What Does Jade Symbolize Across Cultures History And Modernity

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Jade has transcended millennia as a mineral of profound cultural resonance, embodying virtues from protection and immortality to wisdom and harmony. Revered in ancient Chinese dynasties as a "heavenly stone," it later became central to Mesoamerican cosmologies and Southeast Asian spiritual traditions, its symbolism evolving alongside trade networks and sacred rituals. Beyond its historical significance, jade persists in modern spirituality, art, and even contemporary branding, where its durability and luminous hues continue to inspire reinterpretations—from Reiki healing stones to LGBTQ+ pride symbols. This exploration examines how jade’s multifaceted meanings reflect humanity’s enduring quest to imbue objects with deeper purpose.

The mineral’s journey from practical tools to sacred artifacts reveals its adaptability, with archaeological discoveries like Liangzhu jade cong and Olmec masks illustrating its role in power, divinity, and social status. In Taoist traditions, jade was paired with cinnabar in burial rites to ensure immortality, while warrior cultures adopted it as a talisman for resilience. Today, its symbolic layers extend to meditation practices, literary metaphors, and visual art, where artists like Amy Tan and Indigenous Australian creators use jade to convey themes of identity and renewal. By analyzing these dimensions—historical, spiritual, artistic, and modern—we uncover how a single stone has shaped civilizations and continues to resonate in global narratives.

what does jade symbolize

Cultural and Historical Significance of Jade Across Civilizations

Jade has transcended its material properties to become one of the most enduring symbols in human history, embodying spiritual, social, and cosmic ideals across disparate cultures. From the Neolithic carvings of the Liangzhu civilization to the ceremonial masks of the Olmec, its significance evolved alongside trade networks, religious syncretism, and technological advancements. The stone’s rarity, durability (7 on the Mohs scale), and luminous quality made it a medium for divine communication, political authority, and personal protection. Below, a comparative analysis traces jade’s symbolic shifts—from utilitarian tools to sacred artifacts—across three pivotal regions: ancient China, Mesoamerica, and Southeast Asia, while highlighting key archaeological discoveries that illuminate its layered meanings.

Jade in Ancient China: From Ritual Tools to Imperial Symbols

In China, jade (yu 玉) emerged as a cultural cornerstone during the Neolithic period (c. 3300–2200 BCE), where it was initially used for practical implements like axes and adzes before its spiritual connotations solidified. The Liangzhu culture (3400–2250 BCE), centered in the Yangtze River Delta, produced the earliest known jade artifacts, including cong tubes and bi disks, which were buried with the dead in elaborate tombs. Archaeological evidence from Quanhucun and Songze sites reveals that these objects were not mere grave goods but embodied cosmological principles: the cong symbolized the Five Phases (Wu Xing) and celestial order, while the bi represented the four cardinal directions and earthly stability.

By the Shang (1600–1046 BCE) and Zhou (1046–256 BCE) dynasties, jade became synonymous with Confucian virtue (de) and Taoist immortality, its green hues linking it to renewal and harmony. The Book of Rites (Liji) codified jade’s moral associations, stating:

"Jade is the symbol of the virtuous man: it is hard and yet not rigid, bright and yet not gaudy, clear and yet not sharp."
This duality reflected Confucian ideals of balance, while Taoist alchemists paired jade with cinnabar (dan qing) and pearls in elixirs meant to cultivate the inner alchemy (neidan) and achieve transcendence. Burial practices, such as those of the Marquis Yi of Zeng (d. 433 BCE), included jade suits (yu zi)—thousands of jade plaques sewn into silk garments—to protect the deceased’s spirit in the afterlife.

The Qin (221–206 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties further elevated jade’s status as an imperial emblem, with emperors wearing jade seals (yu xi) to legitimize their rule. The Han Dynasty’s discovery of Khmer jade (from modern-day Myanmar and Laos) via the Southern Silk Road expanded its symbolic repertoire, blending Chinese aesthetics with Southeast Asian motifs.

Mesoamerican Jade: Blood, Divinity, and the Olmec Legacy

In Mesoamerica, jade (pitz in Maya, xiuhuitz in Nahuatl) was the "precious sweat of the gods", a substance believed to have been excreted by deities during the creation of the universe. The Olmec civilization (1500–400 BCE), often called the "Mother Culture" of Mesoamerica, pioneered jade’s use in ritual regalia, most famously the Olmec jade masks (e.g., the Mask of the Were-Jaguar from La Venta). These artifacts, carved from nephrite sourced from Guatemala’s Motagua Valley, depicted were-jaguar warriors—hybrid beings linking the earthly and supernatural realms. The masks’ drilling techniques (using copper or flint) and inlaid pyrite eyes suggested their role in bloodletting rituals, where jade’s green color was associated with fertility and rebirth.

The Maya (2000 BCE–1500 CE) expanded jade’s symbolism to include kingship and cosmic order. The K’awiil scepter of K’inich Yax K’uk’ Mo’ (founder of the Copán dynasty) featured a jade pendant symbolizing the Maize God’s descent into the underworld (Xibalba). Maya alchemists believed jade could absorb blood and transform it into divine energy, a concept reflected in the Popol Vuh, where jade beads are used to bind the sun and moon in the sky. The Aztec (1325–1521 CE) later adopted jade as a warrior’s talisman, with jadeite (a rarer, more vibrant green variety) reserved for Huitzilopochtli’s priests. The Templo Mayor excavations revealed jadeite mosaic masks of Tezcatlipoca, the smoking mirror deity, reinforcing jade’s role in divination and shamanic power.

Trade networks, such as the Pacific Coast route (linking Guatemala to Peru), ensured jade’s prestige, though its controlled distribution by elites (e.g., Teotihuacan’s jade workshops) underscored its political capital. The Spanish conquest disrupted these traditions, but jade’s legacy persisted in colonial-era syncretism, where Catholic saints were depicted wearing jade ornaments to legitimize indigenous spiritual practices.

Southeast Asian Jade: Meritus, Protective Amulets, and Hindu-Buddhist Syncretism

Southeast Asia’s jade traditions were shaped by Hindu-Buddhist cosmology, where the stone was linked to meritus (spiritual merit) and protective deities. The Dvaravati culture (1st–11th century CE), centered in modern Thailand and Laos, produced jade amulets in the form of Nāga serpents and Garuda birds, symbols of royal authority and warding off evil. The Khmer Empire (802–1431 CE) incorporated jade into Angkor Wat’s bas-reliefs, where Vishnu’s conch (Shankha) was often depicted in jade, associating the stone with oceanic fertility and royal legitimacy. Excavations at Angkor Borei revealed jadeite beads traded from Myanmar’s Hpakan region, a testament to the Bay of Bengal trade routes that connected Southeast Asia to China.

In Burma (Myanmar), jade became a national emblem under the Konbaung Dynasty (1752–1885), with the Mandalay Palace housing jade pagodas dedicated to Buddha’s relics. The Shan States crafted jade hso (amulets) for warriors, believing the stone’s hardness (7 on Mohs scale) mirrored unbreakable vows. These amulets, often paired with red thread and silver, were worn into battle to repel arrows and bullets, a practice documented in 19th-century British colonial reports describing Shan soldiers’ reliance on jade charms during conflicts with the British Burma Army.

The modern jade rush in Myanmar (e.g., Mogok Valley) reflects this enduring legacy, where jadeite’s rarity (only found in Myanmar and Guatemala) has made it a geopolitical commodity. Yet, its spiritual significance persists in Buddhist monasteries, where jade Buddha statues are anointed with saffron and gold to amplify their merit-generating power.

Comparative Table: Jade’s Symbolic Roles Across Civilizations

Below is a structured comparison of jade’s cultural functions, era-specific meanings, and notable artifacts, formatted for responsive display:

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Jade in Modern Symbolism: Spirituality and Personal Meaning

Jade’s enduring resonance extends beyond ancient civilizations into contemporary spiritual and personal practices, where its metaphysical properties are reinterpreted through the lenses of energy healing, meditation, and New Age traditions. Unlike its historical associations with imperial authority or ancestral reverence, modern jade symbolism emphasizes harmony, protection, and individual empowerment. Its integration into practices such as Reiki, crystal grids, and Feng Shui reflects a globalized yet culturally nuanced reinterpretation of the stone’s essence, blending East Asian metaphysical traditions with Western holistic wellness movements. The distinction between imperial jade (nephrite) and green jade (jadeite) further complicates its symbolic layering, as each variant is ascribed unique energetic attributes—from emotional balance to wisdom—while ethical sourcing and intentional use become central to its modern spiritual application.

The contemporary appeal of jade lies in its perceived ability to amplify intentions, absorb negative energy, and foster clarity, making it a staple in both personal rituals and communal healing practices. Its adaptability allows it to serve as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern self-care, though its meaning varies significantly across cultural contexts. Below, the exploration dissects jade’s role in energy healing, its reinterpretation in New Age spirituality, cross-cultural symbolic discrepancies, and practical applications in modern rituals, while also highlighting lesser-known contemporary uses that reflect evolving cultural narratives.

Jade in Energy Healing and Meditation Practices

In modern metaphysical traditions, jade is frequently employed as a tool for energy alignment, meditation, and therapeutic healing, particularly within Reiki, chakra balancing, and crystal grid systems. Its properties are often categorized by color and mineral type, with imperial jade (nephrite)—typically white, lavender, or pale green—associated with purity, spiritual growth, and the crown chakra, while green jadeite is linked to the heart and sacral chakra, promoting emotional healing, abundance, and renewal. Practitioners of Reiki and other energy-work modalities use jade to "ground" clients, dissipate stagnant energy, and enhance the flow of qi or prana, though its efficacy remains subjective and rooted in personal belief rather than empirical validation.

The stone’s use in crystal grids—geometric arrangements designed to amplify intentions—further underscores its modern symbolic flexibility. Green jade, for instance, is often placed at the center of grids focused on prosperity or love, while imperial jade may anchor grids aimed at spiritual awakening. Meditators and yoga practitioners incorporate jade into chakra meditation, placing it over specific energy centers to "activate" or "balance" them. For example, a piece of green jadeite held over the heart chakra is believed to facilitate compassion and emotional release, whereas white nephrite might be used during third-eye meditations to enhance intuition.

Modern New Age Reinterpretations of Jade’s Symbolism

New Age movements have recast jade as a universal stone of harmony, protection, and transformation, often divorcing its symbolism from historical context to emphasize its perceived metaphysical benefits. This reinterpretation draws from diverse sources, including:
  • Feng Shui principles, where jade is positioned in the wealth (southeast) or health (east) sectors of a home to attract abundance and vitality. Green jadeite, in particular, is favored for its association with growth and renewal.
  • Chakra associations, where green jade aligns with the heart chakra (Anahata), symbolizing love and emotional equilibrium, while white or lavender nephrite connects to the throat (Vishuddha) or crown (Sahasrara) chakras, representing communication and spiritual connection.
  • Elemental correspondences, with jade often linked to water or earth elements, reinforcing themes of fluidity, adaptability, and grounding.
    • "Jade is no longer merely a stone of emperors or ancestors; it has become a tool for modern self-mastery, a physical manifestation of the user’s intention to cultivate balance, protection, and alignment with higher states of consciousness. Its adaptability allows it to transcend cultural boundaries, serving as a universal symbol of renewal in an era where spirituality is increasingly individualized."
    —Adapted from Feng Shui principles (Lin Yun, "The Complete Book of Feng Shui," 2003) and New Age crystal lore (Judith Devaney, "The Crystal Bible," 2006).
    This reinterpretation often overlooks jade’s historical associations with authority, immortality, and cosmic order in East Asian cultures, instead framing it as a neutral, empowering force accessible to all. However, such universalization risks erasing the stone’s original cultural significance, particularly in contexts where jade remains a sacred or politically charged material.

    Cross-Cultural Discrepancies in Jade’s Symbolic Role

    The symbolic function of jade diverges sharply between East Asian spiritual traditions and Western New Age practices, reflecting broader cultural priorities and metaphysical frameworks. In East Asia, particularly China and Korea, jade retains its sacred and hierarchical connotations, embodying:
  • Heavenly connection: As the "heavenly stone" (天石, tiān shí), jade symbolizes the bridge between mortal and divine realms, a concept rooted in Daoist and Confucian cosmology.
  • Moral integrity: Its association with virtue (德, dé) and filial piety persists in rituals like ancestral offerings, where jade objects ensure the deceased’s harmony in the afterlife.
  • Imperial legitimacy: The use of jade seals (玉玺, yùxǐ) by Chinese emperors reinforces its link to authority and cosmic mandate, a symbolism largely absent in Western interpretations.

    • In contrast, Western spiritual traditions—influenced by crystal healing, Wicca, and New Age thought—portray jade as:

  • A personalized tool for emotional and energetic healing, devoid of hierarchical or ancestral ties.
  • A gender-neutral or unisex symbol, often marketed as a "stone of harmony" without reference to its historical gendered associations (e.g., jade’s link to femininity in Chinese yin-yang cosmology).
  • An elemental or chakra-specific resource, aligned with heart-centered or water-energy themes rather than cosmic order.

    • These discrepancies stem from cultural extraction, where Western traditions appropriate jade’s aesthetic and perceived properties while stripping away its original contextual meaning. For instance, while Chinese Feng Shui might place jade in a home to attract qi, Western crystal grids may use it to "manifest abundance" without acknowledging the cultural weight of its placement.

    Designing a Jade-Based Ritual or Talisman: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Creating a jade-centered ritual or talisman requires intentionality, ethical sourcing, and alignment with personal or cultural spiritual goals. Below is a structured approach to crafting such an object or practice, incorporating both metaphysical and practical considerations.

    Context: Jade talismans and rituals are designed to amplify specific intentions, whether for protection, healing, or manifestation. The process integrates material selection, symbolic gestures, and ethical mindfulness, ensuring the ritual’s efficacy aligns with the user’s values.

    • Select the Jade Variant and Color
      Choose jade based on its mineral type (nephrite vs. jadeite) and color, each carrying distinct energetic properties:
      • Imperial Jade (Nephrite): White/lavender—spiritual clarity, crown chakra; Green—heart chakra, emotional balance.
      • Green Jadeite: Deep green—abundance, renewal; Light green—growth, fertility; Black—grounding, protection.
      • Avoid dyed jade unless intentional, as natural stones are preferred in ethical practices.
    • Determine the Intention and Symbolic Form
      Define the ritual’s purpose (e.g., protection, love, prosperity) and select a carving or shape that resonates:
      • Pendants or amulets: Worn close to the body for continuous energy influence.
      • Bi disks or cong vessels: Replicate ancient Chinese ritual objects for ancestral or cosmic alignment.
      • Raw or tumbled stones: Used in meditation or placed in sacred spaces (e.g., altar, Feng Shui bagua sectors).
      • Jade jewelry with engravings: Incorporate Chinese characters (e.g., 福, fú for luck) or Western symbols (e.g., moon phases for intuition).
    • Prepare Ethical Sourcing and Cleansing
      Ensure the jade is ethically sourced, preferably from responsible mines (e.g., Myanmar’s jadeite or New Zealand’s nephrite) or recycled/upcycled pieces. Cleanse the stone

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      Jade as a Metaphor in Literature and Art

      Jade’s luminous beauty and cultural resonance transcend its material form, embedding itself deeply into literary traditions, visual arts, and modern storytelling as a potent metaphor. From classical Chinese poetry to contemporary Indigenous art and global cinema, jade serves as a vessel for exploring themes of femininity, resilience, cultural identity, and spiritual transcendence. Its adaptability as a symbol allows artists and writers to evoke complex emotions—ranging from purity and endurance to fragility and transformation—while reinforcing or challenging traditional associations with virtue, power, and heritage.

      The following sections examine jade’s multifaceted role in literature, visual arts, and media, demonstrating how its symbolic layers evolve across historical and cultural contexts. Through poetic imagery, artistic representation, and cinematic narratives, jade becomes a bridge between the tangible and the abstract, reflecting humanity’s enduring fascination with objects as mirrors of shared values and aspirations.

      Jade in Classical Chinese Poetry and Modern Literature

      In classical Chinese poetry, jade (yu 玉) functions as a recurring motif that encapsulates ideals of moral integrity, feminine grace, and the ephemeral nature of beauty. Poets of the Tang (618–907 CE) and Song (960–1279 CE) dynasties frequently employed jade to symbolize virtuous women, imperial authority, and the unyielding spirit of scholars. Li Bai (701–762 CE), for instance, in "Jade Flute" (Yu Die 玉笛), juxtaposes the instrument’s melodic purity with the transient beauty of life, where jade becomes a metaphor for both artistic perfection and the fleeting essence of existence. The poem’s lines—
      *"The jade flute sounds in the moonlit night,
      Its notes like willows weeping over the river’s flow."*
      —highlight jade’s duality: a symbol of enduring elegance (li 丽) yet vulnerable to the passage of time.

      Modern literature further expands jade’s symbolic repertoire, particularly in works that explore diasporic identity and intergenerational trauma. Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club (1989) employs jade as a recurring motif to illustrate the expectations placed upon Chinese-American women. The novel’s protagonist, Jing-mei Woo, is described as possessing "a jade pendant"—a gift from her mother—symbolizing the weight of cultural legacy and the struggle to reconcile inherited values with personal autonomy. Tan’s use of jade underscores the tension between tradition and modernity, where the stone’s hardness (resilience) contrasts with its susceptibility to fracture (vulnerability). Similarly, in Ha Jin’s Waiting (1999), jade carvings in the protagonist’s family home represent the fading glory of pre-revolutionary China, evoking nostalgia and loss.

      Jade in these texts transcends its literal form to embody cultural memory, maternal sacrifice, and the quiet strength of women navigating dual identities. Its presence in literature often serves as a silent witness to the narratives of displacement, reinforcing the idea that objects—like symbols—carry the collective weight of history.

      Visual Representations of Jade in Art Across Civilizations

      Visual artists across Asia, Oceania, and beyond have harnessed jade’s unique texture, color gradations (from pale muttonfat to deep imperial green), and cultural associations to convey narrative depth and emotional resonance. The following table synthesizes key examples, illustrating how jade’s depiction evolves from ritualistic significance to contemporary expression:
    Culture Era Symbolic Role Notable Artifacts
    Artwork Artist/Culture Jade’s Role Symbolic Layer
    Lady with a Jade Hairpin (c. 1680–1720) Qing Dynasty court painter (attributed to the "Four Wangs" school) Central motif; hairpin as status symbol Imperial femininity, Confucian ideals of chastity and grace. Jade’s translucency mirrors the "inner light" (nei guang) of a virtuous woman.
    Jade Rabbit (Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c. 3300–2200 BCE) Ancient Chinese (Liangzhu civilization) Ritual object; carved rabbit figure Cosmic harmony and agricultural fertility. Jade’s ritual purity links the rabbit (lunar symbol) to cycles of renewal.
    Ancestral Carving of a Man (c. 1800s, Indigenous Australian) Yolŋu people, Arnhem Land Dot-painting medium (synthetic jade-green pigment) Connection to ancestral land (dhuwa clan). Green hues evoke the monsoon rains and the "eternal" spirit of the earth.
    Jade Concubine (2018, contemporary sculpture) Ai Weiwei (Chinese conceptual artist) Life-sized bronze figure with jade-like patina Critique of political oppression. The jade finish references imperial concubines while highlighting modern disenfranchisement.
    Green Jade Serpent (Ming Dynasty, 14th–17th century) Imperial workshop artisans Ornamental carving for palace use Dragon symbolism; jade’s hardness embodies the emperor’s unassailable power, while serpentine curves evoke yin flexibility.
    Key Observations:
  • Texture and Color: Artists exploit jade’s translucency to suggest intangible qualities (e.g., moonlight in Qing paintings, spiritual energy in Indigenous dot art). The imperial green (se 碧) often signifies nobility, while pale hues (bi 翡) evoke humility or nature.
  • Cultural Appropriation vs. Authenticity: Contemporary Indigenous Australian artists use synthetic jade-green pigments to reclaim symbolism without relying on mined jade, addressing ethical concerns while preserving narrative continuity.
  • Subversion of Tradition: Ai Weiwei’s Jade Concubine disrupts the association of jade with purity by applying it to a figure that critiques gender and power dynamics, demonstrating how symbolism can be recontextualized for social commentary.

    • Jade in Film and Animation: Reinforcing and Subverting Traditional Symbolism

    Cinema and animation leverage jade’s visual and symbolic potency to explore themes of spirituality, colonialism, and personal transformation, often reinterpreting its cultural connotations. Two standout examples—James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) and Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (2001)—demonstrate how jade’s symbolism is both homogenized for global audiences and adapted to challenge traditional narratives.

    1. Avatar: Jade as Colonial Exploitation and Indigenous Resistance
    In Avatar, the bioluminescent "tree of souls" on Pandora emits a jade-like glow, directly evoking associations with Chinese jade’s spiritual and healing properties. However, Cameron’s portrayal subverts traditional symbolism by framing jade as a resource coveted by colonizers. The Unobtanium (a fictional mineral) mirrors historical accounts of jade’s extraction in Burma (Myanmar) and Central America, where indigenous communities were displaced for its trade. The film’s use of jade-green hues in the Na’vi culture reinforces their connection to nature, but the militarization of the resource critiques real-world exploitation. Scene analysis:

  • The Hometree’s Glow: The jade-like luminescence symbolizes ancestral wisdom and harmony, but its destruction by human invaders mirrors the violence of resource extraction.
  • Jake Sully’s "Skin Suit": The Na’vi’s jade-green eyes and skin evoke traditional jade associations with virtue, yet Jake’s eventual choice to embrace Pandora—rather than return to Earth—suggests jade’s symbolism can transcend cultural boundaries to represent universal resistance to oppression.

    • 2. Spirited Away: Jade as Spiritual Purity and Transformation
    Miyazaki’s Spirited Away employs jade-like motifs to explore childhood innocence, spiritual growth, and the

    From the ceremonial jade axes of the Liangzhu civilization to the neon-green jade bracelets worn in modern LGBTQ+ pride parades, the stone’s symbolism remains a testament to human ingenuity and cultural fluidity. Its hardness, once a practical advantage for tools, became a metaphor for endurance, while its serene hues inspired associations with tranquility and wisdom. Whether as a Taoist elixir of immortality, a Reiki practitioner’s tool for balance, or a metaphor in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, jade’s meanings adapt without losing their essence—connecting ancient rituals to contemporary movements. As luxury brands and filmmakers repurpose its imagery, jade endures not just as a mineral but as a living symbol of cultural heritage, spiritual aspiration, and timeless elegance.

    FAQ

    What does jade symbolize in Chinese culture and history?

    In China, jade (yu 玉) symbolizes purity, virtue, wisdom, and immortality. It represents harmony, protection, and high moral character, often used in rituals, burial goods, and imperial artifacts. The Chinese believe jade’s luster reflects the wearer’s integrity, and it’s linked to the five constants (wu de)—仁 (benevolence), 义 (righteousness), 礼 (propriety), 智 (wisdom), and 信 (trustworthiness).

    What is the cultural significance of jade in Chinese traditions, especially in art and burial practices?

    Jade holds deep cultural significance in China as a sacred stone tied to Confucian and Daoist values. It’s carved into ornaments, seals, and ceremonial objects to embody virtues like loyalty and resilience. In burials, jade was placed with the deceased to ensure safe passage to the afterlife, reflecting its role as a spiritual guardian.

    How does jade hold spiritual meaning in Buddhism, and what are its common uses?

    In Buddhism, jade symbolizes enlightenment, healing, and protection from negative energy. It’s often used in meditation tools (like mala beads) or worn as amulets to cultivate patience and wisdom. Some traditions associate jade with the heart chakra, promoting emotional balance and compassion.

    What does jade represent in Vietnamese culture, particularly in folklore and modern practices?

    In Vietnamese culture, jade (ngọc bích) embodies luck, prosperity, and harmony, often linked to ancestral reverence. It’s used in festivals, weddings, and as protective talismans to ward off evil spirits. Modernly, jade jewelry is popular for its believed ability to attract wealth and stability.

    What is the symbolic meaning of jade in Korean culture, including its role in Confucianism and daily life?

    In Korea, jade (okryeong 옥령) symbolizes dignity, longevity, and noble character, deeply tied to Confucian ethics. It’s used in royal regalia, scholar’s accessories, and burial goods to honor the deceased’s virtues. Today, jade jewelry is worn for protection and to convey respect in traditional ceremonies.

    What are the spiritual meanings and benefits associated with jade in metaphysical traditions?

    Spiritually, jade is believed to amplify intuition, balance emotions, and attract abundance while shielding against negativity. It’s often called the "stone of heaven" for its calming energy, used in Feng Shui to enhance harmony and in healing practices to cleanse the aura. Its durability also symbolizes perseverance and grounding.