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Author: TylerH
Owner/ Sole Proprietor of Spectral Stone
Valentine’s Hearts
Valentine’s Hearts in Sterling Silver and with crushed Amethyst. Find them all in the Hearts category.
Many people know that Valentine’s Day is named after St. Valentine. But did you know there are actually two St. Valentines? Nobody knows for sure if the holiday originally celebrated St. Valentine of Rome or St. Valentine of Terni, both of whom were martyred. Legends say that St. Valentine of Rome was a priest who defied the Roman Emperor Claudius II’s ban on soldiers getting married. He continued to marry couples in secret. Other stories say that he helped Christians escape Roman prisons. In addition, he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine.”
Watch out around Valentine’s Day, or else you may be struck by Cupid’s arrow. According to Time, the ubiquitous cherub can be traced back to 700 B.C. In Ancient Greece, Eros, the Greek god of love, was depicted as a handsome young man and had the power to make people fall madly in love. Over time, he was adopted by the Romans and became known as Cupid. His image changed to the little boy with the bow and arrow. Because of his love-inspiring powers, he became linked to Valentine’s Day by the turn of the 19th century.
Polychrome jasper from Madagascar
Polychrome jasper from Madagascar is only found on the Northern Coast of Madagascar. This jasper is typically multicolored, with pastel hues of purples, tans, and pinks. However, teal or blue polychrome jasper is rarer and more sought after. Set in Sterling Silver, polychrome jasper from Madagascar is cherished for its beauty.
Discovery: Found in Madagascar while searching for Ocean Jasper.
Name: “Polychrome” means multi-colored, reflecting its diverse hues.
Composition: A type of chalcedony (quartz) formed during volcanic activity. Polychrome jasper from Madagascar demonstrates the incredible geological conditions under which it forms.
Appearance: Swirling patterns, sometimes orbicular, with blues (rare for jasper), reds, tans, yellows, greens, purples, and whites.
Hardness: 6.5 – 7 on the Mohs scale, making it durable.
Grounding: Deeply connects to Earth, offering stability and strength.
Vitality: Boosts physical energy, passion, motivation, and creativity. This is another reason polychrome jasper from Madagascar is highly valued.
Stress Relief: Helps reduce stress, anxiety, and supports clarity in decision-making.
Chakra: Associated with all chakras, particularly grounding root chakra energies.
Uses: Popular for carving, jewelry, palm stones, and keeping as a pocket stone.
Rocky Butte Picture Jasper from Oregon
Rocky Butte picture jasper is a type of jasper found in the Owyhee Mountains of southeastern Oregon, known for its colorful patterns of blue, green, brown, and yellow, often with a “cobweb” or scenic appearance.
Location: Found in the Owyhee Mountains, southeastern Oregon, near the Idaho border.
Appearance: Features distinct landscape scenes, with colors including deep blues, mossy greens, tans, creams, and fiery reds/oranges forming bands, swirls, and branch-like patterns.
Geology: A silicified mudstone, colored by minerals like iron, formed from ancient volcanic activity.
Scenes: Look for patterns resembling deserts, rivers, or forests.
Colors: Expect vibrant blues, greens, browns, and reds.
Textures: You’ll see flowing bands and intricate dendritic (branching) formations.
Lemon Jade
Lemon jade is a rare variety of nephrite jade that crystallizes in masses. It is famous for its vivid yellow or yellow-green coloration, which is caused by various impurities that are included during the crystal formation process. All pieces are set in Sterling Silver.
Lemon jade is associated with gentleness, cleansing, soothing energy, and balancing one’s mood. It is connected primarily with the sacral and base chakras.