All About Gemstones Part VI

Part VI of the All About Gemstone Series focuses on gemstones starting with the letters H, I, and J.  I am beginning to feel a bit like Sesame Street, all the references to letters!  If you've missed any of the other parts of this series though, you can find them here:

Gemstones starting with A
Gemstones starting with B
Gemstones starting with C
Gemstones starting with D and E
Gemstones starting with F and G

This is a very delicate stone.  Be careful of scratching or chipping it. It will break if it's dropped. It can be rinsed and buffed with a soft cloth.

The name Hematite comes from the Greek for "blood".  Hematite looks jet black, but when it's in powdered form it will show up as dark red.  It was a popular stone for jewelry during the Victorian era and has been gaining again in popularity the past few years. 

Hematite is used as a grounding agent; it enables the psychic practitioner to unfocus from the physical world to receive psychic information and aids in developing the psychic mental mind.  It is also used to aid in problem solving and confidence.

This is a wonderful stone.  It's actually a double terminated quartz crystal and is easy to care for.  Just clean with a soft damp cloth.

This stone gives the wearer a sense of harmony, enhances awareness and promotes spontaneity. It is also said to promote a sense of who we truly are.

These stones are known as the "Attunement Stone".  Use this crystal to attune oneself with the environment, an activity or another person. When placed between two Chakras they will work to clear the way for energy to flow between the two centers.

Herkimer diamonds will also support releasing stress and tension throughout the body and boost the power of other crystals by being used to close the circuit. Use to act as a filter to release toxins from the body as well as boost the immune system.

This is an interesting stone.  It has been called a "water-sapphire" and "Vikings' Compass" due to its ability to find which way the sun is in the sky, even on a cloudy day.  Clean with a soft cloth.

Iolite awakens inner knowledge and helps to guide us to a higher awareness.  It also helps to bring harmony to the self within. It is said to stimulate the sixth Chakra leading to clairvoyance.

Iolite will help with Liver health, cholesterol (fatty deposits) eliminates toxins, malaria, and fever producing disorders such as chronic infections.

Jade comes in a variety of colors from lavendar to green and is a most precious stone.  The Aztecs revered Jade higher than gold.  Be careful  not to scratch or chip it, and clean it with a soft damp cloth.

Jade is called "The Stone of Heaven" by the Chinese.  They believe that it creates a connection between heaven and earth.  It is a very popular item for Feng Shui decorating.

This stone is known as the stone of longevity and also as the "dream stone". Place Jade under your pillow at night to help with dream work. It allows one to actualize aspirations and attain limitless achievements. It is also used to heal the body and spirit and to maintain health and well being. Jade is also known to be an excellent attuning stone.

When polished has a finish that will wash away in water. Use a soft dry cloth for cleaning and protect it from scratches.  it comes in a variety of colors, with blue jasper being the most rare.

Jasper has been a favorite stone since 1800 BC.  It's been used to create tools, jewelry and home decor with. 

Red jasper particularly is known to be a powerful stone used for divination practice.  It is also worn to protect one during out of body experiences and vision quests by providing solid grounding.

Jet is actually created by fossilized wood, so while it's classified as a gemstone, it is actually a wood.  Clean it with a soft cloth.

Jet has been used throughout history for it's beauty.  It was used in the Mourning Dress of Queen Victoria.

This stone encourages success, prosperity, and happiness. It is an excellent stone to enhance dream processes. It is said to improve memory. Jet is a very protective agent against evil, violence, and illness. It promotes acceptance and cleanses aura and helps Kundalini flow through the upper Chakras.

Use Jet for headaches, asthma, epilepsy, migraines, stomach pain, colds, glandular problems, and lymphatic problems.