Information on Ocean Jasper

Ocean Jasper is sometimes called "orbicular jasper" or "moon jewel jasper" because of it's markings that look like eyes, orbs and moons. It was discovered in 1997 and can only be found in one place in the world, Madagascar. Ocean Jasper can be gathered only by boat, at low tide, along a remote shore that is not accessible by any roads. Ocean Jasper is technically an agate, an agate being translucent and a jasper being opaque. That is why some stones seem almost three dimensional.

From a metaphysical perspective this is a very soothing and protective stone. The circular patterns symbolize, as well as help one realize, that we are all interconnected and that all nature is cyclical. The "eyes" or "orbs" symbolize the protective nature of the stone.

Ocean Jasper

Ocean Jasper is one of my favourite stones to work with. It comes in so many different colours and "eye" swirls and no two stones look alike. Sometimes this can be a challenge when trying to match for earrings and pendants.

I found some really cute pink ocean jasper stones. I very rarely come across the pink colour and to have 3 stones that were relatively the same quite remarkable. I wrapped both the earrings and pendant in sterling silver which seemed to highlight the pink colour. The pendant is about 1 inch long and the earrings are about 1/2 inch long.

Here is another picture of a wrapped ocean jasper where you can clearly see a few of the "eyes".This one is wrapped in 14k gold filled wire.

Rings

I love creating rings. They are always such a challenge. Here is a custom order ring, size 7, in sterling silver with a wrapped precious opal. This pic doesn't capture the real beauty of the stone but gives a sense of what the ring is about. I have also used this same style with 14k gold filled wire.

When I am creating a ring I make sure that the wire around the ring mandral is around 1/4 to 1/2 size bigger than the size I want to allow for the extra wire coils of the wrap.

Meaning of the Tree of Life

Some people have asked me, "What is the Tree of Life" exactly. Many people have a general idea but not the specifics.

The concept of a tree of life is a many-branched tree that illustrates the idea that all life on earth is related and has been used in: science, religion, philosophy, mythology, and other areas. A tree of life is variously,

1. a motif in various world theologies, mythologies, and philosophies;

2. a mystical concept alluding to the interconnectedness of all life on our planet;

3. a metaphor for common descent in the evolutionary sense.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the tree of knowledge, connecting heaven and the underworld, and the tree of life, connecting all forms of creation, are both forms of the world tree or the cosmic tree. According to some scholars, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, portrayed in various religions and philosophies, are the same tree.

If you have seen Avatar, the tree of life is a central theme to that movie.

The pic above shows the tree of life as earrings, sterling silver, and copper wire with the same stones as in the post below.

Charkra Jewellery

I am developing a line of Chakra jewellery. Shown
to the right is a Tree of Life pendant in sterling silver
with copper as the trunk and branches and the chakra colours from the base up in garnet, carnelian, citrine, peridot, aquamarine, iolite and amethyst chips, with matching chip earrings.I am also designing chakra trees of life in 14k gold filled wire. (very nice)

Other chakra jewellery are pendants that are in the chakra order as well as chakra earrings that are mini trees of life. (pics to follow). Prices range from $15 to $40 depending on stones, size of pendants/earrings and metal used.

I also have put together chakra stone sets of various types of stones for those who would like those stones for meditation (ranging from $25 to $35).