Rocks and Gemstones: Bloodstone

Copyright 2010 Eileen Nauman
All Rights Reserved

Bloodstone has an incredible history and is an amazing stone. Few people admire or wear this gemstone, but they should. Read why….

CATALOGING THE GEMS

I evaluate a gemstone in a number of ways. First, it falls into one of these categories: Heart Stone, Grounding Stone, Guard Dog Stone, High Energy Stone, Trauma Stone, Mental Stone, Stress Tone, Luck Stone, Psychic Stone, Money Stone, Arthritis Stone and Master Healer Stone. I created this system over the years because each stone has unique skills. Some, like the Master Stones, are diverse, multi-skilled and affect more than one chakra in our aura. With this blog, we’re going to look at Bloodstone. It is a “Strength” and “Grounding” stone.

STRENGTH STONE

These gemstones connect with our deeper core values of this personality in this lifetime BUT, they also connect with our SOUL who has far more strength built up in it as a result of hundreds of thousands of lifetimes. This is the phenomenal magic of Strength gemstones. They are able to ACCESS this vault of built-upon and earned spiritual strength so it can help us get through some present difficulty/test/initiation that we’re putting ourselves through in this lifetime at this moment. It ‘feeds’ us so that we don’t give up, despair or want to check out because the life lesson is “too hard” to deal with. Not all people are strong spiritually speaking. We have baby spirits to ancient spirits in human body on this Earth. No one is created equal. And we’re all working on collecting that very necessary soul strength so that we can take on tougher and tougher challenges–and work through them successfully instead of failing them.

This cache of strength is accrued by living thousands upon thousands of lifetimes. It is there, like a cosmic “IV”, much like a blood transfusion for a human body, it is a strength/energy transfusion into us in our present incarnation when we need it. Certain gemstones can access this cache and give us the necessary strength to continue forward and work through the gauntlet we’ve chosen. This gemstone is like the marathon runner at the 26th mile when it is the hardest mile of all–and the finish line is so close. These gemstones take us the last mile of our own marathon in Life and help us pass over the finish line. And Bloodstone is one of them.

GROUNDING STONE

This is a gemstone that has the ability to draw the person’s astral body back into their physical body. Many people nowadays are ‘hanging out of their body,’ due to the stress, pressure and demands of our out-of-control world. It can also occur after an accident or injury where shock will knock the astral body partly out of the person’s body. People who aren’t grounded become “spacy” and then forgetful, late for appointments, or forgetting them completely. Worse, they have no desire to do anything. They feel like they’re in a vacuum and have no sense of purpose or direction. They lack discipline, organization and rarely complete what they start. They are often ‘dreamers’ but they can’t physical manifest it because they are not ‘home’ in their body.

The other way a grounding stone may help is to draw the roots from the Root chakra down through the person’s legs, through their feet to once more ground them into the Earth. A healthy person has roots of energy from this base chakra going far down into the earth. Their astral body is “locked” into their physical form completely. When this occurs, this person has discipline, organization and finishes what they start. They also have purpose, a vision and work toward it with vigor and passion. Being grounded is essential for living down here on our Earth. Otherwise, if ungrounded, a person will wander and float aimlessly through life accomplishing very little. The “red” jasper in the Bloodstone is about life vitality. It “pulls” one’s astral body back into their physical body; such is the power of this gemstone.

THE HISTORY OF BLOODSTONE

Bloodstone is a Chalcedony with red dots or streaks of Jasper within it. Chemically, is SiO2, Silicon Dioxide. Chalcedony is a variety of Quartz with nodules of red iron oxide distributed throughout its mass. It has a hardness of 6.5 – 7 on the Mohs scale. Usually, it is a very dark green color and you have to look close to see the red spots, dots or streaks. Good quality Bloodstone is hard to find nowadays and if you do find it, it costs a lot. Most Bloodstone is dark green with “some” dots, spots or streaks in it and you have to look real close to see them. Bloodstone can come in other colors, such as bright red, red-orange and pale orange, too. It is mined in the USA, Australia, India, Scotland, China, Brazil, the Czech Republic and Russia.

Sometimes called “Blood Jasper”, it is a combination of Chalcedony quartz and red Jasper. The green color comes from chlorite particles or Hornblende needles. The red, red-orange and brown coloration is called by iron oxide.

Bloodstone may be called Blood Jasper in the trade, is not quite a jasper but rather a dark green Chalcedony which is a cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz, and which contains inclusions of red to brown. Although the color is not consistent, the red spots are caused by iron oxide and the green color is from chlorite particles or Hornblende needles.

Historically, in the Middle Ages it was believed the gem could make you invisible. And, if you pressed a Bloodstone on a bleeding wound, it would stop it from bleeding. Greek athletes wore it because it gifted them with extra endurance in their sport to win. And going along with that idea, Bloodstone is said to oxygenate the blood to its fullest, thereby lending more endurance. Many believed that if you wore Bloodstone, the knowledge of the ages would be downloaded into you. In general, Bloodstone has always been a gemstone that aided strength and power of the physical body. Wear the stone and you had more energy, more vitality and endurance to do what needed to be done.

Bloodstone was seen as a diplomat when it came to friends splitting up. It was believed to have helped to heal such rifts. Along that same line, it also revitalized romance between couples and dissolved negativity in any relationship. Some wore it to help them improve and increase their intellectual capabilities. In high stress environments, Bloodstone gave courage to the wearer. It also protected the person from their own destructive patterns and behaviors. Bloodstone has also been called the “Stone of Courage” and gives the wearer the fortitude to stand and fight.

To this day in India, Bloodstone is ground into a powder and drank, believing it is an aphrodisiac (I don’t recommend doing this, by the way). Bloodstone has always had an affinity for red blood cells in the body. Because it is said to fully oxygenate a red blood cell, it could help those who had such blood related difficulties. For women, it eases menstrual pain and slows the flow. And, today, it is used to clear and cleanse the aura of positive ions that are like “dust bunnies” to our energy fields.

One of the most interesting facts about Bloodstone is that it is highly sensitive to heat. That means, if you wear it, you are ‘exciting’ the energy of this gemstone and it’s going to start sending out its energy into your aura quite rapidly. Not all gemstones do this to this extent. The Quartz Family, in general is highly sensitive to body heat but Bloodstone is far more reactive. That means that it ‘radiates’ out its energy even faster and more intensely.

During Babylonian times, engraved Bloodstone was used as a divination device. The Egyptians utilized it as part of their magic to defeat their enemies by becoming invisible. The Leyden Papyrus said, “The world has no greater thing than bloodstone.” Today, it is seen as the Mother Goddess stone and is associated with the Black Madonna, as well as Isis and Horus.

THE ASTROLOGY OF BLOODSTONE

Bloodstone has two rulers: Mars and Pluto. And I’ve given it the assignment to Scorpio. The reasons are below. This is a Pluto ruled gemstone. Mars, the first ruler of Scorpio (and later, Pluto was given rulership over this zodiac sign) rules the red blood cells of the body, so this is a perfect fit. Given Bloodstone’s vaunted energy and vitality it gives to the wearer, only Mars will do here. Our ‘engine’, which is our daily physical energy, depends upon Mars in our natal chart. With the “drops” of red blood on the dark green gemstone, Mars is the only one that can be selected. But on a deeper, Plutonian level, this gemstone is about our DNA; our heritage from a family long past that we didn’t even know. And our family DNA is with us whether we realize it or not. For those who look at our family tree, the information can be monumental and important. Why? Because we can look at our past family members and see patterns of behavior and perspective setting up. What they were, we may be. And to borrow from a history saying, “What we forget we are doomed to repeat.” Well, it’s the same in the family structure too.

As an example of this, let’s say your grandfather abused your father. Your father may well carry on this abuse to you. And you will be doomed to repeat it upon you children. Our DNA carries a ‘miasma’ or dis-ease that flows from one generation to another. In some, it could be alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual abuse, etc. We all have a miasma; it’s simply a matter of knowing what it is. Then, we have a CHOICE to make. We can either choose to carry it forward into our present day family–or NOT. And it is here that Bloodstone can play an integral part in helping us define what we are and whether we want to carry on that genetic/family heritage. Bloodstone helps us DISCRIMINATE between good family genes and weak ones that hold us in a destructive pattern. That is why Bloodstone works on two levels simultaneously. Mars works on the physical level and Pluto on the family heritage level. Find out about your family?

ASTROLOGY TRANSITS AND PROGRESSIONS WITH BLOODSTONE

When Mars goes retrograde once every twenty-two months, Bloodstone is a good necklace to wear. When Mars is retrograde, we lose a lot of our physical energy and stamina. Or, when you are stressed out and are exhausted, Bloodstone is a good friend to wear at times like that.

When Pluto goes retrograde, this is a wonderful opportunity to wear Bloodstone and bring up and SEE family patterns and dynamics in your own life. And if you don’t like what you see then you can consciously work to change it. Bloodstone breaks old, destructive family patterns–but it can do so only if you consciously get to work to make it so.

NORTH DIRECTION

North energy is earth energy. It is ruled by the great white Buffalo. North direction is about plodding forward, step-by-step toward one’s goal. There is practicality, common sense and hard work here. This is also the direction of physical manifestation, the place where dreams do come true–with a lot of consistently hard work, discipline and organization. The earth energy is about being completely grounded and in your body at all times. Gemstones that reflect this energy aren’t flashy, well known or wanted by the vast majority of the population. It’s the shy kid in the back of the classroom. However, for sheer honesty, being responsible, reliable, on time and doing the right thing, nothing beats the North direction energy.

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF BLOODSTONE:

This gem has always had a history of giving a person endurance. It could be due to red blood cells being fully oxygenated, which is proven to give people more vitality and get-up-and-go.

WHO SHOULD WEAR BLOODSTONE?

Anyone with a red blood cell disease. It is not to be worn in lieu of any medical drugs or directions by your physician. As with all gemstones, they are background supporters and cheerleaders. Worn together, the person should have more energy than they did before. People who are exhausted, stressed out and tired, should consider Bloodstone. Those who are ungrounded, spacy and out of their body should wear this stone all the time. Anyone who is suffering from a loss of confidence should wear this beautiful stone. You can get confidence IF you are grounded and grounding is one of this gemstone’s many skills. This is a stone about the family’s past, its history and how it is affecting you. Anyone with an unhappy childhood might want to wear this healing gemstone.

SPIRITUAL CONSIDERATIONS OF BLOODSTONE

Bloodstone rules the Root Chakra. The root is the color red and Bloodstone has red spots, splotches and stripes across the surface of it. This is our grounding chakra and keeps our wandering astral body inside our physical one. Further, our Root relates to our strength and endurance, or lack thereof if it is damaged or gunked up with etheric debris or positive ions. Our tribe, our nation, our family heritage is all seen through the focus of our root chakra. Family strengths and weaknesses are mirrored here times ten. If your family has psychic skills, they will be strongly passed on to you and then your children. If a miasma (disease such as alcoholism) runs through your family, more than likely you will have to tussle with it, too.

The Root symbolizes first, our family, so family issues are a big thing for this person. The ‘blood’ taken from you while staying in that dysfunctional and/or abusive family was your own. You can be bled dry as a child in such a piranha family environment. So, what happens is the child simply leaves her or his body; they become ungrounded because they can’t stand the pain of living in such a family. These wounds will be the ones that they will continue to work on for an entire lifetime until they are healed from them. Bloodstone helps us work through family dysfunctional patterns and gets rid of them sooner rather than later.

Whenever in the company of Bloodstone, it is not unusual to feel a strong vital force; something which reaches into the far recesses of our ancestry, while at the same time piercing straight into your very own core. Looking at the “bloodlines” or rich red spots on an otherwise deep field of dark earthy green, you can almost feel the stone pulsate with the life force inherent in us all.

There is nothing like blood to keep us grounded. And the ‘blood’ drops in this gem reinforce this. Bloodstone is also what I term a ‘family heritage’ gemstone. This means that if you utilize it, it could be possible to become more connected with your ancestry. What this means is we all bring back some “tools” (skills) from other lives into this one. Bloodstone acts like a beacon to hone in on them. And, if you’re visiting a foreign country or someplace you’ve always wanted to go, be sure to wear a Bloodstone necklace. Why? Because where you want to go, there’s always been one or more incarnations at that site or area. The gemstone helps bring you into strong resonance with that past life as you stand there in this one.

As a result, you may have past live deja vu, or dreams from the past, or a sense that the past is overlaying the present. This is when unconscious knowing can become conscious because Bloodstone acts as a catalyzer to open the veil between your past and present.

HOW TO WEAR BLOODSTONE

Any times Mars or Pluto goes retrograde, which is once every twenty-two months, wearing this gemstone will be a good idea. Instead of feeling drained when Mars is retrograde, your energy level will remain stable. You won’t have the full energy back, but more than enough to deal with life’s daily problems. With Pluto going retrograde, it will help you see your family’s toxic patterns so you can become conscious of them–and change them to a healthier pattern.

IN SUMMATION….

This gemstone is the foundational ‘blood’ of ourselves. That means it can help us on every level. Blood is the source of Life for all of us on this planet. It can be physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Those who are physically exhausted should be checked for anemia. Mars rules over the vitamin, B-12. Those over fifty should have a B-12 test and may be found needing more. B-12 directly plays into the health of our red blood cells. If you are mentally exhausted, it could be that your red blood cells aren’t carrying enough oxygen to your brain. And emotionally, you may feel like your proverbial lifeblood is being taken from you by the stress of living. Spiritually, if we find ourselves wanting and hungry, shows that we are not in touch with a greater being who can ‘feed’ us body and soul. Bloodstone’s abilities, then, is around these themes, motifs and archetypes.

There may be those who have no confidence in themselves. Earth is a tough place to live, much less thrive within. The wonderful glistening and glittering aspects of this stone, when worn, simply uplift. Just looking at it can make you feel lighter! And more confident. It can help us to believe in ourselves and that alone, will swing open Cosmic doors for us to walk through. Bloodstone can lend us this focused energy to help support our choices in these areas of our life.

Family is the curse and blessing to everyone. Pluto rules our DNA and our family ‘miasma.’ If you have been blessed, that’s a good thing. Many on this Earth have dysfunctional parents and so this wounding is carried on through you, the children. And if it isn’t stopped and changed in you, then you are bound to pass this curse onto your children, and they, their children. In Homeopathy, this is called a ‘miasma’ or a toxic stain genetically speaking, that carries on like a blight through your family tree. By knowing your family, you can know its strengths and weaknesses. Bloodstone has a great deal to do with the family, both present as well as the far past. Often, those who need Bloodstone have an interest in family history and genetics.

Bloodstone is a foundational gemstone. A foundation to ourselves. We are who we are because of our parents and the relatives that went before them. By going back in the family tree, we can know the depth and breadth of the genes we carry within ourselves. And knowledge is education because then, we can make conscious choices about how we lead our own life. Bloodstone is a ‘beacon’ in that sense, to us. A way shower who can send us an intuitive whisper as to which is the right direction for ourselves. True to your own blood, your DNA, Bloodstone can support us in our adventure called life.

IMAGES:
http://www.theimage.com/gemstone/quartz/quartz26.html

Bloodstone rectangle
http://adventurersguild.wikispaces.com/file/view/bloodstone.jpg/30113449/bloodstone.jpg

tumbled bloodstone
http://www.gemplayer.com/images/birthstone/bloodstone.jpg

oval bloodstone polished
http://www.freewebs.com/owhango/Bloodstone%202.jpg

tumbled bloodstones
http://brightmooncrystals.co.uk/images/bloodstone_tumblestone.jpg

tumbled bloodstone from UK
http://bloodstones.com/sites/Bloodstone3.jpg

red bloodstone rough
Bloodstone necklace
Eileen Nauman
Bloodstone faceted beads
Eileen Nauman