Alchemy: A practice that most likely began with the Taoists in China and the Pythagoreans in Greece after the sixth century BCE—the goal of changing substances, such as ordinary metal, into gold. Their practice of changing substances from liquids to gases and back again invented the process of distillation.
Amorphous: Literally, “without form”; applied to rocks and minerals that lack definite crystal structure.
Amulet: Magical item worn or carried for protection or to repel something (such as negativity). See Talisman.
Archetype: As defined by Carl Jung, types of universal human instincts, impulses, characters, etc., which have become the common idea of myths.
Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils from plants to affect well-being. Scents are inhaled or used in bath or massage.
Aura: Subtle energy field that is said to surround a person or object (See also Subtle bodies).
Charge: In magical terms, to mentally project a specific type of energy into an object.
Chatoyant: fibrous inclusions (usually of the mineral rutile) in a stone, causing an “eye” effect. This can be seen in many types of stones including chrysoberyl, beryl (aquamarine), quartz (tiger eye), tourmaline, moonstone. This natural pattern can also be artificially created in glass. Sometimes these inclusions create a star effect called asterism. The light reflection creates the pattern. Stones are typically cut into a cabochon to highlight this effect.
Cleavage: The property of a mineral that allows it to break along a smooth plane surface.
Conduction: In scientific terms, the transfer of heat by molecular motion from a region of high temperature to a region of lower temperature.
Consecration: The act of dedicating an item or place as sacred or to be used for special purpose.
Crystal: A solid material with an orderly atomic arrangement.
Crystal habit: The actual form of a crystal; determined by the shape and relative proportions of the crystal faces.
Crystal symmetry: The repeat pattern of crystal faces, caused by the ordered internal arrangement of a mineral’s atoms.
Crystal system: The structure or lattice arrangement of atoms in the internal structure of a crystal.
Dominant/Projective hand: In magical practice, the hand you write with, or use most often. Used to project energy.
Element: In magic, refers to the four classical ones: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, without which life as we know it would not be possible—Spirit is sometimes considered to be a fifth element.
Elixir: As it refers to magical gem elixirs, placing a stone in water for a length of time, infusing the water with the metaphysical crystal energy.
Essence: Like an elixir, but created for long-term storage by using a preservative of alcohol or vinegar.
Fibonacci Sequence: Pattern discovered in the twelfth century by Leonardo Fibonacci. Starting with 0 and 1, each new number in the series is the sum of the two before it. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 … This pattern occurs in nature in many places: the seed heads of flowers, the spiral of pine cones and pineapples, and the way stems and leaves are arranged on plants.
Fossil: The remains of a plant or animal buried in sediment. Fossils are the surviving hard parts of the organism or impression of the organism in the sediment.
Golden Ratio: Also called Golden Mean, Golden Rectangle, and Divine Proportion. A golden rectangle can always be divided into a square and another golden rectangle over and over again. The key to this special form is the ratio of height to width. This proportion is claimed to be especially pleasing to the eye, and it’s found in many natural objects and can be identified in many famous works of art and architecture.
Infusion: An extract made by soaking plant material in warm or hot water.
Lead crystal: A type of glass containing a high proportion of lead within crystallized quartz, used especially for decorative items (also known as Austrian crystal).
Magma: Hot, molten material from deep underground, usually associated with volcanic eruptions. Magma that reaches the surface is called lava.
Magnetism: A magnetic field is a field of attractive or repulsive forces generated by moving or spinning electric charges. The ore magnetite is a naturally occurring mineral that contains a large amount of iron and sometimes becomes magnetized by the earth’s magnetic field.
Mandala: In Buddhism and Hinduism, a diagram having spiritual and/or ritual significance. Mandala is the Sanskrit word for “circle.”
Mantra: A sound, syllable, or words that are repeated like a chant or affirmation—intended to be used to achieve transformation, from Eastern religious practices.
Metal: Solid elements (with the exception of mercury, the only liquid metal) with high melting points; good conductors of electricity; most are shiny in appearance.
Metaphysical: The philosophical study of the ultimate causes and underlying nature of things.
Mineral: Naturally forming, usually inorganic, crystalline substances with characteristic physical and chemical properties determined by their composition and internal structure.
Neo-Pagan: “New” Paganism, referring to modern polytheistic religious beliefs, including Wicca and modern Witchcraft.
New Age: a term often used to refer to eclectic beliefs and practices that rose to popularity in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s and have evolved into current use—a collection of esoteric and spiritual techniques that blend Eastern and Western philosophies, ancient and modern. Often including astrology, crystal healing, transcendental meditation, aromatherapy, etc.
Ore: A metal-bearing mineral or rock, or a native metal, often mined for profit; a mineral or natural product serving as a source of some nonmetallic substance, as sulfur.
Organic: Pertaining to or derived from life, usually in reference to organisms. Chemically, an organic compound has hydrogen or nitrogen directly linked with carbon.
Piezoelectric effect: The generation of an electrical charge when pressure is applied to a nonconductive material. This is what makes quartz effective in watches.
Polymorph: The same chemical compound that crystallizes in different forms.
Projective hand (dominant): In magical practice, the hand you use to write with, or use most often. Use this hand to project energy.
Radiation: The emission and propagation of radiant energy—either atomic, by radioactive substances, or spectral, as in light.
Receptive hand: In magical practice, the hand you don’t write with, or use less often. Used to receive energy.
Runes: Ancient writing system originating in Northern Europe.
Sabbat: Eight sacred times of the year that Wiccans celebrate, based on seasonal changes.
Sachet: A small bag often filled with perfumed powder or other scented material such as dried herbs and flowers.
Scrying: Process of divination that involves gazing into a crystal, water, or other medium to see images or symbols.
Shaman: Often a medicine man or woman within a tribe or clan; someone who practices spiritual and healing arts, divination, and communication with the spirit world.
Smudging: Ritual cleansing of an object or place using the smoke of burning herbs and/or resins.
Snuffer: A bell- or dome-shaped object, often at the end of a stick or wand, used to extinguish a candle flame.
Spectrum: Radiation (usually visible light) broken into its component wavelengths.
Subtle bodies: Pertaining to crystal healing and magic, the energies surrounding the body: etheric, closest to physical; emotional, feelings; mental, thoughts and mental processes; astral, personality; causal, links personality to collective unconscious; soul or celestial is the higher self; and spiritual presents access to universal energy but is still individual.
Talisman: Magical item worn, carried, or created to attract something (i.e., good fortune).
Translucent: Pertaining to a solid or liquid medium through which light will travel but no clear image is formed. Frosted glass is translucent.
Transparent: Pertaining to a sold or liquid medium through which light will travel and form a clear image. Window glass is transparent.
Yin and Yang: in Chinese philosophy, Yin is “darkness” and Yang is “light” as seen as cosmic powers that interact to create everything in the universe. Not literally dark and light, but a union of opposites that depends on each other—light and shadow, moist and dry, masculine and feminine. Yin is the feminine and Yang is the masculine.