JASPER

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A VARIETY OF QUARTZ, jasper has been used ornamentally since Paleolithic times. The term jasper is often applied to semitranslucent to opaque chalcedonies, however the variety that has been most noted throughout history is the brick-red type that derives its color from hematite. There are deposits all over the world, with some of the finest examples coming from the area around Petrified Forest in Arizona.

Jasper has a long tradition in many cultures throughout the world. In Egypt the stone was revered and thought to symbolize the blood of the mother goddess, Isis. In Egyptian, Native American, and Roman cultures, people used the stone as a protective amulet. It was once believed to stop bleeding, prevent infection, and aid in childbirth. At one time, the Christian church believed that small, pear-shaped examples of the stone symbolized the blood of Jesus. Jasper is the original birthstone for March due to its placement on Aaron’s Breastplate, and modern New Age practitioners believe that jasper is a powerful stone to enhance one’s physical strength and energy.