the library: crystals and gemstones
Many Witches use crystals in their spellwork or as talismans for their inherent properties and energies. To get the full affect of "crystal power" in your life means, as with just about everything else, you must put into it that which you take out of it. And just like anything else, you can do this however feels right to you. The following are some suggestions on using crystals and gemstones to enhance your spiritual life.
First, you must select a crystal or gemstone:
As with anything you use to enhance your ritual or spellwork, pick the one that "calls" to you. Handle the various stones and place them, one by one, in your receptive hand (not your dominant hand). The stone that is right for you will draw you to it. If your crystal or gemstone is for a specific purpose (healing, to enhance your psychic abilities, meditation, etc.), you should keep that purpose in mind while you are selecting your stone and look for stones with inherent properties that match your intention. Once you have selected your stone, you should deeply cleanse it. This will remove the imbalanced, or negative, energies of anyone who may have handled it before you. This can easily be done by covering the stone in sea-salt and leaving it to sit for three days.Crystals or gemstone need to be cared for and respected. Some believe they should be gently cleansed at least once week. This can be done by running it under cool water in your sink for several minutes while visualizing all negative energies being washed out of the stone. You should do this as vividly as possible from a meditative state.
Some believe stones should be re-charged regularly. If you wear your stone, you should re-charge it about once a month. Stones used in ritual or spellwork should be re-charged after each use. How you charge your stone is entirely up to you. It can be as simple as meditating on your intention for the stone and visualizing your energy and intention flowing into the stone. Some do this and then place the stone in the moonlight of a waxing moon for added power. Conversely, if you feel your stone has been exposed to strong negative energy and is need of additional power in cleansing, you can gently cleanse it as described above and set the stone in the moonlight of a waning moon before re-charging it.
Stones are tools in our spiritual work, and just as with any other object we use, that is accomplished by focusing the mind's powers. Some believe to get the best use out of crystals and gemstones, more than just wearing them or carrying them is required. They should be well cared for and cleansed and re-charged often.