j is for jasper

Yep, I'm going to talk about jasper again...but it's not what you think.  Did you know there's a gemstone called jasper?  I had a vague knowledge of it until a couple of weeks ago and then it suddenly took on a new importance for me so I did a little research.  I thought it might be nice to have a stone or piece of jewelry so that I could always carry a little piece of jasper with me.

Then I learned a really amazing fact - there are many types of jasper found in the world including a variety called...wait for it....RED JASPER!  My Jasper was a Golden Retriever but he wasn't yellow, he was a shade of red that pretty well matches the stone color so it seemed perfect. 



Even more perfect was the description of the 'meaning" of red jasper.

A strong protection gemstone, red jasper is known to protect against hazards of the night.  Jasper is one of the oldest known gemstones. It is mentioned in the Bible several times. Jasper is a strong securing gemstone. It is a stability gemstone. It is a powerful protection against things that are not good for you and it eases emotional stresses, making it a wonderful gemstone to have in your home.

Jasper gives one the courage to speak out and have personal independence. It also protects from fears in the night. Red jasper is thought to help balance the energy in the body. All jaspers help balance the emotional energy in the body.

After reading that, I had to have a piece of red jasper.  I guess I wasn't the only one, when I told T about this, he choked out the words, "how can I get a piece?"

Thank goodness for the Internet, it led us to a rock shop just a few miles away and within the hour we were holding our very own pieces of red jasper.  I don't know if I believe in the healing powers of gemstones or not but I do know that having something symbolic that we can touch and carry with us every day has been healing for both of us. 

I've learned a very valuable lesson - if I ever get another pet, I'm naming it Tiffany!