The Gems of GemStone
Jasper Back Next

Color range: shades of red, yellow, green, and brown; mixtures of two or more colors are also sometimes seen

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Jasper is a member of the chalcedony family, part of the quartz group.

For thousands of years, black jasper was used to test gold-silver alloys for their gold content.  Rubbing the alloys on the stone, called a touchstone, produces a streak the color of which determines the gold content within 1 part in 100.

From ancient times this hard and durable gemstone was cherished for its beauty and mystical properties. The jasper mentioned in the Bible as one of the stones in the breastplate of the ancient high priest and in the wall of the New Jerusalem is believed to have been a dark green, opalescent stone.

Because of its physical properties, engravers of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt carved this stone into exquisite cameos, intaglios and scarabs. Jasper was considered a sacred stone by the Native Americans .

Jasper is said to aid quickness of thought, allowing your mind to function with less distractions and aiding clearness of thought. It is also said to help dispel negative energies and reduce stress.

The different colors of jasper also are said to have specific qualities of their own:

bullet Brown Jasper is attuned to the energies of the Earth. This quality can help you find stability and balance. It is said to help your body cleanse itself from the negative effects of environmental pollutants and other toxins. This cleansing effect is said to improve the skin and also stimulate the cleansing organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Wearing this color jasper can also help you become more in tune with the Earth. This quality can lead to greater environmental awareness and help remind you to strive to lower the amount of pollution you generate. This quality of brown jasper makes it a good choice for those wishing to quit smoking.

Brown jasper is said to retain memories of the past, making it an excellent choice for those wishing to relive past events through regression or analysis. By reliving these events, the negative energies associated with them can be dispelled, allowing you to overcome them and move forward with your life.
bullet Green Jasper is said to help balance the factors in your life. Its subtle energies allow you to stop concentrating on one aspect of life at the expense of the others. It can serve to remind you that the whole is a result of all of the parts.

Green jasper is especially beneficial to the heart and upper torso, the digestive tract, and the cleansing organs. Its energies work slowly, over time to help restore harmony to these areas.
bullet Red Jasper is closely tied to the blood and circulatory system. Its gentle energies are said to aid in detoxifying the blood and liver. Its subtle energies are stimulating, and an excellent aid to overall health.

Red jasper is also thought to increase awareness of problems, allowing you to take action before these problem become a real threat.
bullet Yellow Jasper is said to be helpful to the endocrine glands and the cleansing organs. It can make you feel more energetic, stronger, and in better physical condition. Yellow jasper is said to amplify positive energies, and this can help your thoughts assume a more positive light. Thoughts can and do have a dramatic effect on your overall physical and mental well being.