Jeudi: Curios

I've talked about semi-precious stones and crystal before.  As noted, these were not common items in historical hoodoo.  This is most probably because their cost was prohibitive to the majority of root workers.  Times change and hoodoo, like all magickal practices, is a fluid discipline.  More and more root workers are availing themselves of the power of rocks and stones, myself included.

All that out of the way, one of my favorite stones to work with is jasper.  It is a relatively common stone and therefore quite affordable.  Jasper is a form of chalcedony, which is itself a form of quartz.  There are four different variations of this opaque stone, each of which has its own magickal uses.  This puts jasper high on the short list of the most versatile stones.

In general, jasper is said to protect its possessor.  It will keep a person from engaging in dangerous behaviors and is therefore thought to assist in recovery from addiction.  Women held a piece of jasper in one hand during childbirth to protect them and their child from pain, injury and/or death.  Any of the variations of jasper could be used for these purposes.

Brown jasper is often the color of sienna ink rather than truly brown like soil.  This is an excellent stone for grounding.  Hold a piece of brown jasper to return to a normal psychic state after spell work or divination.  Scott Cunningham also recommends wearing or carrying brown jasper for people who tend to day dream rather than take action.  Along those same lines, I find that it keeps me from falling into one of my worst habits: procrastination.

Green jasper can vary in color from a light gray-green to moss.  It is used in spells for healing and to bring calm to the psyche.  Wear green jasper to bed to promote restful sleep and chase away night terrors.  People who are empathic favor green jasper as an aid to opening themselves up to psychic vibrations while staying safe and grounded at the same time.  For this purpose, the stone should be held in the receptive hand (left if you are right handed and vice versa).

Mottled jasper often looks like those marbles we used to call “swirlies”, with two, three or even four colors intermingled in one stone.  This was a favorite stone among seafarers, who wore it for protection from drowning.  Depending on the most prominent color in the stone, it may be used as a substitute for red, green or brown jasper.

Red jasper ranges in color from orange to scarlet to a deep purplish-red.  This is a powerful healing and defensive stone that I highly recommend to anyone who regularly works on breaking jinxes.  It will ward off negativity and send such vibrations back to their originator.  In medieval times, red jasper was worn to guard against poisoning and fevers.  Women wear it to promote a youthful appearance.

Finally, jasper is an excellent substitute for more expensive stones.  Use green jasper in place of jade and red jasper in place of carnelian or coral without losing anything in the translation.  As with all tools of magick, stones should be cleansed either with holy water, salt or sunshine before use. 

Because it is a common stone, perfectly good quality jasper can be found quite affordably at craft stores where jewelry findings are sold.  I recently bought a string which included all four varieties of jasper at Michel’s for $1.25.  You can’t beat that.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Sailor’s Return by Toby Edward Rosenthal c 1880