Common Is Beautiful ~ Poppy, Picasso and Paintbrush Jasper Gemstones

Picture Jaspers

If you were walking on the desert or hiking in the foothills, what would you do if you came across and amazing stone that had large yellow and red spots that reminded you of your garden poppies at home? You would probably want to name the stone “Poppy Jasper”. That’s what rock hound enthusiasts have done for years. The names Poppy, Picasso Marble, Dalmatian, Paintbrush, Rain Forest and Leopard Skin are all names that describe the large group of jasper know commonly as “Picture Jaspers”. Dalmatian Jasper is white with black spots while Leopard Skin Jasper is beige/pink with spots of black and yellow, resembling Leopard Skin.

Picture Jaspers have amazing colorations and designs. Jaspers are found in colors including red, brown, pink, yellow, green and shades of blue and purple. The organic material and mineral oxides in Jasper create interesting patterns. Because of the foreign materials, jasper is rarely uniform in color but commonly multicolored, striped or spotted, bands and colors. Many of the patterns resemble landscapes with mountain and valleys, so the name “picture” is part of the name of many well-known jaspers. One of these famous jaspers is Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper. It is jasper with red and yellow dots that resemble poppy flowers. Technically, it is brecciated jasper, meaning that it came from sun-dried and oxidized iron-rich clay; the cracks were then later filled in by other substances.

Place Name Jaspers

Although jaspers are found worldwide, a wide variety of named jaspers are found in the western areas of the United States. California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Washington are well known for the place name jaspers such as Stone Canyon Jasper with its mustard yellow base and cream and purple banding. Others are Willow Creek, Owyhee, and Deschutes Jasper. Other popular jaspers are found in Germany, India, Russia, Pakistan, France and the USA as well as many other countries

Magical and Therapeutic Jasper

Jaspers have been to about every culture known to man. Many of these cultures have attributed magical powers to Jasper. Native Americans believe that jasper brings rain and in fact, the word for Jasper in some Native American cultures meant “rain-bringer”. Jasper was also used in Ancient European times as a "rain bringer".

Natural healers consider jasper useful as on overall healing gemstone. Wearing jasper was believed to provide protection, have a calming effect and give stability and security. It is thought to balance one’s physical, emotional and intellectual states.

In folklore, Poppy Jasper is thought to function like adrenaline, waking up and energizing areas of the body that appear to be sleeping. It is believed to encourage a deep connection with the life of the Earth. It inspires a positive, joyful attitude and gives the motivation and energy to take creative action. To natural healers, poppy jasper is a gemstone that was broken and healed. They consider this a very useful gem to help with blood disorders and heart problems. Poppy Jasper is also thought to enhance strength and willpower.

Storytelling

The folklore and cultural history surrounding Jaspers adds to the beauty of these amazing stones. Picture Jaspers could certainly inspire creative story telling and belief in their curative properties. Their beauty can be explained in geologic terms, but their colorful designs inspire and ask for more creative explanations. Jewelry designers often utilize the beauty of nature with its abundant color, pattern, shapes and forms, as original sources of inspiration. When visualizing new designs, artists will often create a "story" or a theme that helps to bring forward the passion or inspiration for a specific piece of jewelry. Then the piece is not just a necklace or bracelet but adornment to enhance the wearer.

Emerald | May's Birthstone

Emerald ~ May's Birthstone

Most gem historians believe that our ancestors regarded gems as sacred gifts from the heavens and that emeralds specifically carried magical powers. Some legends said that you could see the future if you held an emerald under your tongue. Others stated that emeralds would bring riches, power, strengthen memory and intelligence, reveal the truth and help to avert evil. Other cultures associated the gem with faith, harmony and peace. Emerald history and lore is unique and rich.

The idea of birthstones, specific stones for each month of the year, has also been around for thousands of years. May, the fifth month of the calendar year, has Emerald as its birthstone in Western tradition. It is also the May birthstone for the Arabs and the Hindus. Mercury is the planet that rules the Emerald and other green stones according to Hindu astronomers. Mercury, and therefore Emerald, rules the mind, intelligence and affects a person's ability for public speaking, education, and travel. Other birthstones for instance are Amethyst for February, Pearl or Alexandrite for June, or Turquoise for December.

Who Decided?

Some people theorize that the earliest associations between gemstones and months of the year evolved from the twelve stones mentioned in the Bible, while others attribute the development of the birthstones to the Twelve Apostles. And yet, still other religions have produced quite different beliefs as to the origins of birthstones.

Better means of gem identification, more modern interpretations of various religious writing, and various transformations in world have played into the evolution of the birthstone idea. Finally, in 1912, in an effort to resolve this issue, the American National Retail Jewelers Association decided on a list of birthstones. They added or changed many of the traditional stones to other which were more commercially viable. In 1938, the American Gem Society adopted this list for use by its members. In 1952, a variation of this list was approved by the American national Retail jewelers Association and the American Gem Society. This official Western list of accepted birthstones was established at least partially on the basis of maximizing sales and profit.

However, other groups around the world have issued their own lists. Alternative birthstones lists are based on cultural traditions and religious beliefs that evolved over many hundreds of years. These cultures assign any or all of the following gemstones as May birthstones: Agate, Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Garnet, Jade, and Tourmaline.

Emeralds and Modern Science

Like our ancestors over many thousands of years, many people today believe that birthstone jewelry can improve health, confidence, relationships, consciousness and finances. Those who believe in metaphysical principles or those who practice astrology say that the planets and all the stars in our universe emit magnetic and electrical fields, a fact confirmed by modern science. In addition, they say that each planet gives out its own cosmic color and generates a particular energy and influence that radiates throughout the cosmos. The energy properties of heat, magnetism and electricity have an influence on the life of every living creature.

They believe that gemstones which resonate with the planetary energies active at the time of one’s birth, can diminish negativity and enhance positive energy in one’s life. Rather than a single gemstone for your birth month, there may be several that resonate with the specific energies active at the time of your birth.

For ancient Egyptians, the emerald’s color symbolized life itself. The French word 'jardin' (zhar-dan) means garden and it is often used to describe the ‘inclusions’ in emeralds. If you look at an emerald under a microscope, the inclusions appear as luxuriant foliage. Emeralds are one of four precious stones, along with diamonds. Whether you believe that Emerald or another gemstone is the best May birthstone, the history and lore surrounding any gemstone can be fascinating!