Brian Matheson

I was first introduced to the stone of heaven when I opened a store for my family in Juneau, Alaska... a jade store, funnily enough. I had no real understanding of this magical stone, Jade or "Nephrite," the geological name. As the days progressed, however, the hold of the stone captivated me to no end and I found myself ordering books online and at the library, so I could learn more. I couldn't get enough information and the world's legends and lore of Jade still amaze and stimulate me.

The reverence for this stone and the time and effort people put into Jade 6000 years ago are awe inspiring. The diligence, the patience, the personal sacrifice, and the divine connection with the natural world around them are, I believe, valuable qualities that for the most part our modern society has lost. Why was there such a reverence for Jade? The answer to this question evades me, and ironically, I hope I never find it, even though I search constantly.