Jasper

The ancient Egyptians wore jasper scarabs as amulets as th stone was believed to increase sexual energy.  According to the Bible, jasper was a direct gift from God and would be the first foundation stone of the New Jerusalem.  Also, both Indians in Asia as well as Native Americans see jasper as a magical rain stone and also a powerful healing stone.
Jaspers is called an ornamental rock, it is an opaque and fine grained variety composed mostly of chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz, in association with other minerals, which is what give it those colorful bands and patterns.  It is found in almost all colors.

Found worldwide, a wide variety of named jaspers is found in the western areas of the Unites States; California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Washington.

Picture jasper is a petrified or silicated mud that dripped into gas pockets in molten lava. It became superheated and then solidified forming the unusual banded patterns which are typical of this stone.

Jasper is a massive, fine-grained, opaque variety of chalcedony, believed to protect against sight defects and drought.  It may occur in shades of brown, grayish-blue, red, yellow, green and even purple.
"Orbicular" jasper has white or gray, eye-shaped patters surrounded by red jasper.  "Ribbon" Jasper is striped and used in carvings, cameos and intaglios, which help to show off it's layered structure. Hornstone is a gray variety of jasper.

A Few of the Named Jaspers:

Black	Leopard Skin	Exotica	Dalmatian
Ocean	Kambaba	Brecciated	Red/Poppy
Rainbow	Picture	Yellow	Morgan Hill
Stone Canyon	Picasso	Mookaite	Zebra
Lavender	Imperial	Landscape

Traditionally when worn as a decorative necklace jasper is known to combat exhaustion.  

Jasper is protective. It can align all the chakras and balance yin yang energies, it is stabilizing and healing. Legend says that Jasper would drive away evil spirits and protect against snake and spider bites. In the fourth century it was thought to bring about the rain.
As well, Jaspers of all kinds have long been attributed magical powers in just about every culture known to man. Jasper was used in Ancient European times as a "rain bringer" and it is interesting to note that the word for jasper in some American Indian cultures also meant, "Rain Bringer".

When laid on therapeutically, red jasper stimulates sexuality and fertility. Red-brown jasper is particularly beneficial in the treatment of liver, spleen and pancreas issues.  Drinking jasper water on hour before each meal is said to promote weight loss (to create jasper water, place the stone each night into a glass of water and cover, by morning it will have become jasper water).  To combat constipation, drink the entire glass of jasper water every second day, the very first thing in the morning.  
Yellow jasper is particularly good for menopausal women, and they should drink the jasper water each and every morning.  In addition, yellow jasper is known to strengthen the immune system.

Jasper is a fairly common stone, and it is generally worn or carried to promote mental processes and to restrain dangerous desires or whims that may lead to hazardous situations.
Jasper need direct contact with the skin, after each use, the stone should be cleaned under warm running water and recharged overnight in a bowl of tumbled hematite stones to be recharged.
Each color of jasper has it's own corresponding magical nature and uses:
Red Jasper (energy: projective, element: fire, planet: Mars)
Red jasper was typically engraved with images of lions and archers and carried to guard against poison and to cure fevers. A fine protective stone it is often used in defensive magic, as it sends negativity back to the original sender.  It is also used during health and healing spells, as well red jasper is worn by young women to promote beauty and grace.
Brick Red Jasper 
Often called the "mother of all stones" and the first transformer due to is magical properties.  This stone will balance all chakras, stabilize the energy fields and protect the wearer for negativity by absorbing those vibrations.
Green Jasper (energy: receptive, element: earth, planet: Venus)
Green Jasper is the talisman for healing and health. Ring green candles with green jasper to promote the body's healing or to ward off ill-heath.  Wear green jasper to halt hallucinations and to promote a restful sleep. It is also worn to become more sympathetic to others and their emotional as well as mental states.
Brown Jasper (energy: receptive, element: earth, planet: Saturn)Wearing brown jasper will help for centering and grounding, especially after a heavy magical ritual, psychic or spiritual work.  If you tend ot live with your head in the clouds to the point of possibly endangering you own life, please wear brown jasper for grounding and protection.
Mottled Jasper (energy: projective, element: air, planet: Mercury)
For protection against drowning wear mottled jasper.  It is said to e especially potent for this type of protection when it is cared with the image of an equal armed cross, which represents the powers of the four elements, of foundation and control.
Black Jasper
Should be worn when you would like for other people to leave you alone; it is quite good for personal sacred and ritual spaces.
Gray
Helps to regain and or use your personal power. It balances and protects the third chakra.

Mystical Birthstone for the Month of October.
Stone of Scorpio and Aries as well as Virgo, it symbolizes will power, and in the Middle Ages it was known as the Warrior's Stone. Legend holds that jasper is the stone that adorned Siegfried's Sword.