Sapphire:

The magnificent and holy Sapphire, in all its celestial hues, is a stone of wisdom and royalty, of prophecy and Divine favor... And, it's my birthstone. ;-)

In Hebrew lore, King Solomon and Abraham both wore talismans of Sapphire, and the Law given to Moses on the Mount was said to be engraved on tablets of Sapphire. The Greeks wore it for wisdom at Delphi when seeking answers from the Oracle at Apollo’s Shrine. Buddhists believed it brought devotion and spiritual enlightenment, and the Hindus considered Sapphire as one of the “great gems” used in offerings in the temples for worship and to align astrological influences. In Christianity it was used in ecclesiastical rings, and was cherished by kings and nobility for its powers of protection and insight.

Today, it is still known as the "wisdom stone", each color of Sapphire brings its own particular wisdom. I of course will always be partial to blue which stimulates the Throat and Third Eye Chakras, allowing one to access deeper levels of consciousness.

Sapphire also releases mental tension, depression, unwanted thoughts and spiritual confusion.It restores balance within the body, aligning the physical, mental and spiritual planes, bringing serenity and peace of mind.  It is a royal stone of learning, mental acuity and psychic activation, a seeker after spiritual truth. Its pure Blue Ray brings order and healing to the mind, lending strength and focus, and an ability to see beneath surface appearances to underlying truths and to utilize that knowledge.

Lavender Jade:

This stone, though somewhat rare, is worth tracking down. It has a gentle energy that is said to soothe, balance and heal and to bring joy, inner peace and harmony as well as put you in touch with your emotions. I think oftentimes all journeys boil down to one of battling the waves of emotions and this stone does bring great balance to this area.

It also encourages moderation and delicacy when dealing with emotional matters which is so difficult, especially at times, especially in matters of the heart and in fact, Lavender Jade is traditionally given as a gift to someone who has been hurt or disappointed in love.

It’s also a beautiful stone of spiritual purification and an excellent crystal to use on retreats or during meditations. It helps in releasing cynicism and suppressed anger, and to embrace an attitude of serene acceptance.

As I said at the beginning, this stone is among the more rare ones and can be more costly, but if you are looking to expand your experiences with stones, this is one I recommend highly.