JADE: A DISCOVERY
Jade, the exquisite green gemstone, has captivated civilisations for thousands of years. From ancient China to Mesoamerica, India to Persia, and beyond, Jade holds a rich and fascinating history.
AN ANCIENT HISTORY...
Jade first rose to prominence during ancient China's Neolithic period, around 6,000 years ago. Known as"The Stone of Heaven", it symbolised purity, immortality, good luck and power, used in jewellery and in ritual and ceremonial objects to connect with the spiritual realm, ancestors and cosmic forces.
In the Mesoamerican civilisations of the Mayans, Aztecs and Olmecs, Jade held spiritual significance, used in jewellery, ornaments and as offerings to the gods. When the Spaniards arrived hundreds of years later, Jade was the most valued of substances, reserved for gods and royalty alike, a symbol of life and death, as well as prosperity and good fortune. These cultures were among the first to use Jadeite, the rarer and more prized form of Jade, found in Guatemala, and more recently in Burma, where the largest deposit of Jadeite is now found.
Image | Jade stone sculpture produced by the Olmec peoples of southern Mexico dated between 900-400 BC.
OTHER CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Jade held a sacred place in ancient Indian civilizations. Hinduism and Buddhism recognized its spiritual essence, using jade to create religious statues, talismans, and amulets. A symbol of purity, harmony and spirituality, Jade is a revered gemstone in India. Among the Maori people of New Zealand, Jade, or "pounamu" (also known as "greenstone"), holds immense spiritual and cultural significance. Used in the creation of traditional Maori ornaments, tools, weapons, and jewellery, pounamu symbolises the deep connection to the land, ancestors, and spiritual realms.
Image | Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, the largest Buddha carved from Jade in the world, created for the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Victoria, and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama.
THE SYMBOLISM
Jade is the Stone of Abundance, Harmony and Wisdom. Jade soothes the mind to release negative energy, and through a mind of tranquility, offers the wisdom to achieve a higher form of self-awareness. An amulet for prosperity, good luck and long life, Jade brings into our lives what our heart desires.
≡
SYMBOLISM
ABUNDANCE + HARMONY + WISDOM
CHAKRA
HEART CHAKRA
ZODIACS
ARIES, TAURUS, GEMINI, LIBRA
ELEMENT
EARTH
ANNIVERSARY
JADE IS THE 12TH ANNIVERSARY GEMSTONE
THE TYPES OF JADE
Jade is a semi-precious stone that comes from two types of crystals, both can look very similar.
NEPHRITE
The more common and form of Jade, widely used throughout the world. This Jade became popular throughout Chinese and Maori Jade folklore.
JADEITE
The much rarer Jade with a much higher value due to its rarity and hardness, with Meso-American Jade folklore developing around this particular type. Burma is now the main location where Jadeite is found. Burmese Jade is what is used in most of Spiritus Stones Jade creations.
HOW TO USE
JADE IN YOUR HOME
TO IMPROVE FENG SHUI
Jade possesses a harmonising energy that can bring balance and positive chi (life force energy) to a space. Place a Jade sculpture in a strategic area of the home to enhance the flow of energy and create a more harmonious environment.
TO BRING ABUNDANCE AND GOOD LUCK
Being a stone of prosperity and good fortune, Jade should be placed in an appropriate location to attract wealth. In Feng Shui beliefs, it is said to place the Jade in a southeast corner of the home or office.
TO OFFER PROTECTION
Jade is considered a protective stone that can ward off negative energies, so place your Jade object near an entrance or window to act as a protective barrier, preventing negative energies from entering the home.
Jade's allure now extends far beyond its ancient origins, used in valuable jewellery and ornaments, with a symbolism that represents a union of all cultures it has touched over the ages. Today Jade remains cherished as a symbol of abundance, harmony and wisdom, all qualities we value.