A Few Helpful Stones

Black tourmaline and aquamarine

Stones and crystals... I adore them and have been collecting them since I was a child. I can remember when I was ten or so, receiving a "geology kit" for Christmas. It had a small collection of stones, a little hammer with a pick on one side and a book. I used to go into the woods nearby and look for stones. A neighbor once went to Herkimer, New York and brought me my first Herkimer diamond. Somehow, I knew those stones were calling me, speaking to me, they were alive.


Some people think working with stones and crystals is too new agey, but I don't agree. Ancient people worked with stones and knew of their magickal/occult/metaphysical properties. For me, the stones have a spirit, just as plants, trees, the Land, do and I am able to communicate with those spirits. 


Here are some stones and their properties that are very healing to work with and not difficult to find, nor expensive. You can combine them or add clear quartz to amplify their energies. Combining the stone with silver, by wrapping with silver wire or wearing on a silver chain, will also intensify the stone's energies.


A couple of other important points: Cleanse your stones by smudging with white sage or other herbs or incense. I don't believe that stones will impart anything negative, but they need the refreshing that cleansing brings, especially if you are working with them during healing sessions with others. While most stones can be cleansed with running water, I don't recommend it as some stones will dissolve in water. Salt can scratch the surface of stones. Smudging is extremely effective without any damaging effects. Respect the spirit of the stone by requesting its assistance and letting the stone know what you need. I like to gently awaken the stone by ringing a bell before working with it. Sometimes a stone will let tell you what is can do and you will not find that information in any book - that's good, no validation is needed, the stone is speaking to you so listen. Handle your stones regularly, keep them out, placed around your home; they are part of your life, your family, don't shut them away.


These are just a few stones that I use regularly besides clear quartz and Herkimer diamonds which are I am very drawn to. Actually, I've never met a stone I didn't like, but quartz and Herkimers seem to have an especial connection for me, however I'll talk about them another time. You will find that certain stones resonate for you more than others and this can change as you change and evolve. 


Carnelian -  High energy but stabilizing, motivating, inspiring creativity, sensual and lusty. Carnelian, a stone for the root chakra, fortifies us with vitality, life force, power and passion. Whatever holds us back, this stone's energy can give us the jolt to blossom and bring into being our ideas. It will kick up vital life force energies, strengthening the physical body bringing good health and the desire to take care of ourselves. This orangey red beautiful being will support us as we strive to make our physical selves healthy and beautiful, breaking addictive habits that harm us, bringing in the radiant life force that heals. Look for the places in your physical life that can benefit from an infusion of carnelian's gift of vital life force. Open yourself and take that energy in like a lover.


Rhodochrosite - Fire and water are the elements of this stone, connecting the root and heart chakras, energizing and balancing. Pale to deep pink, it is a stone of self-healing, working on all levels of our being, assisting us to maintain physical health and emotion well-being .  It soothes, comforts and brings joy. This stone truly comes from the heart of the Great Mother. Rhodochrosite bestows nourishing, healing energies, filling us, embracing us. Whatever our day brings, by wearing or carrying it, we have the support of this stone to keep us in a place of love and balance, its gentle guidance carrying us through the day. 


Turquoise - a master healer, stone of wholeness, with the purist of energies, turquoise  benefits us on all levels. It reminds us that all parts of ourselves reflect the Divine, there are no "bad" parts - all parts of us are sacred. Turquoise reaches its gentle energy toward us so that we are reminded we are beautiful, we are sacred, every bit, inside and out, around and about. 


Emerald - another stone of the water element, emerald's energy is about love and abundance. It helps us stay "in the heart" so that we express ourselves with compassion, acceptance and gratitude. Emerald opens us to all the blessings that our world has to offer and assists us in understanding that we are worthy to receive. Emerald's energy opens us to the love and abundance that is ours; we need only open our hearts and accept it.


Chrysocolla - This stone is a beautiful blue-green turquoise color that proclaims feminine power from the watery realms. It brings calming, cooling and balancing energies that soothe and heal. I call it a priestess stone because its empowering energy is strength tempered by wisdom and love. Chrysocolla  is also a stone that assists us in speaking our truth whether with words or by silence. It connects the root, heart and throat, so the priestess in us speaks openly,  confidently from the heart. This stone will cool and balance any chakra that is over-excited as it will emotion. It brings forth our wise, healing priestess, giving ourselves and others the benefit of the elemental powers of earth and water. 


Staurolite - This little cross shaped being brings much assistance for those of us feeling stress, depression and addictions. It is also known as the fairy stone and a stone of good luck. Staurolite helps us travel astrally and enter the fairy realms. Balancing and grounding, it connects all the realms enhancing our psychic abilities to see into them. It is also an aid in ritual and magical work. Staurolite lets us know that there is more to our world than just the physical and it is important to tend the garden of our spiritual lives. The other worlds are there if we choose to enter. Adventure and wisdom await.


Chrysanthemum Stone - Creation and manifestation is the energy of this beautiful stone, softly black bedecked with white "flowers." It inspires us to bring to fruition our ideas and desires. Whatever we wish to create, chrysanthemum stone can provide the loving nudge needed to begin, pushing aside that which may block the creative flow. It is a true stone of good fortune and abundance on many levels. Chrysanthemum stone is also an excellent stone for shamanic and healing work, even astral and time travel. This stone's energy assists us in pushing aside whatever discourages and obstructs our creative flow and achievement,  bringing a revitalizing surge of abundant fertile, positive energies. What ideas, projects or spiritual work in our lives need this loving push? Chrysanthemum stone offers to take us by the hand, a companion, guiding and inspiring.


Garnet - The deep velvet maroon Garnet has many positive powers to assist us. As I held it in my hand this morning I remembered that the word garnet is from the Latin word granatum, which means pomegranate. This brought to mind the Goddess Persephone who, to be honest is never far from my thoughts. At this time of year, we await Her return from the Underworld, inspiring Her mother, Demeter, to bring growth and fertility back to the Land. 
Garnet, with it's earthy nature brings the excitement of sensual romantic love, but it also brings non-romantic love energies: love of self, most importantly. We can only love others in a healthy way when we love ourselves in a healthy way.  Not over-stimulating, not overwhelming, just appropriate love and devotion, balanced, healthy love is what garnet brings to us. Garnet stirs love around us, but more than that, it shows us the enduring nature of love, through times of trial, separation, loss. Love remains and always is; love is always to be found and will always find us.




Lapis Lazuli: Looking at its deep blue surface flecked with gold and white, in Lapis Lazuli we see the Universe, space, the Otherworlds, all worlds. Here in our hands we hold a key, lapis, to many gates: the gates to spiritual guidance & inspiration, the gate to enlightenment, the gate to self-awareness,  the gate to our intuition and many others including the gate to our highest purpose. The amplified  energy of lapis surrounds us, encouraging us to take the key in hand, reach forward and open the gate. As priestesses and witches, we know that when we open one gate, it will lead us to the next and the next and the next.  When we use lapis in our ritual, shamanic or meditative workings, our journey is enhanced. Where will we start, which gate will we choose? We invoke the Lady's inspiration and step forward.


Danburite: Pale pink, the energy of Danburite is one of connection with the Goddess and release of stress and worry bringing serenity and peace. This stone connects the heart to the higher chakras aiding communication with guides and the Divine. This stone's energy intensifies our connection to the Goddess through our hearts. We feel Her loving energy and know that no matter where we travel during those workings, She will be there, the spirit of this stone, assisting us.


Unakite: This pink & green beauty's energy is one of gentle releasing of repressed negative emotions and bad habits. Unakite assists  us in finding the issues that contribute to illness & negative feelings, then truly release the behaviors that result - not just the emotions. Like a loving mother, this stone works gently and gradually, without  trauma. We can use Unakite's energy to gently bring to the surface that which does not benefit us, but we hold on to. We can peacefully let go of those feelings and habits that do not serve our highest good. 
Unakite is the perfect stone to add to any healing working. I have found it especially effective when combined with other energetic healing modalities.


Black tourmaline: This is a stone of great protective and repelling unwanted, harmful or negative energies while keeping one grounded. I wear one everyday and have larger pieces around my home. It makes a very effective grid for ritual work or home/office protection. Place a small piece in each of the four corners of the home to form a protective grid. This can be done outside, placing the tourmaline in the ground or inside.


There are just a few stones that I have found to be powerful allies. I would love to hear what your favorite stones are.


(compiled from various sources such as Melody's Love Is In The Earth, The Crystal Bible, Vols. 1 & 2 and personal experience.) 


Blessings nine!