The Allure of Jade

Although a great deal of what we know as metaphysics (healing with stone) originated in ancient Egypt, jade seems to be an exception. The Chinese used jade for almost two thousand years before it was found Egypt. It is commonly believed by many archeologists that Jade was transported to Egypt though trade routes and was never actually mined in ancient Egypt.

Jade is not mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus, and although in modern society it has been accredited with many healing properties from ancient Egypt, it is not commonly believed amongst specialists that any of these beliefs originated in Egypt. Most of the mystical beliefs surrounding jade came directly from the China.

In China, jade was and still is held as a precious gemstone. In the Shi Jin “Book of Songs” that was written in China around 1000 B.C., Jade is celebrated as a “delight” with the phrase “…this jewel this jade of my delight”. The literal translation from Chinese to English, for the symbol that represents jade is “precious/ornamental rock”.

Although jade was called many things and carved into numerous monumental and religious sculptures, such as the Pi Disc, which was used in ceremonies that worshiped the heavens, there is little evidence it was actually believed to have any power in and of its own until much more modern times.

Jade was called the stone of heaven for its beauty and ability to be easily carved. There are many terms associated with jade. Adjectives like green, apple, hard, soft, black, metallic, galactic, nebula, serpentine, pineapple, and many others are used to describe jade and many rocks that aren’t jade but resemble it. These adjectives are misleading when used to describe other stones since they allude that the stone is somehow related to jade. While some are more closely related than others, many are just a similar color or dyed to be a similar color for marketing purposes.

Serpentine is a relative of jade. One way of thinking about serpentine is if it was left in the ground to “cook” longer it would have formed into jade.

Properties attributed to jade by different cultures:

Egyptians – love, inner peace, harmony (when exactly they started believing this is unknown but it was after 1000 B.C.)

Chinese – gemstone of the loins, Gemstone of the Heaven’s (depending on the region in China, and Time Period), and protector of infants (used in jewelry given to new babies).

Native Americans – clarity and wisdom.

A “Bloody” Mistake

Bloodstone is often sold as a stone to help with bloodborne problems and problems affected by blood, such as heart failure, liver problems, most major organ malfunctions, HIV, and inability to endure a heavy workweek. However, this is a huge misunderstanding in the modern “metaphysical” realm.

Bloodstone is a fairly modern term for a variety of chalcedony[1] that is green with reddish spots in it, which comes primarily from India and China. Up until “modern” society brought back the belief of crystal healing “bloodstone” was a term used to describe what is now called hematite.

Hematite is a chief iron ore[2] and is “blood” red when in powder form. In fact, its name comes from the Latin word “haimatites,” meaning “blood-like.” The Egyptians called this stone bloodstone, as they believed it was formed where great battles had been fought. They believed the blood of the men who died ran deep into the ground, forming this black stone that reconstituted into the blood of dead soldiers when ground to a powder and soaked in water[3].

It was also ground into amulets and worn for protection, as well as carved into “pillows” that would be used in death and re-birth rituals[4]. Because of its enormous power, “bloodstone” or hematite was even nicknamed the black diamond when used in modern jewelry.

The Native Americans would grind hematite and mix it with various liquids to make a red paint. This paint could be spread over warriors' bodies to make them look as if they had been in a fierce battle.

The Gnostic’s believed that hematite prolonged life and enlarged wealth. The Azchellias from Babylon believed it would solve their legal troubles. And the Greeks and Romans, who also referred to this stone as haimatites, believed it would bring their athletes endurance to perform in sporting events.

In modern society we have re-named and classified many stones. Without the proper amount of research it is easy to confuse which stone was believed to be associated with which body part or power.

Here is quick guide to what the ancient world believed hematite (bloodstone) could help them achieve:

Egyptians - Ailments of the Blood

Romans & Greeks - Endurance

Native Americans - Bladder Troubles

Gnostics - Prolonged Life/Wealth

Azchalias - Legal Troubles


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[1] Mindat Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2009 (March 21st 2009)

http://www.mindat.org/min-7616.html

[2] Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, last modified on 14 March 2009 (March 20th 2009)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematite

[3] Iranian Mineral World (March 21st 2009)

http://www.irangilsonite.com/red-iron-oxide/index.php

[4] Ancient Egypt – An illustrated reference to the myths, religions, pyramids, and temples of the land of pharaohs

By: Lorna Oakes and Lucia Gahlin

Anness Publishing Limited 2003, A Barns & Noble Book

Stones in Ancient Egypt

Stones have been used throughout the history of mankind to heal the sick, protect the kings, call upon gods, and even perform magic spells. But how did all these myths start? And, what exactly keeps them going?

The oldest known record of stones being used in the practice of medicine was recorded in the Ebers Papyrus, written in ancient Egypt around 1500 BC. The Ebers Papyrus is one of the few medical records still surviving from the ancient world, and a deep insight into the belief of stones holding mystical powers.

Throughout the Ebers Papyrus there are approximately 360 different stones mentioned, with specific purposes and uses in healing the sick or preventing ailments from arising. The ancient Egyptians believed that ailments of the body were sent from gods either as a punishment or to flush out evil spirits. Still they put a lot of effort into preventing and curing them.

One reason the mystical powers of stones has been so strongly held is that not all the uses the ancient Egyptian’s had for stones were purely magic. For instance water and vinegar were mixed and poured over Memphite (limestone), creating carbon dioxide[1], which was used as a sedative. However mixing malachite with honey to regulate bowel movements is not scientifically significant and is considered completely mythical[2].

The Egyptians believed that in order to be completely healed of their ailments they needed permission from the gods. Regardless of their medical knowledge they would pray to the gods to allow them to be healed. Along with their prayers they would (if they could afford it) obtain the stone associated with the ailment from which they were suffering. The stone would act as a passageway between themselves and the god to which they were praying. This would strengthen their prayers and make it more likely they would return to good health. They weren’t the only ones to believe this. The Romans, Chinese and Native Americans did as well.

Check back weekly as we explore the mystical world of stones and the powers they were believed to possess.

[1] Ancient Egyptian Medicine In Sickness and in Health: Preventative and Curative Health Care
http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/medicine.htm
March 09, 2009

[2] An Interlinear Transliteration and English Translation of Portions of http://biology.bard.edu/ferguson/course/bio407/Carpenter_et_al_(1998).pdf
March 09, 2009