of the desert in Utah. I grew up in the Southwest where jaspers are quite prevalent, particularly in Arizona, California, Utah, and Nevada. Actually, jasper is found worldwide and is one of the most common stones there is, which is one reason I have always considered it to be a healing stone with extraordinary properties. One way a stone can be helpful is simply by being available, and jasper is readily attainable for reasonable prices the world over.
Jaspers are wonderful for the stomach since they are able to assist with digestion issues and calm the area on a physical level. They also soothe mental and emotional anxiety.
Anxiety is a major cause of insomnia, and I have found that jasper is advantageous to use at night to calm the mind and help with sleep. I think these two issues are related, though, and not separate. If you’re up all night worrying about a variety of problems, jasper will feel like a warm blanket and a cup of grandma’s cocoa. You will feel the warm and loving embrace of this rock and be reassured that you are all right. Jasper will help you to leave the troubles of the world behind so that you can get a good night’s rest.
As with all of the stones, depending on where you obtain your jasper will make an impact on how it affects you on a spiritual level. Some friends have lent me a gorgeous hand-carved jasper that is a Native American wolf fetish, complete with all the beautiful and bold reds and yellows indicative of the Southwestern varieties of this stone. Jasper, and especially this piece, has always made me feel connected to animal guides and spirits. In the dreamtime, once calmed from the soothing effects, jasper will help you connect to the spirit helpers from the animal kingdom. The jasper wolf definitely embodies that energy for me.
Red Jasper
Red Jasper is one of my personal favorites. Years ago when I first started teaching gem healing, I chose seven stones to use for opening the chakra centers of the body. While not the same as the orange ray carnelian stone, I found the jasper to be a wonderful stone for the sacral, or second, chakra, to open and balance this energy center.
My students loved it too. As with amethyst, most people resonate with red jasper because of the energetic accessibility of the stone.
Mookaite Jasper
In Gemstone Journeys, I described a wonderful stone called mookaite. Mookaite (which is sometimes spelled mookite in retail gemstone terminology) is nothing more than a bold orangish-red and yellow jasper that is found in Australia. Again, we should not underestimate the power of geography. Mookaite gave me visions of the aboriginal dreamtime. I began having dreams about spending time with a tribe in what seemed to be Australia—a fascinating region of the world that remains on my bucket list since I have not yet traveled there. I am eager to go there someday to connect in person with the wonderful beings I contacted in the dreamtime while using my mookaite stone.
The Aborigines are remarkably skilled in the concept of the dreamtime. Aborigines believe that all life—be it human, plant, animal, bird, or fish—is interrelated and connected to the Great Spirit ancestors of the dreamtime.
The dream continues in the spiritual lives of the people today as an interesting way to view the world. When you think about it, what is reality, anyway? Doesn’t your life sometimes feel like a dream? I know that mine does.
Tapping into the wisdom of the subconscious—or collective unconsciousness, as Jung would have put it—is powerful. Mookaite will connect you to the interrelatedness of all things while simultaneously tuning you into past experiences in the regions of Australia and New Zealand.
India Jasper
I also discovered some striking pieces of jasper from India. These stones were so intricately designed that I had a hard time believing something that beautiful could come from the ground.
The stones were pale brown with dark brown circles throughout and reminded me of the henna hand designs that are prevalent in the Hindu culture. When I was in India, people offered to paint our hands wherever we went. The dyes used for this ancient art are made from ground-up henna.
The art, which is called Mehndi, is worn during auspicious or sacred occasions such as Indian weddings. The hand designs represent a form of fertility, symbolizing love and lasting union. After seeing the intricately beautiful jasper stones, I wondered if the natural world had again inspired that sacred form of art to emerge. Regardless of the kind of jasper you’re drawn to, I highly recommend it for calming your nerves or releasing fears so that you can soar to your highest potential.
LAPIS LAZULI
Lapis is a mixture of minerals with lazurite as the main component.
Found in: Afghanistan, Angola, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, Chile, Italy, Pakistan, Russia, USA
&nbs
p; Named for: The Latin word for “stone” is lapis, and lazhward means “azure” in Persian.
Birthstone: Traditional birthstone for December
Chinese astrology: Lapis lazuli is one of the gemstones for the Ox.
• Bible •
The King James Version of the Bible does not mention lapis. In the New International Version, lapis lazuli replaces sapphire:
and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. Exodus 24:10 (NIV)
His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is like polished ivory decorated with lapis lazuli. Song of Solomon 5:14 (NIV)
the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli . . . Exodus 28:18 (NIV)
the second row was . . . lapis lazuli . . . Exodus 39:11 (NIV)
lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. Job 28:6 (NIV)
It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. Job 28:16 (NIV)
Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. Isaiah 54:11 (NIV)
Edgar Cayce's Sacred Stones Page 10
