BLOODSTONE

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BLOODSTONE IS A VARIETY OF JASPER (chalcedony). Its name is derived from spots of red caused by the presence of iron oxide in the dark green stone. These markings were thought to look like drops of blood. Bloodstone is also known as heliotrope, Greek for “sun turner.” The stone was originally mined extensively in India—but the largest deposits are now found in Brazil and Australia.

Several predominant myths surround the creation of bloodstone. In India, a particularly ghoulish story tells of the demon god, Vala. After being killed by the demigods, Vala was dismembered and scattered about the earth and his body parts created all the gemstones that exist. The fire demigod changed Vala’s complexion into the seeds that became bloodstone. Another popular creation myth is that when Jesus Christ was being crucified, his blood fell upon green jasper that was under his cross, thus creating bloodstone. As the popularity of this story grew, so did the popularity of the stone, and it became a favorite for carvings of the crucifixion. The most prized of these carvings featured the red markings on the stone where the blood flowed from Christ’s wounds.

From ancient Greece through the Middle Ages, bloodstone has been thought of as one of the most powerful of all healing stones. Its connection to blood health was strong. It was believed to stop internal hemorrhaging, blood flow from external wounds, and nosebleeds. Some modern practitioners of alternative healing arts believe it builds marrow and balances major organs. Bloodstone is the ayurvedic birthstone and an alternate birthstone for March and is linked to the zodiac sign Aries.