Folklore, Legend, Healing Properties of Jasper:

Believed to aid in gall bladder, stomach, and kidney disorders.

Main properties: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.

Folklore, Legend, Healing Properties of Jade:

Jade comes in many shades of green and is an absorptive stone. It soothes, heals and balances; it is good for heart problems and asthma. It is a soft and gentle stone and is believed to promote a long and prosperous life. It is good for flexibility and tolerance- a stone of friendship. A lucky stone, much revered in China, it can absorb the judgment, criticism or fear that holds you back from expressing love.

Main properties: Fidelity, dreams, realization of potential, peace, accord, resourcefulness, accomplishment.

Folklore, Legend, Healing Properties of Howlite:

Howlite decreases an overly critical state of mind, selfishness, stress, pain, and rudeness. It increases subtlety and tact. It helps bones, teeth, calcium levels and leg cramps. It also heightens creativity.

Hematite Folklore, Legend & Healing Properties:
The name hematite is derived from the Greek word haimatites for blood.
In ancient times it was believed that large deposits of hematite formed on battlegrounds where soldiers were injured and lost blood from their battles.
The ancient Egyptians placed hematite objects inside their tombs.
Hematite is believed to be a healing and grounding stone, strengthening the body and lessening life’s stresses.
It is thought to reduce stress and enhance one’s personal magnetism. It is also thought to increase optimism and courage and helpful in transforming negativity.
Grey hematite is typically found in places where there has been standing water or mineral hot springs, such as those in Yellowstone. Hematite can also occur without water, however, usually as the result of volcanic activity.

Main properties: Mental attunement, memory, calming, balance, focusing energy and emotions, peace, inner happiness, transforming negativity.

Folklore, Legend & Healing Properties of Garnet:

Garnet occurs in every color except blue and most varieties are named for their color. Rhodolite is a purplish red; hessonite is the name for an orange, cinnamon, or pinkish variety. Garnet’s powers include healing, strength, and protection and it is often worn to relieve inflammations of the skin. In earlier times, garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they meet again. They balance the root or base chakra- Garnets can stimulate repressed or overactive sexuality, and also creative energy. They energize the circulation and bring it to normal if deficient, such as in the case of low blood pressure. Garnets are good for toxicity, mental depression and inactive thyroid. If worn on the left side of the body, Garnets are believed to protect against depression as well as rheumatism. Tradition suggests the wearing of garnets will bring business success and new opportunities. Garnets are stones that will encourage you to be positive and make a success out of your life. If you are a ’shrinking violet’ a Garnet will help to move you out of your shell.

Folklore, Legend & Healing Properties of Carnelian:

Carnelian is an agate class of chalcedony that is a stone of creativity, individuality and courage. Like all agates, it has protection energies. It can aid memory, including recall of past lives. It can assist one in finding the right mate. It is also a stone of protection in general and from anger, jealousy and fear. In addition it can help with manifestation of one’s desires, and brings good luck. Carnelian can help ease or remove sorrows. It also helps stabilize energies in the home. It is sometimes called the “actor’s stone”. Carnelian is associated with the root and sacral chakras. Physically, carnelian has been used to heal open sores, rejuvenate tissues and cells, rheumatism, kidney stones and other kidney problems, gall stones, colds, pollen allergies, and neuralgia.

Folklore, Legend, Healing Properties of Onyx:
Onyx is a type of coloured chalcedony, mostly recognized in its pure black form, but also comes in vibrant greens, white and dark brown. Onyx has long been associated with improving concentration and devotion and it is not surprising therefore, to see many rosaries made from this stone. It is also said to help with stress and aid inner serenity. It is used to improve concentration, self-control and hearing difficulties. Onyx beads are supposed to be exceptionally lucky, as they avert danger and bring success in love affairs. Thought to increase regeneration, happiness, intuition, and instincts. Also thought to decrease sexual desire and helps to change bad habits.
Onyx in Mythology: The name comes from the Greek word onyx, which means nail of a finger or claw. Legend says that one day while Venus was sleeping Eros/Cupid cut her fingernails and left the clippings scattered on the ground. Because no part of a heavenly body can die, the gods turned them into stone, which later became known as onyx.
Main properties: Self-control, decision-making, intuition, recognition of personal strengths.

December birthstone in the “Mystical Birthstones”. To see more about these, visit my “Birthstones” page.