Raw landscape jasper is a piece of earth that carries its own paintings within. In its raw form, the exterior may be unassuming, but it's when it's sliced that the spectacle begins: patterns of dunes, mountains, stormy skies, rivers, and deserts appear in cross-section, painted by iron oxides and sediments deposited layer by layer over millions of years. Each slice is a different landscape, a unique tableau that the earth has taken an eternity to paint. It is a sedimentary quartz mainly found in the deserts of Oregon, Idaho, South Africa, and Madagascar. The most beautiful specimens show scenes of troubling precision, with horizons, color gradients, and perspectives that rival the works of the greatest landscape painters.
In lithotherapy, raw landscape jasper is considered the deepest form of this stone of perspective. The intact structure, with its visible sedimentary layers, is believed to diffuse an energy of panoramic serenity, connection to the earth, and a more direct global vision than the polished version. Placed in a living room, it brings an atmosphere of earthy calm and natural beauty. On a desk, it helps to step back and see situations as a whole rather than getting bogged down in details. Held in the hand during meditation, it deeply anchors the root chakra while opening perspective, as if climbing to the top of a mountain to look down at the world. It is also a highly prized stone in artists' and photographers' studios for its energy of visual creativity and inspiration from nature.
For maintenance, a rinse with clear water and recharging in the sun or in the earth are sufficient. The earth is the most consistent method of recharging for this stone born of sedimentation. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, raw landscape jasper can be handled without any particular precautions.
