Transformation song

This Afghan Jade hand-carved Swan 103*32*85mm weighs 328g. It stands 76mm tall. It was carefully sculped by Lawrence Riaz of Karachi from the local stone found in Pakistan.

The swan symbolises elegance, beauty, grace and purity. This universal association comes from their serene presence and striking appearance. The way they effortlessly glide across water suggests an inner calm and spiritual balance. Their powerful flight represents freedom and transcendence. Swans mate for life and demonstrate devotion to their partners and offspring. This also links the swan to love and fidelity and as symbolising family bonds, loyalty and partnership.

The swan further symbolises metamorphosis, spiritual evolution and personal growth and transformation. These associations arise from the swan’s life cycle: from a gangly cygnet to a majestic adult.

Afghan Jade is a form of Serpentine named after one of the main countries where it is mined. It is a dense cryptocrystalline mixture of serpentine group mineral. These minerals are mainly antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite. It contains impurities such as chlorite, ilmenite, magnetite and talc. Afghan Jade is used for carving. It is translucent to opaque, varying in colour from white, light to dark green and can also occur with yellow, black, brown, pink or yellow inclusions.

Colour: black, brown, green, olive green, yellow

Transparency: opaque, translucent

Hardness: 6-7

Mineral group: Serpentinite

Formula: Simple: NaAlSi₂O₆; More specifically: D₃[Si₂O₅](OH)₄ D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn

Other characteristics: Afghan Jade is technically a rock, rather than a mineral.

Location: Afghanistan, Pakistan

Rarity: common

Chakra: Heart, all

Emotional: balance, compassion, love, relationships, soothing, tranquility, understanding

Mental/intellectual: clarity, decision, perspective, selflessness

Spiritual: chakra alignment, communication with animals, connection with Nature, growth, harmony, Kundalini awakening, meditation, transformation

Astrology: Pisces, Libra, all signs; Earth