Poppy Jasper

Excerpted from Wisdom of the Gemstone Guardians, by Michael Katz. Order the book here.

Chapter 20

Poppy Jasper: Enlivening the Body

Without warning, in the center of the wet cavern, a campfire appeared. This unusual fire produced no smoke, nor did its light dance on the cavern walls. It simply radiated a constant glow, allowing us to see the entire cave more clearly. The Guardian of Sodalight showed no concern about the fire; it merely seemed to be his cue to request the presence of Poppy Jasper's Guardian.

Again, a formless swirl of energy collected a few feet in front of me. I noticed that its vortex was spinning in the direction opposite to that of Leopardskin Jasper's. I walked into the swirl and caught my breath. My body felt charged with new energy. Even more striking was the change in my perception. I no longer saw the cave walls as rock. Now they were alive--a living part of my own body. 

Michael and the Guardian of Sodalight also looked different. I saw only a dim outline of their forms, for now I perceived their bodies as masses of water and minerals. Within each of them vibrated a coil of concentrated, brilliant light that seemed to give the collections of water and chemicals life. I knew this light must be Soul.

Then I felt an urge to rest my mind, listen, and serve as a vehicle for the words of the Guardian of Poppy Jasper.

All earthstones and gemstones are involved in the process of fulfilling the Earth's needs. Our relationship to each other is like the relationship of the organs in your body: we all work together for a single purpose. We are all components of the whole picture, and all of us are required to keep the Earth functioning. 

Just as your organs formed as the rest of you was forming, I formed as the planet was forming. You will find most of the earthstones are similar in this regard. 

I am like a cousin to Leopardskin Jasper. My work follows his. My mission for the planet is to provide it with the equivalent of adrenaline. When your adrenaline flows, you work harder and faster. Often adrenaline flows because you are excited, and it generates a feeling of joy that keeps you going. It can also give you the extra energy you sometimes need to get through challenging situations. This extra energy is what I give to the Earth. I do this whenever Leopardskin Jasper determines there is a need for it.

I am not as widely distributed within the Earth as Leopardskin Jasper, and the pockets in which I am found are smaller. It is not necessary for me to be distributed evenly throughout the planet, just as it is not necessary for you to have a heart in every part of your body.

The Earth only needs several major deposits of Poppy Jasper. The planet's circulatory system distributes my vibratory rate wherever it is needed. This circulatory system consists of lines of magnetic flow. Communication throughout the planet is swift along these magnetic pathways. The human body has a similar communication system; your brain quickly registers a painful stimulus in any part of your body. The Earth is as complex as the human body. However, we are not here today to learn about Earth physiology. 

Leopardskin Jasper recognizes the Earth's needs. It collects the information that something must be done. Poppy Jasper provides the energy and push to get it done. When Poppy Jasper receives information from Leopardskin Jasper, its reaction can be described as that of a positive attitude. A positive attitude is the key to getting work done most efficiently and to everyone's benefit. You have probably experienced this yourself. When you do something with positive energy, more gets done, you feel better for doing it, and others are positively affected by your good humor.

Energy Vortices

You noticed that my vortex swirls in a downward direction. This is because I get my energy from the atmosphere. The vortex of my vibratory rate pulls this atmospheric energy down through the soil to the Poppy Jasper.

When there is a certain job to be done, I spin a "baby" vortex off from the main vortex of the Poppy Jasper deposit. Sometimes the baby vortex is thrown toward the area in need. Other times it is thrown toward the gemstone or earthstone that can affect the area more directly than I can. The baby vortex spins in the direction opposite to that of the main vortex. If it spun in the same direction, the main vortex would not be able to propel it with any degree of force.

As the baby vortex spins in an upward direction, it brings uplifting energy to its target. This uplifting energy is positive, happy, and joyful. It imparts a good attitude and good humor. It acts like adrenaline, inspiring, invigorating, and enlivening the next earthstone or gemstone in line to carry out the mission identified by Leopardskin Jasper. Wouldn't you agree that you react more positively to stimuli that are uplifting and positive? 

Sometimes the other earthstone becomes aware of its task as soon as my energy enlivens it, and sometimes others help to define its task. I have a similar effect when I am worn on the human body. I can enliven and wake up areas that appear to be sleeping. 

"What do you mean when you say you 'wake up' areas?" asked Michael.

When your stomach is empty, you might say that it is asleep, because it is not secreting any digestive juices. When you eat food, the stomach "wakes up." It becomes enlivened and starts to secrete its juices. I am like that food. 

My energy also helps to break up crusty patterns, physical impediments, and blockages that prevent energy from entering certain areas of the physical body. Now, blockages do not always manifest in pockets or specific places in the body. Cells throughout the body often have a blocked or tight quality. Energy cannot flow through blocked cells the way it should. When Poppy Jasper is worn, I cause these blockages to be released. Sometimes these releases manifest as spontaneous muscle twitches and stretches. Some call these stretches "unwinding" movements.

When your physical body becomes freer of these impediments, it is able to accept more energy. This enables your body to do things it was previously unable to do. More energy also makes you feel good. When you're given a little more adrenaline, your outlook is brightened and becomes more cheerful. You feel joyful and happy to be alive. By wearing Poppy Jasper, you may also attain a deeper recognition of your connection with the life of the Earth, and this too will invigorate you. The more you wear Poppy Jasper, the more you will experience all these effects. 

Greater Harmony

Recently, a change occurred that allowed me and several other earthstones to gain conscious awareness of our own functions and how we work together. Before this change, many earthstones worked by instinct alone and performed their jobs as if in a dream. 

With this increase in awareness has come the potential for greater harmony among all parts of the Earth. It also has brought greater responsibility and the potential to work with more difficult situations. If one functions only by instinct or "on automatic," one may not be able to function accurately when unusual circumstances or variables arise. With conscious awareness, I can cooperate more effectively with the other conscious earthstones to resolve these unusual circumstances.

As the human race is growing, your technology is changing. Yet, as a race of beings, you still are basically unaware of the nature of your planet. As a result, you do things to the planet that hurt it. We earthstones must find creative solutions to balance what you do to the planet. We must find ways to keep the Earth alive and, consequently, to keep you alive. 

Some unknown force—Spirit, perhaps—has inspired people to fashion earthstones into spheres so that they can be worn. This inspiration is truly a gift to the planet. When people wear earthstones, they become more in tune with their planet. Their understanding of the planet grows, and they become aware that their planet is indeed alive. Because the Earth is such a perfect reflection of the human body, as people begin to wear and know the earthstones, they will also begin to know themselves better. 

I give people the motivation, inspiration, and energy to act that I give to other earthstones. Therefore, one who sits still should not expect to wear Poppy Jasper and remain still. Perhaps the worst thing you could do with Poppy Jasper would be to give it to someone who lives in prison. The person will want to move, do something, and change. This person might become very frustrated if he or she were physically prevented from doing so. 

You have caught me within a moment of time. When you leave, I will continue my work. 

There is much more we could talk about. However, you must first grasp the information I have given you. You must take it a step or two further. You must understand enough to be able to ask focused questions, and then we will have much more to talk about. You will know where to find me when you are ready.

I provided the fire only to help you see this cavern more clearly, for I know that darkness often makes human beings uncomfortable and reluctant to move. Actually, it is not really a fire at all; it just looks like one.  

Perhaps this light will have a symbolic meaning for you. Perhaps the symbol will help you understand how I work on the human being. But be careful not to take symbols too far.

"Thank you," said Michael.

Even as the vortex moved away from me, my body continued to feel Poppy Jasper's energy. All my muscles took turns stretching as they released stresses and blockages. These releases were not uncomfortable. Indeed, they were as refreshing as a first stretch in the morning.

© 1997 Michael Katz. All rights reserved.