JET- ONE WAY OF FINDING A VIRGIN (PHYSICIANS OF MYDDFAI)

Jet in its natural state

JET USED IN JEWELERY AND FOR HEALING

Like amber, jet is not a stone although it is classed as a semi-precious stone in jewellery –making. It has a long history of use as a jet necklace has been found which dates back to 13,000 BC. It was used as an ornament for jewellery in the Bronze Age and the Assyrians thought it a favourite of their gods. The Romans like the stone, and during their occupation of Britain after 55 BC, jet was sent from there to Rome.

polished jet

  Jet is the remains of prehistoric plants and is a kind of carbonized wood, or a type of coal. It consists of around 85 % carbon, around 10% oxygen, 1 % nitrogen and 5 % hydrogen. It is mentioned in the Anglo-Norman Sloane Lapidary which was written in 1243 and in that manuscript it says that a woman in labour should drink water in which jet has been placed to ease the pains of childbirth.                                                      

  The physicians of Myddfai had other ideas for its uses such as this one:-

 “If you would distinguish between a wife and a virgin, scrape some jet into water, and give it her to drink. If she be a wife, she will without fail pass water, but if a virgin she will not have a more urgent call than usual.”

jet mourning brooch

  Stones have been used for divination and healing as well as for protection, and jet, worn around the neck or in a purse or pocket has been said to protect from evil and was used particularly to ward off the evil eye. To the ancients it was “gagates” and the Exorcism stone.  It is said to be especially effective for Capricorns.

  New Age healers say that jet absorbs negative energy and stabilizes moods, but has to be cleaned each night in sea salt to keep it clean and able to function. They also use it to relieve migraines and pain at the back of the eyes, and believe it protects a wearer from violence.

  Traditionally it was believed that jet could cure fainting spells and that the person who could wear jet could control the four elements of earth, air, fire and water, so it could have been Prospero’s stone in Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”.

  Queen Victoria popularized this stone as she wore jet while mourning for her beloved husband, Prince Albert. It is now associated with mourning and said to help in the grieving process.

  Jet is found in isolated patches, rather than in one definite place, like coal and may be found in pockets in rock. Whitby, in northern England is famous for its jet and a jet-jewellery business still continues there.