Red jasper have been revered by ancient peoples and civilizations throughout the world as sacred and powerful stones of protection, for both the physical and spiritual realm. they were known as the “rain bringers” and nurturers, healers of the spirit and stones of courage and wisdom. the name can be traced back in arabic, persian, hebrew, assyrian, greek and latin, and the virtues of jaspers have been extolled throughout the ages by the most noted physicians, magicians, poets, scientists, lapidaries and scholars. historically, red jasper was known as a stone of vibrancy and endurance, a talisman of warriors and a promoter of justice, protection, and life. it staunched the blood of wounds, stirred the pulse, and increased fertility. according to viking and germanic legend, the hilt of the magical sword of siegfried, the dragon slayer, was inlaid with red jasper to bring him courage. the ancient egyptians linked red jasper with the fertilizing blood of mother isis, and often carved it into protective amulets to be placed upon the neck of the deceased, engraved with the 156th chapter of the book of the dead. based on the stones known and used at the time of the hebrew exodus, it is believed red jasper was likely the “ruby” listed in the bible - the odem, or first stone in the breastplate of aaron, the high priest, engraved with the tribal name of reuben. red jasper was called the blood of mother earth by native american tribes and was used to stimulate health and re-birth, new ideas and strategies, and increased one’s sensitivity to the earth when dowsing for water or calling in rain. today, red jasper is still known as the stone of endurance, a gentle, but vital, stimulator of chi, or life force, bringing physical strength and energy, stamina, focus and determination. its steady frequency calms the emotional body creating a lasting, stable energy for improving health or overcoming illness, setting goals and following through to completion, facing unpleasant tasks and having the courage to rectify wrongs. red jasper activates the base chakra and stimulates the rise of the kundalini energy throughout the chakras, cleansing and strengthening the aura. it is a stone of passion, useful for restoring and rejuvenating the libido, and in manifesting creative ideas. it provides vivid dream recall, and is a powerful stone for those who work with earth energies to make a deep connection with earth spirits and guardians of the leys and sacred site. red jasper is an opaque, microcrystalline variety of quartz with large, grainy crystals rather than the fibrous layers of chalcedony or agate. it occurs in nodules or as fillings in fissures and may be found the world over. its vibrant red to terracotta red-brown is due to high iron content, and may contain other minerals or impurities that create rich patterns. red jasper is a major component in brecciated jasper, poppy jasper and rose-eye jasper, and is prominent in many area specific jaspers, such as cherry creek jasper and mookaite jasper. wear or carry red jasper to alleviate stress and reconnect with earth’s grounding energies. its cleansing effect eliminates negativity, returning it to its source, and stabilizing the aura. it is an ideal worry or rubbing stone for soothing the nerves and restoring balance. red jasper is marvelous for clearing the mind during meditation, prayer or contemplation. its high spiritual energy increases focus and endurance during long ceremonies or practices, and is helpful in establishing new spiritual disciplines. it is an excellent stone for shamanic journeying and astral travel, and provides vivid dream recal. a valuable stone of protection, red jasper guards against physical threats and assists in situations of danger. keep in the car to prevent accidents, theft or road rage, and place in the home or office to absorb electromagnetic and environmental pollution and radiation. wear two or three items of red jasper jewelry or a pouch of three small tumblestones to shield against psychic attack or when working with spirit rescue, potentially violent or psychologically disturbed individuals. red jasper is a stone of passion and a token of all who consummate love. it encourages control in all things, and thus calms sexual aggressiveness, promotes sexual compatibility, and enhances tantric sex. it may assist women in overcoming a jealous love rival or unfair opposition to a relationship. red jasper also stimulates passion in one’s creative work, manifesting new ideas and freshness,
