"Bat" is the symbol of happiness

I'm wearing my older, carved jadeite bangle bracelet with a bat carved on it in a honey color area.  So I not only have the symbol of happiness, but also the jade color associated with happiness.

I'm always very happy when customers receive their jade order and tell me how much they like their new jade bangle, jade pendant, the gua sha tools, jade eggs, or whatever they ordered.  Jade is so personal with its qi energy, and I feel like the jade that's been in the office has become personal to me because I've touched it and handled it while it was being listed, and while I described it I was truly "up close and personal" with it.  I get very attached to it and am very happy when it is purchased by a jade lover.

One of the features I added to the web site is an auto-generated coupon that is emailed to customers after their order is processed.  It's for 10% discount on their next purchase and good for 10 days.  It's a very good tool for jade lovers who are growing their jade collection.  As they get to know the quality of the jade we sell, and want more, it's a nice discount to use to add another item to their jade collection.   When you buy your very first jade bangle bracelet, you wear it for awhile and learn how it fits, how it feels, and if you wear jade for health and wellness, you feel the qi energy working for you. Then you get ideas for other jade you want to balance out your "wellness tools".  Customer feedback about the coupon indicates you are happy with that discount.

I like carvings of bat, lingzhi and lotus (immortal plant, often with fish), Phoenix (symbol of woman and yin and often with Dragon for Dao balance).   I also like the Dao bagua for being in harmony with nature.  And of course Guan Yin, Buddha of Compassion. 

On my first trip to China in 1999, the tour guide took us to Summer Palace and there were "bats" all over, and I thought they were kind of creepy.  The tour guide told us they were symbols of happiness, and that's when I became aware of Dao and symbolism, and it was an enlightening experience.

"Happy Pig" with Bat Jadeite Pendant JHP32

I'm going to wear my "happy bat" carved jadeite bangle bracelet when I take a few days off this week to have some fun before we start holiday business which goes through Chinese New Year.  I have to stay happy, so I can help you be happy with your Heavenly Jade purchases.

Jade Flutes

This is "clean up the office weekend" and there are always suprises, what I find that got misplaced.  I was pulling boxes off a shelf, and noticed some long Chinese silk boxes, and it dawned on me that those are the jade flutes.  And they didn't get added to the new YYJ web site when we made the change this spring.

Jade Flute on Ying Yu Jade, limited quantity

I had these jade flutes made for me after visiting a government jade museum in northeastern China in 2002.  The jade carver did a good job, found the perfect box to use for them, and shipped to me after I got home. These were difficult to carve from the jade rough and I received only 25% of the number I requested because so many broke during carving.  Getting the holes drilled was quite a challenge.    There are two remaining, and will be the Daily Special. 

I found a lot of odds and ends of "things" I bought in China.  Some are jade, some are other Chinese interesting items.  If you want a gift with your purchase, write a note in the comments box and I will include a "little something" with your order. 

Unique Jade Finds While Shopping in China

When I go to China to buy jade, I often must travel from a major city, like Beijing in the northern part of China, then to Dandong and Xiuyan.  In the south, I start in Hong Kong, then take the train to Guangzhou, then buses south toward Burma and where the jadeite is, and the jade carvers work.  Sometimes the bus drivers would make a slight detour to drop me off at a jade carvers workshop that they recommended.  Then I would wander around, look at the culture, the people, the entire area, as well as the jade.  And, oh my gosh, the strange foods I would eat! The people I would meet!  And the jade carvers and their families I would meet, talk with, shop with, have tea with. Of course I would find and buy jade bangle bracelets, but I would also find unique other jade pieces.

Then when I got home, I just couldn't sell them.  They had so many memories that I would put them in plastic containers I can see through, and decorate my office with them while they were still in their original purchase condition.  The unique jade items were one of a kind, or very limited quantity, so I could justify "hoarding" them.

I'm sharing now.

Small jadeite bottles with "hong" red screw on tops

The little jadeite bottles are so sweet.  Some were green like in the photo, and some  had lavender hues.  The tops are "hong" red and carved with a peg that has wire wrapped around it, then wire on the inside of the top, so the tops actually screw on.  They were made for fragrance, or herbs, or "something special", and sometimes the string of "Dragon Whisker" silk cords would be attached to the loops at the top so could be worn as a pendant, or close to the heart.

Carved jadeite barrel made into bracelet

This carved tube jadeite bracelet was unique and there were only three, so of course I kept one and wear it with my jade bangle, they look good together.  There are always these kind of jadeite bracelets on adjustable knotted cord, but some really stand out for the quality of the jade stone and the overall appearance.

I emptied a box this weekend with "special finds" on my shopping trips, and most of them have been or are being listed.  They are wonderful to wear, and would make a great gift, and that's what I did with most of the unique jade I found.  Gifts for the girlfriends.

So Many Jade Bangle Bracelets!

I finished unpacking the jade bangle bracelets from my new shipment from China today.  The next step is to get them photographed, then listed on the web sites.  They will be listed on Ying Yu Jade and JadeBangleBracelets.com  web sites.  Since there are so many of the Chinese river jade bangle bracelets, part of them will go into storage and be added over time so there is a balances of all the different jade products on the web sites.

"Blood Red Hong" Chinese Jade Bangle Bracelets #JBB3170

This has been a busy week.  Not only are there more of the Chinese jade bangle bracelets added, but also more jadeite bangle bracelets.  Since this is a holiday weekend, I'm taking some time off, too.  There are Weekend Specials on all three web sites which are good from now through Monday.  You can save from 10-12% using the coupon codes and there are other Specials on some of the sites.  

I hoarded only three for myself this week.  But I will enjoy looking at them, trying them on, and probably put them back on the web site because they pile up on my desk.

We are attracted to the jade that has the best energy for us.  So I think about why I crave the "hong" red and green jade bangle in the photo.  I think my heart needs a rest, and some joy over the weekend for my overall health.   Hong red jade is so rare to find in natural color.  These river jade bangle bracelets are the kind of jade Chinese people used to wear all the time.  I went to a Chinese government jade museum that is closed to the public but I was escorted by a government official.  This river jade was everywhere: bangle bracelets, pendants, tea pot sets, cups, and the most fabulous carvings, some bigger than me.  And Chinese medicine uses the qi energy of the jade colors for health and healing.  Some people and some gemologists don't consider this to be "real jade", but it's China's National Jade, and a treasure to cherish.  You would be amazed if you went to some of the jade carving cities north and east of Beijing.  That's where most of China's jade is mined.  On one of my visits, my traveling companion took me into some of the local's homes, and that's the kind of jade I saw there.  And it's the kind of jade  you see in Forbidden City and other tourist sites.  So get a little bit of real China on  your wrist, sit and breathe, and feel the real China right on your body.  Imagine....

New Jade Shipment from China

I have started unpacking the new shipment of jade I received from my jade carver in China.  Most of it is the Chinese "river jade" bangle bracelets.  This river jade is very traditional, also known as "China's National Jade" because it has been used for centuries. It's the kind of jade that bangles were made from before jadeite was introduced to China in the 19th century. The color comes from the minerals in the water where the jade is mined.  Each one is different..

I also received a box of jade eggs and ben wa balls for women, and jade gua sha tools.

 

Chinese "River Jade" Bangle Bracelets for Ying Yu Jade

These Chinese river jade bangle bracelets will also be added to the JadeBangleBracelets web site. There are a limited quantity on JadeBangleBracelets now, and more to follow.

The Yin and Yang of Life and Jade

Hurricane Joaquin has been hovering at category 4 over the Bahama Islands.  A cold front moving through Florida pushed it north so it won't hit the USA.  This morning it was hot and humid when I was outdoors in the morning.  When I went for my sunset walk this evening I had to bundle up because it was cold.  And I changed my very yin jade bangle bracelet for my vintage carved jadeite bangle bracelet.  The carving and color is more yang, and it has some honey veins for the autumn transition. 

At least once each year, when there is a disaster, I do a week of fundraising to make a donation to the American Red Cross.  It's not an official business accounting type of donation, it's personal.  I take a percentage of profits from sales during the week and write a check to the ARC specifying where I prefer the funds to be used.  Starting today, the designated  disaster is the Bahamas.  When you make a purchase on Ying Yu Jade or Jade Heaven web sites, I will set aside at least 20% of profit for Bahamas.  There's a small island in the Bahamas that was particularly hard hit.  Friends live there, and have sent photos.  Their electricity is still out, the airport has been significantly damaged.  The island has a lot of poverty, and they are "angels" who do charitable work for the islanders.  They physically do labor, building and rebuilding and repairing, as well as feeding people, and fundraising.  Almost three days of 120-135 mph wind has caused a lot of devastation.  If you are planning to purchase jade soon, it would be very helpful if you made your purchase now through next Sunday.  When you make your purchase, write "free gift" in the comments box on the order form and I will send you a small spiritual-type of gift to show appreciation. 

Yellow Jade and Yellow Turmeric for October

Today I put on a natural color Chinese "old river jade" bangle bracelet with honey/yellow veins on it, and my body seemed to slip into a blissful state.  My tai chi and yoga practice this morning felt powerful.  And it was time to cook up my turmeric Ayurvedic food-medicine for an inflammatory and arthritis condition I have. 

1/4 cup of organic good natural yellow color turmeric powder with 1/2 cup pure water, mix well in a small saucepan and turn on heat until it begins to come to a boil, then reduce to lowest heat.  Stir constantly for 8 minutes.  Heat can damage the properties of turmeric so keep the heat as low as possible.  A paste will form, and if it gets too thick, add a little more water.  Remove from heat after 8 minutes and cool. Keep refrigerated up to 10 days.  Use about 1/2 teaspoon of this turmeric paste daily.  Mix it with 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper, freshly ground is best.  Turmeric is not easily absorbed to get the benefits, and black pepper helps with absorption.  Turmeric also needs some fat with it for proper absorption, and some people add whole milk.  I'm lactose intolerant, so I add coconut oil or olive oil.  My usual turmeric "tea" is 1/2 teaspoon of the turmeric paste, with a bit of honey, the black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon powdered ginger, and a little coconut oil. 

You can do an online search about the benefits, and side effects, of turmeric.  Last year I had an inflammatory disease diagnosed by high inflammatory markers in my blood tests. I was prescribed steroid tablets, prednisone, a maintenance dose for a year.  The steroids did a lot of damage to my body.  When I stopped the prednisone, all the symptoms returned.  That's when I got desperate and got the turmeric remedy from my acupuncture doctor.  The overwhelming melt down heat-sweats-melting sensation went away.  And so did a lot of my arthritis and inflammatory pain.  When we went on our road trip last month, I took the Boswellia and Curcumin tablets with me for the 9 days we were gone.  Symptoms returned.  I learned about 1) the naturalness of turmeric powder; 2) the necessity of pepper and oil added to it so it will be absorbed by the body.

I'm sharing this information about turmeric because I am truly dedicated to  natural wellness. That's a reason why all of our jade is genuine and natural.  But I go a step beyond just selling genuine and natural jade:  it has to have the good healing qi energy, or I don't buy it in the first place.  And I sell only jade that I personally would wear.

Best wishes to all of you for a happy, healthy, and auspicious October.