The Meaning Of Jade
Jade has long been considered to be a lucky stone, especially by the peoples of Southeast Asia.
The spiritual meaning of Jade is longevity and wisdom.
It is believed to facilitate access to the spiritual realms, provide protection against negative energies and entities, and also to enhance our creativity and imagination.
The Properties Of Jade
Physical Properties of Jade
There are two distinctive types of Jade which have different mineral compositions.
The two types of Jade are in fact Nephrite and Jadeite. The latter is rich in aluminum and is a pyroxene, and the former is a magnesium-rich amphibole.
Only trained observers can distinguish between the two compositions, using a “chime” test as the specimens make different sounds when struck. To the untrained eye the two stones have very similar physical properties.
Metaphysical Properties Of Jade
Jade is credited with many metaphysical properties, which may differ slightly according to the color of the crystals.
Green Jade is the most common, and it is believed to bring tranquility to the spirit and calm wisdom to the mind.
Generally speaking, the darker shades of Jade are associated with grounding and feelings of confidence and security. The lighter shades, such as yellow, white, and lavender allow us to access our intuition and to make connections with the Higher realms.
Varieties Of Jade
Jade has long been considered by the people of Southeast Asia to be a lucky stone.
It is actually the name used to refer to two different minerals: Nephrite, a calcium magnesium silicate that commonly occurs in shades of pale to dark green, and Jadeite, which is a sodium aluminum silicate and is often found in shades of green, grey, lavender and yellow.
Nephrite is found in New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Russia, Canada, and the USA. Jadeite can be found mostly in Burma (Myanmar).
How To Use Jade
As with most gems and crystals Jade can be used in a variety of ways.
When worn as jewelry it is both beautiful and supportive and allows us to access its powers throughout the day.
It is often carved into talismans and ornaments which can be placed around the home or place of work to provide protection and healing.
When used as an abundance stone it is commonly found carved into the form of the lucky three-legged frog and placed on the threshold of the home.
Jade can also be used as a rubbing stone to calm anxious minds and an elixir of Jade, made by steeping a piece of the stone in pure water for 24 hours, can be applied to the skin to alleviate fevers associated with infections, particularly those associated with the urinary tract.
The Healing Powers Of Jade
Emotional Healing Powers
Jade can be a powerful force for emotional healing on many levels. Its vibration is soothing and nurturing, making it especially good for addressing emotional issues such as lack of self-worth or confidence.
Jade also clears negativity from your aura and immediate environment, which is why many people keep a talisman or statuette made from jade on their desk or in their place of work.
If you are suffering emotional distress due to love issues, whether this is love of or for another or self-love, Jade can bring equilibrium and calm.
Jade is also known as a dream stone and can help you to understand the symbolism and messages from dreams.
Physical Healing Powers
The healing properties of Jade as applied to the physical body include supporting the kidneys and the urinary and renal systems in particular.
It is sometimes referred to as the “spleen stone” because of its reputed benefits to this organ.
Jade is a good recovery stone and can speed up the convalescent process after a period of prolonged illness or surgery. It supports the joints, especially the hips, and is a good strengthener for the skeletal system in general.
Jade supports the reproductive systems in both men and women as it is believed to increase fertility, ease the process of childbirth, and balance hormonal levels in women of all ages.
Jade For Love And Relationships
Jade will bring you luck in love as well as in other areas of your life. It supports new love and increases trust in relationships.
It is widely believed to promote fidelity in sexual love partnerships and is especially beneficial for inspiring love matches in later life.
The support of mature love is a characteristic of Jade, and this includes encouraging a mature outlook when it comes to relationships no matter what age you are.
Jade can help to open our hearts so that you can become aware of any deep set issues that may be hindering you in the search for love. It also helps us to face uncomfortable truths and to realize that nothing can be resolved if we do not acknowledge that it exists.
Being honest with yourself and with others is the only way to achieve satisfying and meaningful relationships and Jade can help you to do this by supporting your life force energy as you work through any problems or issues that come to the surface.
Fear, not hatred, is the opposite of love, and Jade can help to dispel any feelings of fear you may be harboring around the love in your life.
If you are constantly fearful and worrying about secrets or issues that may cause a problem in the future you cannot be truly present in the here and now.
Jade has the wonderful property of gently realigning and harmonizing all fears and feelings of inadequacy or lack of self-worth so that you value yourself and others value you too.
If you and your partner are not quite sure of each other, Jade can help you to cut through illusions and misunderstandings, restoring trust and harmony in the relationship.
There is a quality of dualism in Jade and it is often called upon to balance opposites. This is especially apt when it comes to love and relationships.
Jade is believed to be a good stone for attracting love. So if you are single and wish to find the perfect partner call upon the powers of Jade to help you in your search.
Jade is also helpful in family relationships because of its steady, consistent vibration that brings stability and patience to all concerned.
Loving others can sometimes require a lot of work, so having the power of Jade on your side can help to ease the way.
Jade And Money
In Feng Shui traditions Jade should be placed in the southeast corner of the home or workplace to bring good fortune and wealth to all.
Jade ornaments and artifacts that are particularly associated with financial abundance include the lucky 3 legged frog and the Jade Fish. Place a coin in the mouth of either of these Jade creatures to bring financial abundance into your life.
Jade is an important stone for business ventures and makes an excellent talisman for anyone conducting financial transactions.
It will help you have a positive attitude towards money, and it will make you visualize yourself working, earning, and using money purposefully and creatively.
The prosperous energies of Jade will help you find the best course of action on matters that involve your finances and personal wealth.
It can also improve your mental faculties so that you can achieve mental clarity and exercise sound judgment.
These benefits of Jade are especially sought out by many spiritually-minded people seeking to do well in business, or in important projects for their company where recognition, promotion, and a healthy bonus are on the line
But, even though Jade is such a lucky stone, you can’t rely on luck alone. How wonderful, then, that Jade can bring out your confidence and clarity of mind.
It does this not only by activating your capabilities to take the right action in the moment, but also to take a longer-term perspective that carries you on the right path as your ideas begin to bear fruit.
Some people even meditate with Jade and other stones when deciding where best to invest money on the markets
Jade stones will support your financial growth and expansion. It will also promote new beginnings and give you the guidance that you need to be successful and wealthy.
Jade For Mental Health
Looking after your mental health is becoming more important as the century progresses. The incidence of stress-related illnesses and mental health conditions is rapidly increasing the world over.
Jade can be used to center and ground you if you choose the darker shades of the crystal, while the paler green variety of Jade is an excellent balancer for an agitated mind. Lavender Jade can be useful if you feel uncertain of your instincts and intuition.
Meditating with any of the shades of Jade is exceptionally beneficial for mental health.
Jade And Meditation
Meditating with any of the shades of Jade is extremely beneficial for mental, physical, and spiritual health.
If you are new to this practice, here is how to do it:
- Sit or lie in a comfortable position and ensure that there are no distractions. Lighting a white candle or burning some incense helps to create a tranquil space.
- Breathe normally without strain or effort for a while. Focus on the breath entering your nostrils and follow it as it goes down into your windpipe and lungs. Follow the breath on the exhale in the same way until things seem to be calm and settled.
- Hold a piece of Jade in each hand and place one near to your feet to remind you of your connection to the earth.
- Simply allow all thoughts to enter your mind but leave them alone. Visualize the thoughts simply draining away through your hands and feet into the Jade stones, where they are transmuted into harmless energy.
Jade also helps us to connect with the world of spirit and with our guides and guardian angels. Here is how to do it:
- Place a piece of blue Jade on or near to your brow and set your intention to call upon your guides and any of the Higher Powers you feel drawn to.
- Allow any thoughts or signs to enter your mind but do not feel that you have to make sense of them straight away.
- Allow them to stay with you as you continue to notice what is going on in your mind’s eye.
- If you have a specific question send this our telepathically to the Universe and take notice of what comes back to you.
The Chakras And Jade
Jade in shades of green is closely aligned on a vibrational level with the Heart chakra.
It can be used to gently open a Heart center that may have become frozen or blocked. This might have occurred recently, or it may be the result of past trauma.
It is important to take this process slowly so that the Heart chakra can be thoroughly healed.
Jade has a vibration that can shift blockages and begin the cleansing and clearing process required if we are to maintain a healthy flow of energy through the Heart center.
If our Heart chakra is unbalanced we tend to feel restricted in our dealings with others and our environment. We may find ourselves being hypercritical of others and either to control them or feel that we are being controlled.
These feelings can often lead to inappropriate emotional responses to simple everyday situations and leave us feeling out of sync with others and with our own needs and desires.
A healthy, balanced Heart chakra helps us to live a joyful life full of gratitude and kindness.
Combining Jade And Other Crystals
Chakra Crystal Combinations
Jade can be used in Chakra crystal combinations according to what you want to achieve and the variety of colors of the crystals you choose to use.
The darker shades of Jade combine especially well with Earth stones such as Agate and Hematite if you need to work on grounding yourself and balancing your Base chakra. This is especially important if you do a lot of intellectual or spiritual work on a daily basis.
Combine green Jade with Blue Agate to balance the energies of the Heart Chakra with the Throat and Third Eye chakras.
To activate and invigorate a sluggish Sacral chakra, combine yellow shades of Jade with Carnelian, Garnet, and Pyrite.
Other Crystal Combinations
Jade is an Earth Stone and can therefore be usefully combined with other Earth stones, such as Jet, Onyx, Obsidian, and Black Tourmaline.
These stones are all grounding crystals with a strong vibration and can work well in a grid or mandala designed to help you stay centered and grounded and to activate the Base chakra.
Earth stones also combine well with crystals of the Water element such as Amethyst, Aquamarine, Moonstone, Celestite, Pearl, Selenite and Rose Quartz.
Cleansing And Charging Jade
When And Why To Cleanse Jade
All crystals need to be cleansed fairly regularly in order to keep them in top condition.
Depending on how often you use them, crystals absorb all of the negative vibrations you ask them to clear.
They work hard, just as you do! You probably shower every day after work and your crystals benefit from a similar routine, although it is not always necessary to cleanse them every day.
Jade is a hard, metamorphic rock and can take quite a lot of wear, and all you need to do to cleanse it is to hold it under cold running water for a minute or so.
Your intention is important when cleansing and it is helpful if you have a visualization to add power to the cleansing.
Imagine all of the negative energies leaving your crystal as you turn it under the water. Add in a waterfall of pure white light washing over the stone and see all of the accumulated debris being cleared away and transmuted into positive vibrations by the light.
Charging Jade
The process of charging a crystal is actually part of the cleansing ritual. Again, it is your intention that is very important here.
Hold the thought that you intend to charge the energies in your stone so that they are working at an optimum level whilst you cleanse it.
A lovely way to charge your crystals is to use sage or sweetgrass: simply light the herb and blow it out, leaving it smoking. Pass the stones through the smoke as you visualize unwanted energies leaving it and positive, beneficial vibrations returning to it.
The clouds of smoke recharge and “reset” your crystal. Visualize the unwanted energies blowing out into the air and ascending way up to the heavens with the sage or sweetgrass smoke.
Jade As A Birthstone
The Jade Zodiac Sign
Jade is the official zodiac gemstone of people born under the signs of Libra (September 23 to October 22) and Taurus (April 20 to May 20).
Both of these signs are ruled by Venus.
People born under the sign of Libra are all about balance, as signified by the scales used to represent Libra in the zodiac. These people are sensitive and respectful but extremely strong-willed. They also tend to be artistic.
People born under the sign of Taurus are well-grounded realists that like to get things done. They are often affectionate but hot-tempered and stubborn or strong and silent, like the bull that symbolizes this zodiac sign.
The Jade Birthstone
Jade is not a traditional birthstone but it is a natural birthstone for anyone born between April 20 and May 20.
Jade gemstones bring success in new ventures, renewal, and good health. Olive green jade is a natural birthstone for people born between May 21 and June 20.
Wearing jewelry made with olive green jade or keeping statues or trinkets made with olive green jade brings these people good energy, improved learning abilities, and mental clarity.
Jade In Legend And History
Jade has been used by humans to make weapons, jewelry, and statues since around 4000 BC. It is a hard rock and therefore suitable for fashioning into axe heads and knives as it is easy to polish and to keep sharp.
Legend says that early humans had no weapons to protect themselves from wild animals. The Storm God created axes with jade taken from a rainbow and left them lying on the ground for humans to find and use for protection.
Ancient artifacts and deity masks were made from jade rock in Central America, New Zealand, Mexico, and South America.
Jade has been used most extensively in China where it has been carved into beads, burial artifacts, incense burners, gems, musical instruments vessels, and pendants.
The green gemstone is widely considered one of the most useful “Dream Stones” and has been used in this manner since ancient times.
How Much Is Jade Worth?
The Most Expensive Type Of Jade
There are several factors that can determine the worth of a Jade stone.
Color is the most important factor that can affect its worth. It’s generally analyzed based on its saturation, tone, intensity, and uniformity of the stone.
The most expensive Jade is the Imperial Jade which is semi-transparent and has an emerald-green tinge.
It was much in demand by members of the Chinese royalty. It’s so expensive that it now costs millions of dollars!
The second most valuable Jade is the nephrite Jade.
White Jade, red, orange, and black Jades are quite popular, but they are less valuable compared to light green and lavender Jade stones.
On the basis of transparency, Jade that is semi-transparent will be higher priced.
Jade that has good transparency will be more valuable even if it has an uneven color or low saturation.
Jade stones with the finest structure are the most valuable. The finer the texture, the better the transparency.
Jade Jewelry
Jades that are cut into cabochons and used in making earrings, bracelets, and rings will give you an idea of how much they are worth.
Cabochon Jades will be evaluated based on their thickness, proportion, and symmetry. A cabochon Jade that has even surfaces and no spots and flaws are most valuable.
Jade beads are also evaluated for their texture, color, size, and symmetry of cut. Well-matched Jades command higher prices.
Jades are usually clean, but there can sometimes be inclusions. But if the inclusions affect a Jade’s translucency, the price will also be greatly reduced.
However, if the inclusions look like silky tubes, these can enhance the Jade’s beauty and raise its price.
Visible black inclusions reduce the price of Jades because they symbolize bad luck in Chinese culture.
If there are fractures, they will also reduce the price of the Jade.
Cuts that use more rough will fetch a higher price. This is why Jade bangles are the most expensive.
However, a bracelet made of linked Jade beads can make a beautiful alternative if you’re on a budget.
A good Jade stone bangle bracelet which shows good transparency, color intensity, and clarity can fetch for $8,000.
Jadeite bangle bracelets that cost between $140 and $450 are good buys, especially when you just want to build your own personal collection.
However, they will not make such good investments if you’re seeking appreciation in their value.
If you want Jade as investments, go for Jade antique jewelry because their color just grows deeper, darker, and more beautiful with use and the passage of time.
New Jade can likewise be beautiful, but the market tends to prefer pieces that are “older and wiser,” so to speak.
In fact, particularly sensitive people might well feel some astonishingly profound energy emanating from these more antique Jade pieces!
It’s fascinating, but if you want to buy a Jade stone for using it, rather than having it as an investment, newer Jade might be the way to go.
It’s easier to attune to your own energies, and might well become a kind of friend for life, its energies lifting you out of all kinds of scrapes!
How To Recognize Fake Jade
Like other expensive stones, Jades can be treated and faked. Sometimes even experts can’t be sure whether a Jade has been treated or not just by looking at it.
Many materials are used to imitate Jade, the most common of which is glass. Other gem simulants include Aventurine, Malachite, Prehnite, Soapstone, Serpentine, Chalcedony, and Dyed Quartz.
Other stones like Jasper, Calcite, Zoisite, and Carnelian can also simulate the other colors of Jade.
It’s best to get a laboratory report if you’re making a major Jade purchase. Make sure that you buy from a trusted or reputable dealer with a return policy.
Make sure to compare the prices of Jade jewelry being sold by different retailers.
Final Thoughts On The Power Of Jade
The popularity of Jade probably stems from its versatility. It is the ultimate good luck charm and carrying a piece of Jade with you as you go about your daily tasks can bring reassurance and comfort to anyone who is having a tough time.
Mixed with the coins in your pocket or a container, Jade has the ability to attract wealth and abundance into your life.
Wearing Jade jewelry, especially in the form of a pendant that sits close to your Heart chakra helps to keep your loving energies in balance so that you avoid extremes of emotion or behavior.
Jade is the ultimate dream stone, so placing a piece of it under your pillow can help you interpret your dreams and to take useful messages from them.
The green shades of Jade are especially beautiful to look at and remind us of the beauty of the natural world.
Jade represents vitality and growth and having a piece of green Jade to hand during the dull winter months can be a real tonic to the spirits, letting us know that spring will soon be here.
Diana Houston
Diana Houston is a respected crystal expert and the author of 'A Beginner's Guide to Healing Crystals: Getting Started With Crystal Healing – A Complete Guide.' Her passion for crystals and their healing properties made her a leading authority on the subject.
Diana's expertise and passion for crystals have inspired countless readers and practitioners, and her book has received rave reviews on Amazon. With her clear and insightful guidance, Diana is a trusted guide for anyone seeking to unlock the transformative power of crystals.
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