Jade occurs as jadeite and nephrite. While jade is not exceptionally hard (5-7 on the Mohs scale), it is very tough. It was so unbreakable, it was used for axe-heads and anvils. The word jade comes from the Spanish piedra de ijada “stone for the loins,” referring to its magical healing ability on that area of the body.
There are many “imitation” jades which are passed off as the real thing. For one thing, they lack the toughness of real jade. Plastic, crushed stone, aventurine, amazonite, prehnite, and natural or dyed chalcedony are all faux jades. Victoria stone, Kinga stone, or Meta-jade are imitations made partially of glass. Pink jade may be dyed quartz, and Siberian jade is dark green glass. Mexican jade may be calcite, and Styrian jade is a relative of serpentine. Transvaal jade is an opaque form of green garnet. Korean, Indian, soft, or new jade are all names of fake jades. Even true jades may be dyed in order enhance their colors or achieve the more expensive greens and lavender. Jadeite is the more porous of the two jades and so absorbs dyes better. Many of the dyes used are not light stable however and will fade with time.
From the jadeite form of jade (Sodium Aluminum Silicate) comes the Imperial Jade, a translucent emerald green stone much valued. It comes in several shades of green, pale to deep, with or without traceries of white. Jadeite also occurs in mauve, lavender, brown, red, orange, gray, black, blue-green, and white (with or without green traceries). Nephrite (Calcium Magnesium Iron Silicate) is comprised of jade and actinolite, its color range olive green, gray-green, spinach green, misty green, apple green, light green, brown-green, black, cream, tan, blue-green, and pink.
The specific colors have particular uses in addition to the traditions listed below.
Blue : peace, passivity, patience, slow but steady progress, especially useful for people who feel constricted or in an out of control situation
Brown : comfort, reliability, useful in settling old matters and adjusting to new environments
Green : calms nerves, helps express affection
Lavender : heals those hurt by love or those who feel a need to acquire gentleness, restraint, and subtlety in their emotions
Red : release pent up anger
White or Cream : directs energy to the most advantageous outlet, makes decisions easier, aids in healing the eyes
Yellow or orange : joy and happiness
Jade is considered a “dream stone.” It improves memory of dreams and assists in “dream solving.” Suppressed emotions are released through the dream process using jade. To work with jade while dreaming, it is best to place it under the pillow. This gemstone is also known as a “stone of fidelity.” It allows people to attune themselves to the needs of others and inspires wisdom when evaluating problems. Jade also provides confidence, contributing to self-assuredness, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency. Modern tradition holds that green jade attracts money as all green things seem to do.
Many ancient and present cultures consider jade useful in accessing the spiritual worlds, and the ancient Egyptians used it to help in the passage from this life to the next. Jade was one of the stones used in the breastplates of Judaic High priests. The Greeks felt it was healing for the eyes, and a piece might be placed on each eyelid. Ground up, it was drunk in liquid as a cure for snake or rodent bite. Native Americans wore it to ward off snakebite.
In the Mayan and Aztec cultures, jade or jadeite were much revered. Possession of the gemstones was an indication of status, as well as being protective. Jade facilitates peace to one’s entire environment, between the physical, emotional, intellectual, and material states. It transmutes negativity and instills resourcefulness. Natives of Mexico used it to cure fever, gout, and skull fracture. Some even felt it could resuscitate the dying. It was known as chalchihuitl and fashioned into the “green heart amulet.” This amulet was inserted into a corpse to ensure resurrection.
In ancient China (pre-18th century), jade (Nephrite) was much revered. Called Yu, it was used in the fashioning of religious tools and artifacts, and it would bless whatever it touched. The Chinese character pao, meaning precious, was drawn as a house containing the symbol for jade beads. Bridegrooms would present a jade butterfly to their brides as a symbol of their love, and both would drink from a jade cup as a confirmation of their vows. Powdered jade was added to water to ensure a long life and as a cure-all, and taken before just before death, such a concoction was thought to preserve the body. It is used in fashioning several luck amulets.
Nephrite is used by the Maoris of New Zealand as a protective barrier against illness and attacks. There is it called punamu “green-stone” or hei-tiki “carved rock amulet.” More commonly, nephrite is used as a balancing stone, helping balance male and female energies for a more harmonious marital relationship. Nephrite containing quartz crystalline structures are particularly useful in meditation and astral travel to the realm of “all knowing.” It was allegedly used in Lemurian healing rituals.
Jadeite, especially Imperial Jade, is useful for communication, group cohesion, and clearing up dysfunctional relationships. Chloromelanite jadeite (ranging in color from rich dark hues to black) is considered appropriate for kings and gods. It enhances expression, intelligence, and perception.
Jade generally affects the heart, hips, kidneys, and spleen. It also soothes and smoothes the skin and stimulates healthy hair. Yellow jade aids the pancreas. Jadeite is helpful as a “stitching” tool, assisting in the repairing of cellular and skeletal structures. It also assists in dulling pain, especially muscle cramping of any kind and childbirth. In general however, jadeite is said to affect only the male reproductive organs. Nephrite, from the Greek nephros meaning “kidney” owes its name to nineteenth century physicians who believed that tying the stone to the arm or hip would help the body expel kidney stones. Presently it is felt to enhance the workings of white blood cells and stimulates the adrenal glands. It is also helpful in regulating the metabolism, moderating stress, and healing those exposed to radiation.