...use crystals & other stones to augment spells & healing, etc.?

I'm fairly new, and don't know very much about the different stones(and their individual properties) yet. I've mainly been using herbs & EOs these last couple of years. Amethyst, carnelian, quartz crystal, obsidian, and jade are pretty much the only ones I've used so far.
I ran across a book the other day that got me excited about using stones more. It's called "Crystals and healing stones" by Judy Hall.

I'm interested to hear what you do with crystals & stones. Got any favorites?

I'm using the large selenite crystals in the photo below for shamanic journeying. I've only just started learning about shamanic journeys so I haven't had a lot of experience with them yet. I've only just begun trying different methods of charging them. In fact, in this photo they are being charged by candle power and air currents coming in from the window behind them.



Also notice between the two large selenite crystals there is a quartz wand tip and some amthyest stones. I'm planning on making these into a wand, in fact, I was out today trying to find a suitable tree branch. I did come back with some branches but I'm not sure if I'll use them yet.

There deep snow outside so my travels are limited.

The photo below is how I imagine my Life Chakra to be (Root Chakra).

I've chosen smokey quartz and amber for the crystals of my Life Chakra.

These are just picture I made up from the Interent, but I'm planning on actually building crystal configurations for all of my chakras.

I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to do this yet, but I imagine a long box with seven compartments each one containing a represtation of a chakra. I might go with silk flowers, or maybe crystal flowers. I actually do stained glass so there are many options. I haven't yet decided precisely what owl dew. But this is the beginnings of my idea. I still need to figure out what crystals I will use to represent my other 6 chakras.

I'm also looking at this chakra wand.



It contains seven common chakra crystals plus a quartz crystal at each end.

The seven Chakra Cyrstals are:

Amethyst
Sodalite
Amazonite
Quartz
Rose
Citrine
Carnelian
Garnet

I meditate on my chakras in two entirely different ways.

One way is for medicinal and healing purposes. I may use this chakra wand for these meditations and healing rituals.

The other way that I view my chakras are for emotional and spiritual well-being. This is the motivation for building a custom chakra box designed specifically for my emotional and spiritual being.

Beautiful pictures!
What's selenite usually good for enhancing? Can it also be used to help with communication? (runs to look through the book)

That's a great idea, too, on a crystal configuration for the chakras.

I like that wand. Saw one like it when I was last in the esoteric shop up in the cities.
I have a wand that I shaped from a fallen branch I found when I was out walking last spring. It's pretty plain. The only thing I added to it was a pointed quartz crystal on the tip.

I'm just starting out with all of this so I'm not familiar with what crystals are associate with.

I actually bought the selenite 'points' because they were sold as 'want tips' and I didn't really read the discription closely.

When I got them they were so huge these would need to be the tips of a walking staff.

It was actually after I had them that I read several places that they are good for inducing lucid dream states which is something I'm very interested in.

~~~

When it comes to crystals I'm both, a bit disppointed and excited. The reason being that everyone seems to have different ideas on what specific crytals are used for.

It's a bit disappointing because it seems to make the meanings nothing more than a matter of personal opinion. But then again it's kind of exciting that anything goes.

I've come to the conclusion that you can just about us any crystal for any purpose you want. Whatever feels right for you.

For example, I really like Amber even though it's not truly a crystal. And I've read various different interpretations of what Amber is supposed to represent (or actually do). Some of them I didn't like what they had to say. Others I did.

I found the following on Amber and decided this is what I will go by for Amber from now on.

Amber - With an energy like liquid sunshine, amber is the fossilized resin of pine trees. Amber is said to enhance the beauty of the wearer. It is used to tap into the power of the Sun, and is good for success, abundance, healing, vitality and joy. A powerful stone for manifestation, Amber is also used for healing of the physical body. It carries a negative electrical energy charge and therefore is good to draw power and energy into its bearer. Promotes mental and emotional strength. Very calming. Use for protection in psychic attack.

This covers a lot of area. I particular like the idea that it is a powerful stone for manifestation, and this is one of the reasons that I chose it to be part of my "Life Chakra". Nothing better than having the power of manifestation at the root of your being.

And of course it has a lot of other great qualities associate with it to by the above description.

However, I've read descriptions of Amber by other people and I didn't find their dscriptions nearly as interesting or exciting.

So I tend to go with whatever I like.

And if I can't find what I like I'll make up my own stuff.

Actually I feel that this is valid to do. I believe that if you feel an attraction to something and it intuitively strikes you to be associated with a particular purpose, then for you it will be true.

That's how I view it in the end.

But it's also nice to hear what other people associate these things with.

Ideas are always good.

I would never tell anyone else that they are using the wrong crystal for something. If it feels right for them, then mote it be.

That makes sense.
I've noticed that with different scents,too. Rose Otto is a very calming and relaxing scent to me. To my friend, however, it gives her a headache. Just depends on the individual's vibration levels.
....I hope that came out right, lol. My dirty mind immediately went off in another direction after I typed that.
(sidenote: I've been doing a little googling today on quartz crystal and it's fascinating to see all the uses for it in modern technology. It's better for timing than a tuning fork. It alters it's shape slightly when it comes into contact with electricity. If it's compressed or bent, it actually generates voltage.)
I'm gonna have to buy some selenite & see what it will do for me. I'd love it if it could aid in more lucid dreaming. Most of my dreams....I end up waking up thinking wtf?

(edited for spelling)

Here's where I got mine. Pretty reasonble price I thought.

http://www.themysticcorner.com/dbDisplayImage.asp?productid=5363&currpage=Crystal_Balls_3.asp

I've read several places where they are suppose to induce dream states.

However, when I say "lucid" I simply mean vivid or clear. Not necessarily "nice" dreams.

I think the actual type of dream may depend on other factors. I almost always have nice dreams naturally, but I'm trying to dream more vividly.

In any case, if you are having bad dreams you might want to look into getting a dream catcher. I've heard that they are suppose to stop bad dreams from entering your space.

Then you could use the selenite crystals to enhance the good dreams that you'll have.

I've been thinking about making a dream catcher, but thus far I haven't had any bad dream. I'm just trying to become more concious within the existing dreams that I already have.

I have had some 'not so nice dreams', but I would exactly call them nightmares. They weren't scary, just not real positive.

I'm learning the art of conscious dreaming (Shamanic Journeying). I'm just now beginning to study these techniques.

Thanks for the link!

I guess I took lucid dreaming the wrong way. I thought it meant having more control over one's dream. I'm not having bad dreams..exactly. Just bizarre ones. Like kissing someone and they turn into a balloon filled with shampoo. Stuff like that.

Well, I'll be perfectly honest and tell you that I have no clue how selenite might affect dreaming.

I read several places that suggested that it will 'aid in shamanic journeys' (that's because I've been going to sites that focus on shamanism).

Other places (more akin to standard witchcraft) have simply said that it helps to induce dreams and will increase their vividness.

I think I used the word "lucid" myself, meaning vidid or clear.

I'm knew to all of this so I've only seen a few comments about selenite realated to dreams, but it does seem to come up often.

I've also seen other sites that mention selenite related to other things and not mention dreams at all.

Does your book say anything about selenite?

So I don't know what it's supposed to do.

I never got a feel that it will help to control them necessarily. But this is a big part of what shamanism is all about. Mainly just being more conscious while in a dream. That gives you more control over it.

There's a fine line between daydreaming (where you can have quite a bit of control), and completely uncontrolled dreams.

In fact, as I am beginning to learn how to do shamanic journeying one of the things that I have been told to do is a lot of daydreaming.

The idea is that you get used to controlling your daydreams, and then you can actually use these as seeds for a shamanic journey where you begin with completely control and then kind of let it take you away. Then you can find it easier to retain consciousness thoughtout the whole dream.

In-control, but not controlling. If you know what I mean.

The other thing I found interesting is to actually go to some place that you really like. It might even be right in your own backyard, or a nearby park, or whereever. It might be a natural setting, or in a building.

But the idea is to go to that place and get a really good feel for it. Then come back home and imagine that you are in that place again. Imagine it as vividly as you can with all the seneses. Then you can use that as a starting point for a shamanic journey or vivid dream.

The neat thing about is that the doors (or pathways) won't lead to the same places they do in reality.

In other words, say that you go to a small spot in a park in a city. Then you use that spot as a seed for a shamanic journey. When you do the journey and you beging to move away from that original place you may not be in a city at all, you may be in a country, even in a completely different time you may emerge to see a medieval castle (instead of the city where the park was).

So these are just seeds.

The idea is to being with a very vivid seed.

Sorry for the ramble.

But my main point is that I don't think that selenite will necessarily give you control over dreams, it might just make them more vivid. The control techniques may need to be learned via other methods.

Although, don't quote me on that. Selenite may help to give you control as well, (or help you to retain consicousness in a dream). That part I'm not clear on myself yet.

I'm only just beginning my study of shamanic journeying myself.

I'm using Christopher Penczak's book, the Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft. As well as anything I can find on the web about it.

The book only lists Peach Selenite and Selenite Phantom. Here's what it says about the two.

Peach Selenite - A stone of emotional transformation, carrying all the purity and highly spritual energetic properties of Selenite, Peach Selenite is a powerful cleanser and healer and is the perfect accompaniment for those who are immersed in old trauma and who need to review their lives, particularily if circumstances has necessitated a trip into the underworld. Drawing out issues of abandonment, rejection, alienation, and betrayal, no matter when these occurred, nurturing Peach Selenite transmutes the energy into healing, forgiveness, and acceptance. This stone is useful for those who unconciously prefer to stay with the discomfort of a condition rather than face the challenge of getting well and understanding the psychosomatic cause. Symbolizing the transmuting fires of the planet Pluto and the earthy wisdom of his wife Persephone, Peach Selenite is the perfect accompaniment for an evolutionary jump into self-awareness and new life. This is a stone that affords deep insight into the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth and which opens the priestess in every woman. It is perfect for thanksgiving moon rituals at times of transition such as puberty or childbirth.

Selenite Phantom - A Selenite Phantom acts in a similar manner to other phantoms to strip away all that has been overlaid on the soul core, but can assist when working at the highest spiritual vibration to connect to the true spiritual Self and it's overall evolutionary purpose. Carrying purity and the highest spiritual energetic properties of Selenite, a nurturing stone that instills clarity of mind and protects against being overwhelmed mentally or physically, the Phantom clears mental and spiritual confusion and removes karmic entanglements. The insights gained can be grounded and earthed into the physical body with the wider end of the Phantom. If pointed, Selenite Phantom cuts through karmic debris, especially when used as a wand to draw it off and reprogram cellular memory, and dissolve emotional dis-ease. The crystal then acts as a symbol of rebirth and new life. Beneficial for: Cellular memory, spinal column alignment, joint flexibility, neutralizing mercury toxicity.

I'm a little disappointed that this book doesn't list all the stones, like plain Selenite, but (lol) that's what I get for buying off the bargain shelf at Barnes & Noble. I think I'll be buying another book soon that has more stone descriptions.

I love reading Christopher Penczak, btw. I have his "The Inner Temple of Witchcraft".

Was thinking of using a stone in a money/abundance spell and thought I'd share what I found.

(courtesy of http://www.crystal-cure.com/aventurine.html)
Aventurine
You should never buy a lottery ticket without an aventurine in your left pocket. Lady Luck will be in your left pocket. This is the stone of opportunity. Aventurine is known as the stone of chance or luck. If you gamble or play the lotto, keep this stone in your left pocket.

Aventurine is mainly quartz, a quartzite, usually containing mica. It occurs in several colors including green, red and blue.

Green Aventurine is the stone of luck and chance. It is said to increase perception and creative insight. It is a heart chakra stone.

Blue Aventurine is an Aries stone that opens the Third eye chakra. It is a powerful mental healer that increases vitality and a positive outlook. This stone assists in self-discipline and developing inner strength.

Healing properties of Aventurine
It is used to aid nearsightedness. Aventurine has a stabilizing effect on the emotions. It is excellent for teenagers.

Other money-attracting stones:
Amazonite
Amegreen
Green Calcite
Green Jasper
Lodolite
Malachite
Peridot
(courtesy of http://www.sacred-magick.com/Main.html?http://www.sacred-magick.com/Crafts/The%20Magickal%20Properties%20of%20Gemstones.html)

I think it's interesting how much color association is used. Many green stones are used for money/properity as well as healing. Red for love & sex. Orange for attraction.. And so on.
Well, I have a green aventurine on hand. So I'll try my spell with that & see how it goes.

I've been delving into crystals too. I actually bought a large quantity of assorted crystals wholesale.

I wanted to make up a set of 'Poor Man Chakras'.

Well, actually I wanted to make up a set of 'Rich Man Chakras', but I had to settle for 'Poor Man Chakras'.

These were expensive enough as it was.

Anyway what I did was buy a very large assortment of small crystals, all less than an inch in size, and many much smaller.

Then I bought some small glass bowls. The bowls are actually clear class candle holders for those little shallow heating candles.

I placed the crystals for a particular chakra into a candle holder and then used the second bowl as a cover.

Like so: This is my Heart Chakra



I did this for all of my chakras.

I use different names for my chakras than normally used as follows:

Crown = Spirit
Brow = Mind
Throat = Voice
Heart = Heart
Solar = Solar
Sacral = Love
Root = Life

Below is a view of all my chakras with the covers on them.



The next photo is a picture of them all open.

You can see the crystals very well in these photos by they have the following:

Spirit Chakra - many small pieces of Amethyst, a Clear Quartz stone, two faceted small Quarts wand points (one for the Goddess and one for the God), The uncut Quartz stone represents the Great Spirit. There is also Kyanite blade in this chakra.

Mind Chakra - Picture Lapis (Indigo) and a large Tiger's Eye

Voice Chakra - several small Blue Lace Agate, and Snowflake Obsidian. And one large stone of each crystal.

Heart Chakra - Amazonite, Rose Quartz, Pink Mottled Agate, and another light green crystal that I'm not sure what it is but it calls to me.

Solar Chakra - I'm not sure what these crystals are. I put in a lot of small yellow crystals because this chakra is supposed to be yellow. Then I added a really pretty gemstone that looks like ivory color with green lace all through it. I don't know what it is but it called to me as well for this particular charkra.

Love Chakra - a few pieces of Citrine and Yellow Quartz.

Life Chakra - Cardinelian - Amber, and Smokey Quartz.

I chose all of these crystals partly by convention and partly by what called to me based on what I'd like to improve in a particular area of my life.



These are actually quite meaningful for me. It's amazing how these little bowls of crystals can inspire the psyche.

I keep them all lined up on a dresser. But I can take any one of them and use it for meditation or other work. It would be nice to be able to choose even better stones, but I think I did alright using these wholesale gemstones. I got pretty much what I needed for these and I have left overs for other projects.

Those are beautiful, and what a great idea!

I have tried using stones with my spells, but they don't seem to add anything noticeable to them. I use herbs, candles and oils.

I do use crystals in my home and at work though to balance out energy and remove negativity. they seem to help with that.

I think they do, too. I don't have too many around my home (slowly building my collection) but I've noticed a difference since I started putting them out. Kind of interesting...I read in "Practical Feng Shui" (by Simon Brown) that crystals are good chi activators and help the flow of energy in an area of the home that feels stagnant.

Well, tonight I cleared and charged my selenite crystals. I did this after reading instructions on a Healing Crystals web site where I had bought some crystals. This ceremony is short and sweet.

The actual ceremony is done in two parts. The first part is done indoors with candles and incense to clear the crystals. The second part is done outdoors with crystals in hand under a full moon (or nearly full moon). I don't know precisely what night the full moon is on, but it sure looks full tonight.

It's a crystal clear night here too.

Anyway, I also wrote up the incantations tonight so that took additional time.

Here's the incantations:


Selenite – Dream Crystals Rite

Clearing: Perform at Full Moon

Light smudging incense and candles. (perform indoors)

O’ Selenite Crystals
I clear thee of all vibrations
In this sacred smoke
I bath your excitations

The candle’s light will purge you
Release your thoughts I urge you

Become as one with my aura’s glow
and merge with my cerebral flow

Feel the aura of my chi
and those of spirits that are nigh

Accept the thoughts we share with you
ignore all those that are askew

The Moon will aid us with her light
as we begin our trek tonight

(I actually performed the above ceremony thrice)

Charging Rite: Outdoors in the moonlight

Leah, Naomi and Darling Dorothea
Please help me charge these selenite crystals

I ask them to help me articulate dreams
and take me on journeys with eloquent themes
please fill them with insight in generous beams
so they may release them as colorful dreams

(I also performed this incantation thrice)

The reason for so much repetition is because I had just written the incantation and felt an intuitive need to recite it several times.

When I brought the cystals back in and placed them on their glass pedestal on my headboard they truly felt like they were full of energy, where before they always felt like dead weight.

So now only my dreams will tell the story.

Oh I like those incantations! Nice rhythm.

Mind if I borrow from that ceremony when I buy my selenite? (Planning a trip up to the cities next Sat. Yay!) I like the two-part indoor & outdoor aspect. Seems more complete.

You're quite welcome to use whatever calls to you.

I use the names Leah, Naomi and Dorothea because these are the pantheon of my Moon Goddess, the Maiden, Mother, and Crone respectively.

You're quite welcome to appeal to these deities or to appeal to the deities of your own chosen pantheon.

In some ceremonies I may appeal to just one of the Goddess facets, but this time I felt like I should appeal to all three and allow them all to cast whatever dreams they so desire into the crystals.

Some people believe that crystals need to be charged from moonrise to moonrise, or from sunrise to sunrise. I may try those techniques at another time.

For this ceremony I'm going with the old adage, "Ask and ye shall receive."