Jade Description
The national stone of Japan, Jade is a term for the two different types of silicate minerals, nephrite or jadeite. The nephrite mineral is a silicate of calcium and magnesium that usually is green, but sometimes can be yellow, white or black. Jadeite is a sodium and aluminum mineral that can be nearly colorless although it can come in varieties of green, lavender, yellow, orange, brown or black and on the rare occasion, it can be blue. Jade can be found in many locations around in the world including the United States, Myanmar, China, Russia and New Zealand.
The mineral is great for those looking to introduce a bit more of luck into their lives and rid themselves of negative energies. The stone has been known as good luck charm bringing fortune to all those who adorn themselves with the mineral. In the metaphysical work, jade is closely tied with the heart chakra and allows for personal emotional harmony but giving us a better understanding of love, compassion and trust.
History
Linked closely to many eastern Asian cultures, Jade is perhaps most closely linked to the Chinese culture. Jade was used with jewelry making as early as 4000 B.C. and the Neolithic Period around 3000 B.C. The oft named, Chinese jade was the nephrite mineral that was valued in the Chinese civilizations like gold is valued in many modern civilizations. It was used in dress, tool making, weaponry and used during rituals, like for the protection of the tombs. It was considered the “imperial gem” and included to decorate just about all manmade items, like burial suits, paint brushes, writing utensils, eating utensils, pipes, weapons and jewelry. The Chinese character, yù, is used to indicate the many kinds of stones called “jade”.
Japan also has a storied history with jade. In ancient Japan, jade was a symbol of wealth, luxury and power. It also can be traced back as early as 5000 B.C. in the Jomon period. The leaders used the jade in many rituals. The Japanese culture has long revered the green variety of the mineral. The belief was that the color green aided in fertility.
Many other cultures held the jade stone in high esteem. There have been many different thoughts and beliefs around the jade mineral but the most common are centered around good luck and fortune. The beliefs were centered around good luck and health or more often, wealth and riches.
Metaphysical Properties
Green
· Calms the Nerves
· Channels Passion
· Hamonizes Disfunction Relationships
Brown
· Makes You Comfortable with New Experiences
· Strong Grounding Stone
Blue/Blue-Green
· Calms Overwhelmed Feeling for Situations Beyond One’s Control
· Reflective Stone
· Invites Inner Peace
Lavendar
· Alleviate Pain from Trauma
· Taps Us into Higher Purpose
Orange
· Brings Joy
· Energetic Emotional Booster
· Allow for Feeling of Connectedness with Other Beings
Red
· Allows Release of Tension in Positive Manners
· Pushes Fears That Hold You Back from Full Potential
White
· Filters Through Distractions
· Helps to Make Decisions
· Provides Lens to Keep Things in Perspective
Yellow
· Brings Connection with Nature and Other Beings
· Joyous Stone with Mellow Energy
· Cleansing Stone that Removes Toxins
· Treats Problems with Kidneys and Adrenal Glands
· Re-binds Skeletal and Cellular Systems
· Helps to Help Scars and Cuts
· Aids in Fertility and Childbirth
· Balances the Waters in the Body
· Treats Hip and Spleen Issues
Yellow
· Aids in Digestive System Function
Chakras
· Heart
Proper Care
The best way to clean Jade is with warm, soapy water that can handle and soft brush for a deeper clean. It is sensitive to water, so it is not good to submerge it for too long. Both nephrite and jadeite can be charged by moonlight that will get its best charge from a full moon. You can also breath your negative feelings and emotions into the crystal by placing it in the palm of your hand, then blowing onto it while imaging the negative energies leaving your body. Finally, you can also energize the crystal by wrapping it in a cloth and burying the crystal for about a week, or place next to/in selenite.