A Brief Guide to Using Crystals & Stones

Here you’ll find a convenient list of commonly used stones with their traditional magical uses and a little folklore.

AMETHYST (Quartz) The name comes from the Greek A-methystos, meaning ‘not tipsy’. This powerful stone is connected with the third-eye chakra, and as such it is used on anything that relates to spiritual awareness, from aiding with meditation and tranquility, to attuning the bearer with the higher self and strengthening intuition and psychic power. It is also used to aid with prophetic dreams and divination. Other myths involving amethyst say it is a stone used to rid oneself of poisons. It carries a negative ion, which attacks poisonous positive ions, making the air around it more “breathable”. It also aids in overcoming addiction, and it’s been used since ancient times to guard oneself against drunkenness.

AVENTURINE GREEN (Quartz) This stone is considered to be a gambler’s talisman as and is considered a “lucky” stone by many. Traditionally used to aid development of intuition, creativity, physical, emotional & intellectual flexibility. It’s also thought to help promote growth, optimism, determination, prosperity, abundance, relaxation, recovery, enthusiasm and tolerance. Aventurine was revered by the ancient Tibetans. They used it to represent the “eyes” in sacred statues, thus symbolizing increased divinatory powers.

BLUE LACE AGATE: A beautiful graceful stone with blues and whites, lifting you up to unbelievable highs and giving you a feeling of wide open spaces and blue skies. It helps you reach a state of higher awareness and interact with spirits from the invisible worlds around us. A stone of awareness that facilitates reaching high spiritual places. Traditionally used to promote peace, patience inspiration, creativity and tranquility.

CARNELIAN: Stone of protection. Returns negativity to sender and helps protect against fear. Aids sociability, promotes confidence and positive thought. Is good for stabilizes all energies, spiritual, mental and physical.

Metaphysical Properties- Carnelian is one of those stones that should be in every healing kit. It is wonderful for working with the second chakra; creativity, reproduction and stability. Carnelian encourages curiosity and enthusiasm and is warm and energizing. Some like to use Carnelian to relieve their fear of death, while bringing an acceptance of the cycle of life. A good motivator in business, aids positive life choices, and dispels apathy.

CELESTITE: Also known as Celestine, it is thought to contain angelic or celestial properties. It offers a gentle but strong uplifting energy that will raise one’s awareness and is considered to be an essential stone for connecting with spiritual realms or astral travel as well as aiding in dream recall. It is effective in strengthening psychic abilities, mental capacity for inspiration, creativity and discipline. Used to open the third eye to higher dimensions.

Note: Celestite is a soft stone that is easily scratched and its color fades if exposed to sunlight.

CITRINE: Stone of radiance. Instills an inner glow of love, confidence and happiness. Promotes mental and emotional clarity, lifting the spirit and soul creating alignment within you. Citrine is helpful for directing creative energy into the physical body. Some find it helpful in building self-esteem. This crystal is an invaluable aid to the digestion of all emotions.

Metaphysical Properties- Citrine has been called “the merchant stone.” Assists in acquiring wealth and to maintain the state of wealth.
FLUORITE – Rainbow: Stabilizes and dispels chaotic stress in one’s life. It can be used to increases perception and assist seeing the positive and negative of relationships. Clears air of psychic clutter.
GARNET: Stone of grounding and inner strength. Calms anger, assures love and faithfulness. Enhances internal fire, energy and vitality, imagination, self-esteem and will power. Garnet can be used to remove negative energy from your chakras. It will assist one to balance the flow of energy around the body. You can also use this to help one to love themselves and others.

HEMATITE: This is a wonderful stone for preventing worry because it helps you to become more grounded (at ease). Hematite is also used for protection of oneself and their home. Some like to carry a small tumbled Hematite stone with them when they feel the need for protection from negative energy.

HOWLITE: A white gemstone with grey veins for good luck. Also calms, comforts and aids sleep. This stone inspires and helps achieve artistic projects & goals. Also stimulates imagination to draw new ventures and ideas into your life. Relieves stress, anger & pain,
aids artistic endeavors/ projects and helps contact your spirit guide.

MALACHITE: Absorbs energy, draws emotions to the surface, clears and activates the Chakras. An extremely powerful metaphysical stone, known as the “stone of transformation” and is used for deep energy cleaning. Malachite amplifies energies of all kinds, both positive and negative. Said to be one of the most important healing stones, Malachite helps the user acknowledge, draw out, and discharge negative energy, including old emotional patterns, past traumas, and suppressed feelings.

MOONSTONE: Partially translucent with a milky sheen reminiscent of moonlight. Color shades include variations of earth tones: creams, peach, sand and pearly gray colors.

Moonstone is widely used for focusing on Lunar or feminine energies. Traditionally connected with promoting feminine health as well which makes it an important component of any medicine bag. A great stone for nurturing intuition and insight. Moonstone helps us to connect with all the different cycles we experience in life. Both men & women find Moonstone to be very soothing and use it to help relieve stress and aggression, bringing balance to the emotional body. Moonstone can also be used for good luck and safe traveling.

Working with the Third-Eye and Crown Chakras, Moonstone connects us to divine inspiration, and channels it into our own intuition. Working with Moonstone encourages introspection and judgment, yielding easier decision making. Moonstone also enhances one’s emotional vision, bringing greater creative ability, and freedom of expression. These properties are also enhanced by Moonstone’s ability to open one up to increased synchronicities, that we often cannot see due to our being wrapped up in our daily routines. Moonstone can also offer increased patience and allowing, so those newly found synchronicities can flow into our lives unimpeded.

MOSS AGATE: A beautiful stone with mottled, moss-like inclusion. It can aid in communication with nature spirits, natural energies and Gaia. Also used to help get into touch with earth and enhance plant growth.

PERIDOT was believed to be a stone of springtime by ancients who considered it a gift from Mother Nature. Peridot is a stone of lightness and beauty. Used in a necklace, peridot is a protector against negative emotions. In old Folk Lore Peridot was thought to have a healing effect on the gall bladder and liver.

PYRITE: Another highly protective stone, blocking or shielding you from negative energies of people, places and things. Some like to use Pyrite to stimulate the mind, recalling information when you need it the most. Good for those of us who can be forgetful.
Many people say Pyrite is good protection against illness. This high energy stone is good for a caregiver or healer during their work.

QUARTZ (CRYSTAL): Known for its healing abilities. It helps one to clear their mind and focus on what is needed. It helps to connect you to the physical plane with the universal plane energies. It is also considered a conductor of energy.

RAINBOW MOONSTONE: A stone overflowing with feminine wisdom and Goddess energy. It has a reflective calming energy, which helps to strengthen intuition, psychic perception and brings balance and harmony to all. The Rainbow effect invokes a spectrum of light, and helps bring a feeling of cleansing and uplifting energy. It has been said to have the power to help aid in granting wishes.

ROSE QUARTZ: One of the most popular metaphysical stones. Known as “The stone of unconditional love.” Rose Quartz opens the heart to all forms of love and acceptance. Raises self-esteem and teaches one how to both give love to others and receive love to oneself. Rose Quartz eases guilt and balances emotions, lowering stress and bringing peace.
Known for its romantic properties. Rose Quartz can be used to attract love or to add trust and re-commitment to existing relationships. Helps bring passionate love back into being. Rose Quartz emits a calm, peaceful loving energy. May also help release unexpressed feelings about others.

The comforting and soothing energy of Rose Quartz can be used to balance the Heart Chakra and allows release of pent-up emotions and grief to help heal “emotional” wounds and soul trauma. It is often used to help heal a broken heart and aids in the power of forgiveness. Use Rose Quartz to bring calm and harmony during times of increased stress or crisis.
In old folk lore, Rose Quartz was used to encourage a beautiful complexion and thought to prevent wrinkles and help reduce weight.

SMOKEY QUARTZ: This stone works slowly and gently, while emitting high levels of energy. It is considered one of the more powerful metaphysical stones and is ideal for grounding, stabilizing and healing. Used to stimulate and purify the Root Chakra, and expanding consciousness into the physical body. Smokey Quartz is an essential part of any crystal collection, and is a must for the medicine bag.

SNOWFLAKE OBSIDIAN: Traditionally, snowflake obsidian is a stone of peace and tranquility. It helps to gently bring hidden imbalances to the surface, and may quietly reveal unhealthy patterns in your behavior that you might want to adjust. It can help you find balance in life, especially during times of change. Some use for spiritual protection, purifying, dissolves fear, shock, trauma, pain, tension and energy blocks.

A beautiful stone of light & dark Blues, often with White patches or veins.

Physical and Metaphysical Properties: Sodalite is believed to have grounding properties and may be good for those who over- react emotionally. Sodalite strengthens the power of mind over body. Calms and clears your thoughts and feelings, teaching awareness and promoting more rational and wise thinking. Helpful to someone in need of enhancing their intuitive abilities.

SODALITE: Said to promote companionship and can help form unity and fellowship within a group. Can also be used in group settings where cooperation is needed. Helps one speak openly and gain more confidence.
Enhances communication and creative expression. Stimulates truthfulness and alleviates fear. May also prolong physical energy and endurance.

Sodalite is thought to help those encountering difficulties in their life, as it can bring unhealthy ingrained patterns to the surface to be released, revealing underlying causes to one’s problems. Using Sodalite consistently by meditating with it or possibly sleeping with it under the pillow may help bring productive dreams. Sodalite is connected with the Throat and Third eye Chakras. Slightly sedative and is great for deepening meditation.
Folk Lore: Thought to aid both the metabolism, the immune system and is also believed to help regulate blood pressure and stabilize the thyroid.

SUNSTONE: This stone was associated with the Sun during the Renaissance because of its sparkling orange-gold hue. It was used by magicians to call upon the influences of the sun. It is a protective stone.

Symbolically, Sunstone is linked to Moonstone. Carry the two stones together to bring the influences of the Sun (Healing, Protection, and Success) into harmony with those of the Moon (Love, Peace, Spirituality). Placed before a white candle, Sunstone is thought to spread protective energies throughout your home.

TIGERS EYE – GOLDEN: Promotes balance, strength to get through difficult phases of life; relieves doubt and bestows decision making; vision and clarity. This stone has the properties of both the Earth and Sun. This can be used on the Solar Plexus Chakra to help open it. It is helpful with eye, throat and reproductive system disorders.

UNAKITE: Traditionally used to promote balance of the emotional body, higher spirituality. Allows us to release past burdens and move ahead with life.

Wicca A Beginner’s Guide to Casting Spells: Herbal, Crystal and Candle Magic (Living Wicca Today Book 3) Kardia Zoe