7

Compendium of Crystals

THE STONES IN THIS COMPILATION reflect a wide range of minerals, rocks, fossils, and gemstones. While all members of the mineral kingdom are gifts of the Goddess, those listed here are among the most potent crystals for tapping into the Divine Feminine. It would be impossible to list every single stone connected to goddesses around the world. I’ve done my best to make this compendium as thorough as possible, focusing mostly on stones that are readily available and that work with the Divine Feminine most directly.

Some of the stones that owe their allegiance to the Great Goddess come directly from myth and legend, while others come down to us through their traditional use in ritual and magick that in some way connects to the Divine Feminine. We see traces of the Divine Feminine in the carving of talismanic gemstones dating from the Middle Ages, as well as in the medical uses and astrological and elemental correspondences recorded throughout history. For those stones that were unknown to our ancestors, modern crystal mystics—myself included—have learned directly from the consciousness of these jewels of Mother Earth, and in this way we have discovered a flourishing group of rocks and minerals that embody the Divine Feminine.

Each entry in this compendium examines the stone’s uses in history and tempers this perspective with modern mineral science and contemporary crystal wisdom. For easy reference, so that you can easily choose crystals for the specific working you have in mind, I have included a brief summary of the stone’s energies in terms of its magickal uses, elemental signature, astrological signature, goddess archetypes, and formation process. The following is an explanation of these correspondences:

Magickal uses: This refers to the stone’s general uses, including basic themes in magick, meditation, and healing, though it is not an exhaustive description of how to use it. Some of these applications are derived from historical sources, although many uses are my own interpretation of the stone’s energy and purpose, especially when it comes to stones that have been added to our toolkits only recently. Use this information as inspiration; there are likely many more applications that a stone will reveal to you once you start working with it more intimately.

Elemental signature: This describes the stone’s relationship to the alchemical elements of earth, air, fire, and water, as well as the fifth element, variously called spirit, ether, space, void, or simply the quintessence. These elemental forces can be harnessed for magickal or curative purposes, and they are often reflected in the stone’s magickal uses. Generally, water and earth are considered feminine energies, while air and fire are masculine; the fifth element, spirit, is androgynous.

• The earth element has a stabilizing, grounding effect. Earth is the element of physical form and the material plane. It symbolizes the body and the home. Earth is often used for rites of abundance, fertility, strength, protection, healing, and manifestation.
• Water is intrinsically linked to the subconscious world. It represents the emotions and the dream state. Water is also connected to the ancestral realm and to the shamanic state of nonordinary consciousness. Working with the water element yields love, empathy, and cleansing.
• Fire is associated with willpower, illumination, passion, sexuality, and transformation. As the alchemical flame, it purifies by burning away the dross of the old, thereby preparing for evolution. Fire brings warmth and light and thus represents intuition, spiritual growth, and movement.
• The element most connected to the mind and intellect is air. It symbolizes the realm of thought, logic, communication, language, and flux. Air, like the mind, is invisible, but it can shape the world around us, just as the unseen wind can alter the landscape. Use the air element for better expression, clarity, and truth-seeking.
• The final element is sometimes perceived as the confluence of the other four; others perceive it as the force that flows through all the other elements, and indeed through all of creation. Ether, or spirit, is associated with creation, divinity, harmony, and all things that are sacred. Harness this element for deep transformation on all levels.

Astrological signature: The connections between the stars and stones is truly ancient. Some of the earliest magickal lapidaries are based on the astrological observations of the Chaldeans. The spiritual axiom “As above, so below” has inspired seekers throughout the ages to illuminate the connections between the planets and the twelve signs of the zodiac with various earthly phenomena, including stones and herbs. These astrological correspondences are helpful when it comes to healing, spellcraft, and ritual, because they cement the link between our work and the outcome we desire. As explained in chapter 1, astrological correspondences have varied from culture to culture and from one era to another. I’ve supplied as many of the planetary and zodiacal correspondences for each gemstone as I find relevant. Most literature on planetary gemstones includes only correspondences for the sun, moon, and the five planets visible to the naked eye. When possible I’ve included correspondences to the more recently discovered planets (Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto).

Goddess archetype: This is derived from a combination of myth, ceremonial use, and the symbolism embodied in the stone’s structure, composition, and habit—a subject taken up at length in chapter 4.

Formation process: This refers to the genesis of each rock or mineral. Stones can be either igneous (primary formation), sedimentary (secondary formation), or metamorphic (tertiary formation). Many minerals can be derived from more than one formation process; where possible, I have listed all the options. Since pearl, mother-of-pearl, and coral are organic materials derived from biological processes, they do not entirely adhere to the normal formation processes of minerals. The gradual accretion of layers of nacre around the nucleus of the pearl and the buildup of the exoskeletons of coral polyps is reminiscent of the formation of sedimentary rocks and minerals, and thus they can be used in a similar fashion as other sedimentary stones.

In this compendium I have endeavored to make the descriptions of each stone as complete as possible while keeping the material relevant to the relationship between the mineral kingdom and the Divine Feminine. Entries may include inspiration for how to include the stones in ritual, meditation, spellcraft, and healing. Ultimately, how you use this information is up to you. It is my hope that it will inspire your creativity and encourage you to find your own connections.

AGATE

Magickal uses: energy, strength, protection, love

Elemental signature: earth (varies by type and color)

Astrological signature: Mercury, Mars, Venus; Gemini, Cancer (varies by type and color)

Goddess archetypes: varies by type and color

Formation process: igneous

Agate is the name given to banded formations of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline^*13 variety of quartz. Though all agates are chalcedony, not all chalcedonies are agates. Generally speaking, only those with pronounced bands will be called agate, and they have somewhat different properties than other forms of chalcedony. Described by Roman writer Pliny the Elder in 77 CE, agate was named for its occurrence near the Dirillo, a river in Sicily that in Pliny’s day was known as the Achates, thereby giving rise to the word agate. Agates come in virtually every color of the rainbow, and they exhibit a wide array of patterns, inclusions, and formations. This entry describes the general properties of agates; various types of agate exhibit additional properties. These forms of agate (blue lace agate, fire agate, moss agate, orbicular agate) are described separately.

An assortment of agates

Agate has been a magickal gemstone since prehistory. Cylinder sealstones (stones engraved with seals, commonly dating from prehistoric times) carved from agates have been recovered by archaeologists. These seals, which are carved with goddesses and other figures, were held in high regard for their magickal properties. Agate was known by various names in antiquity, and different colors and patterns were often ascribed unique planetary and zodiacal correspondences. Though not inherently a stone of the Goddess, agate has been used magickally for protection, energy, healing, love, and other intentions. Agate provides a push in a favorable direction, no matter what you may be trying to manifest.

Blue Lace Agate

Magickal uses: peace, communication, innocence, fear, emotional balance, peaceful home

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Mercury; Gemini, Pisces

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Mother, Goddess of Hearth and Home

Formation process: igneous

Blue lace agate is the name given to varieties of agate that exhibit lacy bands of blue, white, and lavender. Bands can be translucent or transparent in the finest varieties. It is largely mined in Kenya, though deposits in Malawi, Namibia, and Romania are also extant. Most blue lace agate available today is polished, although crystalline, druzy nodules and geodes are also seen in the market.

Among the agate family, the blue lace variety is especially soft in nature, energetically speaking. Though it conveys the traditional properties of agate, it is more refined overall. Using blue lace agate promotes peace, emotional balance, and forgiveness. This gemstone helps you to more consciously know your true self, as it helps release fear, judgment, worry, anger, jealousy, and other negative emotions once and for all. It unwinds physical stress in the body and soothes patterns of emotional and spiritual disharmony.

Its peaceful vibration has led blue lace agate to be connected to the Roman goddess of peace, Pax.¹ Pax can be invoked to offer serenity; she is typically depicted with symbols of peace and plenty, such as the olive branch and the cornucopia. Use blue lace agate as an offering or in spellcraft to invite her many blessings. Judy Hall, a karmic astrologer, regression therapist, and expert on crystals, suggests using blue lace agate for connecting to the Blessed Virgin (Mother Mary) or any other manifestation of the Divine Feminine.²

Since blue lace agate imparts tranquility and an air of innocence, it is an ideal stone for tapping into the archetypes of the Maiden and the Goddess of Hearth and Home. Wearing or carrying blue lace agate helps you cultivate inner and outer strength, facilitates communication, and refreshes your outlook on life. This stone imparts the purity of the springtime Maiden, with the blossoming innocence of greenery and flowers. The lacy patterns of this stone will radiate into your energy field, helping dislodge foreign energies to return you to your purest state.

Polished and raw blue lace agate

The overall effect of blue lace agate brings deeply seated peace. The late Wiccan author Scott Cunningham suggests using this stone in tandem with light blue candles to pacify the household and reduce quarrels.³ Displaying blue lace agate in a prominent place in the home can open lines of communication among all the residents, thereby strengthening the family or household bonds. Because of this effect on the home environment, blue lace agate can be used to petition the favor of the Goddess of Hearth and Home, as well as to appease any household spirits or devas.

Fire Agate

Magickal uses: passion, creativity, protection, problem-solving, personal power, healing

Elemental signature: fire

Astrological signature: Mars, Mercury; Aries

Goddess archetypes: Solar Goddess, the Muse, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Fire agate is an iridescent variety of agate, usually exhibiting a red, orange, or brown color. Its fiery optical phenomenon results from minute crystals of limonite that form between layers of chalcedony. Most fire agate comes from Mexico, though some is available from the American Southwest too. The iridescence of this stone is best seen in polished specimens.

Like other agates, fire agate is formed by the percolation of silicarich water in the cavities of rock during volcanic processes. This combination of elemental forces resembles the same confluence of energies present in metallurgy and other crafts. In light of this, fire agate is my favorite gemstone for connecting to the goddess Brigid, patroness of poets, healers, and blacksmiths. Fire agate is prescribed for inspiration and healing, two of Brigid’s principal themes. This stone exudes a warming, sensual energy and is used to inspire passion, thereby fueling the creative impulse. Use it to enhance all your creative endeavors as well as to solve problems creatively.

Fire agate is especially protective. Its fiery energy dispels fears that arise from the innermost depths of your psyche, in addition to providing a shield that reflects the threat of harm back to its source.⁴ This stone also provides a gentle tether to the earth, as its iron content has a grounding influence. Together, the protective and grounding qualities enhance fire agate’s propensity to awaken passion; fire agate helps you feel safe and secure during moments of intimacy. It also helps you overcome sexual hangups as it instills confidence and fosters genuine connection between partners.

Use fire agate to call on the Great Goddess for inspiration, healing, and protection. It augments personal power and clarifies decision-making and problem-solving skills. Placed on the altar, it can represent the fire element, perhaps replacing a candle when it is unsafe or unwise to have an open flame. Its iron content and Martian astrological signature also associate this stone with the warlike aspect of the Fierce Goddess, exemplified in deities such as Athena, the Morrigan, Sekhmet, and Brigid.

Fire agate symbolizes the goddess Brigid.

Moss Agate

Magickal uses: herbal magick, wealth, healing, fertility, fairy contact, grounding, longevity, beauty, inspiration

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Jupiter; Taurus, Gemini, Virgo

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Mistress of Magick

Formation process: igneous

Moss agate is a translucent variety of chalcedony with dendritic inclusions that resemble plant matter. These branching, mosslike forms are typically green, brown, reddish, or black. Because moss agate does not usually exhibit the bands that characterize the agate family, it is not technically an agate, but rather a chalcedony. Moss agate is found worldwide; it is often formed in association with weathered igneous rocks.

Moss agate connotes a sense of fertile growth. This gemstone was once used in Persia to help crops grow, a practice that continued in India, where it was maintained that moss agate protected crops from floods, drought, and damage from insects.⁵ Accordingly, it can be used in your garden to promote healthy plant growth, to increase the magickal and medicinal potency of herbs, and to hold the energy of the sacredness of your home and garden. Try gridding your garden with moss agate to take advantage of these effects and to establish a deeper relationship with the nature spirits that may visit or reside there.

Moss agate evokes images of nature.

The tiny plantlike structures within this translucent stone are reminiscent of fresh moss, which enables this stone to blur the lines between vegetable and mineral, living and nonliving, organic and inorganic. The liminal nature of this juxtaposition endows moss agate with the ability to connect to the fairy folk. Offerings of moss agate are also effective for developing relationships with the fairy folk and the spirits of the land. Carrying moss agate can protect against the mischievous deeds of these beings by marking you as respectful and in tune with their way of life.

Moss agate is stone that honors the Earth Mother and Mistress of Magick archetypes. Since it can be used to establish contact with the Shining Ones (the fairy folk), moss agate can also be used to connect to the Fairy Queen, an aspect of the Mistress of Magick who rules over the liminal reality of the fairy folk. She is beautiful, beguiling, and cunning; her magickal talents include powerful glamourie,^*14 longevity, and beauty. Since the Shining Ones were gifted in the fields of art and music, the Fairy Queen can also be a personal muse; moss agate can thus be employed for seeking inspiration in artistic endeavors. It offers a gentle but continual sense of grounding, thereby keeping you on task as you paint, sculpt, compose, write, cook, sing, or otherwise engage in creative pursuits.

Magickally, moss agate is a stone of grounding, healing, and wealth. It was once employed for divining the location of hidden treasures; today it can be used in workings to uncover hidden talents, draw money, or stabilize your finances. Moss agate is also a gentle tonic for the physical body, providing overall healing and balance. Use moss agate in seasonal rituals to facilitate attunement to the rhythms of the Earth Mother.

Orbicular Agate

Magickal uses: astrology, regeneration, inspiration, physical healing, attunement to natural rhythms, glamourie

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Moon; Virgo, Libra

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, Stellar Goddess, Goddess of Love, the Muse

Formation process: igneous

 

The orbicular patterns on this agate are reminiscent of the full moon.

Orbicular agate (occasionally called bullseye agate) is a fortification agate (an agate with sharp-angled bands that resemble the aerial view of a fort) that when polished reveals circular or spherical bands with pronounced boundaries. Orbicular agate can be found in a variety of color combinations depending on locale. It is occasionally available as polished nodules, some of which contain inclusions of water and air. Orbicular agate is found chiefly in Mexico, Brazil, and Madagascar.

The circular patterns in orbicular agate naturally link it to the energies of the moon. Orbicular agates can be used to attune to the lunar cycle as well as to connect to the moon, this stone’s planetary correspondence. Its circular patterns suggest celestial bodies, so it can be a helpful learning tool for budding astrologers and astronomers. In addition to helping you attune to the movements of the heavens, this member of the agate family also promotes precision and attention to detail in measuring the aspects that the planets and constellations form with one another.⁶

Orbicular agate inspires artistic sensibilities and fosters grace in your movements, eloquence in speech, and melody in song. Use it as a talisman to connect with the Muse. Orbicular agate can be used for glamourie, as well. This agate is strongly healing to physical tissue, and it promotes regeneration.

AJOITE

Magickal uses: love, beauty, communication, emotional healing, earth healing, psychic development, contact with spirits/fairies/angels

Elemental signature: water, spirit

Astrological signature: Venus, Neptune; Virgo, Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Earth Mother, Goddess of Love

Formation process: sedimentary

Ajoite is a rare copper mineral named for its discovery in Ajo, Arizona. Originally found as a massive green rock, later occurrences of ajoite as inclusions in quartz were discovered in South Africa. Inside quartz, ajoite appears as a bright turquoise-colored inclusion, and it frequently occurs with minerals such as hematite, shattuckite, papagoite, cuprite, and native copper.

Ajoite is a stone that engenders deep peace. It is a remedy for anger, spite, sorrow, grief, and other difficult emotions. Ajoite, especially when found in quartz, is expansive. It teases out pain and disharmony, aligning the subtle bodies of the aura as it does so. It is a skillful healer of the emotions, chiefly due to its copper content. Copper (see the listing for this metal in this compendium) is a chief constituent in many minerals associated with the Divine Feminine, and ajoite is one of them. Crystal healer Robert Simmons says that ajoite “emanates one of the sweetest, most nurturing and loving energies of any stone in the mineral kingdom. It is a pure bearer of the vibrations of the Earth Mother, the feminine aspect of the life force of our planet.”⁷ He likens this current of energy to Sophia, the manifestation of the Divine Feminine in the living world, sometimes referred to as “the soul of the world.”⁸

Copper-rich ajoite

Ajoite imparts deep healing by steeping our hearts in the love of the Great Mother. My dear friends and fellow crystal lovers Marilyn and Tohmas Twintreess discuss ajoite in a similar context in their Stones Alive! series: “In some societies, the peoples of the earth have pulled away from knowing the interconnectedness of all life. Ajoite insists, lovingly and fully, that we embrace the earth. It instills in us the knowledge that all the elements that make up the earth [also] make up our bodies. In these times, ajoite symbolizes the heart of the earth.”⁹

When we open our hearts to the gifts that ajoite brings, we can experience attunement to Mother Earth and open to the mystery of her many layers of reality. Ajoite refines and clarifies the inner sight; it deepens the intuitive faculties and helps us become more receptive to the spiritual realms. Many modern-day crystal mystics find that the sweet, angelic energy of ajoite (especially ajoite in quartz) enhances contact with angels and spirit guides. I find that ajoite works equally well for opening the gates to communicating with the intelligences of nature—nature spirits, devas, and fairy folk. It can be placed on the brow in meditation, carried, worn, or used in crystal grids for such work. Ajoite is also cleansing to the auric field, and it helps to remove energetic cords and implants. As a result, it can facilitate spiritual contact by ensuring that you are free of energetic hitchhikers—denser entities or energies that may attempt contact and feed on your spiritual essence.

Ajoite supports the resurgence of the Divine Feminine by helping cultivate greater stillness, receptivity, and surrender. One of the key themes of the Great Mother is the gift of receiving; she receives the seed of her consort just as the soil receives rain and leaves receive sunlight. By the same token, the essence of the Divine Feminine within each of us often works through quiet acceptance. In accepting and surrendering to what we are experiencing, we can wholeheartedly give ourselves to the present moment—an act necessary for ecstatic communion with Source.

Ajoite’s copper content relates it to the Goddess of Love archetype, and its oceanic hue is reminiscent of the waves that gave birth to Aphrodite. Ajoite is an excellent crystal for use in romantic workings. It is adept at deepening connections that already exist and mending relationships that have been battered by flared tempers. Ajoite releases the karmic underpinnings of relationship issues, enabling greater and more loving connection between partners.

The profoundly loving energy of ajoite reminds me of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin, sometimes called the Goddess of Mercy, for it embodies limitless compassion. Like the saintly figure of the Divine Feminine in Buddhism, ajoite entrains a compassionate response in your heart, teaching us through the example of its own loving-kindness. It also improves your outlook on life and helps us find the silver lining in every cloud.

Ajoite provides a keen sense of justice as a result of the wisdom and truth it reveals from within. In teaching the interconnectedness of all life, ajoite reminds us to be mindful and fair to others. On the one hand this is related to the model of the goddess of compassion, Kuan Yin, but it can also be related to the energy of goddesses such as Ma’at, who seek truth and justice above all else. Use ajoite for spells and meditations aimed at uncovering the truth or promoting justice, as it will facilitate working with Ma’at.

Ajoite is sometimes said to represent the Age of Aquarius.¹⁰ It is here to help us rebirth the Great Goddess and initiate the next golden age. Use it for workings related to planetary healing, as well as for matters of personal healing, love, and emotional balance. Ajoite as an elixir helps reveal inner and outer beauty and thus is a wonderful addition to spiritual baths.

ALABASTER

Magickal uses: death, transformation, beauty, sacred sexuality

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Venus; Taurus, Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Crone, Underworld Goddess, Sacred Harlot

Formation process: sedimentary

Alabaster refers to two different materials, both of which are fine-grained sedimentary stones. The first is comprised of gypsum, and the second of calcite; geologists only recognize the former as true alabaster, while students of archaeology and other fields still use the term to refer to both stones. Alabaster is soft, making it easy to carve. The calcitic variety was used throughout the Middle East, including ancient Egypt. Gypsum-based alabaster is more common in Europe. Alabaster is found worldwide, including China, Egypt, Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The pale colors in which alabaster is usually found often resemble bone. It was frequently used for depicting “stiff nude” representations of the Goddess in the Stone Age. These highly schematized images of the Divine Feminine are suggestive of the nature of death and were meant to represent the aspect of the Great Goddess who receives us in the afterlife. Later uses of alabaster include funerary carvings, masks, and sarcophagi.

Since alabaster is a sedimentary rock, it connects to Sedimens, the Crone aspect of the Goddess of Stone. Two parallel streams of symbolism relate alabaster to death and dying, thereby making it an excellent stone for endings, transformation, and other areas related to the Crone.

Vessels carved from alabaster have a long tradition of being used to hold cosmetics and perfume. Alabaster has been used to enhance beauty and sensuality. An alabaster jar is also associated with Mary Magdalene, herself a representative of the Sacred Harlot. The inherently receptive nature of jars and bottles (and masks and sarcophagi, for that matter) points to the essential lesson of alabaster: its softness and openness teaches us to learn to receive and embody the Divine Feminine from the inside out. Just as light passes through this translucent stone, the energy of the Great Goddess illumines us when we submit to it.

A lemniscate carved from Egyptian alabaster

Love, beauty, and sacred sexuality are all the Sacred Harlot’s domain. Use alabaster for workings ruled by her. Keeping a piece of alabaster near your beauty supplies will help raise your self-confidence and enable others to perceive your beauty with greater ease.

AMAZONITE

Magickal uses: truth, freedom, self-expression, peace, individuality, creativity, relaxation

Elemental signature: water, air

Astrological signature: Uranus, Saturn; Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Ocean Goddess, Queen of Heaven, Fierce Goddess, the Fates

Formation process: igneous

Amazonite refers to blue to green microcline feldspar. Though named for the Amazon River, it is unlikely to have ever been found there; its watery color is probably what accounts for its name. Amazonite is usually translucent to opaque, and its unique color is derived from trace amounts of lead. Amazonite is commonly found in Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, Russia, Madagascar, Tanzania, and several locations in the United States.

Amazonite is a rather tranquil gemstone. Its soft turquoise palette inspires peace and relaxation, and it relieves tension. Amazonite is a gem that is soothing on all levels, and it helps free the mind from negative patterns of thinking. Thanks to its color, its energy is closely aligned with the Goddess in her roles as Ocean Mother and Queen of Heaven. Its overall effect is expansive, and it can help you experience the vastness of the oceans and skies in a single moment; in doing so, it inspires hope and peace.

Amazonite is often prescribed for greater self-confidence and self-worth. Its crystal structure belongs to the triclinic system, which is the crystal class with the least amount of symmetry among its axes and faces. To look at crystals of amazonite is to see beauty amid the unconventional. On the surface, its structure may not appear as orderly and congruent as that of other crystals. This unconventional crystal form, especially when coupled with the color of the stone, is the perfect signature to indicate a Uranian influence. Uranus is the planet in our solar system that breaks all the rules—its axis is tilted differently, and it rotates in an opposite direction as other planets. As such, a stone bearing such a strong Uranian energy helps you feel more at ease when your life doesn’t subscribe to the norm. Amazonite also promotes creativity and thinking outside the box, thus helping you to embrace the gifts that your quirks bring. With this stone comes the relief and assurance that result from living your personal truth; it truly helps you to live out your dreams. It empowers you to live your truth boldly and unapologetically.

Amazonite is a member of the feldspar group.

This member of the feldspar group is sometimes recommended for balancing male and female energies.¹¹ Amazonite balances this polarity both within and without, and I find that it is especially helpful in breaking free from culturally defined gender roles. Its energy is neither overtly feminine nor overtly masculine; it can help tap into both polarities within any person and facilitate the expression of whichever is most needed in a given moment. Amazonite is especially helpful for reconciling the masculine aspects of the Goddess and the feminine aspects of the God. Use it to channel your inner Amazonian warrior as you defend your inner truth in a world where being different can be challenging.

Amazonite bridges the imaginal and material planes just as easily as it balances the feminine and masculine. This stone is capable of both inviting you to dream bigger dreams and leading you to follow those dreams. It helps you to live your truth and defend it with all your heart. For this reason, amazonite embodies the Fierce Goddess in her role as warrior and protectress. The minute lead content in this stone also links it to the planet Saturn; amazonite can therefore be used for Saturnian magick involving structure, time, fate, and karma.

Use amazonite in spells for boosting confidence, overcoming obstacles, or breaking the hold of negative magick or karma. Likewise, it is an ally in manifestation by providing creativity and the impetus to put your magick into action. In healing, it works to bring relaxation as well as action depending on what is most needed. Amazonite promotes healthy expression, and it can help you enforce your boundaries too. Used for healing, amazonite supports the structure of your physical tissues; it mends wounds, both physical and psychological. All in all, amazonite is the perfect stone for finding your inner Goddess and invoking her influence for living your best life.

AMBER

Magickal uses: protection, healing, courage, happiness, success, attraction, glamourie, luck, spirit contact, power, breaking curses, abundance

Elemental signature: fire, spirit

Astrological signature: Sun; Leo

Goddess archetypes: Solar Goddess, Mother Earth, Great Mother, Goddess of Love, Crone, Ocean Mother

Formation process: organic (sedimentary)

Amber is the solidified resin of extinct coniferous trees. Though not truly a rock or a mineral, amber is one of the most ancient ornamental gem materials, having been used since at least the Paleolithic era. Varieties of amber range in color from yellow and gold to red and brown, with cream-colored, green, and nearly black hues also found. Amber is most famously found along the coasts of the Baltic Sea, including Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It is also found along the shores of Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Other deposits of amber are found in Mexico, Lebanon, Myanmar, Canada, Sicily, and Australia. Newer deposits of amber have been found in the Dominican Republic and Indonesia and are known as blue amber, as they fluoresce so strongly in ambient light as to appear blue. True amber is considered a fossil, even though it has not undergone a process of petrification or mineralization, while other ancient plant resins are too young to be considered fossils. Examples of these relatives of amber include copal and kauri gum, which do not have the resiliency of fossil resins.

Amber has factored into many myths throughout history. It is often found washed ashore, as it floats in seawater. For this reason, amber is considered a gift of the Ocean Mother. Baltic mythology records the image of the sea goddess Jūratė’s undersea palace being made of amber. In Norse mythology, Freyja’s tears were said to become amber when they fell into the sea. Freyja is recorded as having a magickal necklace, named Brísingamen, made of amber. Ancient Goddess worshippers felt that this gem was sacred to the Great Mother, as amber was believed to contain the very spark of life.¹² In fact, amber may be among the very first gemstones employed by early humans, as amber artifacts, some of which may be ten thousand years old, have been found in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

An amber ring gleaming like sunshine

Amber has a decidedly solar influence; ancient people once believed that amber formed as the rays of the sun congealed as it set over the water. As a fossil resin, it once flowed like sap within the trunks of cone-bearing trees. This viscous liquid was the lifeblood of these ancient plants; it carried the nutrients converted from immaterial sunlight into tangible energy and food. Thus amber is literally a product of the sun’s rays—it is as close to solidified sunlight as you can get.

To the Baltic people, amber was intrinsically linked to the sun goddess Saule. This gem was often called the “tears of Saule” or the “tears of the sun.”¹³ She shed these tears when she witnessed horrific acts, violence, or tragedy (especially involving children), and also upon seeing the death of her sacred animal, the žaltys, a type of grass snake.¹⁴ Amber has been worn to draw the blessings of the Solar Goddess so that her protective gaze will ensure a happy and fruitful life.

Though many stones can put us in touch with the principle of light, few also provide the warming quality of amber. Its bright, cheery disposition underscores its ability to break up stagnant cycles, purify your energy field, and uplift otherwise heavy emotions. Through the ages amber has been credited for assisting in practically every magickal aim possible, from luck and healing, to protection and prosperity. It is a catch-all stone that lends strength to all workings. Wearing amber or placing it on your altar can lend additional power to your spells.

As night flees the rising sun’s rays, so is evil averted by amber’s grace. Amber protects against harm and ill health, and it thwarts the effects of curses, the evil eye, and malevolent spirits. Amber does not encircle you in a protective barrier; instead, it improves the resilience and integrity of your energy field by removing harmful influences, while at the same time brightening your spiritual body (or aura/energy field) so that no negativity can possibly affect you. Amber has been carried as a protective amulet since antiquity, and it continues to be used worldwide by magicians and laypeople alike. Scott Cunningham suggests adding nine pieces of amber to your bathwater and soaking until the water has cooled entirely; afterward, carry one of the stones to ensure your protection at all times.¹⁵

This stone can prevent meddlesome spirits from negatively impacting your life, as well as strengthen the bond between the witch and her familiar or guide.

Amber’s association with goddesses of love such as Freyja also points to its gift of magnifying your natural beauty. Wearing amber boosts your self-esteem and self-confidence, which naturally makes us more attractive. It is an ancient talisman for ensuring fertility, and it can attract a new romantic or sexual partner. Since it draws out inner beauty so easily, amber can also be employed in glamourie, to change your appearance via magickal means.

When rubbed vigorously with a cloth, amber generates an electrical charge that allows it to attract small objects like grain or ash or bits of paper. This resulted in its Greek name, elektron, from which the modern English word electricity is derived. In an act of sympathetic magick, amber can be used to attract good fortune, love, success, and money. Its golden hues are also linked to money magick, so it can be combined with other elements to manifest financial wealth and abundance.

Among witches, amber is especially sacred. It is often paired with the more masculine jet; together they are the stones of the high priestess. Wearing amber can help attune to the current of life, the animating principle that flows through the entire universe; this is the breath and heartbeat of the Great Goddess herself. It is a “key to ancient knowledge and can stimulate the remembrance of one’s lineage and the genetic lessons and experiences passed down from one’s ancestors.”¹⁶ As a fossil, amber is connected to the memory and ancient wisdom of Sedimens, the Crone of the Triple Goddess of Stone. I think this may be why so many witches and pagans are attracted to amber—it awakens the soul’s memory of having walked this path in previous lifetimes.

However you use amber, know that it is among the most sacred of gems, despite not being a true mineral. It will enhance all of your magickal workings and deepen your connection to the Great Mother.

AMETHYST

Magickal uses: protection, wisdom, psychic development, healing, purification, curse-breaking, devotion

Elemental signature: air, spirit

Astrological signature: Venus, Moon, Uranus; Aquarius

Goddess archetype: Maiden

Formation process: igneous

One of the most beloved gemstones around, amethyst is a violet-colored variety of quartz. Its color is derived from trace amounts of iron, and it is found worldwide. Amethyst is available in a wide range of crystal forms, and it spans a range of shades from lavender to purple and violet. Its name means “not drunken” in Greek, as it was believed to cure inebriety.

Amethyst is a violet-colored variety of quartz.

There are a variety of legends surrounding this stone, as it has been prized since antiquity. Perhaps the best-known is the classical myth of the nymph Amethyst. The young nymph had set out to visit the temple of Artemis (the Roman goddess Diana) for rites of worship and honor, but along the way her beauty catches the eye of Dionysus (the Roman god Bacchus), god of wine and revelry. On a drunken whim, Dionysus decides that he should pursue Amethyst with the aim of sexual conquest. Amethyst cries out to the goddess Artemis during the chase, and the goddess takes pity on her devotee. To protect her from Bacchus’s unwanted pursuit, Artemis transforms Amethyst into white quartz. An enraged Dionysus spills his wine over the nymph-turned-crystal, and the drink transforms the color of the stone into the violet-colored amethyst. Having been sobered by this event, Dionysus bestows amethyst with the ability to restore sobriety.

In this myth we see Amethyst being blessed by the goddess for her sincerity and devotion. Amethyst has long been a stone of protection, not only warding off drunkenness, but also used as a charm against evil spirits, nightmares, and negative magick. It was once believed that when set in silver and worn while hunting, amethyst would attract wild game.¹⁷ This is surely a holdover from the stone’s association with Artemis/Diana—silver represents her lunar association, and she also rules over the hunt. Christian lore associates amethyst with the Virgin Mary, symbolizing the love that “men and God devote to [her],”¹⁸ thereby preserving the connection between amethyst and the Divine Feminine even in the era of patriarchal monotheism.

Amethyst is often closely linked to purification, protection, and sacred space. In the modern world amethyst is regarded as a spiritual cleanser. Its energy transmutes negativity into positive vibrations, making it the ideal stone to keep in your home environment. It has been used in ecclesiastical jewelry, as a facade on churches, and in other sacred settings. In fact, when viewed under polarized light, the structure of amethyst reveals a whorly pattern in its growth called an airy spiral, which resembles the labyrinths found in Gothic cathedrals.¹⁹ This growth pattern within the crystal is meant to serve as a reminder that each and every step that we as spiritual aspirants take can be dedicated to our growth, as if each moment of the day we are walking the path of the labyrinth. The spiraling form of amethyst’s crystal structure also deeply links it to the energy of the Goddess, as the spiral is one of her universal symbols.

When you harness the power of amethyst, you uplift the vibrations of your space, both inner and outer, in order to build a sanctuary for the Divine Feminine. Amethyst allows you to purify within and without by abstaining from beliefs and behaviors that pollute your soul and your environment. Working with amethyst provides you with the wisdom necessary to make life choices that reinforce your devotion to all that is sacred; it enables you to be more sincerely dedicated and connected to the Goddess herself.

Amethyst holds a spiritual frequency that engenders tranquility, wisdom, and dedication to your path. It is a stone that activates latent intuitive faculties, and it instills great confidence in psychic pursuits. In ritual it can be used for healing, spiritual development, and protection. Amethyst allows you to construct sacred space wherever you are, and it facilitates magickal workings of all kinds. Wear or carry amethyst to receive the blessings of the Goddess, and you will find that all aspects of your life become inherently more magickal.

AMMONITE

Magickal uses: protection, fertility, wisdom, regeneration, divination, karmic healing, connecting to deities

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Neptune; Aquarius, Virgo, Gemini

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Crone

Formation process: sedimentary

Among fossils, ammonite is particularly enchanting for its spiral shape. Ammonites are the fossilized remains of an extinct group of sea mollusks that resemble the modern-day nautilus. The name is taken from Ammonis cornua, meaning “horns of Ammon [Amun],” as they resemble the ram’s horns that the Egyptian god Amun often sported. Ammonites are found in many locations around the world such as Canada, India, Iran, Madagascar, Nepal, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with a variety of mineralizations replacing the original organic tissue. Those preserved in soft clay usually retain the nacreous luster of the original mother-of-pearl in the shell. The spiral shape of this stone has long been considered sacred to the Goddess.

Virtually all fossils have made their way into the mythos and magick of cultures around the world. Ammonite, whose coiled shape is reminiscent of a snake, has been variously known as “snake stone,” “serpentstone,” “ophite” (from the Greek ophis, for “snake”), and “draconite” (Greek for draco, “dragon”). In a classic example of sympathetic magick, ammonites were believed to counteract the venom of reptiles, avert the gaze of serpents, and enable a person to handle snakes without fear of being bitten. Serpents are also symbols of the Great Goddess, and her worship throughout the world has included snakerelated imagery.

Ammonite’s spiral form symbolizes the regenerative power of the Goddess.

The serpent is a symbol of fertility, and these fossils were traditionally used to enhance the fertility of both livestock and humans. Since snakes also represent wisdom, immortality, and regeneration, ammonites took on the same characteristics. In truth, the serpent or dragon reflects the underworld aspects of the Earth Mother. Across the body of Earth are etched the sinewy currents of chthonic energy—ley lines, or dragon lines. Like a spiral staircase, meditating with ammonite draws the attention inward and downward, helping you descend to the realm of the subconscious mind. This stone can help you reach the underworld via meditation, astral travel, and dreamtime journeying. Once there, you can call on the assistance of the Queen of the Underworld—the Dark Goddess—for healing and transformation.

The fossilized ammonite is a potent karmic healing stone. It can be used for past-life awareness, as well as for healing the deep-seated patterns carried over from previous lifetimes. It brings renewal and hope. Like the unfurling of fiddlehead ferns, the coiled ammonite brings the promise of new life. Its spiral form is the cosmic dance of life-death-rebirth, the rhythm of the Great Mother’s heartbeat.

Serpent stones have factored into many myths and legends. Lore from Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, describes Saint Hilda of Whitby turning a plague of snakes into stone; she is often depicted with them at her feet. Though not a goddess outright, this Christian saint is a representation of the Divine Feminine in her own right. She is the patron of learning, poetry, and culture. The ammonite, with its ophidian nature, shares these qualities with Saint Hilda, as it fosters growth and wisdom. Carrying these stones is still believed to grant miracles today.²⁰

Ammonites have been found in abundance at Glastonbury Tor, in Somerset, England. According to archaeologist Philip Rahtz, Glastonbury Tor, which is terraced in a series of spirals first modified in Neolithic times, may have been inspired by the shape of ammonite. He says that “such stepped natural hills . . . may be analogous to the ziggurats and pyramids found in Africa, the Americas, and Asia: ‘structures that when ascended bridged the space between earth and the sky, the sun and the heavenly regions.’”²¹ Glastonbury Tor is closely associated with the legendary Avalon of King Arthur legend, and it is esteemed by Goddess worshippers today. Both the Tor and Whitby Abbey (where Saint Hilda was the founding abbess) exhibit this spiralshaped terracing.

As an amulet, ammonite is apotropaic in function; it wards off negativity, ill health, bad luck, and evil spirits. Ammonite has been used in divination, both to encourage prophetic dreams and to conjure spirits with the gift of prophecy.²² Used as a healing charm, ammonite cures problems of the head (especially the eyes and ears) and was once considered a remedy for possession by spirits.²³ In modern-day ritual, ammonite has a reputation for deepening your connection to the gods.

AQUAMARINE

Magickal uses: purification, courage, communication, clairvoyance, protection, peace, illumination, stress relief, healing

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Moon, Neptune, Venus; Pisces, Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Ocean Goddess, Great Mother

Formation process: igneous

Aquamarine belongs to the beryl family, a mineral species composed of beryllium aluminum silicate. Aquamarine occurs when beryl has traces of iron, and its color range goes from blue to green. In fact, this gemstone is named for its color, which evokes images of seawater. Aquamarine is found worldwide, including Brazil, China, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Russia, the United States, Vietnam, and Zambia.

Among the beryl family, aquamarine is perhaps the most popular and widely available. It has been used since at least 2000 BCE, with the earliest aquamarine artifacts found in Egypt. This gemstone is a popular stone for imparting courage, inviting serenity, and initiating purification. It was once considered to be among the best gemstones for improving your psychic abilities. All beryls, including aquamarine, have long been associated with magick and witchcraft, and they have been the favored medium for crystal balls for centuries. Scott Cunningham writes that aquamarine “reduces the conscious mind’s hold on the psychic mind and allows the ever-present psychic impulses to be heard and to enter our consciousness.”²⁴

Aquamarine is deeply connected to the energies of the ocean. Fishermen and sailors once carried this gem to ensure safe passage at sea. Its clarity and color represent the ocean, and it can be used to connect to goddesses of the oceans and water in general, such as Yemayá, Saraswati, Ezili (or Erzulie), Tefnut, Amphitrite, Thalassa, Tiamat, Oshún, and Salacia. Aquamarine can be worn or carried to attune to the element of water and connect to the energies of the Ocean Mother. Use it to petition these goddesses for their help in ritual, or meditate on it to dive into their mysteries. In meditation, aquamarine can take us into the depths of the soul, as if plunging deep into the sea to find sunken treasure. Once there, it helps sweep away what is hidden in order to bring light to our innermost struggles.

Aquamarine, one of my favorite gemstones

Aquamarine is prized for its purification properties. Its overall effect is one of release, and it is a helpful tool for bringing movement and clarity to stuck situations. Aquamarine can facilitate emotional release as well as promote healthy elimination in the physical body. Drinking water infused with aquamarine is especially helpful for detoxifying on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. As you work with this gemstone, its energy begins to penetrate more deeply. Where once you may have experienced stagnation, there will instead be light, as aquamarine also possesses illuminating properties. It is like stirring muddy waters in a stream; at first things may become more turbid, but the murkiness eventually flows away, leaving clean water in its wake. In a similar fashion, aquamarine brings clarity and illumination through its mechanism of release. As you let go of stagnant patterns, there is room for peace, courage, and connection to the Divine Mother. Aquamarine nourishes you with her blessings while encouraging you to let go of your pain and struggles.

In kabbalistic lore, aquamarine is associated with the sefirot Binah, meaning “understanding.”²⁵ Binah is credited with exhibiting a feminine energy, and it is sometimes equated with the Shakti, the creative force of the Divine Feminine. Similarly, aquamarine helps you tap into the raw creative fuel of the universe and use it for magick, manifestation, and healing. The crystal structure of aquamarine, which reveals a pattern similar to the Flower of Life,^*15 points to the same symbolism; aquamarine allows you to reach beyond the experience of individuation and incarnation in order to tap into the work of the Divine Mother. By attaining the spiritual perspective that this confers, aquamarine, in turn, endows you with psychic talents such as clairvoyance or prophetic dreams.

Aquamarine lends itself to a variety of magickal uses, including purification, enhancing intuition, healing, and protection. It can be made into a gemstone elixir by putting it in water overnight, preferably under the light of the full moon; afterward, add a pinch of sea salt to preserve the energy of the liquid. Aquamarine elixir can be sprayed to clear the energy of a room or ritual space, anointed on the body, or added to the bath to purify yourself before ritual or spellcraft, and a few drops can be placed under your tongue or in your drinking water for more physically focused clearing. Try using it to cleanse other crystals, as well.

For enhancing your psychic abilities, wear or carry a programmed aquamarine. You can also meditate with one against your brow or sleep with aquamarine under your pillow. Clear specimens, whether natural or polished, make excellent tools for scrying.

Aquamarine has been used for healing the eyes, digestive tract, and jaws for centuries. Its purifying influence is also helpful for the skin and respiratory system. It can be carried, worn, taken as an elixir, or placed on the body wherever it is needed.

AVENTURINE

Magickal uses: healing, growth, luck, prosperity, perception, inspiration, stellar magick, fairy magick

Elemental signature: earth, water, air

Astrological signature: Venus, Mercury; Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Maiden, Stellar Goddess, Mistress of Magick, the Muse

Formation process: igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic

Aventurine usually refers to massive, granular formations of quartz that display the property of aventurescence, which causes the stones to sparkle when turned in the light. Aventurine is commonly green, though it can occur in virtually any color, notably red, orange, yellow, blue, and brown. This stone’s aventurescence is caused by minute, platelike inclusions of other minerals. Green aventurine often has inclusions of fuchsite (a green mica) and/or pyrite. Goethite, hematite, other micas, copper silicates, and dumortierite can be present in other colors of aventurine. Most aventurine on the market is mined in Brazil, though other deposits are found in Canada, China, India, Italy, Russia, and the United States. Since green aventurine is the most commonly available variety, the properties described in this entry apply to green aventurine unless noted otherwise.

Aventurine’s color and structure connect it strongly to the elements of earth and water. It is reminiscent of the natural world, and it helps attune us to the cycles of Mother Nature. Aventurine is gently grounding, softening, and opening. It can be used to facilitate contact with the devic kingdom (the spirits of the natural world) and with the fairy folk. Its color evokes scenes of budding leaves, lush beds of moss, and greenish ponds—truly a stone of the Earth Mother. Use it for boosting the growth of plants in your garden.

Green aventurine is a gentle catalyst for emotional healing, as it opens the heart with the promise of renewal and change. It is soothing and detoxifying to the physical body and promotes a sense of overall well-being. Aventurine provides a sense of tranquility in which we can surrender to the present moment. It opens your perception to the opportunity and inspiration available in every moment of the day. Accordingly, aventurine is helpful for writers, musicians, visual artists, and others involved in creative pursuits.²⁶ Use it to find your inner muse or to connect with the goddesses of the arts.

Beads of aventurine being empowered for prosperity

Aventurine is sometimes connected to the element of air and associated with the mind; these correspondences can be the result of inclusions of more mentally oriented minerals such as mica and pyrite. Aventurine can therefore be used to boost mental powers, improve your ability to plan, and balance an overactive mind.

Wiccan practitioner and master herbalist Paul Beyerl describes aventurine as the “High Priestess of healing stones” and relates its symbolism to the High Priestess card of the traditional tarot deck.²⁷ This card represents wisdom, intuition, and the subconscious mind. The symbolism found on this card in most standard tarot decks is dripping with representations of the Divine Feminine. Aventurine can be helpful in tapping into the feminine mysteries hinted at by this card; it can be used in meditation, contemplation, or ritual to draw your awareness to the veiled current of wisdom found in the High Priestess’s teachings.

To the ancient world aventurine was known as sandastros, named for an ancient source of the stone in Sandaresus, India.²⁸ There was an ancient belief there that aventurine stones could come in either male or female genders as distinguished by their appearance;²⁹ this belief is echoed in the modern idea that aventurine can balance masculine and feminine energies.³⁰ This balancing effect can help each of us find the inner current of the Divine Feminine—or Divine Masculine, for that matter—and bring it forward for meditation, ritual, or everyday life.

The aventurescent quality in this gemstone has been likened to the glimmering appearance of stars in the sky. Occult scholar Claude Lecouteux writes that there are “some religious associations with this stone because of the rapport it has with the stars. In fact, their scintillating drops of gold resemble in arrangement and number the stars of the constellations of the Hyades, which is why the Chaldeans used it in their ceremonies.”³¹ We, as modern healers and magicians, can continue this legacy by using aventurine as a means of connecting to the Stellar Goddess; use it alongside lapis lazuli, Lemurian jade, or star sapphire for this purpose. Aventurine is unique among the stones of the Stellar Goddess in that it is more grounding than it is celestial in its energy. It helps us find the whimsy and magick of starlight amid the comings and goings of everyday life.

Among magickal practitioners today, aventurine is best known for its wealth- and luck-drawing properties. Sometimes called the “gambler’s stone,” aventurine can be used to increase luck, attract prosperity, and open the path to new opportunities. It is a very peaceful stone, and it is sometimes used as a substitute for the more valuable jade, as the two share several magickal uses. Place a large piece of green aventurine between a green and a gold candle on your altar as a means of manifesting money.

Aventurine is commonly used in healing magick, a characteristic echoed by its uses in gemstone therapy. Lighter shades of green aventurine are remarkably soothing to the body, while dark green aventurine has detoxifying effects. Additionally, blue aventurine (sometimes marketed as “blue quartz”) is soothing to the mind; it can help you be more patient. Peach aventurine is also soothing to the body and emotions. Sometimes known as “whisper stone,” peach aventurine can be used to release stagnant emotional patterns. Red aventurine is so colored by its iron oxide content; it has an overtly masculine energy and is ruled by the planet Mars. Use it for increasing energy, improving metabolic function, and for toning the physical body.

AZURITE-MALACHITE

Magickal uses: dissolving ego, connecting to Earth energies, planetary healing

Elemental signature: earth, water

Astrological signature: Venus; Libra

Goddess archetype: Earth Mother

Formation process: sedimentary

Azurite-malachite is an intergrowth of two closely related minerals. Both azurite and malachite are carbonates of copper; they often replace each other in a process called pseudomorphism. The copper content of this stone links it to the planet Venus, which engenders a feminine vibration in azurite-malachite. The luscious green of malachite against the deep blue of azurite resembles our planet, especially in polished specimens. Azurite-malachite is commonly found in China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, and the southwestern United States.

Traditionally, azurite is considered a stone for developing inner vision or second sight. Its deep, azure-blue hue helps peel back the veil between ordinary consciousness and the psychic mind. It is exceptionally helpful for self-reflection. Occult scholar D. J. Conway suggests that it may have been used by the priestly class in Egypt to “raise the consciousness to such a high level that they could contact the Goddess.”³² Malachite carries a more outward focus. It draws out pain and helps establish the right use of will. (For more information specifically on malachite, see the separate entry in this compendium.)

The lovely combination of azurite and malachite makes it a balancing stone. Malachite on its own has an earthy and fiery signature, but the fire is cooled by the presence of azurite. Together, they help tap into the dynamic elemental currents of our planet. In gemstone therapy, the combination of azurite and malachite in a single stone is used to reinforce our connection to the earth star chakra, an energy center that lies outside of the physical body, about twelve inches below the soles of the feet. The earth star chakra acts as our umbilical cord to the planet, as it nourishes us with the energies of Mother Earth. Azurite-malachite strengthens your connection to the planet while simultaneously revealing the information stored within your earth star chakra. In a therapeutic setting this gemstone can help you awaken to your destiny and find the resources necessary to bring it to light. Azurite-malachite opens you to receiving the wisdom, guidance, and grace of the Great Mother so that you can be an instrument of her service. She wants each of her children to fulfill their highest potential. In receiving the blessings of the Goddess, we learn to live in harmony with one another and with the planet and all its denizens.

A polished slab of azurite-malachite

Azurite-malachite facilitates meditation; it assists in traveling “deep within in order to be reborn into the light—the change being profound or minor as necessary.”³³ The action of this gemstone allows you to plumb the depths of your soul, providing a fresh perspective on old memories, beliefs, and behaviors. It is especially helpful in releasing deeply rooted fears. Azurite-malachite also helps dissolve the ego and egocentric traits such as conceitedness, arrogance, and vanity.³⁴ This paves the way for developing a new outlook and understanding of the intrinsic oneness of all life on our planet.

Meditating with azurite-malachite helps you prepare your consciousness to embody the qualities of the Divine Feminine in this present age. It is a deeply nourishing stone to the emotional body, providing support and understanding of the patterns playing out in your life. This gemstone lends a helping hand in times of transition, and it stirs the distant memories of a time when the Divine Feminine ruled the land. Like other copper minerals, it can be used in spells of love and beauty, though its energy blends the emotional with the intellectual. An elixir of this gemstone (made by indirect method only, due to the copper content) can be used to attune to the planet in ritual and meditation, or it can be offered to the earth for planetary healing.

BIOTITE LENS

Magickal uses: new projects, vision, rebirth, flexibility, divination, clairvoyance, protection, fertility

Elemental signature: air, earth

Astrological signature: Mercury; Aquarius, Gemini, Scorpio

Goddess archetype: Mother

Formation process: metamorphic

Biotite is a member of the mica group, and it is sometimes referred to as black mica. Though there is a single mineral species called biotite, this name applies specifically to the series of dark-to-black-colored mica that is closely related to it. Biotite is a common rock-forming mineral that is formed in both igneous and metamorphic rock. The largest biotite crystals in the world are those found in Iveland, Norway; they measure approximately seventy-five square feet (or seven square meters). Though most forms of mica have an overtly mental, masculine energy, biotite lens tends to lean more toward the soft, feminine side of the energy spectrum. It is found in Portugal and Norway.

Called lentoid (meaning “lenslike”), biotite lens superficially resembles a biconvex (double convex) lens. The biotite nucleates around a core of white quartz or feldspar. These mineral formations are the result of the regional metamorphism that produces mountains. The metamorphic rock that serves as the lens’s host matrix is slowly weathered, eventually revealing the biotite itself. In the summertime, heat causes the biotite to expand until it breaks loose from the host rock in a sudden burst.

The unusual genesis of biotite lens has endowed it with the moniker pedras parideira—in Portuguese, “parturition stone” or “birthing stone.” These stones have a long tradition of being used in childbirth; the lore surrounding them suggests that they provide safety and ease during childbirth, and prehistoric sites have yielded evidence that these stones were once used for fertility rites.

Since childbirth is the domain of the Great Mother, these crystal formations can be used to invoke her presence. A biotite lens can be placed on the altar to represent the Mother Goddess, or one can be carried or worn to ensure that her protection follows you always—just as a mother protects her children. In meditation, biotite lens facilitates contact with the archetypal Mother Goddess and provides support and clarity in your practice.

Biotite, as a form of mica, imparts flexibility. Mica formations are known as phyllosilicates—silicate minerals whose structure resembles sheets. Because of this structure, biotite, like all forms of mica, exhibits good basal cleavage—it flakes off in sheets parallel to its base. Though euhedral fully-formed crystals are occasionally found, biotite more often occurs in grainy masses comprised of tiny crystals. Such formations are soft, easily cleaved, and sometimes bend if found in thin enough sections. Biotite therefore physically embodies flexibility and can thus lend this property to all who connect to it. Use biotite lens to engender adaptability and creativity when solving problems or beginning new projects.

Biotite lens gently stirs the psychic senses. Although visible light cannot pass through it, this crystal formation acts as a spiritual lens that focuses and magnifies clairvoyant messages, dreamtime imagery, and messages or symbols received from the spirit realm. Its earthy appearance and iron-rich composition lend a grounding energy to the mental body and intuitive processes. Placed on the brow chakra, this stone can muffle the conscious mind, facilitate astral travel, and enhance psychic vision. Biotite lens can also be used for channeling, as it strengthens your ability to connect to spiritual beings and refine the information or symbolism received from them.

Biotite lenses are named for their unique biconvex shape.

Other magickal uses for biotite lens include mental clarity, inspiration, and clearing obstacles from your path. These stones foster creative thinking, enhance analytical pursuits, and support the health of the mental body. Meditate with this stone or add it to spells for inspiration, as it helps you think outside the box, encouraging the exploration of new modes of thinking. Biotite lens’s association with protection and birth enable it to act as a road-opener; it is an ally in clearing unwanted energies, situations, and people from your path in order to help you fulfill your dreams. It can also be beneficial for resolving conflict between mother and child.

However you choose to work with biotite lens, consider it a gift of the Mother Goddess to her children. The relative rarity and unique manner in which biotite lens is released from its host rock makes it a dynamic magickal tool. This stone is a wonderful tool for spiritual seekers and dedicants new to goddess-worshipping traditions, as it deepens our relationship with the Great Mother and helps us feel reborn as children of the Goddess.

CALCITE

Magickal uses: amplification, vision, psychic development, mental powers, memory, healing

Elemental signature: water, fire (varies by type of calcite)

Astrological signature: Moon, Venus, Saturn; Gemini, Cancer, Taurus (varies by type of calcite)

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Crone, the Muse

Formation process: sedimentary or igneous

Calcite is an abundant mineral, composed of calcium carbonate and belonging to the trigonal crystal system. Up to 40 percent of Earth’s surface is covered in calcite-bearing rocks, including limestone, chalk, and marble, although it only comprises about 4 percent of the weight of Earth’s crust. The word calcite is derived from calx, Latin for “lime,” referring to inorganic minerals of calcium. Calcite exhibits a wide range of colors and a dizzying array of crystal forms. This mineral is relatively soft, ranking only 3 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and it has perfect cleavage in three directions. Found worldwide, calcite remains ever-popular among collectors.

Despite its pervasiveness and popularity as a carving medium for millennia, there is little magickal lore ascribed to calcite. As the finegrained alabaster of the ancient world, calcite was used by Phoenicians, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians among their grave goods. In folk medicine, calcite was once a popular remedy for ulcers and conditions of the skin such as warts and wounds.³⁵ Though there may be no known description of calcite’s spiritual powers dating from ancient times, it has nevertheless become one of the most highly regarded crystals among crystal mystics and healers today.

A colorful array of calcite

Calcite is considered an amplifier of intention, an energizer, and a capable tool for accelerating spiritual development. The calcium content is stabilizing, especially to the mind and physical body. It is thanks to its calcium content that it is associated with the well-being of the human skeletal system and is thus considered a crystal ally for those in the fields of chiropractic and osteopathic medicine.

Usually regarded as a secondary mineral, calcite often forms out of aqueous solutions. This connection to water encourages empathy, trust, and creative expression. Calcite brings our awareness into the present moment. According to crystal healing pioneer Katrina Raphaell, this stone teaches us how to merely be. She goes on to tell us that its relative softness and readiness to cleave indicates that it is unattached to any specific physical form or condition.³⁶ We can use it to integrate the influx of new energy on our planet and for walking our spiritual path at all times.

One of calcite’s more interesting properties is birefringence, i.e., double refraction, the refraction of light in two different directions. When a transparent piece is placed atop an image, the stone produces a double vision of it. This enables us to see from a new perspective. Calcite allows us to better understand the experiences and perspectives of those around us. Likewise, it stretches our awareness beyond the material plane; calcite can actually open the doors to higher perception so we can explore other levels of existence. In addition to its birefringence, the geometry of calcite, based on its rhombic cleavage, helps unite seemingly unrelated worlds. It helps us bridge the material and the spiritual worlds. Calcite helps us connect to the Divine Feminine through its empathetic gift of vision.

In magick, calcite is a versatile tool. Use it to support manifestation, as it can double your focus due to its unusual optical phenomena. Different colors of calcite can be matched to your intention and paired with candles to support your spells. Calcite also supports learning, boosting mental faculties, and attainment of wisdom. Use it for creativity, and healing, both physical and emotional.

Several varieties of calcite, as described in what follows here, have an exceptionally strong connection to the Divine Feminine.

Cobaltoan Calcite

Magickal uses: love, emotional healing, beauty, confidence, creativity

Elemental signature: fire, water

Astrological signature: Pluto; Leo

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Love, Mother, the Muse

Formation process: sedimentary

Cobaltoan calcite, sometimes called cobalto calcite and cobaltian calcite (and often incorrectly referred to as cobaltite), occurs when cobalt ions replace some of the calcium in calcite. It is usually found in brilliant shades of pink and magenta, often as druzes on matrix; fine examples crystallize in euhedral crystals. Most of the material available on the market today is mined in Morocco.

This calcite derives its vibrant hue from cobalt.

Cobaltoan calcite resonates strongly with the emotional body. It is one of the premier stones of forgiveness, helping to release the burdens of grief, anger, and shame. A compassionate healer, cobaltoan calcite balances the intellect and the emotions, thereby helping to release blocks that result from dissonance between them. Sometimes referred to as “Aphrodite stone,” it develops a loving and nurturing attitude. Appropriately enough, in Greek mythology the Graces are often connected to Aphrodite, and this stone cultivates grace, confidence, and poise. As well, crystal healer Judy Hall suggests that cobaltoan calcite encourages emotional maturity, as it “sends out a profoundly nurturing energy that helps you to mother yourself.”³⁷

One of this stone’s gifts is its ability to reveal our latent talents. First, cobaltoan calcite works to release patterns of fear, mistrust, and unworthiness that inhibit self-expression.³⁸ This opens the heart, enabling us to reach out to others from the space of vulnerability and authenticity, which are the breeding grounds of creativity and spiritual growth. The energy of this stone also supports self-discovery, opening the doors to creativity and allowing free and safe expression of the emotions through art or other creative endeavors.

As a stone of the Goddess, the magenta-colored cobaltoan calcite soothes centuries’ worth of fear, shame, and repression that have impeded the free expression of the Divine Feminine. It instantly transforms negative thinking into positive, encouraging lightheartedness, joy, laughter, and wit.³⁹ A regal stone with an intense color, cobaltoan calcite calls to the Goddess within each of us to help her shine forth in all that we do. This stone helps us feel the unrestrained presence of the Great Goddess everywhere we go, for she is the cosmic force that holds the universe in balance.

My friend, the late JaneAnn Dow, a crystal healer, called cobaltoan calcite the stone of “ultimate initiation,” describing this as experiencing Creator and creation as one.⁴⁰ Accordingly, it stretches the limits of our consciousness and broadens our perspective. The transcendent nature of this realization helps us move beyond merely conceptualizing the Great Mother everywhere—it guides us to know that she is everywhere and fosters the experience of her ineffable wisdom and grace.

Use cobaltoan calcite for rites of love and beauty, as well as for enhancing creativity and communication. Keeping a piece near you can inspire you to create innovative and artistic rituals. This crystal also supports sensuality, confidence, and self-worth—qualities that can help you attract new romance or breathe new life into existing partnerships.

Isis Calcite (Boli Stone)

Magickal uses: intuition, spiritual growth, shamanic journeys, karmic healing, compassion, planetary healing

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Sun; Leo

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Mistress of Magick, Crone

Formation process: sedimentary

Isis calcite was first discovered in late 2008 in the Rub’ al Khali desert, on the Arabian Peninsula. The unnamed discoverer intuitively received the name boli stone for these calcites. Isis calcite occurs as a whitish, transparent-to-translucent stone. It often displays slightly irregular formations, as the original scalenohedral shape of the crystal has been eroded to a satiny finish by desert sands. Isis calcite remains relatively uncommon on the market today.

A sand-polished calcite from the Arabian peninsula

The Isis calcite or boli stone is a humble formation. Many examples of this variety of calcite are wind-polished fragments of crystals. Its mineral-stained, pitted surface and benign, unassuming appearance belies the great power contained within this gemstone. Despite its humble appearance, Isis calcite radiates a potent field of energy once awakened. The mission of this stone is to draw the light of the Divine Feminine to the core of the planet,⁴¹ thereby awakening the slumbering Goddess. I find that these stones appreciate bright sunlight, and I prefer to allow them to soak up as much sunshine as possible before working with them.

The Isis calcite is the elder priestess of the calcite clan. Though it may not be as brilliant and sharply terminated as other forms of calcite, this stone contains immense wisdom. From having withstood the abrasive weathering of sun, wind, and sand, these stones have been naturally polished by the passage of time. They awaken the innate reserves of wisdom within the soul and help us claim our own priestesshood and priesthood. Boli stones are teaching stones, for they empower us to learn from the soul’s journey and pass the wisdom of these experiences on to the next generation.

These crystal formations are named for the Egyptian goddess Isis, one of the most renowned Mother goddesses. They can thus be used to facilitate contact with the Great Mother archetype. Isis was also a skilled sorceress and healer, and the Isis calcite exudes an aura of magick and mystery; use it to work with goddesses linked to the Mistress of Magick. As sedimentary formations shaped by erosive processes, these stones are also ideal for tapping into the archetypal Crone.

The Isis calcite is a capable emotional healer, and it can help untangle the threads of karma, especially the karmic patterns of disease.⁴² Use it to anchor and support any ritual aimed at connecting to the Great Goddess in any of her guises. Placed on the third eye chakra, Isis calcite facilitates meditation, astral travel, and shamanic journeys. It can be used to awaken compassion for yourself and others, and in this way it is an excellent tool for healing the planet as a whole.

Mangano Calcite

Magickal uses: forgiveness, love, beauty

Elemental signature: fire, water

Astrological signature: Venus; Libra

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Goddess of Love

Formation process: sedimentary

Mangano calcite, also known as manganoan calcite, is usually found as opaque or semitranslucent mass in creamy shades of pink and white, available almost entirely from Peru. More recently, terminated crystals have been found in China and Inner Mongolia; they tend to be more translucent than the massive Peruvian formations. Mangano calcite owes its name to its manganese content; around 30 percent of the calcium has been replaced by manganese. It is strongly fluorescent under ultraviolet light.

Mangano calcite invites forgiveness.

There is an irrefutable quality of tenderness present in mangano calcite. It has a softening, soothing influence that helps us feel safe and loved. Mangano calcite is overtly motherly; it seems to speak to the child within, helping reconcile whatever hurts we have carried throughout our lives. Use this gem to quell repetitive, pervasive thoughts and emotions that eat away at your peace of mind. Mangano calcite balances the polarities of fire and water. These two elements are considered opposite ends of the energy spectrum, but in mangano calcite they find a middle ground. For this reason, mangano calcite can be used to find forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace whenever conflict arises.

As a stone of the Divine Feminine, mangano calcite reminds us that we are all children of the Great Mother. This works as the great equalizer, as it draws our focus away from drama and pain so we can see the holiness of each interaction. This pink stone is loving, and it can be used for Venusian endeavors such as attracting love, reconciling with lovers, and finding beauty in each moment. As a stone of the Great Mother, mangano calcite is also helpful for families, and it can gently encourage us to find greater appreciation for the mother figures in our life.

Orange Calcite

Magickal uses: creativity, inspiration, sexuality, emotional healing

Elemental signature: fire

Astrological signature: Sun; Leo

Goddess archetypes: Fierce Goddess, Solar Goddess, Sacred Harlot, the Muse

Formation process: sedimentary

Orange calcite, usually colored by the presence of traces of iron, is one of the most plentiful varieties on today’s market. It forms mostly as masses, with terminated crystals being relatively scarce. This mineral can be opaque to translucent, with transparent oranges being quite rare. Most orange calcite is mined in Mexico, though it is found in other locations around the world as well.

The primary word associated with orange calcite is creativity. It appeals to those who are pursuing the creative arts, such as writing, painting, sculpting, dance, music, and more. If you are drawn to this stone it may be signaling a need to find a new outlet for self-expression. Orange calcite dissolves blocks to innovation with its playful, imaginative presence. For this reason it can be used to connect to the Muse archetype. It fosters a deep, spiritual relationship with our modes of expression, helping us draw inspiration from the spiritual planes in all that we do.

Orange calcite contains traces of forms of iron oxide such as hematite. This iron content awakens a certain amount of ambition and drive within us. We can use it to connect to goddesses like Sekhmet, who embodies the Fierce Goddess archetype. It has a fiery energy that relates to the Sun and the sign of Leo, thereby connecting it to the Solar Goddess archetype too.

Orange calcite is one of the most important stones of the Sacred Harlot. It works to dissolve guilt and shame surrounding sexuality and intimacy. Working with orange calcite can help to release painful memories and experiences that may be holding us back from knowing authentic intimacy. Through this action, orange calcite helps us experience physical intimacy as a means of spiritual connection. Thus orange calcite is ideal for both men and women wanting to reclaim their sacred sexuality.

Orange calcite from Mexico

Magickally, orange calcite can be used for spells to boost creativity, expand awareness, and provide emotional relief. Orange calcite lends its warmth and light to endeavors that require a fiery signature; it is helpful for finding motivation, dissolving writer’s block, and for acts of transformation.

Peach Calcite

Magickal uses: love, creativity, wisdom, inspiration, the Great Rite

Elemental signature: fire, water

Astrological signature: Venus, Mars; Libra

Goddess archetypes: Mother, the Muse

Formation process: sedimentary

Peach calcite is usually available in masses and as rhombohedral crystals and cleavage. Most peach calcite is translucent to transparent, and its color may be derived from trace amounts of manganese and iron. Its composition and energy lie somewhere between that of golden calcite and pink calcite.

Peach calcite’s relative clarity helps it bring light to both heart and mind. This gemstone unites complementary forces, like those embodied in heart and mind, spirit and matter. One of its missions is to integrate the Divine Feminine with the realm of the higher mind. This stone represents the marriage of knowledge and wisdom, of psyche and pneuma. Peach calcite helps us explore this sacred union, often inspiring creativity and activating joyful expression along the way.

According to crystal healing pioneer Katrina Raphaell, peach calcite is an important stone for the new age we have entered. She informs us that this stone represents the marriage between the higher mind and an open heart, which provides the “balanced union of conscious, loving action.”⁴³

Peach calcite can be used in spells and meditations aimed at gaining love, creativity, wisdom, and inspiration. It also symbolizes the sacred marriage—the hieros gamos—of the Great Rite. Placed on your altar, it can serve as a focal point for meditating on the themes of the Great Rite, or it can be attached to the tools used in this ceremony, such as the chalice and ritual knife.

Peach calcite

CARNELIAN

Magickal uses: mysteries of life and death, empowering magick, protection, intuition, healing, action, courage, peace, forgiveness

Elemental signature: fire

Astrological signature: Sun, Mars; Aries

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Mistress of Magick, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous or sedimentary

Carnelian is the name given to agate or chalcedony colored by the presence of iron oxide. Its name derives from the cornel cherry, further altered to resemble the Latin carnem, meaning “flesh.” It is usually orange or red, but many stones occur in shades of brown, yellow, and pink. Carnelian has a long tradition of magickal use, and it has been employed for talismanic purposes for centuries. Carnelian is a common stone found worldwide, including Brazil, India, Madagascar, the United States, and Uruguay.

In the ancient world, carnelian was prized for dissipating anger, assuaging fear, bolstering courage, and healing wounds. The people of ancient Egypt especially prized this stone, and fine-quality carnelian was sometimes called “the blood of Isis.”⁴⁴ This gemstone was held in high regard, and an entire chapter of the Egyptian Book of the Dead is dedicated to a carnelian amulet called a tyet or tjet, which resembles a knot or buckle that held the Egyptians’ traditional costume in place. This symbol, sometimes referred to as the “buckle of Isis” as well as the “blood of Isis,” served to protect its wearer by her blessings. The tyet was traditionally included with human remains after embalming so it could assist the deceased on the journey through the underworld. On a recent trip to the Louvre in Paris I was struck by the beauty and light of several of these buckle-shaped amulets from Egypt. The carnelian was rich and nearly candescent, appearing to be lit from within.

Medieval lapidaries often prescribed carnelian as a remedy against injury, as it was believed to stanch the flow of blood. European texts from the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries indicate that carnelian can be used to diminish the monthly flux of menses in women.⁴⁵ The belief that carnelian influences menstruation is most likely derived from the earlier myths of Isis’s blood. Carnelian may not actually reduce menses, but its dynamic link to the archetypal Mother (through Isis) means that this stone can help a woman step into her power during her menstrual cycle. It can help reduce pain and bloating as well as help a woman embrace the mystery of her body’s rhythms.

 

Carnelian was once known as “blood of Isis.”

The blood of Isis stone comes from the Red Sea, in Egypt. Crystal healer Judy Hall writes of her experience with this stone, saying, “The goddess Isis was both a powerful priestess, with power over life and death, and the archetypal devoted wife and mother. Each year in her honor, a great mystery was enacted in the temples: that of birth, death, and regeneration. Meditating or sleeping with this stone under your pillow invokes a profound connection to the universal feminine and the goddess-within, and also helps remove the veils of Isis to reach spiritual clarity and true sight.”⁴⁶

In this way, carnelian helps to sort through the repressed memories, experiences of pain, and negative beliefs that prevent us from living the truth of our divine heritage. We are all children of the Goddess, born of her life-giving magick. Isis was a powerful magician. Her magick was so powerful that it could revive the dead and subvert natural laws. Carnelian lends Isis’s strength and vitality to your own magickal workings. It can support spells and rituals of virtually any type, although it is especially effective for protection, healing, and regeneration. Carnelian’s energy revitalizes your entire being—body, mind, and spirit—just like Isis’s magick restored Osiris to life. It also fosters forgiveness, just as Isis forgave her brother Set for dismembering Osiris.⁴⁷

Use carnelian for rituals or meditations on the mysteries of life, death, and rebirth. It can help you master states of fear and uncertainty, as well as provide relief during stages of transition. This gem can foster empathy and alleviate grief, especially after the passing of a loved one. Carnelian is also a potent tool for finding inner and outer strength, as well as for taking action—a result of the Martian correspondence of the iron that colors this gem. Carnelian is a versatile gemstone that will enrich your life in myriad ways.

CHALCEDONY

Magickal uses: healing, peace, safe travel, protection, success, court cases, charity, purity, beauty

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Moon, Mercury; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, Mother

Formation process: igneous or sedimentary

Chalcedony is a member of the quartz group, which is defined in two different ways. To gemologists, chalcedony refers to any cryptocrystalline or microcrystalline formation of massive quartz, including true chalcedony, agate, chert/flint, onyx, and jasper. In a mineralogical sense, chalcedony refers only to aggregates of fibrous, microcrystalline and submicrocrystalline formations of quartz. These minute fibers grow parallel to one another in radiating patterns, usually resulting in botryoidal, stalactitic, nodular, and otherwise rounded growth habits. When chalcedony shows conspicuous banding, it is usually classified as agate. Chalcedony occurs in a wide range of colors, patterns, and formations, and it is found worldwide.

Chalcedony is an attractive stone, durable enough for carving and common enough to be readily available. It has thus been used with great frequency over millennia. Arguably the most common use of chalcedony in the ancient world was in the crafting of seals, particularly cylinder seals and signet rings. Such gemstones were carved in relief so they would leave a raised pattern or insignia when pressed into hot wax. Chalcedony seals were coveted for their spiritual qualities, as they were highly protective and brought good fortune to their owners.

Cylinder seals and signet rings may have laid the foundation for the widely popular tradition of engraved gemstones. The images on these stones were chosen for their talismanic influences; they would be paired with the best gemstone and empowered when the ideal astrological timing was available. Carved chalcedonies have been uncovered with many different symbols carved into them, but two in particular emphasize the stone’s relationship to the Divine Feminine. Athena (or Minerva) was engraved on the surface of this chalcedony to bring triumph in all areas of life.⁴⁸ Similarly, the image of a virgin holding a laurel branch—possibly the nymph Daphne—would be engraved to represent victory.

Chalcedony is attributed to the Mother Goddess in several traditions. The peasants of Italy called white chalcedony pietra lattea, “milky stone,” and they wore spherical beads of this stone for centuries to increase the milk supply of lactating mothers.⁴⁹ Examples of these chalcedony talismans have been found in archaeological sites dating from the Iron Age. Among Rosicrucians, chalcedony is known as “mother stone,” employed to increase enthusiasm and ensure divine victory.⁵⁰ Their use of chalcedony bears a strong resemblance to the tradition of engraved talismanic gems, and I suspect that the two traditions share a common source. Today, we can use this Mother stone to ensure our victory in reestablishing the Divine Feminine and in elevating the status of women worldwide. Use it in workings for social change, planetary healing, and for sending healing to disempowered people everywhere.

Chalcedony has been known as a talismanic gemstone since antiquity; here a variety of specimens.

In the Christian lapidary tradition, chalcedony symbolized discreet service, and it was included among the twenty stones given to the Virgin Mary in the poem Anulus, by Konrad von Hamburg, wherein this stone represents her charity.⁵¹ In Tibet, chalcedony is “regarded as the mineral equivalent to the purity of the lotus flower.”⁵² The floral symbolism attributed to this gem also aligns it with the Divine Feminine.

Chalcedony’s chief action in old literature is apotropaic. It is a capable protective tool that assuages fear, banishes phantasms, deflects the evil eye, and dispels illusion. Placed under the pillow or at the bedside, chalcedony averts nightmares and prevents nighttime visitations from harmful entities. In the ancient world this gemstone was used to protect against storms and drowning, perhaps because its color often resembles fair skies and calm waters.

Chalcedony is a multitalented stone in healing and in magick. Use it for a favorable outcome in any working. Add it to spells dealing with the legal system, whether seeking a successful court case or in preventing unwelcome attention from the law. It is highly protective and can be used as an amulet. Try gridding a space with it to both protect and pacify the area.

Blue Chalcedony

Magickal uses: communication, truth, peace, inspiration, emotional healing, hope, renewal

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Venus, Jupiter; Sagittarius

Goddess archetype: Queen of Heaven

Formation process: igneous or sedimentary

Blue is one of the most highly valued varieties of chalcedony. Its color chiefly owes to optical phenomena like Rayleigh scattering—basically, the scattering of light off its molecules, the same phenomenon that gives us a blue sky—rather than to any trace elements. When held to the light, the color of this stone often appears grayish or pinkish. Blue chalcedony is found in Brazil, Malawi, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, the United States, and several other countries around the globe.

I have found blue chalcedony to be one of the most soothing gemstones to work with. Its energy has a settling effect on the mental body, permitting a state of deeply seated peace to emerge as tumultuous thoughts and energies slip away. It initiates a process of renewal by bringing hope and peace. As tension slips away, blue chalcedony opens the door for deeper healing and transformation.

The Romans held blue chalcedony sacred to Diana, and the Greeks believed it to be a stone that helps speakers and orators. Even today this gemstone is used in healing related to communication, self-expression, and the Divine Feminine. Katrina Raphaell writes that blue chalcedony “relieves depression caused by lack of feminine expression,” adding that it helps “nurture from within and gain strength to express the sensitive female side.”⁵³ She says that the soft, celestial blue color of this gem represents the Goddess principle, as the combination of blue and white softens, nurtures, and helps cool the inner masculine principle.⁵⁴ Blue chalcedony helps us listen to the Great Goddess and act on her words, while simultaneously empowering our inner feminine side to be heard.

Tumbled blue chalcedony

The overall nature of blue chalcedony is pacifying and expansive. It can help you through your spiritual journey in making the transition to a higher consciousness. It can give you the confidence to confront and resolve sensitive issues with tact. In crystal healing, blue chalcedony is also suggested for healing issues related to the throat chakra and alleviating the symptoms of menopause.⁵⁵ It is used for protection, weather magick (especially to banish storms), and for communication. Blue chalcedony facilitates authentic connection and enables you to step into the role of the storyteller. Use it to help channel the Divine Feminine in all that you do.

Chalcedony Rose

Magickal uses: good luck, love, protection, talent

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Moon, Venus; Virgo, Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Earth Mother

Formation process: igneous

Small rosettes of chalcedony form in Brazil, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. They usually crystallize as round or oblong, flat masses and are dusted with a fine layer of quartz druze on the underside. They occasionally show botryoidal growth on one or both sides and can be found in a variety of color combinations, including brown, reddish, yellow, green, blue, pink, lavender, gray, and white. Chalcedony roses are named for their floral appearance, and they are also known as conchas, Spanish for “shells.” Chalcedony roses are sometimes sold under the name amorite in the metaphysical market, often for a greatly inflated price.

My first exposure to chalcedony rose was in my teen years in a book of young adult fiction about a group of teenage witches. I wasn’t entirely convinced such a stone existed, but it wasn’t long before I stumbled across them in a newly opened rock shop in my home town. I keenly looked them over, fascinated by the swirls of chalcedony on one side and the miniature crystals of quartz that clung to the other. It soon became one of my favorite magickal talismans.

As near as I can tell, there are no ancient sources of information about this particular variety of chalcedony; it appears that no distinction was made between it and other types. I suspect, though, that this may have been the chalcedony used by some of the indigenous people of the Americas, who used chalcedony to confer stability during ceremony.⁵⁶

Chalcedony roses are lucky stones; whoever carries one has a knack for finding fortune and favor wherever they go. They plant seeds of hope and inspire joy. Chalcedony roses, like many other strange products of nature, are believed to have an inherently magickal quality. This probably comes from their otherness, a quality that makes them exceptional alongside chalcedonies of similar composition. They can be used to boost the potency of your spells and rituals. I’ve found mine to provide restful sleep and facilitate meditation. These stones are described as highlighting a person’s natural talents and promoting success in all endeavors.⁵⁷

As a stone of the Divine Feminine, chalcedony rose represents the capricious beauty of the Maiden. Chalcedony rose also represents the Earth Mother archetype. Like desert roses and some varieties of prase (green quartz)—stones that bear a passing resemblance to plants—these mineral formations have an elemental energy closely connected to the natural world. They can be used for contacting the intelligences of nature as well as for gridding sacred spaces.

A rosette of chalcedony, the reverse of which is coated in tiny quartz crystals

Moroccan Chalcedony

Magickal uses: grounding, centering, connecting to nature, fairy magick, fertility, creativity, protection

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Mercury; Taurus, Virgo

Goddess archetype: Earth Mother

Formation process: igneous

Recently, handsome nodules of chalcedony in warm shades of cream, brown, and russet have reached the market. They are botryoidal—rounded and even globe-shaped—and translucent and may show banding when broken open or polished. They are sometimes sold as chalcedony tears, elemental chalcedony and womb stones, implying their connection to the natural world and the Divine Feminine. When I first saw these mineral formations at a local store I was totally enchanted with them. They were inexpensive, and each piece had so much character; I couldn’t help but find them charming. These chalcedony nodules might be easily overlooked, as they won’t win any beauty contests compared to their more colorful kin. Yet despite its bland color scheme, Moroccan chalcedony has a charm all its own. Though this variety of chalcedony is found exclusively in Morocco, there are some instances of similar formations in the Gobi Desert and in the United States.

The Goddess connection exhibited by these formations is obvious. All are round, with the majority appearing roughly spherical. I’ve found a handful with spiral whorls of growth, and occasionally a cluster of botryoids will vaguely resemble the Venus figures of the Stone Age. Their colors further evince their connection to the Earth Mother, as the range of browns is reminiscent of rich, fertile soil from which springs new life. Holding Moroccan chalcedony is deeply nurturing and can help you ground effortlessly. Their round morphology is at once centering and protective; it feels as though these stones help to call in and collect scattered energies, restoring you to a state of focus and harmony. These stones nourish the aura with the Earth’s vital energy, strengthening it and building its resiliency. Moroccan chalcedony can also be a remedy for exhaustion, and it soothes a sore throat.

Chalcedony nodules with reddish brown hues are ideal tools for opening the energy centers at the back of the knees, which Katrina Raphaell calls “the eyes in the knees.”⁵⁸ When placed in the soft area on the back of each knee, Moroccan chalcedony can be expected to help you move forward in beneficial directions, provide protection, and help you step into your life’s purpose. Raphaell writes, “The earthy brown red of the Eyes in the Knees can be found in many places in nature. It is the color often seen in tree bark, in eucalyptus sap, in the mineral kingdom, and in soil rich in iron, turning it to red dirt, such as you find in the Hawaiian Islands. This color represents walking uplifted in the world and moving in alignment with your soul’s purpose with confidence and clarity.”⁵⁹ The effects of working with Moroccan chalcedony on the “eyes in the knees” energy centers are much like being guided by the Earth Mother herself. In a way, they help you see through the Earth Mother’s eyes, thereby offering attunement to the natural world and its cycles, helping you navigate your place within it.

Botryoidal formations of Moroccan chalcedony

Like all chalcedonies, Moroccan brown chalcedony is calming, protective, and helpful for purification. It can be worn for good fortune and a push in a favorable direction. It offers this gift by helping you stay attuned to the rhythm of life, as though you are dancing to the heartbeat of Gaia. It helps with growing new projects, spreading inspiration and motivation like fertilizer, and staying grounded and centered for the appropriate follow-through.

In magickal workings, Moroccan chalcedony can be placed on your altar to represent the Goddess or worn for additional focus during ritual. It can be made into an elixir and sprayed or drunk to connect to nature spirits such as fairies and devas. These stones enjoy being outdoors; they can be cleansed and refreshed by being left in a conspicuous place in the garden (just be sure to remember where they are!) or nestled among the stalks of a plant in a container. They have a joyful, playful energy that is sure to enrich your magick.

Pink Chalcedony

Magickal uses: innocence, beauty, love, peace

Elemental signature: water, fire

Astrological signature: Venus; Libra

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Goddess of Love

Formation process: igneous or sedimentary

Pink chalcedony derives its color from traces of manganese and from an optical phenomenon called the Tyndall effect, wherein light is scattered by the structure of the chalcedony. It usually occurs as masses, sometimes botryoidal (globular), and is found in Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and several locations throughout the United States.

There is little ancient lore regarding pink chalcedony, as it was probably treated no differently than other colors. However, crystal therapist Michael Gienger notes that the manganese from which it derives its color did indeed have lore of its own. Gienger tells us that manganese represents sustaining warmth and liveliness.⁶⁰ Both Western and Chinese traditions suggest using pink chalcedony to support breastfeeding—a trait granted to chalcedony thanks to its connection with the Great Goddess.

Pink chalcedony is used to attract love.

Pink chalcedony instills a sense of innocence and enables us to see the world with childlike wonder. In light of this, I associate this gemstone with the archetype of the Maiden. This pink stone engenders a lighthearted attitude that is helpful for lifting your spirits in the face of challenges. It feeds the child within and opens the heart to the promise of each new day. Pink chalcedony is best empowered at sunrise; meditate with it or consecrate it as the new day dawns so that it will bring appreciation, luck, and joy.

Use pink chalcedony in spells for beauty and confidence—it strengthens self-esteem and helps you become more attentive to your appearance.⁶¹ Like other pink gemstones, this chalcedony is associated with the planet Venus and can therefore be used in ceremony to connect with Aphrodite, Venus, or other goddesses of love and romance.

Turkish Chrome Chalcedony

Magickal uses: love, healing, growth, prosperity, fairy magick

Elemental signature: earth, fire

Astrological signature: Venus; Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Great Mothe

Formation process: igneous

Chrome-bearing green chalcedony is found in Australia, the Balkan Peninsula, Bolivia, Russia, Turkey, and Zimbabwe (where it is known as mtorolite). In recent years a new deposit of delightful nodules of chrome chalcedony has been discovered in Bursa, Turkey. The rich green hues of this variety are derived from chromium oxide, and the nodules occasionally exhibit tiny black flecks of the mineral chromite. This new variety of Turkish chrome chalcedony stands out from other finds of this same material because they are coated in a dazzling druze of clear quartz. The properties discussed below refer specifically to the recent discovery of the druze-covered nodules from Turkey.

Generally, chrome chalcedonies from any location have a carefree, whimsical energy. They are said to bestow a lighthearted disposition even in the midst of stress or worry.⁶² Chromium minerals tend to have an enlivening, expansive effect on the heart chakra; they can help redirect our awareness to the heart. In particular, Turkish chrome chalcedony refines these properties; the quartz overgrowth has an amplifying effect that also coheres the energy.

Sparkling nodules of chrome chalcedony from Turkey

The rich, verdant hues in Turkish chrome chalcedony remind me of a lush spring garden. The energy of this stone speaks to me of fresh growth and the budding promise of new life. It conveys a current of renewal, as if these chalcedony nodules are wellsprings of healing energy. Their currents move in a helical fashion, like a spiral or vortex of the Goddess’s healing light. This fount of energy can be used for repairing the aura, especially the etheric body (the layer closest to the physical body), as well as for nourishing physical tissues as they recover from injury.

Turkish chrome chalcedony invites a loving, healing presence anywhere it is placed. It can be used for increasing the love in your life, as well as for finding a greater love for the world around you. It promotes prosperity by reminding you of the ever-abundant flow of Goddess energy through the natural world.

Because of their country of origin, these green chalcedony nodules immediately bring the Great Goddess to mind. Turkey is home to many great archaeological sites that have revealed ancient goddess-worshipping cultures. Meditating with these stones forges a direct link to the heart of our planet, and therefore to the Great Mother. My favorite way to use them is to sit outdoors with the stone in my hands in direct sunlight; allow your eyes to unfocus slightly as you gaze softly at the stone. Turning it slowly in the light allows each tiny facet on the surface to twinkle—an effect that draws you into a trancelike state that can be used to commune with the Great Mother herself.

In magick, use Turkish chrome chalcedony for the energy of increase. It can be used to increase health, wealth, and luck. Use it in workings designed to lift the spirits and bring forth lighthearted laughter. These nodules of chalcedony also enhance your connection to the natural world. As a healing stone, chrome chalcedony can be used to treat inflammation, pain, and arthritis. It can also be used for inspiration and balance.

CHRYSOCOLLA

Magickal uses: inspiration, wisdom, love, expression, memory, calming, emotional balance, luck, wealth

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Venus; Virgo

Goddess archetypes: the Muse, Goddess of Love, Great Mother, Queen of Heaven, Earth Mother

Formation process: sedimentary

Chrysocolla is a hydrous silicate of copper. It typically occurs in association with other copper minerals as well as with quartz, which yields a variable hardness. Chrysocolla is usually found in shades of blue, green, and turquoise, but colorful inclusions of other minerals are found frequently. Common in the American Southwest, this gemstone is also mined in Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel, Mexico, Russia, and Zaire. It usually occurs as masses, stalactites, and botryoidal crystal forms. The most resplendent forms of chrysocolla occur with quartz druze, and such combinations are sometimes referred to as “gem silica.” Curiously, the name chrysocolla is taken from the Greek words chryso and kolla, meaning “gold cement.” This term once denoted a mineral that was used as a solder for gold, though whether that mineral is today’s chrysocolla has never been definitively proven.

Like other members of the copper family, chrysocolla has a strong link to the Divine Feminine. The energy of this gemstone links the earthly and the celestial realms. Its hues of green and blue depict this union and thus make this gem sacred to the archetypes of the Great Mother, the Queen of Heaven, and the Earth Mother. It has an ancient, wise presence, not unlike these aspects of the Great Goddess. Chrysocolla is an apt stone for awakening the Goddess within, whether in people (of any gender) or in the earth itself. It draws together the currents of celestial and telluric energy to awaken the sleeping Goddess in the land; this makes it an excellent ally in healing the planet.

Astrologically, the copper in chrysocolla aligns it with the planet Venus, and by extension, with the energies of the Goddess of Love in her many guises. It can be used in workings for love, beauty, and romance, as well as for all of the other themes that astrologically are the domain of the planet Venus. Chrysocolla invites us to love more deeply and with greater presence (and fewer distractions), so that we can give ourselves over to ecstatic union, whether that be union with the Goddess in meditation, or union with a romantic partner in the throes of erotic passion. The composition of chrysocolla contains water, which points to the watery birth of Aphrodite, whose name means “foam born.”

Many writers and teachers associate chrysocolla with music and self-expression. It was once used talismanically by musicians,⁶³ and modern therapists use this gemstone for healing conditions associated with the throat chakra, including issues with communication and self-expression, as well as for treating diseases of the throat, larynx, and lungs. When viewed within the context of the Divine Feminine, this association with communication and flow leads us to experience the Muse archetype through this gemstone. To the Greeks, the muses were primordial goddesses who provided inspiration for the arts, sciences, and literature. They were the source of all artistic expression, and chrysocolla represents their gifts in crystalline form.

Druzy chrysocolla from the American Southwest and polished specimens from Africa

Working with chrysocolla fosters grace, beauty, and creativity. It can help you channel your whole heart into your creative work, whether it is writing, cooking, painting, sculpting, dancing, music-making, or any other creative pursuit. Chrysocolla, especially for its musical association, helps you harness the power of sacred sound for self-expression. While this might overtly apply to singing or playing an instrument, this gem offers inspiration to anyone, as we each have our own voice. Chrysocolla is a stone of communication-as-communion; however you choose to express yourself, it will enable you to reach your audience with authenticity and intimacy.

Since chrysocolla is the stone of the muses, and the titaness Mnemosyne is their mother, chrysocolla can petition Mnemosyne’s aid. Both Mnemosyne and chrysocolla have rulership over language and speech; carrying or wearing this stone may provide inspiration in your communication from Mnemosyne herself. Wearing or holding the stone while studying can also boost memory and recall, another gift of Mnemosyne from whose name the word mnemonic is derived.

The watery energy of chrysocolla provides fluidity, adaptability, and grace, while the copper in this stone helps you create and communicate with love in your heart. Ultimately, this gemstone fuels your spiritual development through creative endeavors, no matter how great or small. It can inspire you to sing, dance, write poetry, or create visual art to express your relationship with the Divine. Originally, all arts were sacred and reserved for the gods; today we can use chrysocolla to help reclaim this relationship by inspiring us to dedicate our creations to the gods.

Chrysocolla’s etymology may have precipitated a curious belief about this gem in medieval lapidaries. Several sources report that chrysocolla exhibits magnetic properties—specifically, that gold was mysteriously magnetized by this bright blue gem.⁶⁴ Though this may be a vestigial memory of its use as solder, the relationship between gold and chrysocolla points to a connection to the muses and the arts they inspire. In some myths, Apollo, the Greek Sun God, is named leader of the muses. Since gold is traditionally aligned with the sun, chrysocolla’s affinity for this metal hints at the relationship between Apollo and the muses.

This mineral’s soft, serene shades of blue and green are a balm to the heart and soul; coupled with chrysocolla’s copper content, this makes for a wonderful stone of emotional healing and balance. Holding a piece of this stone in meditation can bring deep peace and spark inspiration. It is also recommended for healing after abuse, rape, or other traumas, as well as for recovery after hysterectomy.⁶⁵ It alleviates guilt, assuages fear, and eases tension. Since it is also a stone of communication, chrysocolla is a helpful tool for strained relationships, as it will restore balance and help you initiate a healthy discussion.

In magickal pursuits, chrysocolla is a potent talisman for emotional well-being and the pursuit of the arts. It can be added to spells and rituals for luck, love, and romance thanks to its Venusian energy. Chrysocolla is a stone of inner beauty and refinement, so it can also be used in glamourie to help the magician change his or her appearance via magickal means. Nevertheless, this gemstone is a tool of discernment, so it can be used to drive off illusion,⁶⁶ such as another person’s glamourie or deceptive speech.

Although chrysocolla will not literally attract gold as if by magnetism, it has been employed for attracting wealth and prosperity through the ages. In particular, in Near Eastern and Asian cultures chrysocolla is thought to increase material wealth and business acumen.⁶⁷ For artists and other creative people this gemstone can be used to ensure a steady stream of income from creative pursuits, in addition to keeping the well of inspiration from running dry.

COPPER

Magickal uses: love, healing, wealth, connection, luck, attraction

Elemental signature: water, earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Sun (rarely); Taurus, Libra, Virgo, Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Love, Earth Mother, Sacred Harlot, Queen of Heaven, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous (native copper), sedimentary (copper ores , or metamorphic (copper pseudomorphs)

Copper is a metal peppered throughout the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, one renowned for its ductile, malleable, and conductive nature. In its native state, copper is a reddish gold color and crystallizes in the cubic crystal system. It can be found in crystals, plantlike dendrites, and natural formations of wires and veins; it is also widely available in deposits of ore minerals. Copper’s name is taken from Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean that was once the ancient world’s chief supplier of this semiprecious metal. (Cyprus is known as Kúpros in Greek; this gradually altered to the Latin cuprum and became “copper” in English.) Copper minerals are found worldwide today, and nearly all crystallize in brilliant colors.

Copper is an important element in all of nature. It is highly conductive of heat and electricity (second only to silver) and has long been implemented in magickal, medicinal, and mundane applications. While we humans (and most other vertebrates) rely on iron-bearing hemoglobin for carrying oxygen in the blood, mollusks and arthropods use a copper-carrying protein called hemocyanin instead.

Copper is a metal steeped in magick and myth, with longstanding connections to the Goddess. It is most famously attributed to the planet Venus; in fact, the symbol for Venus (♀) is also used as shorthand for this planet’s metal, copper. Though this glyph originally represented the Goddess’s necklace, it was suggested in the nineteenth century that it might be derived from the shape of her hand mirror, which surely would have been made of polished copper. As the planetary metal of Venus, copper has been used for workings related to the archetype of the Goddess of Love. Aphrodite, the Greek counterpart of the Roman Venus, was often referred to as the “Cyprian Goddess,” for in antiquity her worship was relayed to Greece via this island.

Copper plays an important role in the biochemistry of women. The amount of trace copper in blood serum is nominally higher in women than in men, and the percentage of copper in women increases during the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy.⁶⁸ This phenomenon forges a bond between copper and the feminine mysteries of moon blood and birth. Copper jewelry can help any person invoke the wisdom of the Great Mother, who is the keeper of these mysteries.

Traditionally, copper is related to the element of water. Its ductility, conductivity, and malleability give copper a sense of fluidity. Studies of aquatic invertebrates show that copper gives many organisms the ability to extract dissolved oxygen from water, in the same way that our blood employs iron-bearing hemoglobin. Copper salts virtually always crystallize in oceanic colors—shades of green and blue. Thanks to this watery connection, copper can be used to signify the element of water in ritual and spellcraft. In healing, it offers movement to stuck or trapped emotions, initiating movement and flux to the emotional body. Copper minerals of all varieties are therefore excellent emotional balancers. Wilhelm Pelikan, a chemist and student of Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy, muses on the connection between hemocyanin, Venus, and Cyprus in his book The Secrets of Metals: “The medieval painter [Botticelli, who painted The Birth of Venus], representing the Cyprian goddess being carried to land upon a conch shell, did not know, of course, that the conch is a [mollusk] that breathes with copper, but nevertheless he painted wholly in the spirit of the ancient conception. Where the copper goddess lands is just where copper, out of the etheric cosmic streams, has so strongly condensed as an earthly ore.”⁶⁹

Copper symbolizes the foam-born goddess Aphrodite/Venus.

In addition to Aphrodite/Venus, copper has been sacred to other goddesses throughout history. In Mesopotamia, copper was the holy metal of Ishtar/Astarte, who fulfills the role of Queen of Heaven.⁷⁰ It is probable that the earlier Sumerians also held copper sacred to their goddess Inanna, a figure correlated with both Ishtar and Astarte. Even today, copper can be used as an offering to these goddesses; though any form of copper can be used for this purpose, copper coins (such as pennies minted before 1982 in the United States) make a perfect votive offering.

Copper is also sacred to the orisha Oyá, the Yoruba goddess of storms, wind, change, and transformation. She rules over the gates of the cemetery and oversees the marketplace; each is considered a liminal space where transformation and transition abound. Oyá’s initiates wear nine copper bangles in her honor, and offerings to her sometimes include nine copper pennies, nine being a number sacred to her. Oyá characterizes the traits of the Fierce Goddess and the Queen of Heaven; as the receiver of the souls of the dead she is also related to the archetype of the Dark Goddess. Copper can thus be used for connecting to these archetypal forces.

The alchemists of yore bestowed on copper one of its most unusual monikers: meretrix metallorum, meaning “the harlot of metals.”⁷¹ This epithet suggests how readily copper combines with other elements. For this reason, my friend and colleague Barbara Evans, a transformational healing artist and spiritual thought leader, calls copper “the eternal synergist.” This metal offers itself in union with substances in a chemical sense, and it links energies just as readily in a spiritual sense. Like the guise of the Sacred Harlot, copper refuses no lover; she gives herself over to the alchemical union of metal and nonmetal, wherein she is transformed. Through this union, copper and its mates become something greater—something more colorful, resplendent, and energetic. Copper can therefore promote our own sensuality and versatility; use it to draw out not only love but erotic passion as well. It is empowering to the inner essence of the Divine Feminine to own your sexuality, and this can boost your self-esteem and self-confidence.

In ancient Babylon as well as among native peoples of the Pacific Northwest today, copper has been associated with the sun.⁷² The reddish golden hue of this metal is admittedly a fiery color, which gives rise to the connection to the star at the center of our solar system. Copper can therefore be used to invoke the Solar Goddess. Notably, it may be from this solar imagery that copper derives its luck-drawing properties. To this day finding a penny is considered lucky, even though nowadays these coins are only coated in a thin layer of copper.

Copper wands are popular tools among witches and healers alike. Copper’s natural predisposition for conducting energy is evidenced in its relationship with heat and electricity. It is comparably conductive of subtle energies, such as those harnessed in magick or healing rites. Copper heightens the ability to conduct energy toward your magickal goal. Copper wands are wonderful tools for circle-casting, empowering spell ingredients, and for performing healing ceremonies. Copper helps in channeling energies, which is an inherently receptive task. This receptivity is reflected in the femininity of copper and in its inherent relationship to the Goddess.

Therapeutically, copper supports the circulatory system, reduces inflammation, and draws out pain. It is adept at resolving sexual imbalances and supporting the overall health of the female reproductive system. Its cubic crystal structure is balancing, grounding, and tonifying to the physical body. This metal also combats exhaustion and emotional turmoil.

In ritual, copper is a versatile tool. It can be added to the ingredients of charm bags, candle dressings, spiritual baths, and virtually any other magickal application. Use copper in spells for healing, love and romance, luck, protection, and power. Copper filings or coins are ideal spell ingredients; not only do they lend Venusian energies, they synergize and harmonize all of the other ingredients in your working, as well.

Copper coins placed in the kitchen are thought to attract money to the household.⁷³ Coins can also be used as offerings to deities or spirits as tokens of gratitude, as well as for attracting your desired outcome. Wear or meditate with copper to heighten your receptivity to the spirit world and for channeling messages with greater ease.

Copper placed in or around the tub can enhance rituals for love, beauty, and passion. Gazing into a polished piece of copper helps you find and cultivate your inner beauty. Finding reasons to love and admire yourself makes you more attractive to others; in this way, copper subtly helps you draw more love and romance into your life. As well, the loving energy of copper eases tension and helps to prevent confrontations and arguments in favor of fostering tranquility and love.

CORAL

Magickal uses: protection, healing, energy, wisdom, growth, psychic development

Elemental signature: water, spirit (varies by type)

Astrological signature: Neptune, Moon, Saturn; Pisces (varies by type)

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Goddess of Love, Ocean Mother, Lunar Goddess, Fierce Goddess, Underworld Goddess (varies by type)

Formation process: organic (sedimentary)

Though organic in origin, coral has been considered a sacred gem for thousands of years. It is comprised of the calcite- and aragonite-rich exoskeletons of tiny marine organisms. The most prized corals of the ancient world were the pink and red varieties, which today have suffered from overharvesting and polluted waters, resulting in greatly diminished populations of such corals. The decision to use coral is a personal one, as harvesting new coral requires the death of these organisms. As an alternative, practitioners can select only those found along the seashore or seek out vintage or antique coral jewelry. In addition to the general properties of coral, separate entries for red and white coral follow. Coral is found everywhere there are oceans, but in decreasing supply, except, perhaps, for those pieces that have washed ashore.

An assortment of coral: red, white, and agatized

Generally, all coral is sacred to the Ocean Mother archetype. Coral is connected to the lore of Yemayá and other oceanic goddesses, and can be worn to attract the blessings of the Ocean Mother. Virtually all varieties of coral are considered protective, especially of children, as this gem is also connected to the Great Mother. Coral amulets have been worn by children and fastened to cradles since at least the days of ancient Rome. Coral is used almost universally among seafaring cultures for protection at sea and for preventing rough seas, storms, and drowning, as well as for chasing away the unknown creatures lurking in the ocean’s depths.

From its plantlike branching forms, coral is often associated with growth, vitality, and fertility. Corals are worn to ensure human fertility, and some traditions have even used powdered coral in the fields to ensure an abundant harvest. As a once-living organism, coral is imbued with a strong life force. It can be invigorating, stabilizing, and protective, as it shares its vital energy with us.

Coral is a magickally potent material, and as a talisman it confers reason, courage, prudence, wisdom, and health. Coral is a powerful amulet that drives away all manner of evil, from the envy of other people to demons, monsters, and harmful magick. It has a longstanding tradition of countering fear, melancholy, anger, and panic. There is a widespread belief that coral’s magickal efficacy is diminished or lost altogether when it is cut or broken; other lore recommends cutting and polishing the stone so that it can be worn as jewelry.

As a stone of the Divine Feminine, coral is predominantly related to the archetypal forces of the Ocean Mother in whose waters it grows, and to the Lunar Goddess, who drives the tides that bring coral to the seashore. Additional lore associates this organic gem with the Goddess of Love, the Fierce Goddess, and the Underworld Goddess. Red coral factors into several goddess-centered myths, as explored below.

Red Coral

Magickal uses: protection, healing, energy, wisdom, ambition

Elemental signature: water, fire, spirit

Astrological signature: Mars, Venus, Neptune, Sun; Aries, Libra, Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Ocean Mother, Fierce Goddess, Goddess of Love, Underworld Goddess

Formation process: organic (sedimentary)

Red and pink coral, sometimes referred to as “precious coral,” belong to Corallium rubrum and several other species of the Corallium genus. Red coral was arguably the most coveted in the ancient world and thus it has accrued the greatest amount of lore, especially as pertains to the Divine Feminine.

Red coral figures prominently in the mythos and magick of ancient Greece. It was claimed to be the gift of Athena (later, the Roman goddess Minerva), and its origin is attributed to the gorgon Medusa. After Perseus defeated Medusa, he placed her severed head by the water’s edge as he cleaned himself after battle. The blood from the gorgon’s head mixed with the seaweed, carrying her petrifying power along with it. The plants were turned to stone and stained red with her blood; sea nymphs carried the newly created coral to the ocean floor, where it took root and flourished. The ancient Greek word for coral is gorgoneia; this myth lives on, as some varieties of coral, chiefly sea fans and sea whips, are still known as “gorgonians” today.

Medusa herself was a pre-Olympian figure; her name translates as “queen.”⁷⁴ She was not always a monstrous villain with a stony gaze; rather, she may be connected to an early goddess who mated with the sea god Poseidon. After being slain by Perseus, Medusa’s head was placed on the shield of Athena. Representations of her head, called gorgoneion, were used for apotropaic functions throughout the classical world. These same protective attributes are also ascribed to red coral, suggesting their shared origin. We can therefore infer that the connection between coral, Athena, and Medusa explains the belief that red coral sharpens ambition, yields success, and conquers enemies. Mars is the common planetary ruler of red coral in both the ayurvedic and the classical traditions. Mars, the planet of war, invokes the face of the goddess of the battlefield; thus red coral is allied with the archetype of the Fierce Goddess. These correspondences are illustrated in the classical use of red coral in battle, both to defeat enemies and prevent mortal wounds. This carried over into the medicinal use of this gem for treating open wounds, preventing infection, and stanching the flow of blood.

Red coral is connected to blood in more ways than outlined above. Among ancients, the most holy of blood is moon blood, or menstrual blood. This stone has long been connected to the mysteries of menstruation, fertility, sex, and conception of new life. Minerologist and Neopagan writer Barbara Walker sums this up, saying, “Coral was the oceanic Tree of Life. Its red color was associated with the life-giving uterine blood supposedly bestowed by the Goddess upon all women. To this day, the archaic connections between coral and the blood bonds of the maternal clan and feminine fertility still lead some Italian peasant women to believe that their coral jewelry will change color in rhythmic harmony with their menstrual cycle.”⁷⁵ Thus we see that red coral is sacred to motherhood and is an emblem of the Great Mother. The seas are often seen as the primordial womb, from which all life arose, and any precious gem born of them, such as pearl and coral, has been symbolic of the Mother Goddess in her many guises.

Red coral is sacred to the Ocean Mother archetype.

Because it is so sacred to the Mother Goddess, red coral is a popular amulet for children. It prevents harm and has traditionally been affixed to cradles and placed in rattles for the safety and health of children. Beads of red coral continue to be worn by teething children in the Mediterranean countries, much the way amber is used in other parts of the world. Red coral is also believed to prevent childhood afflictions, including whooping cough, fever, convulsions, and other ailments.

The otherworldly connotations of the ocean may also account for the curious link between coral and Hekate, goddess of the crossroads. The ocean is a liminal space, regarded with awe and terror by early cultures around the world. In antiquity, the oceanic realm was sometimes regarded as the dwelling place of the souls of the dead as well as the void out of which the world was created. Talismans of red coral were often engraved with images of Hekate or her animal messengers; these magickal gems were used for protection against poisoning, lightning, witchcraft, and spirits.⁷⁶ Red coral can be used by modern practitioners to similar ends, as its liminal symbolism aligns this gem with the archetype of the Goddess of the Underworld.

Red coral is also sacred in Christian tradition. Though there is very little mention of this stone in the Bible, a fourteenth-century Dominican text called the Rosarius equates this gem with Mary. The familiar treelike symbol of coral reappears here, where it represents Mary as the “tree of life” that bore Jesus.⁷⁷

Red and pink shades of Corallium species are sacred to the planet Venus and are held in high regard by Aphrodite. These gems are popular love-drawing talismans, being most effective when worn by women who wish to draw the affection and desire of men. Coral has also been used to fashion talismans that invoke the planet Venus, as well as to foster a warm and caring disposition, emotional openness, and appreciation for beauty in all its forms. These corals were once popular talismans for dancers, although they bring inspiration to all types of artists and performers.

Red coral can be used in magick and ritual for drawing love, increasing libido, and creating beauty within and without. In the home it inspires peace and confers safety. Wiccan and magician Scott Cunningham outlines a brief ritual to bless the home, in which a piece of coral is touched to every door, window, and wall of your home and subsequently placed in a prominent location.⁷⁸ Such an act brings luck and averts household accidents. As an amulet, red coral is highly regarded for protection, as it works against illness, misfortune, injury, storms, negative magick, and evil spirits.

White Coral

Magickal uses: protection, healing, psychic development, forgiveness

Elemental signature: water, spirit

Astrological signature: Moon, Neptune; Cancer, Pisces, Virgo

Goddess archetypes: Ocean Mother, Lunar Goddess

Formation process: organic (sedimentary)

White coral collected from the beach

White coral is by far the commonest variety and is found on beaches worldwide. Many species of coral produce white exoskeletons that are bleached to a crisp white by the action of the sun, sea, and sand. These corals are the most environmentally friendly to use, especially when hand-collected by practitioners at the shore.

White coral has a motherly energy that is ideal for protecting children and helping maintain a sense of innocence among children and adults alike. Like other forms of coral, white coral is employed in strengthening and healing the physical body; it is especially helpful for regenerating bones, teeth, and tissues of the brain and sensory organs. Energy healer Diane Stein recommends white coral for helping children adapt to being incarnated in a physical body.⁷⁹ The motherly nature of this organic gemstone supports the spiritual development of children, protecting them from the social programming that closes down their intuitive faculties and sensitivity to the unseen world.

In gemstone therapy, white coral can be used to maintain your physical and mental reserves of vital energy. It protects and purifies this inner energy and in this way is especially effective for children. White coral is also helpful for releasing judgments, frustrations, and the feeling of being held back. This gem helps us learn to forgive and surrender, allowing feelings to come and go like the changing tides of the ocean. Through this process it fosters realization of your self-worth and bolsters confidence.

From its maritime provenance and white color, this variety of coral is associated with the Lunar Goddess. In the alchemical lore of the medieval period, white coral was regarded as the “tree of the moon.”⁸⁰ This may account for its association with psychic development, as in astrology the moon rules intuition. Coral is carried to the seashore by the ebb and flow of the ocean’s tides, themselves a result of the moon’s tugging at the seas. Thus white coral is gifted to humankind by the combined efforts of the Ocean Mother and the Lunar Goddess. Use it to adorn your altar or wear it to invoke their blessings.

In magick, white coral is used for purification, protection, and healing. It can help you attune to the tides and rhythms of life. White coral imparts a healthy amount of detachment and surrender, thus this marine gem improves the efficacy of your workings by leading you to a state of surrender. By detaching from outcomes, you allow magick to follow the best course, one that is often greater than you could imagine yourself.

CREEDITE

Magickal uses: wisdom, learning, creativity, male and female balance, expansion, evolution, enlightenment

Elemental signature: fire, spirit

Astrological signature: Sun; Leo, Virgo

Goddess archetypes: Solar Goddess, the Muse

Formation process: metamorphic

A creedite cluster from Mexico

At first glance the crystal structure of creedite does not appear overtly feminine. The orangey gold color and spiny appearance have a masculine, almost solar signature. However, when I initially began work on this book I kept coming back to this stone. Creedite helps us in a way that outright is neither feminine nor masculine, but through its support there is great healing offered through the Goddess’s archetypes. This stone is predominantly found in Mexico and the United States, and other occurrences are found in China, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.

When you work with creedite its primary effect is on the sacral chakra, the sexual and creative center of the energetic anatomy. Especially in women this center is often viewed as predominantly receptive; it is the sacred vessel for receiving creative energy. Creedite, however, has an expansive energy. My dear friend and fellow crystal lover Sharron Britton describes creedite’s work thusly: it enters the sacral chakra and expands the chakra’s energy outward. As it reaches critical mass, that energy begins to rise upward until the creedite guides that energy through the crown. She says that this upward and outward energy is neither feminine nor masculine, though many might assume such an outward, projective energy relates to the Divine Masculine. Instead, this is the energy of divine unification; it helps us seek enlightenment through our physical embodiment, as in the act of conscious sex.

In this way, creedite helps us honor and heal the forgotten aspects of the Goddess that are found within each one of us. It harmonizes the Divine Masculine within the Divine Feminine and vice versa. After thousands of years of oppression of the Divine Feminine, creedite has emerged as a healing tool to help reconcile what might otherwise feel like opposing forces. Feminine and masculine cannot be reduced to yin and yang; they aren’t opposites. Instead, they are creative energies that are in an endless dance with each other to open our hearts and minds to healing, expansion, and transformation. Creedite helps us honor this expansive, masculine current within the Goddess energy, and it does so without needing to enter her guise as the fierce warrior or destroyer.

Many crystal healers prescribe creedite for revealing and comprehending the wisdom of the ancients. In particular it is recommended for integrating the knowledge of sacred texts⁸¹ and for reaching into the current of wisdom of your ancestral line. Creedite can be especially helpful in understanding information about the roles that goddesses have played throughout time.

In magick, try using creedite when you are having difficulty connecting with a specific deity or pantheon. It can help you integrate whatever energy or idea may be missing or blocking you from forming a meaningful relationship with the Divine. Creedite has a predominantly expansive energy, which means that it can be used for raising consciousness, enhancing intuitive skills, and achieving ecstatic union with the God and Goddess. The orange, porcupinelike creedite formations from Mexico have a more solar energy than those found elsewhere. Since they balance the masculine and feminine polarities, these orange creedite clusters can help you integrate the feminine archetypes of the sun.

CUPRITE

Magickal uses: receptive power, shadow, introspection, banishing, creativity

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus; Taurus, Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Love Goddess, Mistress of Magick

Formation process: sedimentary

Also known as ruby copper and red copper ore, cuprite is a copper oxide mineral that belongs to the cubic crystal system. Its color ranges from a deep crimson to a nearly reddish black, sometimes appearing metallic. It often crystallizes as cubes, octahedra, and related forms, and there is a fibrous variety known as chalcotrichite, which resembles brilliant red hair. Cuprite is found in oxidation zones of copper mines worldwide, frequently in association with other copper minerals such as azurite, malachite, chrysocolla, tenorite, and native copper.

Cuprite’s energy is deeply grounding and nourishing. It expresses the Divine Feminine through its receptive energy and is an excellent ally in partnering with the Earth Mother aspect of the Great Goddess. This stone clears away any latent resistance to receiving and helps us become the symbolic chalice, or grail, the receptacle in which the elixir of life is made. Crystal healer and teacher Naisha Ahsian says cuprite

is the embodiment of Yin energy in the mineral kingdom. It teaches us about the power of the receptive. Receptive power is not a power that comes from force, action, or creating. It is the power of potential. It is the power of the void. It is, in many ways, the power of the shadow. The shadow is not evil. It is simply the unseen, as yet unrevealed or unmanifested, subconscious, raw aspect of self and psyche that we fear and avoid because of its potential, because of what it may bring or what it may be when it becomes manifest into form or experience.⁸²

It is through this process of receding into the shadow that cuprite invites deep healing. Cuprite helps us leverage the potential stored in liminal spaces, whether in the subconscious or in the world around us.

Sparkling metallic crystals of cuprite from Sonora, Mexico

Witches, healers, and shamans are those who enter the liminal realms on behalf of both humanity and spirit, and cuprite empowers us to make these journeys. Cuprite represents the figure of the alchemist or magician,⁸³ thus relating it to the archetype of the Mistress of Magick. It acts as a conduit between the material plane and the spiritual or inner plane, carrying the essence of magick to its manifestation.

Cuprite also represents female sexuality. Most specimens appear silvery and opaque at first glance, however, this stone reveals its inner warmth when held to the light, when its translucent crimson color shines. Cuprite is an essential tool for ameliorating sexual dysfunction related to a person’s inner and outer sense of femininity. Furthermore, it can empower you to engage as an equal partner in the bedroom, and it lessens anxiety, fear, and low self-esteem, especially when related to sexual activity.

As a stone of magick, use cuprite for grounding, creativity, and introspection. This mineral can also be used in banishing spells to eliminate unwanted influences in your life,⁸⁴ especially former relationships. As a result of its copper content it can naturally be used in spells and rituals for attracting love, emotional balance, and increasing confidence.

DIOPTASE

Magickal uses: healing, love, beauty, abundance, herb magick

Elemental signature: water, earth

Astrological signature: Venus; Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Goddess of Love, Earth Mother

Formation process: sedimentary

Dioptase, sometimes called copper emerald, is a silicate of copper. It is a rich emerald green color in natural light, and its color shifts to bluish green in most artificial light. It is a trigonal mineral that is formed from secondary (i.e., sedimentary) geological processes. An uncommon mineral, dioptase is found mostly in arid regions, and the majority of specimens are found in Arizona, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kazakhstan, and Namibia, though numerous deposits exist in other places around the world.

Very little lore is attributed to dioptase, as it was largely unknown to ancient peoples. There is evidence that it was used in the Neolithic era, as it was found around the eyes of three statues from Mesopotamia. Crystal authority Michael Gienger relates that dioptase “was always considered to be a stone of abundance and riches” and that it “represents a sense of beauty.”⁸⁵ Considering the eye-related imagery ascribed to dioptase’s powers of healing as well as other traditional uses of this stone, you will see a lot of overlap between dioptase and emerald. It may be that ancient peoples used dioptase, though it has gone unrecorded in history since it was misidentified as emerald.

As a stone of the Divine Feminine, dioptase ushers in deep healing via forgiveness. To my friend Sharron Britton, dioptase is one of the preeminent stones of the Goddess because of the forgiving energy it radiates. She explains that forgiveness, in its essence, is an act of surrender. To truly forgive you must surrender your will, your ego, and your pain to a higher power—that of love. In surrendering to the love that surrounds you, you touch the face of the Great Mother. It is her love, her support, her quiet state of receiving that paves the way for us to give away our hurts in order to forgive.

Dioptase in calcite from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dioptase harmonizes us with the natural order, allowing the heart to see the bigger picture. This green gemstone opens us to the wells of deepest mystery wherein we are immersed in the heart of the Mother Goddess. Meditating on dioptase reveals that you are a part of all that is; you are part and parcel of the body of the Goddess as the Earth Mother. This stone offers attunement to her rhythmic dance so that you can stop dwelling on past hurts or future worries. By revealing your inner wellspring of love and forgiveness, dioptase shows you that you are enveloped in the heart and soul of the Goddess.

Dioptase is an essential stone for reintegrating the Divine Feminine in today’s world. As a stone of forgiveness it helps to loosen the hold of the patriarchal way of thinking in order to make space for the Goddess’s reemergence. This gemstone absolves the roles of victim and victimizer, thus ending cycles of pain, suffering, and separation.

In ritual and spellcraft, dioptase offers many of the same qualities as emerald. It can be used for manifesting prosperity, nurturing love, revealing inner beauty, and deepening your vision. It is a Venusian gemstone, closely following many of the properties of copper, one of its chief constituents. Use dioptase to mend a broken heart and to heal and protect children. Through its attunement to the natural world, dioptase can also be used for enhancing the efficacy of herb magick and for promoting the healthy growth of houseplants, though it is generally too delicate to leave out in the garden.

EMERALD

Magickal uses: healing, truth, love, psychic vision, exorcism, protection, fidelity

Elemental signature: water, earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Mercury, Moon, Jupiter, Saturn; Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Mother Goddess, Earth Mother, Love Goddess, Maiden

Formation process: metamorphic or igneous

Emerald has beguiled humankind for thousands of years. It is a green variation of beryl, whose color is due chiefly to chromium, though iron and vanadium may also affect emerald’s color to a lesser degree. The word emerald originates in the Greek smaragdus, meaning “green stone,” a term once used for virtually any green gem. The earliest known emerald mines were in Egypt, and today emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, India, the United States (chiefly in North Carolina, though emeralds are sometimes found in several other states), and several other countries. Of all precious gemstones, emerald is the only one in which large visible inclusions are considered admissible, as stones that appear free of inclusions to the naked eye are rare.

Emerald has long had a celestial connotation. It is said to have originated in paradise, including both the Christian Garden of Eden and the Islamic paradise. Its heavenly connection is also seen in polytheistic cultures, where this green stone was thought to have been a gift of the gods and sacred to the Great Mother. Worldwide, emerald is considered sacred to the Divine Feminine, and it is woven into the myths of many beloved goddesses.

Emerald is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world.

As a green gem, emerald is connected to the natural world and therefore is a stone of the Earth Mother. The visible inclusions in emerald are called jardin, French for “garden.” These imperfections in the stone may be remnants of other minerals and trapped gases and liquids, hence they often superficially resemble plants. For this reason, emerald is sacred to goddesses who embody nature and protect the green world. It was ascribed to Ceres, the grain goddess, as well as to Diana/Artemis, the huntress whose domain is the forest. In some cultures the color of emerald was thought to change with the cycle of the moon and stations of the seasons. It was believed to start as a colorless stone, and its verdant hue was conferred by the sun’s rays, much the way a fruit’s color develops as it ripens.

Emerald was often used to attune to the natural world, and it was believed to confer the blessings of the Earth Mother to whomever bore it. Thus this stone came to be an amulet for pregnant women, ensuring safety during pregnancy and an easy birth. It was sacred to Umiña, the Mother Goddess of the Manta Valley, in Peru. Umiña is said to dwell within a natural emerald the size of an ostrich egg; this gemstone was hidden away from the Spanish conquistadores and has never been discovered. Elsewhere in the Americas, emerald was held sacred by the Aztec goddess Coatlicue, whose name means “she who wears the skirt of snakes.” This Earth Mother goddess is said to have been impregnated by emeralds, resulting in the birth of Quetzalcóatl, the plumed serpent and god of wind, air, and learning.⁸⁶

Among the Egyptians, emerald symbolized springtime and eternal youth.⁸⁷ The Egyptians fashioned talismans from emerald inscribed with an image of the Mother Goddess Isis; it would confer good fortune to whomever carried it. This stone represented chastity to the authors of medieval lapidaries, hence emerald was associated with the archetypal Maiden of the Triple Goddess. Emerald’s virtues are believed to preserve purity and innocence, and it factored into the springtime festivals of the Romans, ostensibly to honor the goddesses of that season.

Like other green gemstones, emerald has been ascribed to the influence of Venus in magickal lore. As it is sacred to Venus/Aphrodite, it can be used to invoke the Goddess of Love for your magickal workings. Emerald was once exchanged between lovers as a sign of their connection, in the hope that the emerald would preserve their fidelity. Scholar and occultist Claude Lecouteux reports that this stone was believed to have “erective virtues,” for it was famously set in the codpiece of the mythical giant Gargantua.⁸⁸ Emerald was thought to be strongest when worn or carried on a Friday, the day named for the Norse goddess Frigg, herself a goddess of love, romance, and marriage. Paracelsus advises that this green gem is at its most powerful when set in Venus’s metal, copper.⁸⁹

Some of the richest symbolism linking emerald to the Divine Feminine is the story of the Holy Grail. This mythic tale has been recorded in several iterations, the most famous being Wolfram von Eschenbach’s medieval romance Parzival. In Eschenbach’s telling, the Grail is carved from a green stone, and it is depicted carried or accompanied by women. The Grail is akin to the chalice or the cauldron, a symbol of the womb of the Great Mother in pagan traditions. The Holy Grail is thus the receptive vessel in which the raw materials of the alchemical work are transmuted into something greater.^*16 Several candidates for the Holy Grail carved from green gems have been sequestered in sacred spaces throughout Europe, though none are proper emeralds. Other grail-like cups, bottles, and vessels made from emeralds are found around the world.

Emerald is one of the most vital stones for rebirthing the consciousness of the Divine Feminine on our planet. In part this is because its storied past exemplifies the devaluation of women in myth and culture. Though once sacred to worshippers of the Goddess around the world, the emerald, in biblical lore, became associated with Lucifer, the so-called fallen angel, for it was an emerald that was said to have adorned his brow. As the story goes, this gemstone fell from his crown when Archangel Michael delivered his final blow to Lucifer, casting both angel and gemstone from heaven. This particular emerald is said to have later come under the stewardship of the Queen of Sheba, who passed it on to King Solomon. At some point it was polished into a cup and delivered to Joseph of Arimathea. This emerald chalice was said to be the very cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper, and it was the cup used to catch his blood at the Crucifixion.

Lucifer’s lost emerald tells a tale woven from many mythic threads. On the one hand, Lucifer literally means “light bearer,” and his symbol is the Morning Star, a poetic name for Venus. In occult lore, the planetary Logos, the spiritual blueprint of Earth, was said to have descended from Venus from its seat in the heavens—its throne on the Morning Star—to arrive on the dense physical plane of planet Earth. That the Logos comes from Venus reminds us that everything on Earth ultimately comes from the Divine Feminine. Thus emerald represents the descent of spirit into matter as well as symbolizing the eventual setbacks to the Divine Feminine, as patriarchal traditions eventually attacked and demonized the Goddess.

Emerald lore is fraught with serpent symbolism. In the Middle East, emeralds were used to ward off venomous snakes, while in the Americas goddesses linked to the emerald are ringed with skirts of snakes and give birth to flying serpents. Lucifer is conflated with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and his temptations are said to have goaded Eve into defying the order not to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In the ancient world, serpents symbolize the Great Goddess, their images representing her powers of self-regeneration and her affinity with the natural world. Even the terrifying visage of the dragon is none other than the Earth Mother’s chthonic guise; these dragons are also her ley lines (or dragon lines), which crisscross her body.

Emerald is the stone for regenerating the Goddess in today’s world. It helps to rebirth the Divine Feminine by acting as the alchemical vessel, the very cauldron in which we can transmute our world. In doing so, we reestablish the sovereignty and divinity of women everywhere and return them to their rightful place as divine creatrixes. Emerald can restore the Great Goddess to her throne, and it can help undo the damage to our collective psyche by healing the rift between male and female.

As a talismanic gemstone, emerald is a potent tool for healing and transformation. It was once believed that no evil can remain where emerald is placed. It casts out evil spirits, breaks enchantments, and reveals deception. Emerald is powerful in workings to counter negative magick of all sorts. Combine this gemstone with rue and hyssop for exorcism and curse-breaking; the three can be steeped together as a potion or wrapped in a charm bag. Medieval lore purports that emeralds will lose their color in the presence of falsehood, and that gazing through this gemstone would help a person see the truth in all things.

Naturally, as a stone of Venus, emerald can be used for all workings for love and romance. It can be added to the bath for sweetness and beauty, and placed on the altar with a green or pink candle it curries the favor of the Goddess of Love. Such workings are most effective on a Friday, the day sacred to Venus (both the goddess and the planet). It can also be carried or worn for fidelity and sincerity in romance.

As a result of its truth-showing gifts, emerald is also a stone of the psychic arts. At one time transparent beryl was the preferred medium for the proverbial crystal ball; emerald, a green beryl, can be similarly used for crystal gazing to reveal future events. Setting it in silver can enhance its ability to part the veil. Emerald is also excellent for sharpening the conscious mind, as it improves the memory and brings clarity.

In Vedic tradition, emerald corresponds to the planet Mercury. Deities associated with Mercury rule over emerald and confer the gift of communication and bestow success in business. Emerald has similarly been used in Western occultism for drawing wealth.

Emerald can be used as an essence or added to anointing oils for ritual purification. The energy of this gemstone can help sweep away stagnant energies from your space, and its regenerative qualities will transmute disharmony into peaceful vibrations. Emerald can also be gridded around your ritual space to ensure continuous renewal of the energy contained therein, as well as for attuning your sanctuary to the tides of the seasons and the energy of the Goddess. It is especially sacred during the sabbats of Ostara (the vernal equinox) and Beltane (May 1).

Emerald is among the holiest of stones in antiquity, and it remains popular today. Use it to facilitate deep communion with the Great Mother and to manifest powerful magick.

FAIRY STONE CONCRETIONS

Magickal uses: grounding, protection, fertility, reclaiming the Goddess, healing, shamanic journeying

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Pluto; Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Pisces

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Crone

Formation process: sedimentary

Fairy stone concretions are glacial concretions of variable composition. The most common are composed predominantly of calcite and are sometimes known as “calcite fairy stones.” These calcite concretions are found in Quebec, Canada. Other fairy stone concretions are called menalite (or menilite), after Ménilmontant, France, where they are found; these stones have a composition rich in opal (amorphous silica). They are usually formed by the process of glaciation, and they can be white, cream, gray, or brown in color. These unusual sedimentary stones are usually rounded, either in spherical or flattened forms. They have been known as “biscuit stones,” “fairy stones,” “mud babies,” “clay dogs,” “abitibi stones,” and “imatra stones” by different cultures.

Fairy stone concretions of all varieties have a striking appearance that has generated the belief that they are supernatural in origin—that they are made by fairies or are the remains of divine activity. These concretions have been carried for protection, placed in the home to prevent mishaps, and presented to lovers to ensure a happy and long-lasting relationship.

At first glance, many fairy stone formations resemble the rounded forms of Paleolithic Venus statues. Their composition and curvy shape endows them with the gifts of grounding and fertility. These stones offer gentle protection and assist in shamanic journeys. Their resemblance to the ancient depictions of the Earth Mother mean that we can use them to connect to all of her children; they attune us to the natural world. Fairy stones also facilitate communication with the devic orders, the consciousness of nature.

The fairy folk are often called the Ancient Ones and the Shining Ones. This race of spiritual beings lives in harmony with the Earth as Mother, and they are sometimes contacted for magickal assistance. Not all fairies are amenable to helping human beings; fairy stones can ensure that only those friendly sprites that have your best interest at heart will join you in ritual and spellcraft. Fairy stone concretions can be carried to prevent the more mischievous and malevolent of the fairies from endangering you, and meditating with one of these stones on the third eye can help you to psychically see the fairy folk.

According to crystal guru Judy Hall, menalite (and thus its sister concretions) holds the energy of female wisdom and the power of the priestess. Judy suggests that these stones can help us reclaim the Divine Feminine: “Menalite reminds you that in ancient times, menstruation was a sacred process. Menstrual blood was offered to the goddess to ensure continued fertility and to stabilize creation. The menstrual hut was sacred, a place of solitude and sisterhood where women dreamt their dreams. Divination and prophecy held sway. That sacredness has been lost, along with respect for the Crone, the female elder of the tribe whose wisdom was honored.”⁹⁰ This stone assists in regaining respect and understanding of the sacred wisdom held in blood. Menalite guards and guides the soul as it incarnates, from conception through pregnancy to birth, and on through the rites of passage that mark the stages of womanhood: Maiden, Mother, and Crone.⁹¹

Fairy stone concretions resemble the primordial Earth Mother, such as the Venus of Willendorf.

Use menalite and fairy stone concretions to honor the Divine Feminine and reclaim her power. As sedimentary formations, these rocks relate to the Crone; many even contain fossils. Fairy stones in all their forms are wise allies with surprisingly strong personalities. Each one contains its own essence, not unlike a familiar spirit of the mineral kingdom, which can be invited to join you in your magickal workings. Keep one on your altar or in a special place in your garden to build a relationship with its essence.

A fairy stone kept in the house will offer protection to all who reside there. These concretions can be placed in a child’s room, especially a girl’s, to guide and nourish her as she grows. Carried or worn, a fairy stone can help alleviate growing pains and ease the transition into adolescence. Fairy stone concretions also offer comfort during the times of female power and transformation: menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Use fairy stone concretions in spells for creativity and fertility. They can be used to empower your herb garden, granting you plants that are more potent magickally and medicinally. Cleansed and charged under the light of the moon, fairy stone concretions will naturally radiate a space of calm and harmony in which the Great Goddess can be invoked. They can be placed at the four quarters during rituals designed to honor the Goddess, or placed on the altar during esbats for the same purpose.

FOSSIL SEA URCHIN

Magickal uses: protection, elemental magick, fairy magick, weather magick

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Venus; Virgo

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Hearth and Home, Mistress of Magick, Queen of Heaven, Stellar Goddess, Crone

Formation process: sedimentary

Fossilized sea urchins are found in sedimentary rock such as limestone and flint. They are often weathered from their parent rock and displaced in fields where they subsequently are found. Fossil urchins are dome-shaped, and they usually exhibit a five-pointed star on their upper surface. They are found in fossil beds worldwide.

As a child I can remember climbing along a thin, rocky section of beach along the Gulf of Mexico, on the western coast of Florida. Always a rock lover, I can recall to this day my surprise at finding a strange stone marked with a perfect star. It was as if I’d found some secret treasure. In my eagerness I began to imagine just how that symbol found its way onto this domed rock. To this day I have a stash of fossil urchins that I collected in childhood.

Much lore has been attributed to these curious stones. They were once thought to be the eggs of serpents or stones born from a mass of serpents. They have been called “thunderstones,” as people of many cultures believed them to be heaven-sent, born from the rumblings of storms. The oldest recorded use of a fossil sea urchin is in a stone tool likely created by Homo heidelbergensis, a species of archaic humans that lived between 200,000 and 600,000 years ago; this specimen is housed today in a museum in Liverpool.⁹² Surely the ancients were no less fascinated with these stones than I was in my youth.

These fossil sea urchins were treasures found in my childhood along the Gulf Coast.

Fossil urchins have been found in graves, stone mounds, and in other archaeological sites throughout the world. Much folklore surrounding fossil urchins has been recorded, especially in England, where they are colloquially known as “shepherd’s crowns” and “fairy loaves.” Considered to be lucky and protective stones, rituals such as spitting on them, throwing them over the shoulder, and placing them on windowsills were still commonplace in rural parts of the England in the early twentieth century.⁹³ In some areas the stones were varnished or blackened and placed on the mantelpiece to protect the home, as they are thought to ward off mischievous fairies and evil spirits. Fossil urchins were also believed to avert lightning and offer protection from witchcraft and the evil eye.⁹⁴

The many folk names for fossil urchins indicate their connection to the supernatural, especially the realm of fairies: “fairy’s nightcap,” “fairy weights,” and “colepexy head” (where pexy is related to pixie and piskey) are a few more of the nicknames this stone has acquired.⁹⁵ These stones usually have a flinty composition, flint being another stone sacred to the Fair Ones. Thus fossil urchins are tools for contacting the forces of nature and the residents of Elphame, the fairy world. In so doing, we can connect with the legendary Queen of Elphame, an aspect of the Mistress of Magick who presides over all the magick of the fey.

As fairy loaves, fossil urchins point to a deeper level of symbolism. These stones may have represented the sabbatic banquet or fairy feast. As such they are reminiscent of a passage in the Bible, in Matthew 4:1–11, where during his travels through the wilderness, Christ encounters the devil, who challenges Jesus to turn stones into bread. Peter Grey interprets this passage in his book Apocalyptic Witchcraft: “We see the Devil and the fairy folk often do likewise, turning stones into bread and coins, as well as providing the Sabat banquet or Fairy feast that we will sample in due course. Christ does not deign to do so.”⁹⁶

The sabbatic feast is spiritual sustenance; it is the cakes and ale of the Great Rite, Persephone’s pomegranate, and Eve’s apple. It transforms us when we eat it, often signaling a change in consciousness or state of being. Eating the cakes and ale signifies the end of a rite in modern Wicca and thus helps us return to a state of ordinary consciousness. However, partaking of the fruit of the underworld binds the person to the liminal realms, thus fossil urchins can help us traverse these zones in mediation by giving us the immaterial sustenance we need to cross the boundary between the worlds.

Perhaps fairy loaves were regarded so highly because they were thought remnants of the feast at the sabbat; they would symbolically feed the fairy folk, spirits, devils, ancestors, and other beings in the spiritual realm, thereby keeping them from engaging in mischief and malice. The thinking goes that keeping fossil urchins displayed in a prominent location or at the entryways to your home can avert misfortune by placating the spirits with a food only they can enjoy.

The five-rayed stay atop a fossil urchin connects this stone to celestial goddess archetypes such as the Queen of Heaven and the Stellar Goddess. Fossil urchins were known in Egypt, where they were likely sacred to Nuit, whose body is depicted as being covered in stars much the same shape as the one etched into the urchin. The Egyptians saw the goddess Isis embodied in the sky as Sirius, the Dog Star, and thus they may have used fossil urchins as a representation of her as well.⁹⁷

In magick, fairy’s loaves and shepherd’s crowns are used to protect the home, avert misfortune, draw good luck, and ensure that there is always a supply of food. Since these are household affairs, use them to connect to the Goddess of Hearth and Home; they are always a welcome addition to a household shrine or altar. Placing them in a welltrafficked part of the home, especially the kitchen, is best. They can also be placed near entrances and windows to the home, a longstanding practice that keeps negativity out of the home.

Wearing the moniker “thunderstones,” fossil sea urchins can also be used for weather magick; though mostly used to protect against storms, their celestial appearance can also be employed to curry the favor of the gods and spirits to petition rain, shine, or other phenomena. The serpent imagery that has grown around fossil urchins (as evidenced in folk names like ovum anguinum, or “snake’s egg”) indicates that these fossils can also be used for spells related to healing, fertility, and regeneration, much like other stones with serpentine symbolism.

GARNET

Magickal uses: strength, courage, fertility, abundance, creativity, stability, grounding, protection, fire, love, fidelity, regeneration, healing

Elemental signature: fire, earth

Astrological signature: Mars, Pluto, Sun; Aries, Capricorn, Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo

Goddess archetypes: Underworld Goddess, Maiden, Mother, Fierce Goddess, Goddess of Love

Formation process: igneous or metamorphic

Garnets are a family of closely related minerals; they have variable compositions but similar structures. Garnets of different species are found worldwide, in all colors of the rainbow. The general properties in this entry for garnet apply to red garnet, which includes the species almandine, rhodolite, pyrope, and spessartite (though the latter crystallizes in several other colors too). Though there is disagreement about the etymology of the word garnet, one popular and persistent idea is that it is related to words such as granum and granatum, Latin for “grain” and “pomegranate,” respectively. Old texts often refer to garnet as “carbuncle,” from the Latin carbunculus, “little coal”—a reference to garnet’s fiery countenance.

Old records of garnet’s talismanic uses tend to center on themes of healing, strength, victory, and protection. Garnet has a rich tradition of being used for warding off danger, preventing drowning, and promoting passion and sexual vigor. Most of these virtues can be ascribed to this gem’s Martian influence; it was even worn or carried into battle—sometimes set into swords and shields—to ensure triumph over a person’s foes. These practices, at first glance, appear to point to the Divine Masculine; however, digging deeper into the myths of garnet reveals this stone’s connection to the Goddess.

In an ancient act of sympathetic magick, the crimson hues of garnet were used for healing disorders related to the blood. It was thought to help detoxify the body, staunch bleeding, improve circulation, and increase energy. Some sources report that natives of Kashmir once used garnet projectiles to inflict lethally bloody wounds.⁹⁸ Minerologist and feminist Barbara Walker, who has written on subjects concerning Neopaganism, says that “garnet blood magic was leftover from ancient ideas of the life-giving powers of uterine blood. Garnet was named from granatum, the pomegranate, a red-jeweled womb symbol ever since the matriarchal age. Because of these ancient connections with feminine life force, it was sometimes thought that garnets should be worn only by women.”⁹⁹

Bearing this in mind, much of garnet’s power can be contextualized within the framework of the Divine Feminine. Even the grisly, warlike uses of garnet can be linked to Athena/Minerva, as well as to Ares/Mars. Occultist Claude Lecouteux records an ancient talisman fashioned from a garnet on which the image of Athena holding a heron and her helmet was engraved. This talismanic gem was employed for obtaining “triumph over all foes and rivals”; so powerful was this gem that it transformed foe into friend.¹⁰⁰

Garnets and pomegranates share several symbolic uses.

Garnets are also connected to the archetype of the Earth Mother. Their high specific gravity makes them dense, heavy gems. Coupled with their cubic crystal structure, this endows them with the gift of near-instant grounding. They remind us of the vital connection to the planet and help us maintain an even keel throughout life. Garnets are traditionally used for attracting prosperity, uncovering riches, and for manifestation—all of which are under the purview of the Earth Mother.

A folktale found in Germany and Sweden preserves another connection between garnet and the Great Goddess. In Moyra Caldecott’s telling of the legend “The Cow-herd and the Goddess Holda,” the eponymous cowherd stumbles upon Holda in a cave with walls of “pure and dazzling crystal decorated with huge garnets that glowed like flame”; Holda herself is witnessed wearing a “diadem of fiery carbuncle.”¹⁰¹ Holda is probably analogous to goddess figures like Holle and Huldra; these visions of the Divine Feminine are often related to agriculture, weather, and weaving. At times they are also regarded as the Fairy Queen or the patron goddess of witchcraft, both of which are aspects of the Mistress of Magick archetype. Use garnet to work with these mythic figures.

Garnet, as carbuncle, has long been connected to the element of fire and the concept of illumination. A carbuncle set in Aladdin’s legendary lamp cast light in the shadows, and garnets provided light in the underground world of the dwarves. They were found at the tops of towers (like lighthouses), and the Talmud even testifies that a carbuncle was the sole source of light on Noah’s ark. Glowing garnets were sometimes said to be found in the skulls of dragons, serpents, and wyverns; these no doubt are representations of the chthonic aspects of the Earth Mother.

Garnet’s ability to “change night into day”¹⁰² was unlikely to be literal; rather, the fiery Mars energy of this gemstone provides courage enough to explore the unseen realms and face the fears hidden in the depths of the psyche. Ancient writers believed that it also protected against demons, night phantoms, and poison gas; it even repelled insects, according to the popular lore of the time.¹⁰³ The protective quality intrinsic to garnet strengthens the aura, provides stability, and boosts your self-confidence.

For me, garnet symbolizes the pomegranate eaten by Persephone that bound her to the underworld kingdom of Hades. In the mythic cycle of Persephone, she is secreted away from her mother, the harvest goddess Demeter, by Hades (usually called Pluto in these myths). After her daughter’s disappearance, Demeter searches far and wide for her; her grief causes the once-fertile crops to wither and die. Zeus, seeing her discontent, implores Hades to return Persephone to the overworld and to her mother. However, Hades intends to keep his newfound bride, for he had already tricked Persephone into eating the seeds of a pomegranate. Partaking of food or drink from the underworld binds a person to it for eternity. Out of this situation was born a compromise, wherein Persephone would spend part of the year with her mother, Demeter, and part of the year with Hades. The descent and ascent of the Maiden, and her mother’s ensuing responses, were an ancient explanation for the turning of the seasonal tides.

Garnet has been symbolically related to the pomegranate for centuries. The two words, garnet and pomegranate, share a linguistic root, and both stone and fruit are symbols of life, blood, and fertility. Moreso, dodecahedral garnet crystals even resemble pomegranate arils—both are angular, translucent, and a deep red color. The underworldly meal offered by Hades came from his telluric kingdom; garnets too are born within the earth.^*17 Occasionally, reddish and violet garnets are assigned to the planetary influence of Pluto, underscoring this stone’s underworld connection.

Garnets represent the need to nourish and replenish our vital energy. They feed our body, mind, and soul with their regenerative virtues. Garnets provide us with additional reserves of energy and stamina; they also inspire passion and creativity. In connection to the myth of Persephone’s descent, garnets offer us respite from everyday life by encouraging us to withdraw and practice self-care whenever needed. We can retreat to our inner world, the psychic sanctum that our soul sometimes visits in meditation and dreamtime journeying, so that we can rest and recover our fortitude before rejoining the worldly way of life.

One final connection between garnet and the Divine Feminine worth considering is its relationship to the tarot. Crystal expert Ember Grant provides a list of correspondences between the major arcana and the mineral kingdom in her book The Second Book of Crystal Spells. She lists garnet as one of the primary stones representing the Empress, a card associated with the archetype of the Great Mother. She writes that this card (and therefore garnet, the gemstone associated with it) symbolizes “the primitive life force—nourishment and sensory experience.”¹⁰⁴

In your magickal work, garnet is a potent ally known for its powers of manifestation, healing, and attracting prosperity. Use it to bolster courage and skew the outcome of any situation in your favor. Garnets are used to inspire love, fidelity, and passion; try combining them with rose quartz and rutilated quartz for love spells. Garnets are apotropaic amulets, turning away ill luck, averting danger, and shielding you from harmful or mischievous entities.

In healing, garnets have a variety of talents. They can be used to massage the body to improve circulation and energize sore muscles. Added to the bath, garnet boosts your overall health; polished stones can be placed directly in the water, or an elixir can be used instead. Garnet is ideal for conditions related to the circulatory system, the liver, and for injuries. It is a versatile stone that provides support during convalescence, offering its nurturing energy until you reach optimum health.

Green Garnet

Magickal uses: strength, fertility, abundance, grounding, court cases

Elemental signature: earth, fire

Astrological signature: Saturn; Capricorn

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, the Muse, Maiden

Formation process: igneous and metamorphic

Green garnets belong to several species of the garnet group, most within the ugrandite group, a name that is a portmanteau of uvarovite, grossular, and andradite. Of these, grossular garnet is likely the most common, though all three species produce vivid greens, such as the tsavorite (a form of grossular) and demantoid (andradite). This section, unless otherwise noted, discusses the general properties of green garnets. Green garnets are found in Brazil, Finland, Kenya, Madagascar, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United States.

Like all garnets, green garnet is an excellent grounding tool. Its cubic structure is a strong indication of its grounding effect, as is its relative density. Green garnet can be used for releasing blocks at the level of the base chakra, as it brings a cleansing, detoxifying effect to this center. Green garnet inspires optimism, hope, and self-worth; it is also a potent tool for manifesting abundance.¹⁰⁵ It teaches us that peace and strength are virtues that often walk hand-in-hand, leading us to fulfillment and joy.

Demantoid, a green variety of andradite garnet

As a stone of prosperity, green garnet is connected to the rhythm of planting and harvesting. Though I associate red garnet species with Persephone, green garnet has always reminded me of her mother, Demeter. Grossular garnet (and presumably other green garnet species) are sometimes associated with the holiday of Lammas or Lughnasadh, the celebration of the grain harvest.¹⁰⁶ Historically, this was a time that honored the bounty of grains and would have honored harvest goddesses such as Demeter. Through this attunement to the Earth Mother archetype, green garnet inspires us to consider the true nature of abundance, reminding us that it is more than just material and financial success. Green garnet enables us to work with the natural order to seek ideal moments to “harvest” our ideas and efforts for the best rewards, whether material or spiritual in nature.

Green garnet, though earthy in vibration, still conveys a touch of fiery energy. It can bring inspiration and help us reach out to the Muse, the goddess who rules the arts and sciences. Uvarovite, in particular, is an excellent stone for writers, no matter their genre.¹⁰⁷ Green garnet tends to marry our inspiration with motivation, bringing a boost in energy similar to its red cousin, so that we are likelier to finish the projects that we begin.

As a healing stone, green garnet clears away guilt, shame, and other baggage associated with sexuality. It restores balance to the reproductive system, especially in women, and this gem can be used to recuperate from sexually transmitted infection, sexual assault, childbirth, or abortion.¹⁰⁸ Green garnet is a potent tool for catalyzing healing in these situations, as it enables us to release the guilt and shame that prevent us from reclaiming our inherent sense of self-worth.

Green garnet is best employed in magickal workings focused on stability, abundance, and financial freedom. It enhances creative pursuits and can be used for fertility, both biological and metaphorical. Use green garnet for success in court cases, boosting self-esteem, and motivation. Combine it with other money-drawing stones to ensure a bountiful financial harvest. Paired with red garnet, this green gem supports contemplation of the change in seasons, and it can be placed on your altar during celebrations of the harvest.

GEODE

Magickal uses: healing, manifestation, grounding, fertility, psychic communication, planetary healing

Elemental signature: earth, water (varies depending on mineral content)

Astrological signature: Virgo, Gemini (varies depending on mineral content)

Goddess archetype: Earth Mother

Formation process: igneous or sedimentary

Geodes are so named for their earthy appearance; the name derives from the Greek ge, meaning “earth,” while geodes means “earthlike” and “with deep soil.” Geodes belong to the family of vugs—hollow cavities in rocks lined with crystals. While vugs can take any shape, geodes are essentially rounded, like the shape of our planet. Geodes usually form by primary (igneous) processes as molten rock cools. Sometimes they are formed by secondary (sedimentary) processes as a result of chemical precipitation. Mineral-rich solutions deposit crystals within the hollow cavities during their formation. Geodes can be comprised of virtually any mineral, though members of the quartz family such as clear or white quartz, amethyst, and agate are among the more common specimens found. While many geodes are hollow, the crystals can in fact grow until all the available space is filled. Geodes are found worldwide.

Geodes are versatile tools for spellcraft.

Due to its round shape and usually hollow interior, the geode is linked to our planet and thus to the archetype of the Earth Mother. Geodes usually resonate with the earth element, though this varies by mineral content. Some geodes, when opened, reveal water that has condensed from their formation process. This represents the womb of the Great Mother (especially in her aspect as Earth Mother), and geodes can therefore be used for attuning to the mother goddesses of many different traditions as well as to the element of water. The shape of the geode represents the cauldron of transformation, a metaphor for the Goddess’s womb. These stones can be used to connect with the Celtic goddess Cerridwen whose cauldron grants healing, transformation, and renewal. A geode also serves as a representation of our planet and thus is an excellent tool for sending healing to the planet as a whole. Barbara Walker describes geodes in The Book of Sacred Stones as being connected to the natural world:

A geode symbolizes inner space, a private world, or a hidden beauty known only to its possessor. It may also represent the disguises of Mother Nature, who does not necessarily flaunt her best works in the open but sometimes conceals them in dark places, not caring whether or not they will be admired. In consideration of this, a geode can remind us that in relation to the great cycles of the natural world, human ambition and praise-craving are pointless indeed. A geode may also serve as a symbolic model earth.¹⁰⁹

The plain, stony appearance of the outside of a geode belies the gemmy crystals contained within it. Thus geodes can be used to help you see the bigger picture and employed in spells related to secrets.¹¹⁰ Geodes impart patience, and they help you look more closely at a scenario until you can comprehend the true significance of what’s taking place. Geodes also make excellent aids for meditation, as they provide a focal point for contemplation. Two halves of the same geode can be shared between friends; subsequently, when each partner meditates with their half of the geode, it can be like a psychic telephone relaying messages back and forth.¹¹¹

In the ancient world, geodes were sometimes known as aetites, or “eagle stones,” as well as lapis praegnans, “pregnant stone.”¹¹² The former name comes from a belief that they were found in the nests of eagles and helped the birds conceive and lay eggs. The moniker “pregnant stone” comes from the observation that the dull exterior rock is incubating another mineral within its “womb.” In both cases, geodes are connected to fertility and reproduction, thereby attributing them to the Great Goddess. Even the link to the eagle may be a vestige of the once widespread avian symbolism attributed to the Great Goddess during the Stone Age, and avian symbols represented the goddess for the Egyptians too. Such stones were used for helping women conceive and for ensuring a healthy pregnancy and safe birth.

According to Pliny, geodes were used in the ancient world for treating the eyes, breasts, and testicles.¹¹³ This is an ancient act of sympathetic magick, whereby the naturally round shape of the stone symbolizes these body parts. Along the same line, writings attributed to Albertus Magnus describe using the egglike geode for preventing miscarriage—the homeopathic principle of “like cures like.”¹¹⁴

The geode has a centuries-old tradition as a healing stone. An ancient charm involves engraving the image of an eagle on a geode and combining it with a grape seed and the feather of an eagle; whosoever wears this will be free of all disease.¹¹⁵ While most of us are not legally permitted to harvest eagle feathers, you can easily amend this recipe for a simple healing spell by using a small feather placed inside a geode along with a grape seed (or a healing herb such as cedar, elder, or mint) and a photo of the person to receive the healing (in the absence of a photo, their name written on a piece of paper will suffice). Tie the two halves of the geode together with red yarn or ribbon and leave it in a safe place, such as on your altar. Recite a prayer or charm for healing over the geode and visualize the healing energy reaching the intended recipient.

Geodes are versatile tools in magick and spellcraft. Herbs, stones, sigils, and other magickal ingredients can be placed inside this stone to incubate. Tie the two halves together with a colored cord that matches your intention. From its more-or-less egg-shaped form the geode is associated with the celebration of Imbolc, the sabbat held on February 2. Geodes can be used to concentrate magickal forces for spell or ritual, and gazing inside one is a method of scrying, much like using an obsidian mirror. Each geode has a unique energy and additional properties based on the minerals it contains.

HOLEY STONE

Magickal uses: protection, psychic vision, good fortune, dreams, fairy magick

Elemental signature: earth, water

Astrological signature: Moon

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Crone, Goddess of Hearth and Home

Formation process: sedimentary

A holey stone can be any rock with a naturally occurring hole. Also called “holed stones,” “holy stones,” “hag stones,” “wishing stones,” and “Odin stones,” these rock formations may have been the very first stones ever worn as talismans by our ancient forebears. Holey stones are regarded as magickal objects because of their unusual appearance. The holes in them are caused by erosion from water, sand, or wind, or by the activity of small organisms. Their connection to magick and witchcraft is largely due to their quality of otherness, as naturally pierced stones probably looked very strange to early humankind. Holey stones are found worldwide—you may even find one at your local shore.

The holey stone may be the earliest abstract representation of the Goddess in stone. Doreen Valiente, considered by some to be the mother of modern witchcraft, explains that the holey stone “is a female emblem, representing the portal of birth. Hence it is a life symbol and a luck bringer.”¹¹⁶ Folk customs around the globe ascribe magickal influence to these rocks, and these customs are likely inherited from ancient traditions. Charles Godfrey Leland, a journalist and folklorist, records an incantation for holey stones that he purports comes from pre-Christian tradition. He introduces the incantation thusly: “To find a stone with a hole in it is a special sign of the favour of Diana. He who does so shall take it from his hand and repeat the following, having observed the ceremony as enjoined.”¹¹⁷

Because of the yonic symbolism of the holey stone, it is most often attributed to the Mother Goddess archetype, such as Diana. It confers protection, draws out illness, and grants second sight. When hung on a red cord and placed over the bed, a holey stone provides relief from nightmares. Hung on a black cord and placed above the entrance to the home, a holey stone is believed to protect inhabitants from harm. It can also be hung in the home or carried to mitigate the effects of negative magick.

The association of these stones with banishing nightmares is the source of the nickname “hag stone.” There was once a belief that nightmares were caused by a witch or hag sitting atop a person’s stomach or chest during the night. Since hag stones were considered protective and life-giving, they would counter the evil influence of such practitioners of the dark arts. In truth, the nocturnal symbolism of the hag is likely a result of witches practicing their workings under the cover of night. That they are linked to the hag, a guise of the Crone, may come from the darkest phase of the moon, as this was a time when witches were believed to perform their workings. Since many holey stones are formed by sedimentary processes, they are inextricably linked to Sedimens, the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess.

Stones that naturally display holes are potent receptacles of natural magick.

Holey stones can be used to peer beyond the veil between the worlds. Various sources indicate that looking through them allows you to see ghosts, fairies, and other beings, especially under the light of the full moon. It is also possible to meditate with one held to your brow chakra to enhance your intuition and facilitate contact with your personal guides and teachers in the spiritual realm.¹¹⁸

In healing lore, holey stones were typically used for pain such as rheumatism or arthritis, as well as for various childhood conditions. Very large holey stones could be crawled through to remove all traces of sickness, while smaller stones could be rubbed on the body or passed through the aura to draw out disease. Looking through them was believed to improve physical vision. Because of their association with female reproductive organs, holey stones were worn by women or placed near female animals for fertility.

In ritual, the holey stone can be placed on your altar to represent the Goddess or meditated on to attune to her. You can carry or wear one for luck, protection, and healing, as well as for petitioning the favors of the fairy folk. In meditation you can visualize yourself passing through the hole in the stone to reach the astral plane or the underworld/shamanic reality. Holey stones are powerful amulets and talismans, and their pierced form makes them powerful conduits for spiritual power. As magickal tools they can be imbued with virtually any ritual intent.

JADE

Magickal uses: peace, abundance, fertility, healing, luck, longevity, beauty, protection, spirit communication, dreamwork, astral travel

Elemental signature: earth, water, spirit

Astrological signature: Venus, Moon; Libra, Virgo, Gemini

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Ocean Mother, Goddess of Love, the Muse

Formation process: metamorphic

Jade refers to two different minerals. The first is nephrite, an admixture of actinolite and tremolite, both members of the amphibole group. Nephrite’s structure of interwoven fibers of its constituent minerals resembles a felted mass; this makes nephrite tougher than steel. The second jade is jadeite, a granular formation in the pyroxene group. Jade is found worldwide in a variety of colors, and it has been sacred to virtually every culture that has known it. The general properties of jade in this entry are based on the virtues of green jade; separate entries for blue and Lemurian jade follow.

Jade in all its permutations has been esteemed since antiquity. It is generally considered to be a stone of peace and good fortune, and it is connected to several goddesses around the world. One of the earlier mythic references to jade is in connection with the descent of Ishtar/Inanna. As the goddess travels through the underworld to find her lover, she must remove a garment at each of the seven gates she encounters; at the fifth gate she sheds her girdle adorned with jade.¹¹⁹ Jade was once popular among midwives, who would wear the stone or fasten it around the bodies of pregnant women. It was employed for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery. This use of jade during pregnancy likely stems from Ishtar’s famed jade girdle.

Jade is considered sacred to the Egyptian goddess Ma’at, bestower of justice. It has been used since the time of the Egyptians to reveal the truth and draw justice into a person’s life.¹²⁰ Because it also draws good fortune, jade can be a helpful aid in rites for favorable rulings in court cases.

To the people of China, jade is associated with the natural world. Its characteristics represent virtues such as beauty, truth, and wisdom, and various colors of jade were connected to the cardinal directions, the heavens, the earth, and the elements. Jade remains a preferred medium for carving the likeness of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. In popular belief in China today, Kuan Yin shares many characteristics with the Great Mother archetype. Jade invites her blessings of compassion, loving-kindness, and healing.

Some of the richest lore about jade, especially in relation to the Divine Feminine, comes from the cultures of Central and South America. Jadeite is prevalent in several parts of the Americas, and the indigenous cultures there have valued it above all other substances. Jade in shades of green and bluish green is sacred to the Aztec goddess Chalchiuhtlicue, whose name translates as “she who wears a skirt of jade.” She is revered as the goddess of water—lakes and rivers—and of other natural forces such as storms, and was also the patroness of childbirth. To the Aztec, pieces of jade “were more than just an emblem of the goddess; they were ‘fractions’ of the same goddess, and as such were objects of profound veneration.”¹²¹ Jade effigies of Chalchiuhtlicue were used in rituals of adoration. A description of such a rite is recorded in the writings of the Spanish conquistadors in 1580; a statue of Chalchiuhtlicue was taken outdoors, washed in the river, and returned to a temple to be ceremonially “fed” with human sacrifice.¹²²

Jade has also been connected to the goddesses who rule the maize harvest, an aspect of the Earth Mother. They are revered as Xilonen and Cintéotl. Because corn exhibits green silk, both deities are traditionally depicted with large locks of jade-colored hair. As late as the 1980s, women in Tetelcingo, Mexico, were reported to dye their hair green to resemble the jade-colored locks of the goddess of maize.¹²³

Green jade from around the world

The lore of the Aztec goddess of love and beauty, Xochiquétzal, the “flower of the quetzal bird,” is also steeped in jade symbolism. She represents fertility and romance and is depicted with an ample bosom and hair adorned with green quetzal feathers.¹²⁴ From the similarity between the feathers’ hue and that of jade, talismans of jade are used to invite her blessings. In a similar fashion, jade is exchanged among lovers in China to ensure a loving and faithful marriage. The Chinese even call the resonant tone produced when jade is struck as “the concentrated essence of love.”¹²⁵

Jade’s many colors reflect the natural world all around us. Though most modern practitioners visualize it connected with the elements of water and earth, ancient peoples considered it sacred to each of the elements, the pervasive idea being that it is a gift of the heavens related to spirit, or the quintessence. Jade has accrued several, sometimes contradictory, astrological associations through the ages too. Ultimately, it proves to be a versatile stone of many virtues indeed.

Jade lends itself well to matters of money, business, and luck. Use it in spells to attract better financial opportunities or to tilt negotiations in your favor. Jade can be used in workings for successful court cases; add it to a charm bag with herbs such as calamus, licorice, and deerstongue to help you succeed. Jade also encourages compassion, fairness, and a charitable mindset.

Because it is connected to the Goddess of Love archetype, jade can be used to draw romance into your life or to breathe new appreciation into an existing relationship. Jade is a popular tool in the cosmetics industry in Asia—massage the face with it to reduce puffiness, promote circulation, and to reveal your inner and outer beauty. Several cultures have used jade to make beautiful music too; it can be polished or shaped into a lithophone, a percussion instrument made of stones. Accordingly, jade is connected to many art forms and can help you find your inner muse.

Jade is also used for healing, protection, and weather magick. Many modern crystal mystics find it helpful in the garden, as it helps plants grow vigorously. Jade has long been connected to otherworldly beings like dragons, and it can be used for spirit communication. Jade, with all its tenacity and resiliency, has connotations of eternity. Use it to reach into the distant past for karmic healing and for tapping into ancestral wisdom.

Blue Jade

Magickal uses: fertility, mental powers, healing, happy home, abundance, communication

Elemental signature: earth, air

Astrological signature: Uranus; Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Goddess of Hearth and Home

Formation process: metamorphic

Blue jade is found as either nephrite or jadeite with a bluish green to bluish gray appearance. Blue jadeite is found in South America and was favored above all other shades of jade by the Olmec people, an ancient (1500–400 BCE) group who lived in present-day Mexico. It is also occasionally found in Japan and Myanmar. Blue nephrite occurs in China, and in the United States it is found in California and Washington.

Blue jade from California

Being sacred to the deity who personifies the life-sustaining maize plant,^*18 the Olmec people used blue jade in great quantities. Though their pantheon of gods and goddesses was usually depicted without gender-defining characteristics, many subsequent indigenous cultures throughout the Americas attribute maize to the Divine Feminine. Blue jade represents the nourishment offered by the corn mother, an Earth Mother archetype; by her blessings we are fed, clothed, and guarded. Blue jade, therefore, is the perfect choice for a talisman that ensures the abundance and well-being of your household.

Blue jade has an airier signature than most other jades. It is unusual in its earth-air combination, which is usually depicted as the polar forces of feminine and masculine. This makes blue jade a mediating force between the intellect and the intuition as well as a balancing influence on the inner currents of masculine and feminine energies within us. This member of the jade group also helps to calm fiery states such as anger, overactivity (mental or physical), hypertension, and inflammation. Blue jade also refines our communication skills and supports us in times of transition.

Use blue jade for rites of fertility, abundance, and for ensuring a happy home. It can be added to workings designed to cool tempers and quell passions, thereby lending itself to objectivity and impartial decision-making. As a healing stone, blue jade relieves pain and inflammation.

Lemurian Jade

Magickal uses: grounding, dreamwork, healing, connecting with the Earth, ecstatic ritual/trance, spirit contact, manifestation

Elemental signature: earth, spirit

Astrological signature: Pluto; Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Stellar Goddess

Formation process: metamorphic

Lemurian jade is the name that has been given to a member of the jade group^*19 that contains inclusions of pyrite minerals and smoky quartz. Both iron pyrite and chalcopyrite can be found in these stones, and the jade itself ranges from black to greenish gray. Lemurian jade is found in Peru, in the vicinity of a copper mine there; a comparable material (confirmed to be jadeite) found in Guatemala is called “galactic gold jade.” The term Lemurian jade was coined by my friend JaneAnn Dow in 2004, as she felt it carried a strong link to the essence of the fabled Lemurian civilization.

Lemurian jade is a union of opposite forces. The golden pyrite against the backdrop of black jade leads us to find the union of heaven and earth, spirit and matter, life and death within this stone. This jade thus is a symbol of the creative impulse of the Earth Mother, for its black color “represents the inconscience [sic] of physical matter, and gold is the divine light of the Mother which has descended into the depths to accomplish her transformative work.”¹²⁶ The dark hues of this jade link with the telluric forces of the planet, echoing the song of the Dark Goddess who dwells in the twin realms of the subterranean world and the subconscious mind.

JaneAnn Dow described Lemurian jade as a stone of dreaming the “new dream.” She writes that this gemstone initiates the level of perception necessary for the transformation of our planet, and that it offers an opportunity to truly see what is unfolding. As part of this rebirthing of the Great Goddess in our times, Lemurian jade helps to heal the residual imprints of the old dream patterns, such as those of the patriarchy.¹²⁷ This stone gently reaches into the soul’s memories to sweep away the karmic patterns preventing us from moving in a new direction. JaneAnn says that this stone invites the Great Goddess into our lives, its energies being aligned with figures such as Kuan Yin, Isis, and Mary.

Lemurian jade offers a lesson in strength through surrender. It engenders a softness that belies true power. Lemurian jade teaches us to embrace vulnerability, thereby opening the doors to spiritual growth. It helps us achieve the same level of receptivity embodied in the Divine Feminine and taps into the cosmic void from which all creation is formed. For this reason, Lemurian jade is among the best stones for working with the archetype of the Stellar Goddess.

That Lemurian jade is a stone of the Earth Mother is undeniable. It is grounding, stabilizing, and nurturing, like all jades. Crystal therapist Naisha Ahsian describes Lemurian jade as emanating “the frequency of the heart of the Earth”; she writes that this stone “facilitates connection with the Earth and the incredible bounty this planet offers us.”¹²⁸ Lemurian jade awakens us to the immediacy of the Earth Mother’s presence, reminding us that she is always with us, even when urbanization obscures the wildness of Mother Nature from our view. Wearing this stone is effective for remaining connected to the Great Mother and the heart of our planet and for combatting the sense of alienation so many of us feel in the modern world.

At first glance, Lemurian jade bears a strong resemblance to the midnight sky; it is thus symbolically and spiritually related to lapis lazuli. Accordingly, Lemurian jade is the domain of the Stellar Goddess. In the Feri (or Faery) Tradition of the craft, the Star Goddess is envisioned as wearing a “robe of black, bespangled with stars of all the natural colors.”¹²⁹ Lemurian jade shines in this same color scheme, with its metallic stars of several hues gleaming against the inkiness of the jade itself. This gemstone has revealed itself only recently in the history of our world, so perhaps the Great Mother, as the Stellar Goddess, is ready to reclaim her throne. Use this stone to connect to her and to deepen your conscious attunement to her.

Lemurian jade resembles the nighttime sky.

Energetically, Lemurian jade grounds energy from higher realms into the heart and root chakras, just as it connects heaven and earth.¹³⁰ You can use this gemstone to bridge the telluric and celestial archetypes of the Great Goddess. With its connection to the heart, this stone enables the heart center, the veritable center of your being, to be the meeting grounds of heaven and earth. Lemurian jade has an energy that is apocalyptic in the etymological sense—it pulls back the veil between the worlds, thus initiating contact with the realm of the absolute, the realm of the eternal Goddess.

In magick, Lemurian jade is helpful for healing, grounding, and psychic development. It is protective like other jades in that it carries an ancestral energy to both ward off harmful influences and provide guidance on your path. Lemurian jade can help you balance masculine and feminine polarities, thereby assisting you to find your inner Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine, for the great alchemical acts require both.

Lemurian jade can be used to connect with your spirit guides and familiar spirits. As a stone of the Earth Mother, it allows you better access to her emissaries in the spirit realms: nature spirits, devas, and the fairy folk. Wearing this stone during outdoor ritual or meditation allows for greater ease in attuning to the energies of your environment.

JASPER

Magickal uses: grounding, protection, luck, prosperity, beauty, strength, healing, weather magick, stopping gossip (varies by type and color)

Elemental signature: earth (varies by type and color)

Astrological signature: Mercury, Venus, Mars; Leo, Aries, Virgo, Libra (varies by type and color)

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Hearth and Home, Earth Mother, Maiden, Lunar Goddess, Crone (varies by type and color)

Formation process: sedimentary

Jasper is an opaque, microcrystalline member of the quartz group. Usually categorized as a form of chalcedony by gemologists, jasper’s structure is more commonly composed of minute grains of quartz in lieu of the fibrous structure of true chalcedony. Jasper is available in a wide variety of patterns and textures that result from traces of other minerals and elements that intermix with the grains of quartz. It is typically formed by sedimentary processes, and varieties are named for their appearance and/or place of origin. Jasper is a common stone found throughout the world. Many common rocks and minerals are misidentified as jasper; common examples include leopard-skin and kambaba “jasper,” both of which are actually rhyolite.

Jasper is a gemstone with ancient provenance. Since it is both durable and relatively easy to carve, it has enjoyed a long history of use in ornamentation, magick, and medicine. It is generally considered to have an earthy vibration; its effects are grounding, settling, and stabilizing. Because of this, jasper relates to the domain of the Earth Mother; many forms of jasper resemble the natural features of the earth and therefore are ideal for attuning us to the energy of the planet. Because it is such a nurturing gemstone, jasper reflects the Earth Mother’s nourishing qualities.

Jaspers in many colors

History records many uses of jasper, most commonly as a protective stone. Jasper was used by the Greeks and Romans to drive away demons and wild animals alike, and there was a widespread belief that jasper offered protection during travel and prevented drowning. It was also used against nightmares and hallucinations. The power of jasper confers strength, courage, and invulnerability, especially varieties with a high iron content such as red jasper. Yellow jasper was considered especially sacred to Athena.¹³¹

Jasper has been described as having several virtues relevant to the Divine Feminine, such as conferring grace and beauty and assisting in childbirth. In the Middle Ages, a popular belief held that when tied to the thigh, jasper would ensure the health of both mother and child. In modern gemstone therapy, poppy jasper is frequently used to assist during the pushing phase of childbirth.¹³² Jasper is generally said to convey luck and success, perhaps because it is believed to be a holy stone by many. One particular method for receiving the blessings of jasper included engraving the image of a maiden holding a laurel branch—an image of the nymph/minor goddess Daphne—onto its surface; such a stone was believed to be an object of “perpetual consecration.”¹³³

Another goddess symbol sometimes seen carved into jasper is that of the hare. Rabbits and hares are frequently linked to the moon in mythology, thus relating these carved talismans to the Lunar Goddess. Such a gemstone would bring great luck to its owner. Several ancient sources regard jasper as most potent when set in silver, the moon’s planetary metal, thereby underscoring its connection to the Lunar Goddess. Other talismanic uses for jasper include success in business, and it was noted for bringing rain. To the Greeks and Romans, jasper was a sacred stone for speakers and orators, for it would help them find success, influence, and power in their field.¹³⁴

The Judeo-Christian tradition recognizes jasper as a sacred stone. It was one of twelve stones used in Aaron’s breastplate, and it served as part of the foundation of the New Jerusalem. In the poem Anulus, written by Konrad von Hamburg, jasper is one of twenty stones offered to the Virgin Mary;¹³⁵ it was chosen to symbolize her faith. Today we can use jasper to bolster our faith in the Divine Feminine and in ourselves.

Jasper may not be the most exotic or glamorous of gemstones, but it is a tried-and-true aid in your spiritual practice. Though many jaspers have an overtly masculine energy, as an essential tool for finding stability in the midst of change it is a valuable catalyst during this time of the rebirthing of the Divine Feminine on our planet. Jasper works to ground the work that we do to elevate the station of women by recognizing the primacy of the Great Mother.

As a healing stone, jasper curbs anxiety, reduces insecurity, and promotes a strong body and mind. Jasper is an overtly mental stone, especially green, yellow, and picture jasper varieties. Jaspers are sometimes considered uplifting, energizing stones, especially those rich in iron oxide, including red jasper, poppy jasper, mugglestone (a blend of jasper and hematite), peppermint jasper, bloodstone (a green jasper displaying streaks and specks of red iron inclusions), and some brecciated jaspers. Jasper was worn in the ancient world to improve the diagnostic faculties and healing abilities of those in the medical field; today we can use it to improve our own healing abilities.

Jasper is a helpful tool in spells and rituals. Use it for grounding after your spiritual work; it will help you integrate the magick you have performed and return to ordinary consciousness with greater ease. Jasper lends its grounding and stabilizing influence to any magickal pursuit; this makes it best for themes related to protection, prosperity, healing, and peace. Sandra Kynes suggests that jasper helps to keep secrets, making it a good choice for spells to stop gossip.¹³⁶ Jasper lends a gentle power to your spellcraft, and it helps sustain the energy of your working until your goals are brought to fruition.

Individual types of jasper exhibit the above properties in addition to several unique skills of their own. Most jaspers have a predominantly masculine signature, but the following entries for green, ocean, and red jasper illustrate how these gemstones are connected to the Divine Feminine.

Green Jasper

Magickal uses: grounding, stability, success, prosperity, luck, love

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Mercury; Taurus, Virgo, Gemini

Goddess archetype: Earth Mother

Formation process: sedimentary

Green jasper is available in a range of shades of green depending on the location where it is mined. It is found in Mexico, China, the Middle East, the United States, several locations in Africa, and in Brazil, among other locations worldwide. It was once popular in Egypt, where it was regarded as an amulet of exceptional virtue. Indigenous peoples of Mexico and China occasionally used green jasper in place of jade; modern magicians can also find it a suitable substitute for many of jade’s properties.

Green jasper’s merits focus on prosperity and business success. It helps build business acumen, for it stimulates the mind. This stone promotes good luck, especially in matters related to buying and selling.¹³⁷ In the Egyptian magickal tradition, green jasper was one of the preferred materials for carving into an ab, an amulet in the form of a heart.¹³⁸ Other green jasper amulets from the ancient world often depicted Isis and other deities.

Green jasper

Green jasper has a whimsy and brightness that speaks to its mercurial alliance. It brings pep and vigor and can combat the sense of gloom on dreary, gray days. Green jasper provides a counterpoint to imbalances caused by too much masculine energy; this mediating effect can harmonize the currents of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine within each one of us. Green jasper can be used in magick for love, fertility, wealth, grounding, emotional well-being, and physical healing.

Ocean Jasper

Magickal uses: attuning to the tides of life, uniting land and sea, regeneration, community, conflict resolution, calming, sabbat celebrations

Elemental signature: earth, water

Astrological signature: Neptune; Virgo, Leo

Goddess archetypes: Ocean Mother, Earth Mother, Maiden

Formation process: igneous

Ocean jasper is found only in the northwest of Madagascar. There are two sources for the stone, one along the shore and another further inland. Ocean jasper was discovered in 1999 and released to the public at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2000.¹³⁹

Though marketed as a form of jasper, this stone is actually chalcedony. Chalcedony in this instance refers to the mineralogical interpretation, which points to ocean jasper’s formation of thin fibers of quartz. On the other hand, from a gemological perspective the opaque portions are still classified as jasper. Ocean jasper is an intergrowth of spherules of chalcedony in a chalcedony matrix; you can often find pockets of transparent, crystalline quartz or quartz druzes. Other names for this material include ocean spray agate, ocean orbicular jasper, and spherulitic chalcedony. Its color range includes many earth tones, white, red, orange, yellow, green, black, pink, blue, and purple.

The original discovery of ocean jasper was along the water’s edge. Since it was collected at the seashore, ocean jasper could only be gathered when the tide was low. Although the original occurrence is currently depleted, all ocean jasper still conveys this tidal energy. Its watery provenance has led many crystal lovers around the globe to associate this stone with the symbolism of the sea. It helps you attune to the rhythms and tides of life, initiating a state of surrender to the natural order. Its patterns resemble ripples in the water, and it helps you examine the inner tides of your emotions. Working with ocean jasper can clarify turbulent emotions and help you find stillness at the center of your being.

A charming pendant of polished ocean jasper

This gemstone was literally gifted to us by the actions of the earth and sea, and we can thus link it to the archetypes of the Ocean Mother and the Earth Mother. Use it to harmonize your daily life with these currents of the Divine Feminine. Since this stone is born of igneous activity, it also symbolizes the Maiden, and it can be used to invoke Ignea, the Maiden of Stone, with great success.

As a stone of the new millennium, ocean jasper is intimately connected to the ever-evolving expression of the Divine Feminine on our planet. It is a vital tool for anchoring the work of the Goddess, and it feeds the heart of community. Ocean jasper is the stone of gathering; it allows the Great Mother to inspire her children to come together for healing, worship, and transformation. Like the individual spherules of its structure that are connected by a sea of chalcedony, ocean jasper nurtures the connections between human hearts. It promotes understanding and helps us see how our thoughts, actions, and energies impact those around us. Ocean jasper facilitates cooperation, settles disputes, and promotes service to all. This gemstone is an ideal tool with which to build a cohesive spiritual community or organization that benefits all.

Naisha Ahsian refers to ocean jasper as “cellular jasper,” a name that describes not only its appearance but also its ability to tap into the cellular memory and facilitate regeneration and detoxification at the cellular level.¹⁴⁰

As a magickal gemstone, ocean jasper can help you attune to the seasonal tides of energies—the tides of light and dark and life and death—of the land in your area. I’ve always felt a little disconnected from the traditional lore of the seasons here in my home state of Florida. Vegetation doesn’t die here as it does in other parts of the world, nor is our shift in seasons marked by the weather patterns found in more northerly regions. Ocean jasper has helped me tap into the local currents of energy that rise and fall. Becoming centered in the rhythm of these tides helps us to live and co-create with Mother Earth more consciously.

Ocean jasper is grounding, centering, and calming. It can be used in magick to end conflict, whether on a global or a personal level. Use it to soothe arguments, find peaceful resolution in legal disputes, and strengthen the bonds of family and community. Ocean jasper is refreshing, inspiring, and deeply nurturing.

Red Jasper

Magickal uses: grounding, strength, invisibility, protection, love, beauty

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Mars; Aries, Leo

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Fierce Goddess, Goddess of Love

Formation process: sedimentary

Red jasper is found in many locations worldwide, including Brazil, China, Madagascar, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the United States, and countless others, and in a range of shades and patterns. Like other jaspers, it is a form of chalcedony. Its color is derived from a generous amount of hematite (iron oxide). Among crystal lovers today, red jasper is regarded as one of the best stones for grounding and stability. It has a rich history of use throughout the ages.

Red jasper was a common talisman in ancient Egypt, where it was occasionally used as a substitute for carnelian (another chalcedony whose color is derived from hematite). Because of this, there is some overlap in the magickal qualities attributed to these two gems. Red jasper was used for the tyet amulet, a symbolic representation of the goddess Isis, used to confer her blessings of protection, especially during the underworld journeys of the recently deceased. Red jasper was sometimes fashioned into the shape of a serpent’s head to ward off snakebite.¹⁴¹ The serpent imagery may be a vestige of the chthonic aspect of the Great Mother or Earth Mother; the snake regenerates itself by shedding its skin, much the same way that the Earth Mother is renewed through the changing of the seasons.

Among the jasper family, red jasper has a prominent Martian influence due in part to its color and iron content. Because of its association with the Red Planet, this form of jasper can be used to invoke the warrioress aspect of the Fierce Goddess. Its association with success and power likely derives from the connection to conflict, ambition, and battle via this astrological correspondence.

Red jasper is colored by traces of hematite.

Red jasper is chief among stones used in defensive magick. Many beliefs about the jasper family as a whole center on its protective qualities; in red jasper they reach their zenith. Not only a protective amulet, this stone helps to shield from and return negative energy to its source. It can be added to workings for uncrossing, exorcism, and cursebreaking alongside gems such as emerald to both increase the efficacy of the spell and to turn the negative energy back on the sender.

When jasper is more of a brick red rather than a true red, it is sometimes called “mother of all stones.”¹⁴² Red jaspers (and other red stones for that matter) are sometimes ascribed to mother goddesses, as their color is reminiscent of the blood shed during the menstrual cycle. Red jasper is also used for cultivating beauty and grace,¹⁴³ a purpose that connects this gemstone to the archetype of the Goddess of Love.

Red jasper displays a diverse array of uses in a magickal setting. It can be used for attracting love; it fosters a healthy environment for romance and aids in discernment for finding a trustworthy partner. Red jasper is also used for increasing passion and improving stamina in the bedroom. An old Italian belief holds that this stone could confer invisibility.¹⁴⁴ Use it for protection, power, and confidence. Like all jaspers, red jasper is used in healing, as it is fortifying and enlivening to the physical body.

JET

Magickal uses: protection, curse-breaking, binding, banishing, luck, psychic development, healing, grief, road-opener, rites of passage

Elemental signature: earth, spirit

Astrological signature: Saturn, Pluto; Capricorn

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Dark Goddess, Crone, Ocean Mother, Triple Goddess

Formation process: organic (sedimentary)

Jet is an organic gem, neither crystalline nor truly a gemstone. It is actually fossilized wood, a form of lignite coal. Jet generates an electrical charge when rubbed, is soft enough to be easily carved, and takes a high polish. This gem is sometimes called “black amber” and “witches’ amber.” It is found in England, France, Germany, Poland, the United States, and several other locations worldwide.

Jet is one of the most ancient gemstones used by humankind. Paleolithic burial sites uncovered in Switzerland and Belgium have yielded pendants, beads, and other implements made of jet. Elsewhere in the ancient world, jet, along with amber, has been recovered from tombs, including several Venus figurines carved in jet—the earliest depictions of the Great Goddess, which may be as much as fifteen thousand years old. These small, figural representations of the female form are tangible links between jet and the Great Goddess in her role as Earth Mother. In later goddess-worshipping cultures, jet maintained its status as a jewel of the Earth Mother.

Jet is sacred to the agricultural goddess Cybele.

The ancient Greeks dedicated jet to Cybele, who ruled over growth and vegetation, and wore it to obtain her favor.¹⁴⁵ This practice continues to the present, as modern-day witches and worshippers of the Goddess use jet to encourage the growth of their gardens. The Greeks also considered jet sacred to Pan, the woodland god; this may be because jet is derived from ancient wood. This black gem is also favored by the Welsh goddess Dôn, counterpart of the Irish goddess Danu. Both figures are mother goddesses who rule over elemental forces and have connections to the sky, stars, and fairy folk. Jet helps us commune with Mother Nature and can be used for experiencing her beyond the material plane.

Other feminine qualities attributed to jet lay coded in its medicinal lore. The Romans used powdered jet to determine a woman’s virginity by adding it to her drinking water. If the woman did not pass the black powder in her urine she was considered chaste and pure. Despite the fact that it wouldn’t be possible to attain any other outcome with this test, it points to the intrinsic sanctity of the Divine Feminine in that respect for a woman should not be predicated on her sexual history. Jet was also used by medieval physicians to lessen menstrual pain, restore a period (presumably this means terminating a pregnancy), and inducing labor.¹⁴⁶ Jet was often combined with coral to protect young children.¹⁴⁷ Because these attributes represent the feminine mysteries, jet has clearly been connected to the Divine Feminine, even when the Church attempted to erase the Great Goddess from our collective human memory.

Jet was especially sacred to the Earth Mother in her chthonic aspect as the Underworld Goddess, the one who receives us in death. As evidenced by its widespread use in burials, jet has long been associated with death and darkness. In kabbalistic lore, jet is assigned to the sefirot Binah, where its inky color is associated with the role of the Dark Goddess.¹⁴⁸ Jet is considered the stone par excellence for grief, and it is a trusted stone for those mourning the loss of their loved ones. Queen Victoria popularized the stone when she began to wear it after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. So strong was its association with mourning that at one time it was only worn by widows and those attending funerals.

There is a certain liminal quality to jet, one shared with other black stones such as obsidian, black moonstone, and Lemurian jade. This has led modern-day practitioners and writers to connect jet to Hekate, a goddess of witchcraft. Though there is little hard evidence to support this, I see how the connection fits. Folklore from the Middle Ages records that there was no lock that jet could not open,¹⁴⁹ and keys are one of Hekate’s most prominent symbols. Like Hekate, jet opens the doors to other planes and throws wide the gates to the subconscious realm.

Some of the more popular uses for jet in magick include binding, banishing, protection, preventing nightmares, and hex-breaking. Its contra-witchcraft virtues are well-documented through the ages. Burning jet was a remedy for possession and was alleged to make both devils and serpents flee. We are reminded that the chthonic aspects of deities from the old religion were demonized under Christianity, so these “devils” may actually be the very same goddesses once petitioned for assistance with jet.

Because it is a fossil, jet is naturally a suitable tool for connecting to the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess, and some modern sources justify jet’s affinity for Hekate by depicting her as such. Regardless, jet has come to be associated with the older generation. Widows are generally older in age, and the image of the wizened Crone is today synonymous with the popular image of the witch. Such figures once led lives on the outskirts of the bustle of everyday society. Occultist and Wiccan D. J. Conway suggests meditating with or wearing jet to come to terms with the aging process, as well as for forging better relationships with your elders. Jet represents the transition from one phase of life to the next, making it an apt stone for all rites of passage.

Since jet is usually found at the shoreline, it is also connected to the Ocean Mother. A peculiar origin legend for this stone states that it was formed at the bottom of the primordial sea and attached itself to the hulls of ships.¹⁵⁰ Wives of fishermen in the British Isles burned jet to protect their husbands while they were away at sea. Perhaps these women knowingly or unknowingly were offering jet smoke as an offering to a near-forgotten sea goddess in the hopes that their husbands would have bountiful catches and smooth sailing. Crushed jet can be added to incense blends to petition the favor of oceanic deities; since it is coal, it burns easily.

Magickal uses for jet are varied. It can be added to spells for binding, banishing, averting the influence of the evil eye, exorcism, and breaking hexes. Jet has a purifying effect, as it is strongly absorbent. Pass it through the aura after psychic work and spiritual journeys to remove any entities or energies that may have attached themselves. Placed on the altar with white candles, jet can be used to purify and protect the home. Jet is highly regarded for protection during travel, and has been since the days of the Roman Empire.

Jet can be used to grant relief from both physical and psychological illness. It assuages fear, soothes grief, and is a great remedy for both headache and toothache. Use it to draw luck and as a road-opener (since it cannot be bested by any lock). Jet also helps curry favor and is helpful in legal matters.

KAMBABA STONE

Magickal uses: grounding, healing, attunement to nature, protection, abundance, growth

Elemental signature: earth, water

Astrological signature: Venus; Libra, Pisces

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Maiden

Formation process: igneous

Kambaba stone’s greenish, earthy appearance suggests that it is deeply attuned to the energy of the natural world.

Kambaba stone is the name given to a variety of rhyolite found exclusively in Madagascar. These stones are occasionally called crocodile jasper, and are sometimes confused with jasper (cryptocrystalline quartz), stromatolite (fossilized blue green algae, a sedimentary rock), and nebula stone (a lightly metamorphosed igneous rock with a different appearance and composition). Kambaba stone is not a form of jasper, however, since it is rhyolitic in composition. Nevertheless it does retain some of the general properties of the jasper family such as its grounding and strengthening effects. Its chief constituents are greenish quartz, dark feldspar, cristobalite, and amphibole. The origin of its name is uncertain.

Holding kambaba stone offers immediate support and grounding. Its dense, dark appearance is the result of minerals that are rich in grounding and strengthening elements, such as iron and manganese. Crystal expert Judy Hall writes that this stone “goes right to your foundations, bringing stability—physically and of purpose.”¹⁵¹ She calls it a “deeply earthing stone” and advises that its energy will harmonize you with the rhythm of the natural world.¹⁵² For this reason it can be surmised that kambaba stone is intimately connected to the energy of the Earth Mother.

Kambaba stone, as a formation of igneous rhyolite, can be used to invoke the Maiden of Stone, Ignea, too. The primordial look and feel of this stone evokes the memory of planet Earth in its primitive, youthful state. The vesicular structure of kambaba stone resembles the structure of living cells; though it does not contain the fossilized remains of once-living organisms, it does convey the energy of the ancient earth through its structure. In meditation with this igneous rock, I see glimpses of early life evolving, as well as images of living processes unfolding at the cellular level. Kambaba stone represents the primordial body of Earth-as-Goddess in her still-growing phase. This is the very energy of the Maiden, who is still maturing and developing, on her way to becoming the Mother.

Melody, author of the beloved Love Is in the Earth series, connects the energy of kambaba stone to the mother goddess Cybele, as well as to the gods and goddesses of Sumeria.¹⁵³ She suggests that this rock formation is an ideal resource for pregnancy and childbirth, both of which are the domain of the Great Mother. The patterns on this stone can be interpreted as womblike structures, thereby enriching this stone with the Mother’s energy. Its greenish, earthy appearance also suggests that this stone is deeply attuned to the energy of the natural world of the Earth Mother. It helps us live within the cycles of natural time and therefore leads us to become more aware children of the Mother.

Kambaba can ignite the fires of transformation to help with your own growth. It is a stone that straddles the divide between the Maiden and the Mother, awakening the primordial directive that lies dormant within the cellular memory of the Maiden. This ancient memory holds all the wisdom needed to become the Mother. Kambaba stone can usher in your own development in a similar fashion, stirring ancestral memories stored in your body. It can initiate the process of healing as well as impart good judgment by helping you trust your instincts.

In magick, kambaba stone offers support and attunement to the natural cycles. It has an earthy energy, but with traces of the water element, which fosters the energy of growth and stability in your magickal workings. Use it for abundance, healing, and protection, as well as for synchronizing with the seasonal celebrations of the sabbats and esbats. Meditating with or wearing kambaba stone can also promote a deeper understanding of astrology, as it is an art centered around the cycles of the stars and planets. This stone can be placed on your altar during Beltane (May 1) to symbolize the Great Rite and the marriage of the Divine Feminine with the Divine Masculine—the moment that transforms the Maiden into the Mother. Use it in spells to seek the truth, as it will awaken your latent instincts and help you trust your intuition.

KUNZITE

Magickal uses: love, forgiveness, relaxation, joy, peace, household harmony

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Pluto, Venus, Mercury; Libra, Scorpio, Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Love, Underworld Queen

Formation process: igneous

Kunzite is the name given to pink-to-purple spodumene. This mineral was first identified in 1902 and named after American mineralogist George Frederick Kunz. Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral, a lithium aluminum silicate. Like other varieties of spodumene, kunzite exhibits a strong pleochroism, an optical phenomenon that causes it to appear in different colors from different angles. Kunzite’s pinkish hue is derived from trace amounts of manganese. It is mined in Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and in California, in San Diego County.

Kunzite has become a gemstone emblematic of the New Age. It represents unconditional love, and it helps propel the heart toward union with the Divine. Kunzite’s color palette, which includes pink, lilac, orchid, and magenta, suggests that this stone spiritualizes love; these colors, which unite pink with violet, represent love and spirituality. We can use this stone as a talisman of unconditional love that eases heartache, initiates deep forgiveness, and invites a serene peace in all matters.

Kunzite on a bed of lavender—together they invite deep peace into the home.

The discovery of kunzite seemingly presages the discovery of Pluto, and it has often been assigned to this planet by astrologers and crystal healers alike. Pluto is named after the god of the underworld who took Persephone as his bride. This mythic cycle not only describes the passage of the seasons, it also represents the growth and maturation process that occurs when we dig deep into our shadow side. Kunzite helps us plumb the depths of our psyche to find hidden opportunities for forgiveness and love. It is the gemstone that prepares the heart center for the spiritual journey that comes with the descent of the goddess Persephone (Kore) into the underworld. By engaging in this work of unconditional love, we can claim our sovereignty, just as Persephone is crowned as Hades’s queen.

Kunzite is used in crystal healing to elevate the awareness of love, helping us shift from self-love to Divine love, from limited love to unconditional love. Kunzite opens the heart to the experience of authentic joy and liberation, which enables us to embrace the changing times. As a stone of the Divine Feminine, it represents the new facets of the Goddess emerging in today’s world. Since kunzite is a relatively recent discovery, there is no ancient lore or magick related to this stone. Instead, we are invited to connect to it and receive its heart-centered wisdom as we adapt to the ever-evolving world.

LAPIS LAZULI

Magickal uses: intuition, sovereignty, vision, truth, wisdom, star magick, meditation, love, fidelity, healing, protection, success in court, courage, self-mastery, rebirth, karmic healing

Elemental signature: air, water, spirit

Astrological signature: Jupiter, Venus, Saturn; Aquarius, Sagittarius, Capricorn

Goddess archetypes: Queen of Heaven, Stellar Goddess, Great Mother, Mistress of Magick, Dark Goddess, the Fates, Goddess of Love

Formation process: metamorphic

Lapis lazuli, dubbed “heavenly stone,” is a metamorphic rock predominantly composed of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite, with dozens of accessory minerals in varying amounts. Fine pieces of this gemstone resemble the night sky: swirls of white calcite clouds and nebulae, scattered pyrite stars, and an expanse of blue lazurite. The majority of lapis lazuli on today’s market is found in the Badakhshan Mountains in Afghanistan, although the stone is also found in Pakistan, Chile, and in Colorado in the United States.

Lapis lazuli is one of the most precious and revered gemstones of the ancient world. From its resemblance to the celestial sphere it has gathered countless associations with the gods and goddesses of many cultures. Offerings of lapis made to goddesses have been uncovered throughout the Middle East, and lapis is often seen adorning their iconic representations.

The royal blue hue of lapis lazuli represents sovereignty and stewardship. This may be one of the reasons that it is associated with the planet Jupiter (named for the ruler of the Roman pantheon). Lapis represents the primacy of the eternal Goddess—the Great Mother in all her guises. It is worn to bestow her blessings of health, love, protection, and wisdom. Lapis also confers a Jupiterian sense of mastery and rulership over your life. Wearing lapis brings wisdom and allows you to expand your visionary skills, both in the sense of seeing clearly and in bringing the creative force necessary to be a visionary thinker or artist.

Lapis lazuli is one of the most revered stones of the ancient world.

Of the many goddesses with which lapis is associated, most are representations of the Mother and the Queen of Heaven archetypes. Lapis lazuli figures into the myths of Isis, Inanna/Ishtar, and other Mother figures. Isis is often seen depicted in lapis carvings, frequently holding the infant Horus. This iconographic display is sometimes referred to as the “throne of Horus”; in later Judeo-Christian lore the throne of Jehova (YHVH) would be carved from this same celestial gem. Hathor, another goddess associated with motherhood in Egypt, is sometimes referred to as “Mistress of Lapis Lazuli,”¹⁵⁴ though this epithet may be conflated with her association with malachite or turquoise (see the entries for both in this chapter).

As a stone of truth, lapis lazuli is connected to the Egyptian goddess Ma’at. Judges and other administrators of justice in Egypt would wear a lapis lazuli pendant carved with the likeness of Ma’at on a golden chain.¹⁵⁵ Lapis would later be associated with the Roman personification of justice, the goddess Iustitia (or Justicia, “Lady Justice”). These goddesses are embodiments of divine law, and working with them—such as by wearing, carrying, or meditating with lapis—can inspire us to uphold the cosmic principle of divine law in our own lives, imparting a sense of egalitarian fairness and a desire to seek the truth.

In Sumerian and Babylonian mythology the mythic cycle of the descent of Inanna/Ishtar into the underworld is rich with lapis lazuli symbolism. In these myths, Inanna is the proud owner of a finely wrought lapis lazuli necklace. It was given to her by Anu, a sky god and punisher of the wicked. After the Great Flood of Sumerian mythos, Inanna lifts her necklace skyward as a symbol of what has transpired and intones, “O ye gods here present, by the lapis lazuli round my neck I shall remember these days as I remember the jewels of my throat; these last days I shall not forget.”¹⁵⁶ This myth is the likely source for the later biblical account of the Great Flood, in which the rainbow is analogous to Ishtar’s necklace of lapis lazuli.

In the myth of Inanna, this Great Mother figure is tasked with descending to the underworld after the death of her consort in order to meet Ereshkigal, Inanna’s older sister and the Underworld Goddess. Ereshkigal is described as sleeping in a palace of lapis lazuli (sometimes beneath a mountain of the heavenly stone); she “ruled the wilderness at the world’s end, surrounded by rainbow gardens.”¹⁵⁷ Ereshkigal’s palace of lapis is surrounded by seven gates (also presumably made of lapis), and to pass through each traveler must leave behind an article of clothing. Passing through each of these gates, Inanna must leave behind a garment, until all that remains is her beloved necklace of lapis lazuli, which she must lay down in order to pass beyond the seventh and final gate. Once there, she stands naked before her sister. The sacrifice of her precious jewels is part of her otherworldly journey. Those who make the journey to the underworld must divest themselves of all links to worldly living; by giving up her lapis necklace, Inanna is willing to surrender her sovereignty to the Underworld Goddess.

Here, lapis lazuli connects to both the bright and the dark aspects of the Great Goddess. Though described as sisters, Inanna and Ereshkigal are really two sides of the same coin, linked by their lapisladen imagery. Inanna occupies the roles of Great Mother, Queen of Heaven, and Lunar Goddess. In the myth of Inanna, the descent to the underworld to meet Ereshkigal echoes the widespread ancient belief that the moon (and sun, for that matter) journeyed through the land of the dead to be regenerated after its trek across the sky. Inanna oversees the moon’s journey through her celestial realm, replete with its starry backdrop; Ereshkigal’s lapis lazuli palace, with its pyrite “stars” and calcite “clouds,” mirrors the skyward journey of the lunar orb during its underworld mission.

Since lapis lazuli is both Inanna’s offering and Ereshkigal’s sanctum, we can use this stone to facilitate contact with these deities and their corresponding archetypal currents. Lapis lazuli is a stone of regeneration and resurrection, enabling us to reinvent and rebirth ourselves; it is the midwife of the shaman’s rebirth, granting safe passage through the liminal zones of nonordinary reality.

Another Sumerian goddess, Sîr, is connected to lapis lazuli in the mythological record. Sîr is the goddess of beer, a beverage referred to as the “drink of the mountains” by the Sumerian people.¹⁵⁸ Perhaps the mountainous moniker for this fermented beverage is derived from the symbolism of being brewed in a lapis cauldron, the rough stone of which would have been mined high in the mountains of Sumeria (modern-day southern Iraq). The lapis cauldron symbolizes the alchemical process of fermentation, thus connecting both Sîr and her gemstone with the Mistress of Magick archetype.

Lapis lazuli is also considered sacred to the goddesses Aphrodite and Venus. Apart from the oft-cited astrological correspondence between lapis and the planet of love, this gemstone exhibits several traits associated with the Goddess of Love. The Egyptians used ultramarine pigment derived from crushed lapis as a cosmetic, and in the Middle Ages lapis lazuli was used to enhance beauty, as it “guaranteed an abundance of curly hair.”¹⁵⁹ It is used in spells for love, fidelity, and trust. Lapis lazuli also harmonizes the heart and mind, enabling them to work together as a unified force by quelling any opposition between them.

The most obvious symbolism of lapis lazuli comes from its sidereal appearance. Gazing into a piece of fine lapis evokes the same feeling as staring into the expanse of space, thus it is the stone par excellence for tapping into the archetype of the Stellar Goddess. Naturally, lapis lazuli is associated with the Egyptian goddess Nuit, whose iconography depicts her nude, revealing her ultramarine skin bedecked with golden stars. This connection to the Stellar Goddess goes beyond Nuit, though. Ereshkigal shares some celestial traits with other star goddesses despite her home in the underworld; she is sometimes referred to as “Star of Lamentation.”¹⁶⁰ In lapis’s associations with Aphrodite and Venus, we find yet another stellar correspondence, as the planet Venus is called both Morning Star and Evening Star. Thus, goddesses associated with Venus are in their own rights stellar figures.

Occultist David Rankine calls lapis lazuli the stone of the “Cosmic Goddess,”¹⁶¹ describing it as a stone of great magickal power. Use this heavenly gem in rituals to connect with Nuit or any other Stellar Goddess figure. It is ideal as an offering made to her, or it can be worn in ritual to deepen your connection to her. Crystal therapists Jorg Nagler and Andreas Guhr go so far as to connect lapis lazuli with the theme of fate and destiny, “as stars are believed to guide human fate.”¹⁶² Surely the art and science of astrology and astronomy are closely connected to the domain of the Stellar Goddess, and lapis lazuli facilitates the study of these disciplines.

Even in Christianity lapis lazuli has been connected to the Divine Feminine. It was said to represent the purity and chastity of the Virgin Mary,¹⁶³ and ultramarine pigment derived from this stone was frequently used to paint her robes in depictions of this Mother figure. In these paintings Mary is often seen holding the Christ child in her lap, an image reminiscent of Isis in her role as “Throne of Horus.” Near my home in central Florida there is a Catholic shrine devoted to Mary as Queen of the Universe; one of the chapels has stained-glass windows of deep ultramarine blue decorated with stars and galactic swirls. Whenever I visit, the light pouring through this room reminds me of lapis lazuli, and I feel the presence of the Stellar Goddess as embodied in Mother Mary.

Lapis lazuli may be one of the most sacred stones of the Divine Feminine. It has gathered many magickal uses over the thousands of years of its use, including protection, healing, vision, love, fidelity, joy, and courage. From its connection to the goddesses Ma’at and Iustitia (or Justicia), lapis lazuli can be employed in workings related to justice and truth; use it for legal assistance and for winning court cases—just be sure that the truth is on your side!

In women, lapis lazuli is a healer appropriate for our times. Its regal color inspires courage, sovereignty, and right use of will in both women and men. For women in particular it helps them compete in any male-dominated workforce. This stone is also a gentle and effective healing stone for conditions associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and sexuality. Several sources list it as an important tool in recovering from sexual abuse, harassment, rape, and incest, and I have found it helpful for all people in such instances, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Lapis lazuli is a powerful magickal talisman. It enhances and supports all ritual endeavors and helps to train the mind. Lapis is one of the premier stones of mental mastery, and it facilitates the attainment of altered states of consciousness. Use it to increase psychic awareness and enhance intuition, as well as for promoting deeper and more insightful meditation. Lapis lazuli increases your ability to focus and decreases the background chatter in the mind. Lapis has long been fashioned into eye-shaped talismans and amulets as a result of its association with clear vision. The ultramarine eye shadow of the Egyptians may have even enhanced their spiritual sight.

Wearing or working with lapis can prepare you for deep, shamanic work. It is an excellent stone to wear prior to or during rites of initiation and transformation. Lapis has many powerful gifts for humankind; we can use it to rebirth ourselves and to rebirth the Divine Feminine to usher in a new chapter of planetary healing and growth.

LARIMAR

Magickal uses: peace, emotional healing, cleansing, confidence, communication, attuning to the Goddess

Elemental signature: water, fire

Astrological signature: Moon, Neptune; Cancer, Pisces

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Ocean Mother

Formation process: igneous

Larimar is a rare form of blue pectolite, a silicate mineral found in igneous rocks in the Dominican Republic. The name pectolite derives from the Greek, meaning “compact stone,” referring to the compact, needlelike fibers in which its crystals form. Larimar is a compound of the name of the discoverer’s daughter, Larissa, and the Spanish word for sea, mar. The color ranges from white to soft blue and bluish green like the Caribbean, where it is found exclusively. The bluish hues are due to copper substituting for calcium in pectolite’s composition.

Larimar was called “blue stone” by the native people of the Dominican Republic. It was found in 1974 along the coast, where it had washed out of its mountainous source by a river and formed an alluvial deposit along the shore. The indigenous people believed that this stone was a gift of the sea. For this reason it has a longstanding connection to the archetype of the Ocean Mother.

Whenever I reflect on larimar I feel the overwhelming presence of Yemayá, the supernal Mother of the Yoruba pantheon. Ruler of the sea, she is beloved among the people of the Caribbean. Yemayá’s primary colors are blue and white, which constitute the main color scheme of this tropical gemstone. This deity is a charismatic force of nature; she is beautiful, motherly, wise, and a talented magick-maker and healer. Yemayá is also the mother of the Yoruba pantheon, and though married in some tellings, she is frequently described as independent. Larimar can similarly help us find this same balance of tender love and fiery self-confidence. Robert Simmons, writer on metaphysical subjects and founder of the annual Crystal Conference, describes this Caribbean beauty: “As a stone which connects one to the Goddess energies of Sea and Sky, Larimar helps women who wear or use it to awaken to the Divine Feminine within. It emanates vivaciousness and good humor, accompanied by confidence and a sense of one’s innate power. It helps women call upon the goddess within, in order to fully manifest their highest purpose in life.”¹⁶⁴

Larimar joins the symbols of Yemayá on this simple altar.

Owing to its oceanic color and volcanic birth, larimar is perhaps the best mediator between the energies of water and fire. For this reason it is one of the preeminent stones for cooling anger, unwinding tension, and settling an overactive or worried mind. Larimar reminds us that all situations eventually change, just as the ebb and flow of the tides. Rather than get worked up over stressful situations, this gemstone asks us to simply allow life to flow. In doing so we will feel more relaxed and peaceful, as if we are cradled in the arms of the ocean.

Because larimar is an igneous rock it can be used to facilitate contact with Ignea, the Maiden of Stone. Larimar embodies the carefree and capricious beauty of the Maiden, all the while bringing whimsy and happiness wherever it is placed.

In magick, larimar helps you refrain from overthinking the outcome of your workings. Magick follows the path of least resistance, just like water flowing downhill. One of the downfalls of many a witch or occultist is needlessly worrying about how a spell or ritual will turn out. Larimar puts your mind at ease and helps release any attachment to outcomes. It allows you to take a step back so that you aren’t impeding the energy of your spells. This gem also helps you avoid unnecessary manipulation of people and events. Larimar allows you to let go and allow the magick to run its course.

Larimar stimulates the actions of cleansing and release. It can be made into a crystal elixir (via indirect methods, due to its copper content and crystal structure), which can be used to cleanse yourself or your space before ritual. Larimar can be placed on your altar to represent the element of water, and wearing it can help you cultivate a relationship with Yemayá. Larimar is a stone par excellence for communication. It facilitates sincere expression and reopens closed lines of communication. Holding it in meditation or wearing it during ritual can facilitate contact with the gods and spirits, as it evokes your genuine desire to connect with these spiritual powers.

Larimar is a versatile healing stone that offers its loving support to magickal workings. Call on its aid when you need motherly, nurturing energy or when you seek attunement to the energy of the Goddess herself.

LEPIDOLITE

Magickal uses: peace, healing, love, intuition, sleep, luck, protection

Elemental signature: water, air

Astrological signature: Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus; Aquarius, Pisces

Goddess archetype: Crone

Formation process: igneous

Lepidolite is a popular stone for emotional balance.

A member of the mica group, lepidolite is found as grainy masses, botryoidal formations, and as platy stacks of crystals in a classical mica formation. Its color ranges from silvery, pink, lilac, and purple, to the rarer forms of golden, yellow, and lime green. It is rich in lithium and rubidium, which serve as the source of its pink to purple colors.

Largely due to its lithium content, lepidolite is extremely soothing to the emotions. It can calm anger, worry, and tension; it is one the most frequently recommended stones for anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. It is considered a stone of peace, as it invites serenity wherever it is kept. I love to sleep with a small piece of polished lepidolite beneath my pillow, as it makes for a more restful night of sleep, with fewer instances of bad dreams and nightmares.

Years ago, a friend called lepidolite “the grandmother stone,” and this nickname has stuck. Its energy is soft, feminine, and loving, evoking the gentle, grandmotherly aspect of the Crone. This stone confers a certain amount of poise and grace, and it feels exceedingly wise at the same time. It reminds me of a tribal elder, a respected grandmother who has learned the secrets to happiness from a long and occasionally difficult life. She imparts her wisdom to the younger generations, hoping that they will grow into well-adjusted adults who will perpetuate that wisdom for years to come.

Lepidolite also represents the state of surrender. When your life becomes turbulent, this stone helps you respond with grace, teaching you when to accept what cannot be changed instead of trying to swim upstream. As a form of mica, lepidolite teaches the lesson of flexibility, showing you how to bend without breaking. Lepidolite is a soothing balm during times of transition, upheaval, and emotional turmoil. Its energy is like a comforting hug from your grandmother that soothes all troubles.

Because this gemstone links to the energy of the Crone, it can facilitate psychic development. It is especially helpful for revealing answers through your dreams. It also helps you achieve the meditative state, first by releasing tension, and then by elevating your consciousness and opening the door to the spiritual plane. In meditation, lepidolite can provide wise counsel from the Crone as well as remind you to hand your problems over to her so that she can take care of them on your behalf.

Lepidolite can be used for luck and protection, as it invites the blessings of the Goddess in her form as the grandmother. Carrying or wearing it is gently protective, and it can also be used to attract love. Lepidolite can be especially helpful for those who have difficulty connecting to the Crone or to the darker aspects of the Goddess, for it will reveal that her fierceness is the product of her love and wisdom.

MALACHITE

Magickal uses: love, healing, regeneration, success, power, protection, leadership, fertility

Elemental signature: fire

Astrological signature: Venus, Sun; Taurus, Libra, Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Solar Goddess, Goddess of Love, Earth Mother, Queen of Heaven, Mother Goddess

Formation process: sedimentary

Malachite is a green carbonate of copper that forms via secondary processes in the oxidation zone of copper deposits. It often forms banded masses, tabular or bladed crystals, and fibrous formations with a velvety luster. Closely related to azurite, malachite often grows in close proximity to its indigo-colored sister, and the one can replace the other through a process called pseudomorphism. Malachite is mined today in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Mexico, and the American Southwest. It was once the primary source of copper ore in the ancient world and was mined prolifically in the Ural Mountains of Russia, the British Isles, and Israel.

Malachite, as an ore of copper, is one of the primary stones associated with the planet Venus. It is thus associated with goddesses of many cultures, such as archetypes of the Goddess of Love, the Great Mother, and the Earth Mother. Legends surrounding malachite purport that it was once used for protection during travel and for ensuring the safety of children, and kabbalistic tradition asserts that it is helpful during pregnancy and childbirth—all of which are the domain of the Mother Goddess. Rosarius, an anonymous fourteenth-century manuscript from the Dominican order, attributes malachite to the Virgin Mary, thus extending this gem’s connection to the Divine Feminine in the Christian era.¹⁶⁵

The soothing shades of green that characterize malachite frequently connect it to the earth in myth and lore. The name of this gemstone is derived from the Greek word malache, meaning “mallow,” for its verdant shades were likened to that of the mallow plant. It is a gently grounding stone with a soothing effect on the physical body. As its green color betokens the body of Mother Earth, malachite can be employed on our own earthly vessels, and it is especially helpful for healing. Malachite draws out illness and teases out pain from the body and the spirit. Traditional cures utilize malachite for the healing of open wounds, stopping blood, warding off infectious disease, strengthening the digestive system, and easing menstrual pain.

Among inhabitants of the Ural Mountains in Russia, malachite was dedicated to the Mistress of the Copper Mountain in Slavic folk tradition, a “personification of Venus whose rather ambiguous favors brought either bad or good luck to the malachite miners” of the region.¹⁶⁶ Though associated with Venus as the Goddess of Love, this mountain mother was probably a holdover of the Earth Mother from pre-Christian folk traditions. Malachite was her holy stone, and the folklore of this region purports that in some cases taking the stone brought bad luck, whereas in other times it granted good fortune. Most likely those miners who treated the abode of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain with respect were able to receive her gifts with grace, whereas those who acted otherwise were punished for their mistakes.

A malachite sphere is the perfect symbol of the Mother Goddess.

Malachite was commonly used in Egypt. Its most frequent use was as a pigment that adorned the walls of temples and embellished papyri and statues alike. Powdered malachite was also employed as a pigment for cosmetics, usually used around the eyes. This has led modern-day occultists to associate malachite with clear vision,^*20 and it is sometimes used to improve visualization skills and support clairvoyance. To the ancient Egyptians, the color green symbolized renewal, and malachite was used to paint scenes of the afterlife, wherein the soul is reborn in paradise. This celestial link may have also afforded malachite its protective influence. It was thought that malachite, when engraved with the sun, would confer “powerful protection against enchantments, evil spirits, and venomous creatures.”¹⁶⁷

This use hints at the solar energy imbued within this striking green gem. In Egypt, the sun was viewed as both masculine and feminine. Malachite, for its coppery nature, embodies the female aspect of the sun-as-deity, thus it is sacred to the Egyptian solar goddess Hathor. Stephanie Woodfield, a practicing witch and Celtic priestess, writes, “Hathor was also called the Lady of the Malachite, acting as a patroness of those who mined for the semi-precious stones and also referring to her role as a goddess of beauty, as malachite was ground up and mixed with makeup that was worn around the eyes. Although this probably says more about her role as a goddess of beauty, it is interesting that the stone she is connected to was used in connection with the eyes.”¹⁶⁸

The myths of sun goddesses are often peppered with images of eyes and light. Malachite, when polished, frequently reveals concentric bands reminiscent of eyes. This may account for part of this stone’s solar symbolism. Malachite was also used to avert the evil eye through acts of sympathetic magick—like fighting fire with fire. Because of malachite’s eyelike patterns it has also been connected with the goddess Juno. As the wife of Jupiter, Juno was the matriarch of the pantheon. Sacred to this goddess is the peacock, a bird with emerald-hued plumage and countless eye patterns on its tail feathers. Thus malachite became her stone, as it represents her favorite animal. Use malachite to invoke Juno for matters related to childbirth, fertility, motherhood, and protection. Juno also preserves the dynamic and more stereotypically masculine themes of leadership, politics, and power; malachite thus enables you to embody the full spectrum of Juno’s rulership.

In magickal workings, malachite can be used for the Venusian aims of love, romance, fidelity, and peace. Added to love sachets it harmonizes polar energies, helping to bring peace and balance in relationships. When used in meditation or ritual it helps to reclaim lost power and reestablish the primacy of the Great Goddess today. In Western occult traditions malachite is the stone of the vernal equinox, known as Ostara to many modern witches and pagans, and it can be used to evoke the springtide goddess during ritual observance of this holy day.

Malachite is both nurturing and protective; it has a fiery quality that illumines workings to uncover the source of negative energy or crossed circumstances in your life. Wearing malachite can deflect the energy of negative magick, while meditating on this green stone can help reveal the source of this magick. The lore of this stone states that to warn of impending calamity, malachite will break into pieces. Although most broken stones are merely the result of mundane events, the energy of this stone can help you pick up on challenging events intuitively. It is most adept at protecting children and their mothers because of its connection to the Great Mother.

Because of its green color, malachite is frequently used to attract wealth and promote success in business endeavors. Scott Cunningham considers it the “salesperson’s stone,” and he recommends placing it in the corners of your place of business or even keeping it in the cash register to ensure a steady flow of income by drawing in customers.¹⁶⁹ The copper content in this stone also lends itself to the financial aspects of malachite’s modern-day crystal lore, for many coins worldwide are made of this metal. Copper also facilitates connection, as described in its entry in this chapter.

Malachite is a versatile tool of healing and magick. It aligns the conscious and unconscious to enhance the right use of will, which makes it a potent catalyst of manifestation. Malachite can sharpen your focus and help you channel power into your workings, thereby empowering any magickal working in which it is employed. Keep it on your altar to promote success in all your spiritual endeavors.

MOONSTONE

Magickal uses: psychic development, protection, safe travel, love, youth, sleep, astral projection, emotional balance, glamourie

Elemental signature: water (varies by type)

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer (varies by type)

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, Triple Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Moonstone is a long-revered magickal gemstone whose name is derived from its lunar appearance. Moonstone comes in several varieties, all of which are members of the feldspar group. Most moonstone is adularia (a variety of orthoclase feldspar), while rainbow moonstone is actually oligoclase (in the plagioclase feldspar group). Each variety has a somewhat variable composition, as feldspars are groups of closely related mineral species whose compositions vary only slightly. Adularian moonstone can be white, pinkish, gray, black, brown, yellow, or peach; the finest examples of adularia are transparent and exhibit a bluish sheen. Rainbow moonstone has a white background with a multicolor sheen. These varieties of moonstone are listed below this general entry for the mineral. Notable deposits of moonstone are located in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar, India, Brazil, Madagascar, Australia, Switzerland, and the United States.

Moonstone is best known for its optical phenomena, chiefly its schiller (German for “twinkle”), the milky glow that appears below the surface of a polished stone. This shimmer or flash is thought to resemble moonlight reflecting on the surface of water, thus accounting for moonstone’s name. This effect, termed adularescence in moonstone (or labradorescence in rainbow moonstone) is the result of lamellae—layers of the mineral’s crystal structure bonded or laminated together—with minor variations in chemical makeup affecting the refractive indices of these minerals; as light passes through the stone, it is bounced off of the separate layers in the crystal structure.

 

Moonstone is commonly available in various shades.

The characteristic glow of moonstone is not unlike that of the moon itself. Optically, the moon produces no light of its own; rather, it reflects the light of the sun. However, from the spiritual perspective, the moon not only reflects the sun’s light, it enhances it. As sunlight is transformed into moonlight, it softens and grows silvery. Like the luminary from which its name is derived, moonstone produces no light of its own accord. Its twinkle is only witnessed in the presence of light from an external source. Also, like the moon, this gemstone takes ordinary light and makes it extraordinary. The shimmering radiance that emerges from the depths of moonstone can appear silvery, golden, or bluish depending on the stone’s makeup. In this way, moonstone undertakes an act of high magick—the alchemy of light itself.

Moonstone has been employed for ornamental and magickal uses for at least four thousand years. Much of the lore surrounding this stone connects it to the moon and to lunar goddesses. There are beliefs recorded in medieval lapidary texts about the schiller in these gemstones waxing and waning with the moon itself. Some cultures believed that moonstone is congealed moonlight, while others believed that certain lunar events would cause the ocean’s tides to carry this stone to shore. Because of these associations, moonstone is inextricably linked to the rhythm and cycles of life itself. Just as the moon has its own cycle, so too does all of nature. Moonstone helps us live within the divine timing of the natural world and therefore helps us become closer to the Great Goddess in all her forms, for she is the embodiment and personification of the natural order of the universe.

Traditional lore about moonstone often connects it to fluid retention, the menstrual cycle, and pregnancy; each of these is the domain of the moon in medical astrology. Moonstone is thus worn to promote health and well-being during pregnancy, as well as to alleviate discomfort associated with menstruation. This lunar gemstone is associated with the feminine mystery of transformation and creating life. Since human memory, the power to bring new life into the world has been assigned to the domain of the Great Mother, thus making moonstone one of her chief gems. It is especially sacred to such moon goddesses as Diana, Artemis, Selene, Luna, Hekate, and others. Moonstone is often worn by modern-day witches and occultists to help attune to the moon and lend its strength and sensitivity to moon magick.

The energy of the moon rules divination, prophecy, and dreams, and moonstone is adept at facilitating these skills. It was long thought to protect against deception by helping its bearer find the hidden truth. Wearing moonstone can heighten your psychic sensitivity and enhance your divinatory methods, whether by clairvoyance, crystal-gazing, tarot, or other means. Meditating with moonstone can improve your visualization and part the veil between the worlds, thereby facilitating astral travel. Wearing this gem to bed or placing it under the pillow can improve sleep and intensify your dreams.

Moonstone of all varieties is considered a protective gem. Just as the Mother Goddess watches over her children, moonstone is said to provide guidance and security to anyone who wears it. This gemstone was once known as the “traveler’s stone” because it has been used for safe passage; since the moon travels through the twelve houses of the zodiac, its gemstone emissary was believed to confer protection when its wearer left home. And since the moon is ascribed to the element of water in astrology, moonstone is considered most effective for protection during travel across water.

Moonstone is the stone most commonly associated with the Goddess in all her guises. As it helps to balance feminine energies, women may find it to be a very empowering gemstone. Men too can enjoy its benefits, for moonstone will help them tap into their inner feminine and help erode the social conditioning that leads to toxic masculinity. Moonstone can help you draw strength from your emotions, as well as find forgiveness for yourself and for others. Wearing or carrying moonstone can be nourishing to your emotional well-being and can magnify buried emotions and diminish overemotional states. The watery elemental correspondence helps to release blockages and facilitates sincere communication.

In magickal workings, moonstone can be added to pouches and amulets for protective purposes. It can also be stored with tarot decks, oracle cards, pendulums, and other methods of divination to enhance their efficacy. Moonstone can be made into a water- or oil-based essence to attract love and enhance beauty, as well as for attuning to the Goddess.

Black Moonstone

Magickal uses: protection, psychic development, exploring the mysteries, shadow work, healing, glamourie

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Moon, Saturn, Pluto; Cancer, Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Crone, Dark Mother, Lunar Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Black moonstone is a variety of adularia, and its color ranges from gray to black. This has rapidly become my favorite variety of moonstone. These darkest members of the moonstone family are usually associated with the waning and new moon; accordingly, they are also connected to the Crone archetype, like the Cailleach, and to other dark goddesses such as Hekate. Black moonstone improves your intuition and offers profound protection. This gemstone is mostly mined in Brazil, Madagascar, and India, though other deposits exist worldwide.

Black moonstone is my favorite stone for connecting to Hekate, who rules magick and witchcraft.

Within the heart of this gem there is a profound stillness and wisdom; meditate with it whenever you find yourself needing counsel or guidance. Black moonstone helps you plumb the depths of your psyche to find stale patterns in need of release. The darker the moonstone, the more it focuses on the action of letting go. These gemstones can act as windows to the subconscious mind, helping you see the underpinnings of a specific belief or emotional pattern. Black moonstone partners well with peach moonstone to help expose and release the energies no longer serving you.

This stone’s inky-black depths and prismatic fractures reach across its natural cleavage planes. These imperfections create a stark contrast between the dark background color and the resplendence of its rainbow-colored iridescence. Because moonstone emphasizes the natural cycles and rhythms of life, black moonstone reminds us that the winding-down and waning phases of life prepare us for new beginnings. If we lose sight of the bigger pattern we can get bogged down by the minutia of endings. To me, black moonstone, with its iridescent fractures, seems to be reminding us that even in the darkest moments we must maintain hope, because there is always the promise of a fresh start—sometimes we just need a dark phase to find respite and regeneration.

Though black moonstone represents the dark of the moon and the energy of the waning moon, the gray variety is the stone of the new moon.¹⁷⁰ It helps to magnify your intention to call forth what you seek from the cosmic void, so that you can build your magick and manifestation with the growth of the moon. Use gray moonstone as an adjunct to your manifestation spells and during new moon rituals.

Black and gray moonstone are both tools of glamourie, the magickal art of changing how your appearance is perceived. Empower one of these stones in your sacred space for the glamourie of your choosing—they are most adept at either appearing more imposing or for going unnoticed. Carry this moonstone with you wrapped in cloth or tied in a pouch to prevent it from being seen or touched by anyone else.

A pendant of black moonstone is a powerful protective charm. It can envelop your energy field in the cloak of the Crone, who will guide you and protect you from harm. Its energy can avert discordant energies sent your way, intentionally or not, as well as rebound them to the sender. The influence of this stone is helpful for rites of banishing, binding, and uncrossing, and an essence of black moonstone can be used to undo curses, jinxes, and other forms of negative magick.

Peach Moonstone

Magickal uses: love, beauty, youthfulness, emotional balance, devotion, reassurance, healing for children, self-esteem, sexuality

Elemental signature: water, fire

Astrological signature: Moon

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Moon Goddess

Formation process: igneous

This peach moonstone exhibits faint chatoyance.

Peach moonstone is a form of adularia with a peach, yellow, or orangey color. Fine specimens will be transparent and can exhibit either a schiller or a cat’s-eye effect, while opaque formations have a sparkling aventurescence. Peach moonstone is also called “apricot moonstone.” It is most frequently mined in India, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar.

Peach moonstone has a soft, gentle presence. Its energy is reassuring and nourishing, especially to the heart and the emotional body of the aura. Using this gemstone can alleviate tension and worry, and it helps to sort out beliefs, emotions, and behaviors that are unsupportive of growth and healing. This variety of moonstone in particular is among the best stones for children, being especially helpful for intuitive and sensitive children.¹⁷¹ This affinity for young people in part derives from peach moonstone’s correspondence to the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess; Brigid especially resonates with peach moonstone, with its dual element of water and fire.

There is a certain energy of hope, a promise of newness and growth that is fostered by peach moonstone. Like the Maiden, peach moonstone has the brightness of a new day dawning. It helps us become more dedicated to our path, practicing sincere devotion. It can be a gentle reminder for spiritual dedicants embarking on a new path, helping them to stay committed to daily practice. This gemstone can help plant the seeds of practice that can be reaped for years to come.

Of all the members of the moonstone family, peach moonstone is perhaps the only variety to have a touch of fiery and seductive energy. It allows beauty and sensuality to blossom naturally, increasing selfesteem and positive self-image. It can free you of your fears and nudge you toward new ground. Peach moonstone is a useful addition to love spells, as it can quietly bolster your courage to break out and seek new romance. Use peach moonstone to attune to the waxing cycle of the moon or for more general lunar workings.

Rainbow Moonstone

Magickal uses: love, protection, joy, emotional release, intuition, strengthening magickal workings

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Mother, Moon Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Unlike the other members of the moonstone family, rainbow moonstone belongs to a different class of feldspar. Its name was coined in the 1980s to differentiate between the more common adularia, and it is closely related to labradorite (although contrary to popular belief, rainbow moonstone is not precisely the same, as its composition varies slightly from that of labradorite). Rainbow moonstone’s schiller is generally much brighter than that of its adularian counterparts, consisting of any combination of white, yellow, pink, orange, and purple flashes that stand out against its white background color. Rainbow moonstone is mined in India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Canada, Russia, Myanmar, Mexico, and the United States.

Rainbow moonstone is generally considered to have a more refined energy than that of other moonstones. Its resplendent schiller outshines that of most varieties, hinting at the magickal prowess this stone possesses. This level of refinement conveys the energy of the Great Mother, and the brilliance of this stone is surely reminiscent of the full moon. Thus rainbow moonstone is the high priestess of the moonstone clan, serving as the magickal intermediary between heaven and earth, human and mineral. It is one of the most beloved gemstones among witches, often sported during ritual and spellcraft, as it enhances the efficacy and finesse of your workings.

Raw and polished rainbow moonstone

With all its brilliance, rainbow moonstone bestows joy and peace wherever it is found. Like all moonstones, the rainbow variety encourages emotional balance and is especially effective at releasing stale feelings from your psyche. It also strengthens and tones the etheric body, the layer of the aura that is densest and lies closest to the physical body. It has a rejuvenating effect on the etheric body, which in turn strengthens and heals physical tissue. Rainbow moonstone can promote a youthful appearance and overall well-being, which links the stone to the Maiden.

Rainbow moonstone’s effect on the aura as a whole is rather protective and nurturing. As it nurtures the etheric body, it brings light and movement to the rest of the energy field. This strengthens the integrity of the aura, the light body, so that you are better able to resist unwanted energies from your environs. As your aura becomes more resilient, you are able to filter out negative energies, harmful thoughts, and even nonphysical entities directed toward you.

Use rainbow moonstone to enhance divinatory pursuits such as tarot, mediumship, crystal-gazing, and other methods. It opens the third eye chakra and facilitates communication of impressions gleaned through intuitive means. Rainbow moonstone can be carried, worn, or even placed on the brow in meditation to obtain these benefits. It is also a helpful adjunct to magick for healing, attunement to nature, glamourie, and love. Use it for invoking the Goddess in all her aspects, as it is one of the gemstones most connected to the Divine Feminine.

White Moonstone

Magickal uses: love, protection, patience, psychic development

Elemental signature: water, air

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer, Libra

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Lunar Goddess

Formation process: igneous

White moonstone consists of adularia, and it can have a white, gray, or bluish schiller. White moonstone connotes purity, peace, and clarity of vision. A stone of the Mother Goddess, white moonstone resonates with the themes of Isis, Inanna/Ishtar/Astarte, and other facets of the Great Mother. Since it is representative of the full moon, this gemstone can be used for workings appropriate for this lunar phase, including love, protection, attunement to the Divine Feminine, psychic development, healing, dreamwork, and magickal workings in general. White moonstone is found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar, India, Brazil, Australia, Switzerland, and the United States.

White moonstone’s schiller is reminiscent of moonlight.

White moonstone brings patience, for its motherly essence draws on the knowledge and experience of the cycles of life in all moments. It can help you take advantage of auspicious astrological events, making it a great stone for planning your magickal work in accordance with the stars and planets. Wearing white moonstone can help you attune to astrological wisdom and provide greater sensitivity to the moon’s phases and transits through the signs of the zodiac.

While most moonstones tend to be soothing and calming, white moonstone may occasionally intensify emotions, especially during the full moon. Like other moonstones it is a capable catalyst for psychic development. White moonstone is particularly adept at dreamwork, helping you examine and understand dreams of yourself and others with skill and ease. White moonstone can be used in any of the ways outlined under the general moonstone properties.

NEBULA STONE

Magickal uses: astral travel, meditation, learning, inspiration, clairvoyance, personal gnosis

Elemental signature: spirit

Astrological signature: Pluto; Scorpio, Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Stellar Goddess, Great Mother

Formation process: metamorphic and igneous

Nebula stone is a lightly metamorphosed rock of igneous origin. Found in the mountains of Mexico, it is chiefly comprised of anorthoclase (potassium-rich feldspar), quartz, epidote, riebeckite, and aegirine. Nebula stone has a black base color with greenish spherules of fibrous epidote. It is a relatively new addition to the crystal market, first appearing in the late 1990s. Its exact source has been withheld by its discoverers and marketers, who consider that information proprietary.

Nebula stone is named for its resemblance to outer space.

Nebula stone’s unique patterns—specifically the green, circular formations against a black backdrop—are reminiscent of interstellar clouds of dust. Its composition, though at first grounding, helps in reaching outward, to the heavens above. From its cosmic appearance to its consciousness-raising effects, nebula stone rightfully takes its place among the stones of the Stellar Goddess. Use it to open the portal to dreaming, astral journeying, and the mysteries of the Goddess.

This gemstone lures us into the unseen territory of the Great Mystery. It helps us embrace the unknown and ineffable, thereby leading us to a deeper relationship with the starry heavens and the queen who rules them. According to crystal expert Judy Hall, nebula stone is capable of taking us “outward into infinity and inward into the smallest particle of being. Ultimately the two become one.”¹⁷² This experience of nonduality establishes the awareness of oneness with Source. Working with nebula stone therefore helps you discover the Stellar Goddess within yourself, just as you are within her.

The spacelike appearance of nebula stone points to the raw, creative potential of the universe. Like clouds of cosmic dust coalescing into new stars and planets, nebula stone teaches us to harness our own creative potential. Naisha Ahsian writes in The Book of Stones that this stone “carries the archetype of the Great Mother. It represents the ancient and primal creative aspect of the Universe. It assists in recovering your power and using it through the process of creation.”¹⁷³ Naturally this translates to it being a potent mineral ally in your manifestation or ritual practice. Nebula stone supports all manner of spellcraft, as it empowers you to draw on your full potential for effecting change and transformation.

One of nebula stone’s gifts is innovation. It helps you break free from limiting beliefs, old programming, and out-of-date or unhealthy habits. Due to its anorthoclase content, nebula stone grants freedom from rigid and orthodox systems, especially those that impede creativity and discovery.¹⁷⁴ It is a catalyst for the rebirth of the Divine Feminine because it can help you shake off the weight of fear and the myopic worldview of the patriarchal structures that have prevailed for the last several thousand years. Nebula stone helps those working for the return of the Great Goddess find the courage needed to blaze new paths, while remaining open to receive inspiration from the Goddess herself. It can also assist in matters of injustice, helping to tilt the scales in favor of the oppressed and marginalized people of the world.

Nebula stone promotes healing at the cellular level. It is detoxifying, grounding, and enlightening to the physical body. It enhances creativity and grants access to the unseen astral realms.¹⁷⁵ It can facilitate contact with nonphysical beings such as tutelary spirits, fairy folk, ancestral spirits, and other allies. Use it in spells for justice, social reformation, and for bringing revolutionary ideas to the surface. It supports transformation on all levels, and will help you find your infinite well of inspiration and power.

OBSIDIAN

Magickal uses: protection, curse-breaking, shadow work, astral travel, psychic development, scrying, astral travel, spirit communication, manifestation

Elemental signature: fire, earth

Astrological signature: Saturn, Pluto; Capricorn, Scorpio, Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Dark Goddess, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Obsidian’s lack of crystalline structure represents the cauldron of transformation.

Obsidian is natural volcanic glass, formed as silica-rich lava cools too quickly for crystals to form. It is found worldwide in regions with volcanic activity. Though most obsidian is a stark reflective black, there are instances of reddish stones (mahogany obsidian), obsidian with iridescent inclusions (sheen obsidian and rainbow obsidian), and translucent and transparent varieties of obsidian (Apache tears, green obsidian).

Obsidian is one of my favorite subjects. As a natural glass it is an enigmatic substance, neither wholly solid nor remotely crystalline. Born of geological processes yet lacking a crystal structure, obsidian is not a true mineral; instead, it is termed a mineraloid. The earliest cultures to use this dark gemstone exploited its conchoidal (shell-like) fracture—when obsidian breaks, it leaves a sharp edge, thus this stone has been used since the Paleolithic era for cutting implements like spear points, arrowheads, knives, and scrapers. The deftness of obsidian’s edges confers a certain level of precision to its energy. Since it was used for making tools and weapons, it has an association with death and war; it connects us to the darker and more unrelenting face of the Goddess. It sharpens the essence of the warrior within, and its dark complexion reminds me of the Dark Mother. It is a vital tool for connecting with goddesses such as the Morrigan, the Cailleach, and Kali.

Obsidian is infamous for its reflective properties; as a natural glass it takes a high shine when polished. Obsidian mirrors have been uncovered in Central America and in the Anatolian Peninsula. Other cultures have used obsidian inlay to give a haunting, reflective, lifelike quality to the eyes of statues. Long used for scrying and divination, obsidian is still popular for psychic development today. Spiritually, this property of reflection is essential to uncovering hidden pain, traumas, and fears. Obsidian is one of my most beloved stone allies for selfreflection and introspection. It is an honest teacher and guide, one that shows us where to direct our efforts for spiritual growth.

Obsidian’s gleaming surface does not reflect in full color; rather, it displays a shadowy image of whatever stands before it. For this reason, obsidian is a catalyst for working with the shadow self and for making shamanic journeys to nonordinary reality. We can use it as both a mirror that reveals the interior landscape of the psyche and as a doorway to other realms. Obsidian deepens our connection to the spiritual planes and can be used to contact our nonphysical guides and teachers.

This volcanic stone is connected to goddesses of fire and creation. Thin, golden-hued fibers of obsidian that form when winds carry away still-molten lava are known as “Pele’s hair,” in reference to the Hawaiian goddess of fire, creation, and volcanoes. Obsidian represents the primal void, the blackness of space, and the cauldron of the Great Goddess. It can be used to transform, create, and heal on many levels. Since it is an igneous stone it is a prime embodiment of Ignea, the Maiden of Stone.

Thanks to its igneous birth and noncrystalline structure, obsidian can yield quick results. It releases blockages, whether they are bottled emotions or blocked chakras, sometimes with explosive results. Obsidian thus is a tool for breaking through limitations, obstacles, and setbacks. This stone can be used for rebirthing the Divine Feminine in our culture, as obsidian brings the ferocity of the battle-ready, fearsome goddesses who can push back against restrictive and oppressive institutions that devalue women.

Use obsidian for protective magick of all kinds. It can help you shield from outside influences and deflect unwanted or harmful energy. Sharp pieces of obsidian such as natural shards or man-made arrowheads can cut unwanted ties and can be used in spells for banishing, uncrossing, and cleansing. Obsidian is gently grounding and can thus lend power to any ritual or spell.

For its associations with the immaterial planes, obsidian is excellent for scrying, developing intuition, and communicating with deceased loved ones and spiritual guides and teachers. It can be used to safely facilitate astral travel (consider partnering it with flint and selenite for this purpose), and for filtering out or banishing entities that may not have your best interests in mind.

Green Obsidian

Magickal uses: love, transformation, protection, healing, prosperity

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus; Libra, Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Love Goddess, Maiden

Formation process: igneous

Most obsidian, when sliced thinly and held to the light, will exhibit a greenish or brownish color. However, appreciably rare instances of richly saturated, transparent green obsidian do occur in nature, specifically in Brazil, Mali, and the Middle East. The overwhelming majority of green obsidian sold today is actually man-made glass, which does not exhibit the spiritual qualities of authentic green obsidian.

Green obsidian from Mali

Unlike dark-colored forms of obsidian, green obsidian exhibits a heart-centered, warm energy. It is markedly gentler and more inviting than its counterparts. Green obsidian opens the heart chakra and helps to protect it from negativity. It is especially helpful for removing energetic cords and tethers from the heart chakra and preventing their reoccurrence.¹⁷⁶ The gentle, centering energy of green obsidian allows it to lovingly enjoin your heart to the heart of the Earth Mother; it links the two in perfect harmony and offers attunement to the energy of the planet.

Since this stone is clearer and more transparent than most varieties of obsidian, it offers greater light and hope as you work with it. Green obsidian contains fewer metallic elements in its composition than black obsidian; as a result, it is loftier, gentler, and somewhat less grounding. Though it connects to the element of earth, this stone does not have the settling effect that most grounding stones have. It inspires hope by releasing insecurity, and it is one of the premier stones for facilitating spiritual growth and psychic development.

Green obsidian’s action of connecting your heart to that of the Earth Mother serves to bring emotional fulfillment, healing, and inner transformation. By attuning to the rhythm of the Earth Mother’s heart, you are able to tap into the flow of infinite abundance that courses through creation. Thus this gemstone can facilitate prosperity and is an excellent tool for money-drawing magick.

Green obsidian can provide a counterpoint to the energy of the Dark Goddess that other forms of obsidian embody. Meditating with green obsidian can help you connect to the bright aspects of seasonal goddesses such as Persephone and her mother, Demeter. Its igneous origin also connects green obsidian to the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess (despite the inherent association of obsidian with the Dark Goddess and the Crone). It is an excellent means of connecting to Ignea, the Maiden of Stone, and it can be paired with black obsidian to represent Persephone in both her overworld and underworld aspects.

Use green obsidian in spellcraft for attracting love, initiating healing and transformation, and for boosting your finances. For those with strained relationships with their mothers, this stone can be a soothing balm that promotes healing and understanding. Green obsidian offers many of the same ritual benefits as other forms of obsidian, such as enhanced intuition and protection.

Midnight Lace Obsidian

Magickal uses: protection, divination, revealing the truth, meditation, trancework, personal gnosis

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Pluto; Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Dark Goddess, Goddess of Death, Crone, Mistress of Magick

Formation process: igneous

Midnight lace obsidian exhibits fine bands of opaque black and transparent gray or brown. It is also called lamellar obsidian, from the Latin lamella, meaning “plate” or “flake,” since it appears to be composed of alternating plates of dark and light glass. Midnight lace obsidian is found mostly in the Caucasus Mountains, near the Black Sea; in the United States there are deposits in Oregon.

Midnight lace obsidian displays unusual patterns when backlit.

Holding my first piece of midnight lace obsidian led me almost immediately into a trancelike reverie. Turning a thin section of this volcanic glass in the light (especially when backlit) produces a mesmerizing play of light among the bands of light and dark. What at first glance appears to be wide streaks of black obsidian are, in fact, comprised of the finest layers of black obsidian with transparent lamellae sandwiched between them. Gazing into the space between the opaque layers can induce an altered state of consciousness that leads to deeper meditation and more effective trancework, thereby helping you achieve the mindset necessary for astral travel.

The lacey veils of light and dark within this stone remind me of the veil between the worlds. This veil, also referred to as a mist or a hedge, represents the boundary between the world of form and the world of spirit. The origin of this expression lies in the personification of the natural world as the Great Goddess variously known as Isis, Artemis/Diana, and Athena; she is said to have worn a veil or mantle that no mortal had ever lifted.¹⁷⁷ This veil is meant to represent the holy mysteries and the immaterial planes. Midnight lace obsidian, chief among all the obsidians, provides the skills necessary to pierce this otherworldly veil and see the face of the Great Mother.

The energy and symbolism of midnight lace obsidian are especially attuned to the Dark Mother and the Goddess of Death. The lacy patterns are like a burial shroud or a mourner’s veil. Meditating with this natural glass can help you learn from these faces of the Goddess via personal gnosis and/or ecstatic union. Using it for ritual, trancework, or journeying (pathworking) can enable clear contact with your patron deities (especially the aforementioned archetypes) and tutelary spirits.

The contrast between light and dark in this stone tempers the usual intensity of obsidian. Rather than bleak honesty and shadow work, midnight lace obsidian has an air of gentleness. It helps you find the quiet strength, resilience, and creativity needed for solving problems.

In ritual, midnight lace obsidian can be used to trace the boundary of the circle, which in and of itself is a boundary, or veil, between the worlds. It is the perfect stone to use during Samhain or All Hallows’ Eve celebrations, for these are times when the veil is naturally at its thinnest. In spellcraft, midnight lace obsidian can be used like any other variety of obsidian; use it for protection, divination, and rites of binding, cord-cutting, and banishing. More than just a protective stone, midnight lace obsidian can go so far as to provide a cloaking effect via glamourie, preventing your magickal activities and spiritual journeys from being detected by outside influences.

Silver Sheen Obsidian

Magickal uses: psychic development, transformation, protection

Elemental signature: earth, fire

Astrological signature: Moon, Saturn; Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Crone, Lunar Goddess, Underworld Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Silver sheen obsidian is recognized by its velvety iridescence, created by tiny inclusions of gas or water or from needlelike inclusions of other minerals. These inclusions exhibit a preferential orientation that allows light to reflect off them only when the stone is held at certain angles. Most silver sheen obsidian comes from Mexico, although it can be found in other locations where obsidian is formed. In addition to a silver sheen, this variety of obsidian can be found with golden, blue, green, red, brown, or purple sheens.

Minute crystals of other minerals produce the velvety chatoyance of silver sheen obsidian.

Silver sheen obsidian is connected to the moon; the optics of this stone resemble the waxing and waning moonlight that occurs during the lunar cycle. The attractive iridescence seems to brighten or disappear altogether depending on the angle from which it is viewed. The dual nature of this stone helps us reconcile the dual nature of our existence: life and death, darkness and light, form and formlessness, love and fear. It can also be used for attuning to the rhythm of the lunar tides and for connecting to moon goddesses such as Diana or Selene.

As well, silver sheen obsidian is closely linked to Dark Goddess figures like Hekate or the wintry Crone. This stone’s energy is decidedly cooler and more introspective than most obsidians, as it embodies the receptivity of the Divine Feminine. Like all obsidian, this variety can be used for scrying, protection, and other spiritual work. It accelerates psychic development and supports the process of transformation.

OPAL

Magickal uses: protection, hope, glamourie, psychic development, transformation, astral travel, dreamwork, beauty, love, fidelity, luck, power

Elemental signature: water, spirit

Astrological signature: Moon, Neptune, Venus, Mercury; Cancer, Libra, Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Triple Goddess, Goddess of Love

Formation process: sedimentary

Opals are not crystals; rather, they are composed of amorphous spherules of silica that contain a relatively high percentage of water. Like obsidian, it is classified as a mineraloid. There are three basic types of opal: precious opal, fire opal, and common opal. Gem-quality stones with brilliant flashes of color, translucent to transparent clarity, and pronounced opalescence are known as precious opal. They have relatively ordered structures—the globes of silica in which they are comprised are more or less similar in size and shape, and water is evenly dispersed throughout the stone. Stones lacking the clarity and play of color of precious opals are called common opals. Their interior landscape is more chaotic, with silica of uneven sizes and a random distribution of water throughout. Common opals are opaque to translucent and can be found in virtually any color. The variety known as fire opals are transparent to translucent and characterized by a body color of vivid red, orange, or yellow. They generally lack a play of color, though occasionally fire opals will have a mild iridescence, especially in the form of bright green flashes. Opals are found worldwide and come in a large assortment of colors, patterns, clarity, and play of color. The following discussion relates the general properties of precious opals; the additional properties of dendritic, pink, and white opals can be found in separate entries.

Precious opal set in silver

Known as “the stone of the gods” and “the queen of gems,” the precious opal, with its extraordinary brilliance, has beguiled humankind for millennia. Accordingly, this stone has accrued many a supernatural account of its origin. To the Greek, Roman, and Arabic peoples, opals were believed to result from lightning striking the earth, resulting in their name of keraunia (Greek) or ceraunia (Latin), meaning “thunderstones.” They have also been attributed to other heavenly phenomena, such as rainbows.

There is an Indian legend that describes the formation of the first opal. In this story, the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva find themselves enamored with the same goddess (sometimes described as a goddess of rainbows, though this seems to be a Western invention). This competition degenerated into jealousy. Guhr and Nagler describe the rest of the episode in Crystal Power: Mythology and History:

However, The Eternal One was so angry at such a display of jealousy that he solved the problem by transforming the beautiful goddess into a being made of mist. However, in order that they would not completely lose her in the mist, each of her divine lovers bestowed a color upon her.

Brahma gave her his wonderful blue; Vishnu gave her a gleam of gold; and Shiva lent her glowing red. But the colourful misty form was blown apart by the wind. The Eternal One relented and showed mercy, transforming [this mist] into a stone—the iridescent precious opal, which unites within itself all the splendid colours of all the gems.¹⁷⁸

Opals reflect all three faces of the Triple Goddess. Their iridescence is like the incipient brightness of the Maiden, who shines like the sky at dawn. Favored among young women in times past, opals were used to preserve beauty and draw love, both goals within the Maiden’s domain. As a gemstone of the Mother, opals (especially white opals) express the ideal of nurturing; they have been used to protect children, and white opals are symbolically linked to mother’s milk. The amorphous structure of opals also represents the cosmic womb, the void that contains the potential for all of creation in the premanifest state. Finally, as a sedimentary stone, the opal is related to the realm of memory and time, and thus belongs to the Crone. It directs its inner light and color toward memories of the past, helping you cultivate wisdom and discernment.

The seemingly supernatural beauty of the opal connects it to the beauty of the Great Goddess herself. This gemstone has been used to promote beauty, both within and without. A curious story about opals from the Middle Ages, reported by G. F. Kunz, illustrates the connection between the stone and themes of beauty. He writes that “blond maidens valued nothing more highly than necklaces of opals, for while they wore these ornaments their hair was sure to guard its beautiful color.”¹⁷⁹ This may allude to the stone’s ancient attribution to Eros or Cupid, who was linked to Aphrodite. Aphrodite is described as being golden-haired in Homer’s Iliad, so a stone sacred to her may have been believed to preserve blond hair.

One of the opal’s more unusual virtues is that it was believed to confer invisibility to its bearer. Carrying an opal would allow the carrier to be concealed within a cloak of thick fog and would also improve eyesight; together, these two qualities made this stone popular among thieves, who would use it to aid in their nefarious work.¹⁸⁰ Among today’s crystal mystics, opal is used for astral travel and for harnessing its invisibility-granting powers, which most likely represent the veil between the worlds. In meditation or ritual the user may experience an unexpected spirit flight and find herself surrounded by the ethereal substance of the astral plane, hidden from view by those in ordinary waking consciousness.

The otherworldly and visionary properties of opal extend beyond astral travel. This gemstone was believed by the Romans to grant prophetic dreams. The Greeks used opal to support divination and prophecy. Paul Beyerl, master herbalist and Wiccan author, recommends making an elixir of opal, immersing it in water from the new moon until the full moon, and using the resulting potion for consecrating scrying mirrors and crystal balls.¹⁸¹ Meditating with an opal at the brow helps develop clairvoyance, clears the mind, and balances the emotions. Opals were once used for curing diseases of the eyes and were widely used for averting the influence of the evil eye.

Opals are transformational gemstones. Just as the colors shift as a result of minute movements, the energy of opal can help you adjust to times of change and transformation. Gazing into an opal can “open the gates of the unconscious and be a light in the darkness of becoming.”¹⁸² Because of its gifts of guidance during periods of change, we can use opal to petition Persephone. While in her overworld form of Kore, she emanates light and innocence, but transformed as Persephone, she “has found liberation through and within the darkness.”¹⁸³ Thus Persephone, like the opal, shines amid the darkness of the unknown, leading you through your own periods of uncertainty. Opals bring us the light of hope, and they foster the ability to adapt with ease.

Due to its inner fire, opal was traditionally used to ward off illness, prevent misfortune, and warn its bearer of poison. An old belief about this gem stated that whoever owned an opal could never be arrested or restrained by any bonds;¹⁸⁴ use it, therefore, in magick to prevent legal troubles or to win court cases. Claude Lecouteux writes that opals carved with magickal scripts were used to banish Hekate’s phantasms.¹⁸⁵ It remains a stone of good fortune and success, despite the common fallacy that opals bring bad luck—a lingering product of the fragility of this gem and the difficulty jewelers have in setting it.

Scott Cunningham suggests that opal is a viable substitute for virtually any other gem. He reasons that since it contains the colors of all gems, it can convey their properties too, especially when programmed with the intention of the user.¹⁸⁶ Perhaps this attests to the versatility of this stone’s energy and the high regard it has accrued through the ages. Opal is a potent gem that will enhance any magickal working.

Dendritic Opal

Magickal uses: protection, self-esteem, healing, plant magick, prosperity, manifestation

Elemental signature: water, earth

Astrological signature: Venus; Virgo

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Mistress of Magick

Formation process: sedimentary

Dendritic opals are common opals with branching inclusions—dendrites—of other minerals, usually manganese oxide. Though dendritic opals are mostly opaque and white or green in color, dendrites can occur in other varieties of opal too. White opal with black dendrites is sometimes called “merlinite,” a name given to several other rocks and minerals in today’s market. Two major sources for dendritic agate are Brazil and Madagascar, though the stone is found in many locations.

Two varieties of dendritic opal: green and white

Dendritic opals have an energy reminiscent of moss agate. They are adept at promoting new growth, both in a material and a spiritual sense. Dendritic opal can be used to deepen your connection to the green world; it provides attunement to the natural cycles of sprouting, fruiting, and harvesting. It also opens the doors to communicating with the intelligence of nature and the spirits that inhabit the natural world.

Among the opals, dendritic varieties most clearly connect to the Earth Mother in her many guises. Use them to promote stability, manifest abundance, and gently release emotional imbalances by grounding your emotional body. These opals also enhance your organizational abilities, boost self-esteem, and instill a sense of self-love.¹⁸⁷ Dendritic opals are considered strong tools for manifestation, protection, and enhancing your magickal workings.

Pink Opal

Magickal uses: love, peace, renewal

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Venus, Jupiter; Virgo, Leo, Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Goddess of Love

Formation process: sedimentary

Andean pink opal

Pink opal is a variety of common opal colored by trace amounts of manganese. It is found in Peru and Mexico, and in the United States in Oregon, Idaho, and Georgia. Andean pink opals frequently contain inclusions of palygorskite, with impurities of iron and potassium.¹⁸⁸

Pink opal is a soothing gem that helps to rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit. Melody considers it a “stone for renewal,” adding that it reestablishes the sacred relationship between the self and creation.¹⁸⁹ I find that it is especially helpful for deepening the bond between the human world and the Divine, specifically for reconnecting to the Great Goddess. Since it focuses on the theme of renewal, pink opal is a stone of the Maiden, and it is a welcome addition to springtime celebrations like Ostara (i.e., the Christian Easter).

Pink opal’s mission works primarily through the mechanism of grace. It brings relief from suffering, fear, worry, trauma, and stress by opening the heart to grace and cultivating a peaceful state of mind. It is softening, soothing, and hopeful; working with it can shed light on the karmic patterns underpinning recurring cycles in your relationships.¹⁹⁰ Use it for attracting love, promoting fidelity, and empowering yourself to enjoy pleasure and sex. This pink gem instills a sense of altruism and encourages generosity.¹⁹¹

White Opal

Magickal uses: protection, purification, success

Elemental signature: water, spirit

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Lunar Goddess

Formation process: sedimentary or igneous

White opals can be either common opals, which are an opaque-to-translucent white, or precious opals, with a pale, whitish background color and multicolored iridescence. Common opals can also have patches of hyaline opal or other mineral inclusions. They are frequently called “milk opals” and “porcelain opals.”

White opal carries connotations of purity and motherly tenderness. This gem exerts a gently purifying influence over your energy field due to its light color and water content. White opals can be used to release old emotions, detach entities and thought-forms, and clear stagnant energy.

Raw and tumbled white opal

From its nickname “milk opal,” white opal’s connection to the Mother Goddess is obvious. White opals have been associated with children, and they can be used as amulets to protect families. They emphasize the motherly themes of nurturing and growth, and they can be used for opening the door to communication with the Great Mother.

Magickally, white opal promotes purification and cleansing and encourages growth in all things. Use it for rites aimed at business success, as it will mother your endeavors and build your business acumen. White opal is especially potent at the full moon, and it can be worn during lunar ceremonies to facilitate a connection to the moon-as-Mother.

PEARL

Magickal uses: love, protection, healing, vision, beauty, wealth, luck, happiness

Elemental signature: water, spirit

Astrological signature: Moon, Neptune, Venus; Cancer, Pisces

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Ocean Mother, Goddess of Love

Formation process: organic (sedimentary)

Pearls are produced within the soft bodies of living organisms such as oysters, conchs, and other mollusks. The discovery of pearls perplexed ancient peoples, for they appear to be stones despite their organic origins. Pearls are formed by the gradual layering of calcium carbonate (usually as aragonite or as a mixture of aragonite and calcite) and conchiolin (proteins used in building mollusk shells) around a foreign body such as a parasite or other material—though rarely a grain of sand, as popularly believed. The pearl encapsulates the intruder, thereby preventing harm or irritation. Pearls were once called oignion in French, meaning “onion,” which refers to the concentric bands of nacreous calcium carbonate built around the foreign body. Pearls remain popular as gems today, with major centers of production in several countries worldwide, including China, Japan, French Polynesia, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and the United States.

From their color and shine to their watery origins and round shape, pearls have been regarded as sacred to the moon. The ancient peoples of Rome, the Middle East, and India all believed pearls to have been formed by heavenly dew that fell into the shells of mollusks, usually during the full moon. In Japan there was once a belief that moonbeams themselves caused the genesis of pearls in oysters. From their lunar association, pearls are naturally linked to the Divine Feminine.

A vintage strand of pearls

Pearls are also deeply linked to the Ocean Mother. Astrologically, they are connected to planets and signs associated with the element of water. In India, the pearl is called “Mother Gem of the Sea.”¹⁹² Other oceanic goddesses such as Yemayá also esteem the pearl. Since this gem is formed underwater, it is held in the primordial womb of the supernal sea goddess; it can be used alongside aquamarine and larimar to call on her aid.

Many cultures describe pearls as the tears of the Goddess.^*21 This association may in part be born of the salinity of both seawater and tears. In Norse tradition, when Frigg’s son Baldr is slain, the goddess wept tears that hardened into pearls upon falling onto mistletoe.¹⁹³ The Romans nicknamed pearls “tears of Venus,”¹⁹⁴ and Hebrew lore considers pearls to have first formed from Eve’s tears after being cast out of Eden.¹⁹⁵

From their resemblance to the moon pearls are connected to lunar goddesses such as Diana and Artemis. Other goddesses with lunar associations were also given dominion over pearls, including Isis; in fact, the Romans dedicated pearls to her upon importing her worship from Egypt, and they wore pearl jewelry to obtain her favor.¹⁹⁶ Pearls also symbolize feminine beauty and, by extension, Goddess of Love figures such as Aphrodite/Venus. These goddesses, alongside the Great Goddess figure of ancient Syria, Atargatis, each took the epithet “Lady of Pearls.”

Pearls continue to be associated with the Divine Feminine today, as traced by Barbara Walker in her text The Book of Sacred Stones: “In the ancient world, pearls were sacred to the Great Goddess as Aphrodite Marina, whose body sexually symbolized the Pearly Gate of paradise, and whose ‘pearls of wisdom’ were dispensed by her priestesses She was Christianized as the mythical Saint Margaret, whose name means ‘Pearl,’ as well as the Virgin Mary (Maria), who inherited the Goddess’s sea blue robe and necklace of pearls. Nonetheless, her gem retained pagan connotations.”¹⁹⁷

The pearl is a representation of the chastity of the Virgin, and in the poem Anulus, the pearl is chosen to symbolize her perfection. Kabbalistic lore associates the pearl with the sefirot Binah, considered a feminine archetype, as well as with the moon and the astrological sign of Pisces.

The vision of Eve crying tears of pearls tells us much about the deeper message of this gem. Its lachrymal genesis underscores themes of loss, suffering, and sacrifice. Eve loses her immortal life in Eden, which is a close parallel to the way oysters must sacrifice their lives to yield the pearl. The pearly tears shed by the goddess presage an age of suffering. Humanity has lost touch with its spiritual roots by devaluing women and largely ignoring the importance of the Divine Feminine. Pearls symbolize this loss of wisdom, life, and light—just as the goddess Frigg wept tears of pearl at the death of the god of light. Pearls reflect to us a need to reacquaint ourselves with the light of the Goddess; like the lunar orb, pearls share light from an outside source to guide us through our darkest hours.

Pearls were once regarded as feminine symbols because of the likeness between the oyster and the vulva. However, this sexual image was traded for one of purity and chastity in the Western world, largely through the pearl’s association with Mary. In this image the ideal woman is stripped of her power, the root of her femininity: her sexuality. Likewise, pearls became devoid of sexual imagery. Instead, these gems were used to cast out the devils of lust, impropriety, and even menstruation, to help men and women alike achieve peace and purity. Today we can reclaim the sensual beauty of the pearl by using it to honor the sacred sexuality of the Divine Feminine.

Pearls symbolize love, beauty, luck, and protection. Powdered pearls are featured in love potions from East to West, and pearl jewelry is worn in India for a happy, faithful marriage. As a stone of wealth, the pearl is holy to Lakshmi. An old spell for attracting wealth centers on casting a pearl into a body of water or a rubbish heap.¹⁹⁸

Since they protect the oyster from invading organisms or foreign bodies, pearls bestow protection on their bearers. Similarly, the sacrifice borne by the oyster symbolically was thought to prevent unhappiness, hence pearls were carried to avert misfortune, suffering, illness, insanity, possession, and death. They can be used to attain a long and prosperous life. Pearls are used to reveal the truth and reflect inner beauty. They can prevent deception and warn of impending misfortune (especially black pearls).

The choice to use pearls is a personal one. In my collection I only have a strand of antique pearls that once belonged to my grandmother. Many magicians and healers prefer to avoid pearls because living organisms die to provide them. Pearls require special care to maintain their beauty over the years. Scott Cunningham notes that cultured pearls are much less magickally potent than their natural counterparts,¹⁹⁹ though they are much more affordably priced. Despite a lack of magickal properties, imitation pearls can be used for their symbolic effects by those who choose to avoid natural ones.

Mother-of-Pearl

Magickal uses: protection, emotional fulfillment, wealth

Elemental signature: water, spirit

Astrological signature: Moon, Neptune, Venus; Cancer, Pisces

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, Ocean Mother, Mother

Formation process: organic (sedimentary)

Mother-of-pearl is the name given to the nacreous shells of certain mollusks, including varieties of bivalves, gastropods, and cephalopods. Like pearl, mother-of-pearl is comprised of platelets of calcium carbonate (mostly aragonite) held together by proteins produced by mollusks. It has an iridescent appearance because of the way the aragonite interferes with the light. Commercially, mother-of-pearl is produced from pearl oysters, freshwater mussels, abalone, and some species of snail. Most commercial mother-of-pearl is artificially whitened, which can diminish its magickal effects. The most common form of natural mother-of-pearl occurs in seashells of many varieties, which have been used to honor the Great Mother in cultures around the globe. Mother-of-pearl is found worldwide, in both fresh- and saltwater environments.

Like pearl, mother-of-pearl is closely linked to the Great Goddess and the goddesses of the seas and the moon, and it shares the same astrological and elemental correspondences as pearl as well. Mother-of-pearl is commonly used for protection. Since seashells are exoskeletons, they are produced to protect the soft bodies of their inhabitants; in the same way, shells such as mother-of-pearl can be worn to ward off harmful influences. Mother of pearl is especially useful for guarding children and newborns—a tradition that may have grown from the maternal name of this organic gem. Though it is primarily used to protect its wearer from other people’s negative thoughts and emotions, gemstone therapist Michael Katz suggests that mother-of-pearl can protect you from the harmful energies of electromagnetic radiation and emissions from electronics such as TVs, cell phones and the microwave transmissions from cell phone towers, and radio waves.²⁰⁰ It does this by scattering or absorbing these harmful energies, thereby preventing the wearer from being affected.

In many cultures seashells represent abundance and wealth. In fact, in some indigenous cultures, especially those without access to metals and ores, seashells were used as currency.²⁰¹ Today, mother-of-pearl and other seashells can be incorporated into money-drawing spells and rituals. The cuplike or bowl-like shape of shells conveys much of the same symbolism as the cornucopia; use them to help your mentality overflow with prosperous thoughts.

Mother-of-pearl pendant and gem-quality beads

Wearing or meditating with mother-of-pearl is nurturing and reassuring. This organic gem is an ideal ally for those who feel a sense of loss and abandonment, or have unmet needs from childhood, for it emanates motherly love. Mother-of-pearl reconnects you with the love of the Great Mother, which exists within each of us. It can be said that this gem “stirs and awakens the primordial memory of your origins in the infinite ocean of divine love.”²⁰² This can repair long-held emotional wounds, such as those from childhood or carried over from other lifetimes.

Therapeutically, mother-of-pearl is helpful in times of emotional crisis. It also mitigates stress-related conditions. Magickally, mother-of-pearl can be used in much the same manner as pearl; in fact, it is an economical substitute for pearl. However, using mother-of-pearl is an ethical dilemma for many healers and occultists, for an organism must die to produce this iridescent gem. Antique or vintage mother-of-pearl is a solution to this problem, as is sourcing ethically produced mother-of-pearl.^*22

PERIDOT

Magickal uses: prosperity, creativity, growth, healing, road-opener, intuition, protection, success

Elemental signature: fire, earth

Astrological signature: Sun; Leo, Virgo

Goddess archetypes: Solar Goddess, Mother, Maiden

Formation process: igneous

Peridot is the accepted name for gem-quality olivine. Olivine is a silicate of iron and magnesium, with peridot usually being part of the more magnesium-rich member of the olivine family, called forsterite. It typically forms in igneous rocks, especially those with mafic and ultramafic compositions, meaning they are rich in heavy metals such as iron, magnesium, and manganese and are low in silica. Peridot is unusual among gemstones in that it typically occurs in a single color—green—with a comparatively small range in hues, from medium green to yellowish green. Peridot is frequently found in Brazil, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Russia, and the United States, especially Hawaii.

Peridot is a gemstone with a long tradition of use. It was treasured in Egypt, as it was believed to confer clarity to the mind and the ability to sweep away envy with its brilliance. Peridot is prized for its unusual candescence at night, a property that led Egyptians to believe that this stone emitted its own light—a feature that earned peridot the moniker “evening emerald.” Because of its igneous origins, peridot has long been associated with Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, storms, and volcanoes, who is credited with creating the Hawaiian Islands. Pele is a capricious goddess, often prone to jealousy. Peridot is sometimes referred to as “Pele’s tears” in Hawaii, and these stones are thought to balance the emotions, spark inspiration, and reduce jealousy and anger.

Peridot is a green gemstone of volcanic origin.

Peridot is connected to cycles of growth and regeneration. As a component of igneous rocks, it is associated with the archetype of the Maiden. It is a rich spring green, and it evokes images of new life and expansion. Naisha Ahsian states that peridot “carries the anticipatory energy of the bud about to burst into bloom, the butterfly about to emerge from the chrysalis, and the storm about to break. Peridot represents the swelling, growth and fulfillment of everything that it affects.”²⁰³ It is a gemstone for tapping into the promise that the Maiden brings, and wearing or carrying peridot can help you tap into this universal tendency toward growth, expansion, and change.

Working with peridot can help you attune to rising cycles of life. It is an excellent stone for prosperity magick, as it can be used to increase your resources and broaden your horizons. It can even reach into deeply held beliefs about money in order to break down ideas about scarcity and rewire you so that you can see endless opportunity and universal abundance. Peridot’s fiery energy sparks creativity and passion, making it an ideal catalyst for thinking outside the box. Peridot can help you channel creativity and charisma into any endeavor, and it is a great stone for people in leadership positions. Peridot can be especially helpful for women seeking leadership roles in situations typically dominated by men.

In kabbalistic lore, peridot is often ascribed to the twentieth path of the Tree of Life, which is ruled by Virgo. This particular path is associated with aspects of the Great Mother such as Isis, Rhea, Gaia, and Danu, and is symbolized by the color yellowish green, thus its connection with peridot. This path on the Tree of Life represents the consciousness of the will, which becomes the vehicle for creation and for knowing the original wisdom of Creator. Though associated with the image of the solitary hermit or the virgin, this path also represents sexual love. Accordingly, it can become the avenue for exploring the Mother Goddess and her creative power. Peridot, as the crystalline representative of this pathway on the Tree of Life, brings its bearer into a state of communion with the Mother and teaches him or her to embody the Goddess’s wisdom, love, and creativity.

Peridot’s energy is at once loving and austere. It embodies the elements of fire and earth and has an overtly solar connection. Peridot helps you find the more dynamic and dominating traits of some goddesses. It is especially helpful for challenging masculine norms and helping women embody more stereotypically masculine qualities. Peridot can also represent the archetype of the Solar Goddess, who is far less popular among today’s worshippers of the Goddess than her lunar counterpart. Use peridot for channeling the solar currents of Sekhmet, Brigid, Sunna, Akycha, and other sun goddesses.

Traditional gemstone lore indicates that peridot guards from theft and burglary, nightmares, and evil spirits.²⁰⁴

Because this gemstone appears to glow at night, peridot can also help you connect with the energy of Hekate. She is often depicted holding a torch, and one of her epithets is “torchbearer.” The beguiling candescence of peridot metaphorically illuminates the spiritual path and allows the seeker to explore the deeper mysteries of Hekate. During the Middle Ages, amulets of peridot inscribed with a torchbearer were thought to bring wealth,²⁰⁵ but this may have been a vestige of an earlier connection to Hekate.

Peridot has been used to open the psychic senses, especially by sharpening the second sight and clarifying prophetic dreams. It enhances mental faculties and can help you discover your life’s purpose. In ritual, use it to aid manifestation and spellcraft of all varieties. It is especially effective for money-drawing, removing obstacles, protection, and attaining success. Small chips and beads of peridot are commonly available, and they can be added to sachets and charm bags for prosperity and healing.

PINK TOURMALINE

Magickal uses: love, beauty, protection, balancing masculine and feminine energies, stress reduction

Elemental signature: fire

Astrological signature: Venus, Mercury; Libra, Gemini

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Goddess of Love, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Pink tourmaline is usually a variety of elbaite tourmaline, a member of the tourmaline group that is rich in lithium, aluminum, and sodium. Tourmaline is a diverse group of minerals (like garnet), and elbaite is one of the more popular and commonly found variants. Elbaite can be pink to red, blue, purple, green, or colorless. Many crystals of this species are multicolored, such as watermelon tourmaline, an elbaite with a pink core and green outer skin. Pink tourmaline is often called rubellite, from the Latin rubellus, meaning “reddish.” Pink tourmaline of good quality commands a high value, and it is generally found in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, and in the United States in California and Maine.

Generally, there isn’t much occult lore surrounding pink tourmaline.

Pink tourmaline balances the inner feminine and masculine.

It was once worn as a sign of rank among mandarins in China.²⁰⁶ Pink tourmaline is a popular birthstone for October. Tourmalines were esteemed for their pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties; because of this they could be used to clean the ash from pipes.²⁰⁷ Tourmaline wands are prized tools for healing and magick today.

Pink tourmaline is a beautiful and gentle healing stone whose soft color and lithium content offer balance to the heart while nourishing you on an intimate level. Pink tourmaline gives you permission to experience your emotions authentically and wholly; it is a stone that provides a safe space to feel vulnerable by exposing the inner workings of the heart. Part of its mission in doing so is to vitalize the innate feminine aspect in humans and all other living beings.

Pioneering gemstone therapist Michael Katz describes this harmonizing influence of pink tourmaline:

Centuries of oppression have led many women to believe that their masculine aspect is wrong. . . . Yet women consist of both masculine and feminine energies. Therefore, until a woman releases her negative concepts about male energy, she will not be in harmony with herself. Pink Tourmaline helps a woman understand both her male and female aspects and improves communication between them. . . . Pink Tourmaline helps a woman understand and come to peace with her feminine and masculine aspects as it fosters the inner harmony and strength she needs to develop her true feminine power.²⁰⁸

Although Katz describes this gemstone’s benefits in the context of women, this stone can benefit people of any gender, to help them find balance and peace between the inner polarities of masculine and feminine. This balance is a Libran quality, hence this stone’s astrological association.

Pink tourmaline, or rubellite, is sometimes considered the “queen of the tourmalines.”²⁰⁹ Though it has no ancient connection to the Great Goddess, modern crystal mystics see a clear connection between this gemstone and the energy of the Divine Feminine. It supports qualities that have been historically feminine in nature, such as receptivity, creativity, intuition, sensitivity, and vision. Unlike other pink stones, rubellite’s gentleness is not overtly softening; instead, it carries an emboldening effect, as it helps to neutralize the disparity between the inner feminine and inner masculine. It can draw out the inner warrior.

Because it harmonizes the masculine and feminine, pink tourmaline can be used to enhance the Great Rite, the sacred sexual union of the God and Goddess, whether literal or symbolic. Two partners engaging in the Great Rite can wear pink and green tourmaline (or a bicolor gemstone, such as watermelon tourmaline) to find balance between the polarities of the Goddess and the God. Likewise, these stones can be placed on the altar, affixed to ritual tools, or carried by the priestess and priest enacting the Great Rite symbolically during ritual observance.

Pink tourmaline can treat conditions of the female reproductive system as well as help a person recover from sexual abuse or dysfunction. This gem can also prove helpful for people exploring their sexuality and gender identity, especially nonconforming and nonbinary gendered persons. Since it provides a safe space to let your guard down, pink tourmaline can facilitate the process of self-discovery and promote feelings of love and compassion directed at yourself.

Pink tourmaline can be used in spells to draw love and attract friendship. The Libran energy this stone carries can help social skills blossom. In its redder hues, rubellite takes on a slightly more fiery edge, helping you channel your will into your workings. Use it for protection and to energize the body. Such stones also initiate a more passionate, erotic energy to love spells than softer shades of pink.

QUARTZ

Magickal uses: healing, power, psychic development, protection, cleansing, manifestation

Elemental signature: all (depending on type)

Astrological signature: all (depending on type)

Goddess archetypes: virtually all, especially Lunar Goddess, Maiden, Mother, Triple Goddess, Earth Mother, Queen of Heaven, Solar Goddess, Mistress of Magick, Stellar Goddess, Goddess of Love, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Quartz, composed of silicon dioxide, is an abundant mineral. It crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system and forms hexagonal crystals. Quartz is found worldwide, and traces of other minerals and elements result in a wide range of colors, shapes, and other variations in specimens. Because of its ubiquity, beauty, and power, quartz is a staple among magickal practitioners and crystal healers. Note that several varieties of quartz have been given separate entries elsewhere in this compendium, including agate, amethyst, aventurine, chalcedony, jasper, rose quartz, and tiger’s eye.

The mythic origins of quartz crystal often center around it being permanently frozen water. The word crystal is taken from Greek krustallos, meaning both “ice” and “crystal.” In times past, a commonly held belief was that quartz was some sort of enchanted ice blessed by the gods to retain its solid state no matter its environs. Early finds of quartz in high-altitude regions surely would have reinforced this belief, as it is transparent and cool to the touch, just as ice is. Alternatively, people also once believed that quartz is solidified light, or that it is the dwelling place or reincarnated body of ancestral spirits, gods, and the consciousness of nature. In various myths it was said to have been created by dragons, deities, or other supernatural beings. No matter the exact nature of these origination stories, each illustrates the distinct quality of otherness connected to this crystal.

Quartz, or rock crystal, is a potent tool for magick, healing, and divination.

The tales of quartz’s magickal powers are as varied as its origin myths. Quartz has been used for divination, healing, protection, exorcism, bringing rain, and much more. In many instances, astrological lore associates quartz crystal with the moon^*23 as a result of its white color and its ability to captivate the eye, even in low light. It is frequently mounted in silver, the moon’s metal, to obtain its magickal qualities. The people of Greece held it sacred to the lunar goddesses Selene and Hekate. Several cultures have also employed quartz, usually worn, but sometimes ingested—a practice definitely to be avoided—to promote lactation; the idea was that milk, like quartz, has a lunar influence, and thus it might have once seemed natural to connect the two. Quartz was also a cure for infertility among the women of the Shetland Islands of Scotland.²¹⁰ The intimate link observed between women’s reproductive cycles and quartz in legend and lore indicates that this gemstone can be used as a talisman for both the Lunar Goddess and the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess.

Quartz was also used to make a talisman of Venus specifically intended for good fortune in business.²¹¹ Other traditions use quartz gemstones to make talismans set in an alloy of Venus’s metal, copper. Yet other engraved talismanic gemstones depict a woman (perhaps Venus herself) and are used for arousing the attention and affection of women. From these romantic applications of quartz, one can surmise that it facilitates contact with the Goddess of Love.

Crystalline castles abound in myth and folklore; usually this is the home of a goddess, female saint, nymph, or other figure representing the Divine Feminine. Two particular legends of crystal castles are told as part of the Arthurian legends. In one, Lancelot was captured by an undine (a water fairy) who dwelled in a castle of crystal, while a second tale records that Gawain reaches a castle with a crystal wall, behind which the mellifluous voices of some long-forgotten aspect of the Divine Feminine could be heard.²¹² Another crystalline palace is described in a folktale from Brittany, wherein the protagonists find their way to this idyllic castle with the help of a hag, a vestige of the Crone of the pre-Christian era of the Goddess.²¹³

The motif of an ethereal palace made of quartz symbolizes the nature of the otherworld—it is at once pure, luminous, and mysterious. Because of the transparency of quartz, nothing is hidden in these numinous spaces, thus to enter them we must exhibit a similar transparency. The crystal castles of legend and lore are usually illuminated by flames or lamps that never dim,²¹⁴ which symbolize the nature of enlightenment attained by entering the castle itself. Since women and goddess figures reside in or guide the heroes of these tales to the crystal castles, we can infer that the nature of the Divine Feminine will help us attain the mastery represented by the crystal castle. In embracing the Great Mother, we can be cleansed of our impurities, thereby becoming metaphorically clear as crystal. In releasing our limiting beliefs and patterns, we can receive the grace of the Goddess, which in turn reveals our inner light. When we attain this state of being—i.e., when we are symbolically dwelling in the crystal castle—we are no longer separate from the greater mystery and magick of the universe. The walls of the crystal castle are transparent, revealing the hidden mysteries of the world to us.

Among certain sects of Christianity, quartz is symbolic of Mary, mother of Christ. The innate clarity of quartz crystal represents her purity as a virgin mother. The optical relationship between crystal and light, revered by many cultures around the world, also worked its way into the mystical teachings of Christianity. Artist and historian Silvie Raulet writes: “For Christians, light penetrating rock crystal is traditionally symbolic of the Immaculate Conception. The Virgin Mary is the crystal and her son, Jesus Christ, the celestial light; this symbol of purity is extended to include other celestial creatures such as angels.”²¹⁵ Polished spheres, lenses, and other round shapes made of quartz can thus represent the divine Child of Light born of the Great Mother. In certain pagan traditions, quartz crystal adorns the altar at the winter solstice (often called Yule) to symbolize the seasonal celebration of Mother Nature giving birth to the light of the world.

Even today, the connection between quartz crystal and the Divine Feminine continues to unfold. There is a propensity among healers and crystal mystics to name special formations of quartz after goddess figures. Self-healed crystals (those crystals that have healed themselves from a fracture or break) are sometimes called “Hera crystals,” and more than one type of quartz bears the name of Isis, two of which are discussed in separate entries here. Thanks to the wide variety of quartz formations, many exhibit energies aligned with goddesses both known and unknown.

In magick and healing alike, quartz is an all-purpose stone. It is easily programmed or imbued with virtually any intention, therefore it can be used in rituals for any purpose. Quartz is esteemed for bringing clarity and coherence; it augments power and improves the efficacy of magickal workings. Quartz is also a potent tool for psychic development. It enhances meditation, strengthens your focus, and opens your inner sight. Both polished and raw specimens of quartz lend themselves to scrying and crystal-gazing. Quartz is also used for purification; try using an elixir of quartz made under the full moon to cleanse and consecrate yourself and your jewelry and gemstones, ritual tools, or sacred space. Quartz crystals can be placed around the perimeter of your magick circle at the north, south, east, and west to enhance your ritual and strengthen the circle itself. Alternatively, place four pieces of quartz in the corners of any room or building in which you practice magick or healing for similar results. Quartz is a versatile tool that can be worn, carried, or used in meditation for all your magickal needs.

Blue Tara Quartz

Magickal uses: peace, protection, liberation, karmic healing, unity, psychic development, compassion

Elemental signature: water, earth

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Queen of Heaven, Stellar Goddess, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Blue Tara quartz is the name given to quartz crystals with blue inclusions of riebeckite and olenite, a boron-rich member of the tourmaline group. Found in Minas Gerais, Brazil, this crystal formation is relatively rare. Other varieties of quartz with blue inclusions of boulangerite, indicolite, and dumortierite are also available; though these are not generally known as Blue Tara quartz, they may share some of the properties discussed here.

Blue Tara quartz is named for one of the most popular goddesses in Buddhism; Hindus worship Tara as well, as Maa Tara, although Tara’s influence is felt more in Buddhism than Hinduism. She is at once a goddess figure, a bodhisattva, and a female Buddha. As she is a pluralistic or collective figure, there are different emanations of her, such as White Tara, Green Tara, and Blue Tara. Green Tara, in particular, is popular, and she is envisioned with green skin and is depicted wearing silks. Blue Tara’s images can vary depending on the aspect being represented. The Blue Tara quartz is close to the color of Blue Tara’s skin.

Blue Tara quartz from Bahia, Brazil, with a representation of Green Tara

Tara embodies compassion and motherly tenderness; she protects her devotees from danger. Blue Tara’s iconography and mythology link her to the archetypes of the Lunar Goddess and Queen of Heaven as well as the Fierce Goddess in her form as Ekajati (who is invoked as a protector of the dharma). Her name in Sanskrit (Tārā) translates as “star,” making her a Stellar Goddess figure. She is depicted alongside the blue or night lotus, which releases its nocturnal scent with the appearance of the moon, thus she is also connected to the moon and nighttime.²¹⁶

Blue Tara quartz resonates with the protective aspects of Tara. Green Tara is sometimes visualized as a protector of Earth, and White Tara a protector of humanity and a guarantor of long life. I find that Blue Tara quartz is intimately linked to Green Tara. My colleague Janis Haerer explains the connection between quartz crystal and Tara:

Tara, whose name means “star,” is further the equivalent of a female Buddha. Now this crystal is blue, not green, and she feels like a different aspect of Earth—the oceans. Earth is more ocean than land, so it’s particularly suitable that Blue Tara also represents Earth. Furthermore, her ice blue color brings in the energies of the Arctic regions. Beyond her other energies, she offers to her keeper a wonderful way to work with the energies of Earth and contribute to the repair of the damage humans have done. Cradle this spirit in a hand and immediately you will feel yourself surrounded by a halo of energy, and there will be a fragrance, somewhat like lily of the valley—sweet, clear, and heady. In her is love and compassion, understanding and knowing. She clears away pretense and pain, opening your heart and your mind to her protection and guidance. It is said that Green Tara offered protection to those incarcerated during the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Blue Tara offers protection to the oceans and oceanic ice and to those born under water signs. . . . She is all cultures, all races, and all women.²¹⁷

Janis also notes the linguistic similarities between the goddess-bodhisattva Tara and other deities around the world. In particular, she notes that the Celts also have a goddess named Tara, while Finnish mythology records Tar, the Mesopotamians had Ishtar, and the Native Americans of the Cheyenne tribe have Star Woman; each of them is closely related in theme or spirit to Tara. Tantric tradition emphasizes that all goddesses are ultimately one—that there is a single, universal current of the Divine Feminine. Though many magickal practitioners have a hard polytheist worldview, I find that Blue Tara quartz reminds us that as human beings we are viewing the Divine Feminine—and ultimately all divinity—through the narrow lens of human perspective. Blue Tara quartz helps us perceive the greater truth, even if only momentarily, so that we can learn to cherish the inherent unity of the Great Mother and all her children.

Since Blue Tara quartz is included mostly with riebeckite, it is a capable karmic healer. This crystal formation helps liberate us from old beliefs, behaviors, and situations, much as Tara helps liberate the people of the world from suffering and the cycle of samsara. The amphibole in quartz is usually described as having an angelic energy; it refines our frequency so that we can become better servants of the Divine. In the case of Blue Tara quartz, it helps us see and hear the Great Mother in everything around us. It helps us clear out stagnant karmic patterns and is an excellent tool for cutting deleterious energy cords, themselves a byproduct of our karmic history, just as in her fierce form as Ekajati, Blue Tara holds various wrathful cutting implements. The olenite content of these crystals has an expansive, organizing effect on the mind. It can help us conceptualize the mysteries of the universe and inspire us toward new horizons.

Judy Hall considers varieties of blue quartz to be sacred to Mother Mary, and she connects this form of quartz to the sacred site Medjugorje, in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Mary has appeared repeatedly since 1981. Judy writes that this type of quartz “resonates with the peace and compassion called for by the Marian messages [a Marian apparition referring to an appearance by the Virgin Mary]. It takes you into a space of inner quiet to explore your spiritual nature and connect to the divine feminine.”²¹⁸

Blue Tara quartz is a sweet yet powerful ritual tool. It catalyzes healing while restoring balance to the aura and chakras. Blue Tara quartz can strengthen your inner vision, enhance telepathy, and provides you with the means to communicate psychic impressions more clearly. This crystal also offers profound peace and perfection, often helping you see that you are exactly where you need to be on your path.

Faden Quartz

Magickal uses: fate, self-healing, astral travel, divination and prophecy, communication, karmic healing, Earth healing

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Moon, Pluto; Scorpio Goddess archetypes: the Fates, Crone

Formation process: metamorphic

Faden quartz, whose name comes from the German faden, meaning “thread,” is an unusual formation that appears to have a piece of white yarn or twine within it. These crystals nearly always exhibit a tabular, distorted morphology. The yarnlike inclusion usually runs more or less perpendicular to the c-axis of the crystal, from one side to the other, and it sometimes makes unusual bends or turns. This inclusion results from the crystal breaking and healing itself many times during its formation process. Unlike most other formation processes for crystalline quartz, faden crystals can usually be found in metamorphic environments. They are commonly found in Pakistan, Switzerland, Arkansas, Germany, and Afghanistan.

Faden quartz forms from repeatedly breaking apart and knitting back together again. As you might imagine, this form of quartz is a master teacher of self-healing. Meditating with a piece of faden quartz or working with one in a therapeutic setting activates your body’s innate healing abilities. It is a powerful ally for spiritual healing, as it repairs holes, leaks, and tears in the various layers of the aura. Faden quartz can help release intrusions such as cords or entities from the aura, as well, and it provides resilience and strength to the energy field afterward to prevent recurrence.²¹⁹

The threadlike inclusion in a piece of faden quartz symbolizes the silver cord that connects the astral body to the physical body.²²⁰ Accordingly, faden quartz strengthens this astral tether, providing safety and freedom during astral travel. Meditating or sleeping with this crystal formation can intensify the dream state, as many of our dreams are actually astral adventures. Faden quartz helps to reintegrate soul fragments that are lost during moments of trauma, whether from this lifetime or others. It also facilitates ancestral and karmic healing.

Faden quartz contains a mysterious threadlike inclusion.

Faden quartz is a powerful ally for meditation and dreamwork. Because these crystals are often flat, they can be easily rested against the third eye chakra when you lie down. Meditating or dreaming with a stone placed against the brow instills clear visions, enhances the imagination, and initiates intense dreamtime journeys. My experience with this crystal virtually always leads me into the hypnagogic state, often for prolonged periods of time. I often feel as though the dreamlike visions I experience in this state are spiritual lessons shrouded in abstruse symbolism that take time to unravel.

The threads within faden quartz are akin to the thread woven by the Fates, such as the Norns or the Moirai. Working with these crystals can initiate contact with these ancient goddess figures. Faden crystals are typically tabular formations, and tabular crystals are excellent tools for communication, thus faden quartz not only opens the doorway to the Fates, it encourages a dialogue with them.

Weaving symbolism is associated with many goddesses beyond merely the Fates; many solar goddesses are thought to weave sunbeams, and the Crone is sometimes shown weaving (the Fates are sometimes arguably an aspect of the Crone). Working with faden quartz can provide clarity about situations in your life, especially from a karmic perspective. It can be used to integrate outstanding spiritual lessons that you may have failed to learn time and time again. Working with the Fates via faden quartz can also help you access the gifts of prophecy and can improve your divination skills. Since it is connected to the Crone, faden quartz helps you develop maturity, integrity, and discipline.

In healing, faden quartz can open or repair sluggish and blocked chakras. It provides a sense of connection between therapist and client,²²¹ and it can help you intuitively locate sources of illness and patterns of disharmony in the body and aura of your clients or yourself.

Faden quartz is protective; it strengthens the aura as if by weaving a protective layer of light around it. This quartz formation also helps you attune to the inner movements of Earth.²²² It is an excellent planetary healing stone, as it can help undo the energetic damage that industrialization has propagated. Faden quartz can also be programmed to protect against future physical and spiritual shifts awaiting Earth.²²³ From its connection to the theme of fate and destiny, faden quartz encourages us as witches and magick-makers to claim our role as stewards and caretakers of the planet, helping us guide our world to its next phase of evolution with sensitivity and love.

In magick, faden quartz can help you attune to seasonal cycles, especially in the waning part of the year. Its energy is in harmony with the celebration of Samhain and Halloween, as it conveys a strong connection to the veil between the worlds. It enhances psychic pursuits and astral travel, and it can reveal deeper meanings in dreams. Use faden quartz to remove negative entities such as servitor spirits, as well as to locate the source of these negative energies. Faden quartz can also be used in protective and reversal magick; though it isn’t outright a retaliatory stone, it does help to level the scales and can be used to help others reap what they sow.

Isis Crystal

Magickal uses: magick, healing, transformation, uniting opposites, transcending duality, soul retrieval, grief, manifestation

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Mistress of Magick

Formation process: igneous

The Isis crystal, one of the twelve varieties of quartz considered a master crystal, is a special formation of quartz characterized by a pentagonal main face on the termination. This quartz formation was named and first described by Katrina Raphaell.^*24 Isis crystals exhibit a unique geometry on their main face, which is five-sided. This main facet has a base edge with two short edges rising from it in opposite directions. The final two edges of the main face are longer and meet at a point. True Isis crystals should exhibit a high degree of symmetry. Isis crystals are occasionally called “goddess crystals” and “manifest spirit crystals.”

The story of Isis centers around her roles as wife, healer, mother, and magician. She and her siblings are conceived by Geb, the earth god, and Nuit, the sky goddess. Isis and her brother Osiris are wed and crowned rulers of Egypt. Set, brother and rival of Osiris, plots to usurp the throne. He traps Osiris in an enchanted sarcophagus, and Isis must set out to find her husband’s body. After Isis finds the body of Osiris and hides it in the reeds, Set dismembers it, scattering the fourteen pieces of the fallen king throughout the kingdom. Isis and her sister, Nephthys, gather thirteen of them, except for the phallus, which was eaten by a fish. The goddess Isis fashions him a new member out of gold and reunifies the broken body of her lover. Isis and Nephthys then anoint Osiris’s body with sacred oils and wrap him in linen, thus becoming the first embalmers. Not only is Osiris brought back to life, Isis then conceives a holy child, Horus, from their union. Osiris passes from this world to the otherworld, and his sovereignty is passed on to Horus.

Isis crystal is recognized by its striking pentagonal main face.

To understand the meaning of Isis crystal it is necessary to examine the themes in the goddess’s myth. She must overcome seemingly insurmountable grief and perform a miracle to restore life to Osiris. Isis births the dual traditions of healing and embalming, both a product of her love, devotion, and deep magick. By her magick, Isis transforms Osiris from a vegetation god to the lord of the afterlife. Much of her mythic cycle includes the reconciliation of opposing forces, from the rivalry between Set and Osiris (representing the barren desert and fertile land, respectively), to transcending light and darkness, birth and death, brokenness and wholeness. The Isis crystal embodies this same union of opposites in its geometry.

According to Katrina Raphaell, the Isis crystal helps us achieve unification and mastery, just as Isis does in her quest to find and restore Osiris:

The two lower lines represent the contradictory forces that life offers for experiential growth upon the earth. They are held firm by the base line, which symbolizes the physical plane dimension. The two upper lines meeting at a common point provides us with the secret for unification. It is only when we unite the opposing aspects within ourselves into a complementary whole that the world will reflect back to us that unified reality. The Isis Crystal is unique in that the five-sided face has managed to unite the polar forces into a whole, rescuing the opposites from a world of duality. The Isis Crystal is a powerful healing tool that transmits the knowledge of how to combine the seemingly opposite forces of life and death, sickness and health, and pain and joy. In doing so, a state of wholeness is created that is inclusive of embracing all the elements of creation.²²⁴

Isis crystal empowers each of us to balance our inner masculine and feminine polarity. In working with this crystal we embrace the inner spark of the Divine Feminine so that we can shine its light into the world around us. The world today is dominated by toxic patriarchy and a lack of reverence for the sanctity of the Great Goddess in her many guises. The Isis crystal can help us create change in the world by shifting the balance of power between the masculine and the feminine so that they can be complementary partners in all of creation. Working with these crystals can gradually undo the damage caused by an overtly and unfairly masculinized world.

The Isis crystal is a tool of divine justice. It is the great equalizer, and it can help us live according to our highest potential. This stone reminds us that the human soul seeks union with the Divine, and in so doing it can be used to facilitate a shift in consciousness, such as in meditation, shamanic journeying, and ritual. This quartz formation symbolizes courage amid adversity and helps us face our fears. The Isis crystal is an important catalyst for emotional healing and a beacon of hope during periods of grief and loss.

Isis displayed unselfish love of a caliber practically unknown elsewhere in Egyptian mythology.²²⁵ The crystal named in her honor can awaken within you the very same sense of selflessness. This is a crystal of true devotion—not merely the type of dedication seen in romantic relationships, but the devotion of humankind to the higher powers. The Isis crystal encourages you to dedicate your life to the Great Work, whether through magick, healing, social reform, or by simply being true to yourself in all endeavors.

Isis crystal is a powerful catalyst for all forms of healing and transformation. You can use it to reunify the broken aspects of yourself, such as in shamanic soul retrieval. This crystal formation provides a nurturing energy that can heal old heartaches and yield insights into your unlearned lessons here on Earth. Use the Isis crystal on your altar as a representation of the Great Mother, or meditate with one to nurture your own connection to the Divine Feminine.

Lemurian Seed Crystal

Magickal uses: meditation, ancient wisdom, karmic healing, harmony, unity, reclaiming the Divine Feminine

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: all planets; Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, the Muse, Earth Mother

Formation process: igneous

In the late 1990s, a remarkable configuration of quartz crystals was discovered in two mines in Serro do Cabral, Minas Gerais, Brazil. These crystals were subsequently named “Lemurian seed crystals” by crystal authority Katrina Raphaell. The Lemurian seed crystals, or LSCs, usually exhibit a classic Muzo habit, with a tapering appearance and horizontal striations on every other c-face. Most of the early finds of LSCs are coated in a thin layer of hematite, giving them a subtle pinkish hue. Although the original finds of these crystals are more or less depleted, new batches have been discovered in nearby areas, as well as in other mines around the world.

The Lemurian seed crystal emerged at the dawn of the new millennium to help prepare humankind for our collective healing and transformation. These crystals are said to be left to us by the inhabitants of the lost civilization of Lemuria, a society that disappeared beneath the Pacific Ocean eons ago. This legendary land has been equated with the Garden of Eden; it was a place where all lived in harmony with the natural world, and humankind had attained a level of spiritual mastery far beyond what is known today.

Lemurian seed crystals have emerged to help rebirth the Divine Feminine.

Atlantis and Lemuria are akin to yang and yin, respectively; Lemurian seed crystals are therefore attuned to the Divine Feminine. Naisha Ahsian writes that the LSCs “assist one in connecting with the feminine archetypal energies of the Goddess, the Great Mother and other representations of the sacred feminine.”²²⁶ This loving, compassionate energy that the LSC radiates helps connect humankind with the natural world, reminding us how to live in harmony with one another and with the animal, plant, mineral, and spirit kingdoms of the planet.

Although Lemuria is said to be from a different era on Earth, the LSCs have made themselves known at this turning point in human evolution. They are here to help us rebirth the Divine Feminine by claiming the new currents of energy that the Great Goddess offers us. These crystals seek to enjoin new and old, masculine and feminine, light and dark, and other polarities by first balancing and then transcending the nature of duality. Lemurian seed crystals are the great equalizers of our spiritual development, urging us to remember our inherent wholeness so that we can co-create a better world—one heart, one mind, one soul.

A specific variety of Lemurian seed crystal with strong goddess-centered energy is called “Goddess phantom Lemurian seed crystal,” or sometimes simply “goddess Lemurian crystal.” Found around 2006 in a later deposit of crystals, these LSCs range from pale smoky quartz to a darker golden smoky citrine; each exhibits phantoms of a contrasting white or beige color. These crystals lovingly enjoin our will and our heart, helping initiate self-mastery through acting out our heart’s sincerest desires. They have an earthy, grounded energy that connects to the archetype of the Earth Mother. This variety of LSC also “bring[s] the body and mind into balance, and . . . harmonize[s] the balanced human being with the forces of nature.”²²⁷

As healing tools, Lemurian seed crystals awaken ancient memories from the soul level. These stones are capable healers of karmic patterns, especially by displacing or countering the overtly yang or masculine dynamics incurred during the age of Atlantis. Their receptive, loving wisdom has been connected to the goddess of wisdom, Sophia, and their harmonizing qualities help establish rapport with the archetype of the Earth Mother. As ritual tools, LSCs make powerful wands and open the doors to the spirit planes. They can support meditation and shamanic travel and help you retrieve memories of past lives, especially those in Lemuria. Used in a group setting, LSCs provide greater unity and harmony among practitioners.

Moon Quartz

Magickal uses: psychic development, manifestation

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Moon

Goddess archetype: Lunar Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Moon quartz is an opalescent form of massive quartz. It is sometimes called “girasol” or “girasol quartz,” after a variety of opal that it resembles. The hazy opalescence in this gemstone derives from minute needlelike or tube-shaped inclusions that cause notable optical effects: namely, when polished, moon quartz often appears as if it glows from within. Many forms of moon quartz exhibit asterism, which results from fine inclusions. Moon quartz from Minas Gerais, Brazil, that contains traces of hafnium, barium, copper, nickel, and aluminum is marketed as “metamorphosis quartz.”²²⁸

The inclusions in moon quartz often create optical phenomena such as the asterism in this stone.

Moon quartz has a dreamy, whimsical energy that lulls you into a peaceful state. It gently opens the doors to the veiled world, allowing you to perceive spirits, fairy folk, and other nonphysical beings; as a stone of psychic development, it strengthens spiritual sight and helps you see with greater accuracy. It also sharpens your skills of discernment, much-needed for enhancing your intuition.

A heightened sensitivity to the spiritual plane is one of moon quartz’s deeper effects. This gemstone can help you open to your soul. Though many of us may understand the concept of the soul on an intellectual level, few viscerally experience the profundity of the soul. According to my dear friend Sharron Britton, moon quartz initiates a state of sweet surrender that precipitates deep communion with the soul. This act of surrender and receptivity is the essence of the Divine Feminine. Moon quartz awakens this current of feminine power and supports the return of the Great Goddess. Under the influence of the patriarchy, femininity has become synonymous with passivity—like the proverbial housewife who just accepts an unhealthy marriage. The new face of the Divine Feminine maintains its innate receptivity; however, the Goddess empowers you to receive all and keep only that which serves you and maintains the greatest good. No longer is passivity the norm, for femininity is driving forward as culture and consciousness evolve.

Moon quartz reminds you that the essential nature of the universe is not that of opposites; instead, polarities like stillness and change, life and death, dark and light are really parts of a greater whole. This stone is a gateway through which you can familiarize yourself with the meeting of these seemingly disparate polarities. This stone takes you to the veil between the worlds so you can better know your own soul. In those liminal spaces you can journey to a higher perspective. For this reason, moon quartz is a stone for embracing all cycles of change and transformation. These are strong journeying stones; they facilitate otherworldly and out-of-body travel. Moon quartz can help you navigate the astral and spirit planes during your dreamtime voyages.

Metamorphosis quartz, a variety of moon quartz with unusual trace elements, yields a handful of additional properties. Melody considers it to be the stone of transformation, as it supports and magnifies all processes of change and transition.²²⁹ Not only can it catalyze internal and external transformation, metamorphosis quartz can prepare you for periods of change by replacing negative attitudes and inspiring hope. It is an especially powerful stone for dreamwork, as it initiates dreams that offer solutions to your current challenges in life. Varieties of moon quartz displaying asterism (an optical effect that resembles a starburst pattern on the surface of the stone) hold the keys to transcendence. They are deeply linked to the Stellar Goddess and the Queen of Heaven; use these stones with care, for they can require focus and adequate grounding.

In crystal healing, all forms of moon quartz strengthen the aura, and they can assist you in perceiving your own and others’ auras. It is a cleansing and centering stone, providing sensitivity to the needs of your clients in a healing practice. Moon quartz supports the manifestation process by strengthening your aura; this stone identifies the highest frequencies in your field of energy and aligns your whole being with those frequencies.²³⁰

As a talismanic gemstone, moon quartz can be used for any goals that are lunar in nature, including strengthening intuition, protection (especially for women, children, and families), emotional healing, cleansing, and connection to the Lunar Goddess. Moon quartz energetically prepares you for change, and it facilitates reaching altered states of consciousness for more effective ritual. I have found it to be one of the most helpful stones during lunar and solar eclipses, as it helps integrate the powerful energies associated with these celestial events.

Romanian Smoky Quartz

Magickal uses: healing, grounding, strength, transformation, feminine mysteries, seasonal attunement

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Pluto; Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Triple Goddess, Mistress of Magick, Earth Mother

Formation process: igneous

In Cavnic, Romania, is found quartz with an unusual crystal habit and a pearly overgrowth of dolomite. These smoky quartz crystals have been called “wedding veil quartz” because of the overgrowth of dolomite that covers these crystals. The veil of dolomite crystals draped over the smoky quartz exhibits preferential coating, wherein it crystallizes atop the same faces of every crystal. In large clusters of these quartzes, the dolomite always grows in the same direction. The general consensus is that these crystals are irradiated artificially, which darkens their color; clear or white nonirradiated specimens are rare. The unique crystal forms exhibited by these quartzes have earned them the nicknames “artichoke quartz” and “rocket quartz.” They tend to have a reverse taper of the average quartz crystal—they are narrower at the base rather than sloping toward the termination—and they are surrounded by secondary crystals so that they resemble artichokes.

Like the Great Goddess cloaked in her heavenly mantle, these quartz crystals are enveloped in a blanket of dolomite. The contrast between the dark quartz and the iridescent pink dolomite is enchanting. There is a sweetness in these crystals that belies their enormous power. As stones of the Goddess, they represent her unfathomable mysteries of transformation. These stones are veiled on one side, obscuring the quartz beneath; in turning them over we find beauty unlike any other crystal I have known. This is much like connecting to the Divine Feminine; the glory of the Goddess is greater than we can conceptualize.

Romanian smoky quartz is sometimes called “wedding veil quartz” for its coating of dolomite.

In my work I have found that these crystals relate to all three aspects of the Triple Goddess. As the mantle of the Maiden, the Romanian smoky quartz crystal exudes an air of innocence. The soft, feminine color of the dolomite is redolent of spring petals—tender, inviting, and promising new growth. Prepared for her wedding day, she is dusted with iron pyrite and chalcopyrite.

Evoking the image of the sacred bride, the Romanian smoky quartz helps navigate the transition from Maiden to Mother. The unusual taper of these crystal habits often makes them seem like they have grown heavy with child. Even the chalcopyrite that often occurs in these formations represents the sacred marriage, or hieros gamos, of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine. Chalcopyrite is a sulfide of both copper and iron. Copper is the metal of Venus and represents the feminine principle; iron, as the planetary metal of Mars, is its masculine counterpart. Thus in chalcopyrite we have these two complementary forces uniting in the Great Rite—an alchemical union of the Goddess and the God.

Romanian smoky quartz also wears the shroud of the deathly Crone. She is wrapped in her mourner’s veil as she buries those she outlives. These crystals are excellent tools for times of loss because of their dolomite content. In crystal healing, dolomite is often used to counteract grief and deep emotional pain. One of my friends shared with me that she uses dolomite with clients who experience loss; it helps a person surrender to wild, untamed grief so that she can come through the other side transformed. Dolomite supports us by helping us see the gift in knowing and loving the person or experience we have lost.

One of the most profound teachings embodied in these crystals is that of death and birth. The Maiden’s wedding veil is no different than that worn by the mourning Crone. The two are inseparable because in every new beginning there is an ending. For there to be a fresh start something must be sacrificed to make way for new life. These smoky quartz crystals offer us the strength and wisdom to understand and embrace this fundamental truth.

Romanian smoky quartz is a powerful ally for meditation, ritual, and shamanic journeying. It lends strength and grounding to your spiritual work, and it is a patient teacher and wise guide. Since it spans all three faces of the Triple Goddess, Romanian smoky quartz can be used for attuning to the lunar phases and seasonal cycles. These crystal formations can be used to tap into the Earth Mother archetype as a result of their grounding influence, and the mystical cloak of dolomite evokes the image of the Mistress of Magick. However you use them, know that these crystals are potent allies for transformation; their gifts are not to be taken lightly.

Rutilated Quartz

Magickal uses: attunement to the Goddess, connection, power, strength, the Great Rite, overcoming enemies and obstacles, manifestation, alignment, connection, masculine and feminine balance, communication, self-love, attunement, awareness, healing wounds

Elemental signature: spirit, fire, water

Astrological signature: Venus; Scorpio, Gemini, Virgo, Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Love, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Rutilated quartz is a formation of two different minerals: metallic needles or threads of rutile enclosed in quartz. Rutile is an oxide of titanium, and it can appear as golden, reddish, or silvery crystals. Rutile can appear in clear, smoky, citrine, or amethystine quartz, either massive or crystalline. Although it commonly comes from Brazil, fine specimens occur in many locations worldwide.

For centuries, rutilated quartz has been connected to Goddess archetypes, a tradition extant in several folk names for this stone: “Venus’s hair” and fleches d’amour, or “arrows of love.” The shimmering threads of rutile resemble flaxen hair, like that of the Goddess of Love in the Greco-Roman pantheon. Even as arrows of love, these stones remain linked to the Goddess, as the arrows belong to Eros (Cupid), Aphrodite’s companion. Thanks to the association with this goddess, rutilated quartz has been used for connecting to the energy of the Goddess in meditation and ritual.

Among the quartz family, rutilated quartz is an especially dynamic stone. It increases raw energy and enhances qualities of connection. Many people find it more energizing than clear quartz and more dynamic than rutile on its own. The two words that best sum up the function of rutilated quartz are connection and alignment. It is a stone that bridges the material and spiritual, the physical and the mental. It also serves to connect people to one another, thus making it an ideal gemstone for promoting healthy relationships, whether romantic or platonic. Rutilated quartz also serves to connect the human to the Divine; use it to bridge the perceived gap between yourself and the Goddess.

Needles of rutile in clear quartz cabochons

Simultaneously, as rutilated quartz offers itself in service to forge better connections, it helps you align with what lies on the other side of the bridge. This means that it is a great stone for manifestation, healing, and a variety of spellcraft because it enables you to become better harmonized with the outcome you are seeking. It works by attuning and adjusting your nonphysical anatomy—your aura and chakras—to the blueprint of whatever you seek to manifest. When you are in this state of perfect alignment, there is less resistance to your goal, and magick naturally follows the path of least resistance. In the end it helps to enhance your practice with swifter, more precise outcomes.

Rutilated quartz exhibits a strikingly masculine energy for being a goddess-oriented gem. Being comprised of titanium, rutile embodies qualities both direct and strengthening. It is a superb mineral for situations requiring stamina, strength of character, and boldness. As such it conveys a more masculine presence, helping to embody the Divine Masculine principle. When rutile occurs in quartz, alchemy takes place. Truly, rutilated quartz unites the feminine, lunar nature of quartz with the fiery, warriorlike presence of rutile. It stirs the fierce and foreboding aspects of the Goddess, thus enabling you to call on her when these aspects are needed.

Throughout human history, the Great Goddess in all her guises has been devalued—often reduced, replaced, or demonized—when worship of the God swept through the ancient world. Rutilated quartz serves as a bridge between the masculine and the feminine, and it can heal the repressed inner Goddess in each of us. It is an important tool for recovering from violence, sexual abuse, or other traumas often instigated in patriarchal cultures regardless of gender.

Rutilated quartz symbolizes the Great Rite, the symbolic sexual union of the Goddess and the God, as the masculine needles of rutile penetrate the feminine vessel of crystal. As the opposite polarities of rock crystal and rutile unite, there is born a powerful current of the quintessence. Rutilated quartz therefore conveys a strong connection to the fifth element, which can be channeled into magick for a variety of uses.

In magick and ritual, rutilated quartz is a stone of empowerment, manifestation, and connection. Use it to connect with the energies of Aphrodite/Venus for love spells and for improving relationships of all kinds. It magnifies your intention and helps you align to it for any goal possible, such as for healing, protection, or spiritual growth. Rutilated quartz is a powerful ally in connecting to the Goddess in many of her archetypal roles, especially the seemingly polar aspects of the Goddess of Love and the Fierce Goddess. Enjoy the potency and strength that it lends to all your workings.

Scarlet Temple Lemurian Seed Crystal

Magickal uses: liberation, sexuality, overcoming fear, life force

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Venus, Mars, Pluto; Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Sacred Harlot

Formation process: igneous

In 2013, a new variety of Lemurian seed crystal (LSC) was discovered in Serro do Cabral, Brazil. These crystals resemble earlier iterations of LSCs, except that the familiar hematite coating results in a darker rose to reddish coating. This rich coloring has earned this crystal the name “strawberry Lemurian seed crystal” and “scarlet temple Lemurian seed crystal.” Though the majority of them form in the typical Muzo habit associated with LSCs, many have distorted forms, odd surface relief patterns, and unusual etchings, all of which conspire to make them some of the most morphologically interesting LSCs around.

These Lemurian seed crystals derive their deep pink to red color from traces of hematite.

The scarlet temple crystal combines the purity and innocence of the entire clan of LSCs with the fiery, impassioned energy of the iron oxide on its surface. This marriage of the receptive, feminine LSC with the masculine hematite paves the way for exploring sacred sexuality. The very first time I saw these crystals I was reminded of the Thelemic goddess Babalon, sometimes referred to as the Scarlet Woman and the Sacred Whore. In part she is the result of Aleister Crowley’s reimagining of the whore of Babylon from the Book of Revelation, who is seen astride a great red beast. An excerpt from the Gnostic Creed, recited in the Gnostic Mass of the Ordo Templi Orientis,^*25 describes Babalon thusly: “I believe in one Earth, the Mother of us all, and in one Womb wherein all men are begotten, and wherein they shall rest, Mystery of Mystery, in Her name BABALON.”

Babalon is the embodiment of the Divine Mother, and she is associated with other love, sex, and war goddesses such as Inanna, Ishtar, and Astarte. To some occultists, Babalon is viewed as a hidden aspect of Nuit, goddess of the starry sky. I consider her an aspect of the Sacred Harlot because she refuses no one, but exacts a great price: she receives adepts as part of the mysteries of this spiritual path, and the price of this symbolic union is a few drops of the adept’s blood. This offering of blood is meant to represent the death of the ego.

Scarlet temple Lemurian seed crystals are dynamic and engaging. They offer their healing and energy to all who seek them, refusing no one, just like the Sacred Harlot. Rather than demanding the death of your ego identity, however, these crystals lovingly invite you to release your attachment to an ego-driven world. They offer grace, which absolves you of your sins. In this case, the only sin possible is believing that you are separate from the Goddess. By extension, if you embrace joyful unity with the Goddess, you will find unity and harmony with all others. The scarlet temple Lemurian crystal helps you achieve this through its heartfelt dance.

Whenever I hold these special formations of quartz they feel at once both ancient and new. It is as though they carry a wisdom that is timeless—perhaps actually seeded by the inhabitants of Lemuria themselves. They have a mission that is uniquely aimed at our current stage of evolution on Earth. Because of this, they usher in a fresh energy, one aimed at the reemergence of the Goddess. Their ruddy appearance speaks to their fiery spark of creativity, power, and the awakening of the life force. Scarlet temple Lemurian seed crystals have arrived to heal and elevate the station of women; they can also help reveal and nurture the Divine Feminine in the hearts of men and nonbinary people.

The scarlet temple crystal can empower you to embrace sacred sexuality. Like the Great Mother who receives the seed of her consort, this crystal allows you to receive love, affection, and pleasure from your partner. It catalyzes the healing of trauma, sexual abuse, or cultural conditioning about sex and pleasure by inviting you to claim sovereignty over your body and your sexuality. The scarlet temple Lemurian seed crystal also helps you overcome fear of all sorts, especially the fear of being judged. Thus this stone can help you reclaim your inner Sacred Harlot, leaving you free to accept or reject pleasure in any form as you see fit. In so doing, it is the quintessential tool for invoking the Great Mother, as all acts of love and pleasure are her domain.

Like all LSCs, the scarlet temple crystals have emerged now to help us integrate the new wave of Goddess energy in our world. They offer their healing in support of finding value among expressions of femininity. The iron-rich coating on this crystal lends strength to the gentleness of its base vibration, helping propel the Divine Feminine one step further toward its rightful status. These crystals can be just the tools we need to help pave the way for the success of feminism, as they seek to elevate the station of women everywhere.

Veil of Isis Crystal

Magickal uses: shamanic travel, healing the Divine Masculine, evolution

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Mother, Mistress of Magick, Stellar Goddess

Formation process: igneous

Veil of Isis crystals, also called blue mist Lemurian seed crystals, are a recently discovered, unique formation of quartz found in Colombia. They are characterized chiefly by milky inclusions resembling a sheer veil. These wispy inclusions are most likely composed of amphibole. Occasionally, when a veil of Isis crystal is cut in cross-section, it reveals a trapiche (wheel-shaped) pattern within. Most veil of Isis crystals exhibit faint etchings along the c-faces of the body, perhaps the result of a dissolution process.

Veil of Isis crystals are by their very nature crystals of mystery and mastery. These sacred stones were first introduced to me by my friend and colleague Sharron Britton. She gifted me with a specimen and enigmatically described it as “the invitation to the cosmic dance.” It took me quite some time to discover this stone’s mission. The luminous inclusions and complex surface relief patterns connote a strong sense of movement. These crystals have held my fascination ever since I first laid eyes on them.

The transparent inclusions within these crystals resemble an otherworldly mist—the veil between the worlds. The inclusions bear a passing resemblance to the mantle of the Great Mother, the ever-present boundary between ordinary consciousness and the liminal realms inhabited by spirits, elementals, fairies, and gods. Peering into these stones induces a state of calm focus; they can be used for meditation, crystal-gazing, and shamanic travel. The ethereal inclusions give the crystals a contraluz effect, such that they appear to be lit from within. They radiate whimsy and envelope you in a sense of peaceful solitude as they prepare the consciousness for journeying to the aspects of psyche that need the deepest healing.

Meditating with this crystal or using it in ritual can prepare you to part the boundary between the material and immaterial planes. Its hazy, luminous appearance signals the hidden light of spirit that is all around and within us. The veil of Isis crystal presents itself to us as part of our toolkit for the evolution of human consciousness. When we look beyond the material world we find an interconnectedness among all things. This deep sense of kinship is the result of all that we know and feel and see and touch, having been born from the cosmic womb of the Great Mother. The veil of Isis crystal puts us in touch with this irrevocable entanglement, helping us find the sacred relationship in all that is.

Veil of Isis crystals are stones of mystery and mastery.

By turning our focus to intrinsic connection, the veil of Isis crystal allows us to push against the illusion of separation and darkness. With the rise in patriarchal monotheistic religion, all the goddesses that could not be tamed were consigned to darkness. This crystal formation shows us the causal relationship between the “advances” in human society and the patterns in our collective consciousness. The veil of Isis crystal reveals how the Divine Feminine has historically been swept away or demonized, yet by following the light this stone shines we can repeal the efforts to diminish and devalue the Divine Feminine. These stones enable us to reclaim our heritage as children of the Divine Mother.

One of the most important messages of these crystals is one of empowerment, specifically, that of empowering the Divine Feminine to rescue the Divine Masculine. Most of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) have contributed to the rise in toxic masculinity and unchecked misogyny. Men have been taught to lock their feelings away and put on a brave face at all times; the message that femininity equals weakness is underscored in culture, media, and religion worldwide. Ultimately, we are left with men who cannot identify their own emotional needs and women who aren’t permitted to heal this brokenness.

This is where the mission of the veil of Isis crystals steps in. These stones seek to rescue the fragmented, inverted, and isolated picture of masculinity that is cultivated worldwide. By parting the veil of separation, these stones reflect the inherent sense of entanglement and inseparability between the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine. They remind us that we cannot have the one without the other. While the Isis crystal seeks to reconcile the duality of masculine and feminine, the veil of Isis crystal strengthens their relationship through action. The veil of Isis crystal seeks to unify and integrate the broken down and scattered divinity, just as Isis recovered and reassembled the dismembered remains of Osiris.

Ultimately, the veil of Isis crystal invites us to reclaim our wholeness. In remembering this wholeness we are empowered to be the co-creators we are made to be. This, for me, is what the “invitation to the cosmic dance” really means. The Earth can participate consciously in the greater plan of the cosmos only when we achieve a sense of wholeness by elevating the station of women and normalizing the inner masculine and feminine within each person on the planet. Today we see an uprising among women of the world who are leading our social, political, and spiritual reforms; they embody the essence of this crystal.

The complex etchings on the surface of these crystals remind me of rushing rivers—they imbue these stones with a sense of movement and power. The veil of Isis crystal can break through your blockages, bringing clarity and freshness where there was once stagnation. I also see this riverlike appearance as a reminder that a person’s consciousness is part of a greater consciousness. Upon closer inspection these patterns reveal a myriad of tiny crystal faces, each pointing toward the stone’s termination. This crystal enables you to see that our human experience is like a wave in the ocean; it can dissolve the boundaries of a limited perception of self so that you can perceive the expanse of your soul and your origin in the Cosmic Mother.

Although there is no ancient lore connected with these crystals, I have found them helpful tools for connecting to the archetypes of the Mother, Mistress of Magick, and the Stellar Goddess. They can be used in rituals of healing, soul retrieval, and divination. Place one on your heart or brow during meditation to enhance your shamanic journeys, especially workings aimed at meeting Isis or another face of the Great Mother. In healing work, this stone can help with recovering from abuse, trauma, and loss.

White Quartz

Magickal uses: protection, healing, stabilizing, inspiration, regeneration, ancestral communication

Elemental signature: earth, water

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, Mother Goddess, Fierce Goddess

Formation process: igneous (white quartz) or metamorphic (quartzite)

White quartz, or snow quartz, refers to massive, anhedral masses of quartz—those that lack crystal faces—with an opaque-to-translucent white color. They can either be seams or veins of quartz, grainy masses, or the metamorphic rock quartzite. This type of quartz is often found in alluvial deposits (such as river stones) along beaches and alongside more valuable ore minerals in mines. White quartz is found worldwide.

White quartz is a common carving medium that has been used for thousands of years, and it has been found as offerings in ancient burial sites. Paleolithic carvings, called “stiff nudes,” are often depictions of an aspect of the Fierce Goddess as Goddess of the Underworld, and these figures are often made out of white quartz. This material resembles bone and the snowy mantle of winter. For this reason white quartz has accrued a funereal association. White quartz represents the need for death, darkness, and decay in the natural cycle of life. Without these forces there is no opportunity to leave behind what doesn’t serve us so we can find time to recuperate and regenerate. Use it in sabbat celebrations during the darker half of the year, especially at the Yule (winter solstice) and Imbolc (February 2).

Raw and polished white quartz

The color and texture of white quartz naturally lends itself to depictions of the Lunar Goddess. Polished spherical beads can be used to gently attune to the energy of the full moon. Worn or carried after a ritual, white quartz helps to anchor the positive changes that have been effected by magick and ceremony. In gemstone therapy, this gem, usually called quartzite, is used to stabilize positive changes; it helps achieve a new state of balance and prevents slipping back into old habits.²³¹ It has an overall settling effect on the subtle bodies, providing improved stability on all levels.

When white quartz is actually the metamorphic rock quartzite—made of metamorphosed sandstone—it is the perfect representation of the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. As a metamorphic rock, it is in the domain of Metamatrix, the Mother of the Goddess of Stone. Since this rock has undergone changes that have resulted from intense pressure and/or heat, it helps to provide stability during our own transitions. Like the gentle embrace of the Great Mother, quartzite helps us feel reassured, guided, and protected while experiencing transformation.

In your magickal practice use white quartz for attuning to the tides of death and darkness, such as those that rise during the winter solstice. This stone can help you recognize the need to rest in order to prepare for and maintain your cycles of growth. White quartz is helpful for igniting the creative process by expanding the scope of your imagination; use it for anything from problem-solving to planning a new ritual. White quartz is also an excellent offering to the dead, and it can be used to facilitate ancestral communication. This gemstone is a versatile tool, and it can provide much-needed stability and endurance in many workings.

Witch’s Finger Quartz

Magickal uses: psychic development, ancestral healing, purification, protection, spirit contact, Earth healing, shamanic journeying, psychic development, offensive magick

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Pluto; Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Crone, Mistress of Magick

Formation process: igneous

Hailing from Zambia, witch’s finger crystals are unusual, teeming with inclusions of actinolite, mica, rutile, feldspar, zircon, and other minerals. Superficial deposits on the crystals resemble warts, and the stubby, tapered, and sometimes curved crystal habit evokes the image of the pointed finger of a wizened Crone. Recently, cactus quartz (aka, spirit quartz) from South Africa has been marketed as witch’s finger quartz; such crystals do not exhibit the properties described below.

At first glance, witch’s finger quartz will not win any beauty contests. However, a closer glimpse of the interior landscape of these crystals reveals complex inclusions, misty veils, rainbows, and so much more. These crystals look as though they have led a hard life, often forming incomplete terminations or misshapen crystal faces; yet despite their rough appearance, they emanate compassion and wisdom. These crystals are skilled guides for our own development and transformation, as they can help us navigate the unexpected pitfalls of life, granting additional stamina to help us persevere through our most challenging lessons.

The witch’s finger crystal is gnarled and misshapen like its stereotypical namesake.

The witch’s finger crystal is a patient teacher. It speaks quietly at first, waiting until we are ready to devote time to learn what it offers. This stone seems to work best on its own, unhindered by distractions and by other stones or tools. It can help us learn discipline and solitude, ultimately reminding us that the witch’s path is crooked and lonely, winding back and forth as we develop a personal relationship with the gods, spirits, and ancestors. These sacred crystals can also be used for ancestral healing and for clearing old patterns of energy from ourselves and our environment, whether these patterns are mental, emotional, spiritual, or karmic.

Witch’s finger quartz represents the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess. It is an excellent tool for spirit contact, developing the psychic faculties, and claiming your personal power. It illuminates repressed patterns in your mind, helping you embrace the seemingly broken parts of yourself as your greatest teachers. By inviting you to accept responsibility for your own well-being, witch’s finger quartz steers you toward understanding your soul’s journey. It awakens the latent understanding of why you are here on Earth.

When tumbled, this stone is called “Magdalene quartz” or “Magdalena stone.” Such stones are recommended for shamanic journeying and Earth healing; they are also said to connect to the “sacred Magdalene archetype.”²³² Personally, I find these same attributes in raw specimens of witch’s finger too.

As part of a magickal or spiritual practice, witch’s finger quartz is a fiercely protective stone. When you develop a relationship with one of these crystals it becomes a potent ritual tool and a trusted spiritual advisor. These crystals facilitate channeling, divination, spirit contact, and attuning to the power of place; in addition to opening the practitioner to receive, the witch’s finger provides protection during psychic or spiritual endeavors. Although I do not personally advocate using crystals in hexing or cursing, a witch’s finger crystal is a capable tool for offensive magick of all types.

RAINFOREST RHYOLITE

Magickal uses: grounding, planetary healing, harmony, hope, plant magick, past-life recall, shamanic journeying

Elemental signature: earth

Astrological signature: Venus; Taurus, Sagittarius, Leo

Goddess archetypes: Great Mother, Earth Mother, Mistress of Magick

Formation process: igneous

Rainforest rhyolite is a spherulitic form of rhyolite from Australia; it is commonly mislabeled “rainforest jasper.” However, this stone is an igneous rock composed predominantly of quartz and feldspar, with minor amounts of biotite and hornblende. Rhyolites are the extrusive equivalents of granite.

Swirls of green and other earth tones mingle with translucent patches of quartz in this rainforest rhyolite.

In crystal healing, rainforest rhyolite is often used to bring hope, joy, and harmony. It is an uplifting stone that connects us to the natural world. Naisha Ahsian describes it as a stone for Earth healing and connecting to the Great Mother. She writes, “In this time of cataclysmic natural destruction, this ally provides a link to the healing of humanity through the repair of our sacred relationship with the Earth.”²³³ This gemstone fosters compassion for all life, especially citizens of the plant and animal kingdoms, and thus it can be an aid for communicating with and healing all life on the planet.

Magickally, rainforest rhyolite is a powerful tool for connecting to the intelligence of nature. It “connects one to the sacred web of life that exists in nature” and is “a powerful stone for working with nature spirits and devic beings.”²³⁴ Use it for healing rituals for animals, plants, communities, and the planet as a whole. It can inspire creative problem-solving, enabling you to see the bigger picture and pursue possibilities that satisfy the needs of everyone involved in a given scenario.

Rainforest rhyolite is a stone that awakens latent memories of magick from past lives. Since it is so in tune with the natural world, it fosters an intuitive recall of green wisdom, plant magick, and herbalism. The energy of this stone “draws attention to the action of plants and passes on such knowledge, especially through the female line.”²³⁵ Rainforest rhyolite is an ally in reclaiming the wisdom of your maternal line; it opens the doorway to communing with your ancestors so that you can put their collective wisdom and experience to use in your life.

Plant rainforest rhyolite around your garden to facilitate healthy growth and more potent medicine and magick. This stone helps establish a healthy rapport with the nature spirits and other spirit beings around you. Use rainforest rhyolite for physical healing such as pain relief, tissue regeneration, and fighting off infections. Magickally, it is a potent ally in shamanic journeying; it lends stability, acting as an energetic anchor on your travels in spirit, and encourages you to trust the information you glean from your practice.

ROSE QUARTZ

Magickal uses: love, beauty, forgiveness, emotional balance

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Venus; Cancer, Libra, Taurus, Sagittarius

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Love, Mother, Fierce Goddess, Sacred Harlot

Formation process: igneous

Rose quartz occurs in two distinct formations. The first is anhedral (without crystal faces), a massive form of quartz colored by fine fibrous inclusions of a mineral closely related to dumortierite. This form varies from nearly opaque to transparent; transparent stones display a hazy contraluz effect similar to moon quartz. Some rose quartz also exhibits asterism. Massive rose quartz is found in many places worldwide; important centers of production are Brazil, Madagascar, South Africa, Germany, and the United States. The second variety of rose quartz is euhedral (exhibiting clearly defined crystal faces); its color is derived from traces of phosphorus and aluminium, and it is found in Brazil.

There is little premodern lore about rose quartz that has survived to the present day. Rose quartz artifacts consist mostly of beads, but also cylinder seals, figurines and vessels, and these are found in China, Europe, and the Near East. Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) called this stone anteros. Another nickname for anteros in his era was “Venus’s eyelid.”²³⁶ It has carried connotations of love and beauty since Pliny’s time, and it continues to be a popular stone for drawing love today. Rose quartz can be massaged or rubbed on your face to improve your complexion, allowing your beauty to shine. It is a popular component in love spells, as this stone seeks out your barriers to love and helps you forgive yourself for the pain and guilt you’ve carried. Through this action, rose quartz helps us become more loving to ourselves and others, and it enables us to be more receptive to the love all around us.

Rose quartz is a popular stone for connecting to the Divine Feminine. In addition to representing the archetype of the Goddess of Love, rose quartz embodies the maternal principles of the Great Mother. Barbara Walker describes the soft color of this stone as reminiscent “of maternal qualities and a sense of security such as might be experienced by an infant at its mother’s breast and remembered subconsciously in adulthood.”²³⁷ This stone helps to strengthen our relationship with the Mother of All and engenders similar motherly qualities in each of us. Rose quartz enables each of us to become a vessel for the love and healing of the Great Mother by dissolving our resistance to this love and easing our insecurities and feelings of unworthiness. It is a popular talisman for children, as it is believed to envelop them in the love and protection of the Mother Goddess.

An archaeological find of a cylinder seal carved from rose quartz is engraved with the Babylonian god Enlil and his consort Ninlil. This suggests that the stone is sacred to this goddess, who ruled over the winds. Ninlil is a Mother Goddess figure whose epithets include “the Lady who gives birth” and “the Lady who spreads her knees.” Rose quartz is often found among grave goods, which indicates that it represents that aspect of the Great Mother who receives us in death.

Rose quartz is a staple in love magick.

My friend and colleague Brian Parsons loves to use rose quartz as an example of how not every pink crystal is a “warm and fuzzy” kind of stone. He says there is nothing soft about this gemstone; rather, it’s a stone of tough love.²³⁸ We would do well to remember that rose quartz shakes loose our sense of unworthiness and stirs up old emotional patterns that lie buried in the physical body. The process of release we experience with rose quartz may not always be gentle, especially when working with gem-quality pieces. Our fears, pain, and other emotional baggage might rise to the surface, seemingly filling our thoughts with shadows.

To better understand this it is important to remember that the Great Mother has dual aspects: light and dark. The Sumerian goddess Ninlil, for whom rose quartz is sacred, is sometimes connected to or even equated with Lilith, a Sumerian storm goddess and aspect of the Dark Mother.^*26 Lilith was later integrated into the rabbinical tradition, and Hebrew texts describe her as Adam’s first wife. After being cast out of Eden, she coupled with demons and begat all manner of demons and monsters. Hebrew mythology paints Lilith as a dangerous, wanton woman, i.e., the Sacred Harlot. Rose quartz sheds light on our own inner demons so that we are emboldened and strengthened. This gemstone helps us heal from the oldest of wounds, not by casting them out as Lilith was ousted from paradise; instead, this stone embodies both the light and dark aspects of the Mother, who can meet our fears with love and grace or with fire and fury. Rose quartz endows us with the emotional strength to embrace our pain, forgive it, and release it once and for all.

Where these various archetypes—Goddess of Love, Great Mother, and Fierce Goddess—intersect, we find another archetype, that of the Sacred Harlot. Roses are sacred to Babalon, the Great Mother and Sacred Harlot of the Thelemic tradition, and rose quartz is therefore sacred to her. In crystal healing, rose quartz is a stone used to heal sexual trauma, eliminate shame, and improve self-worth. It teaches you that you are worthy of love and pleasure and that you are beautiful. Since this stone works to release your blockages to love, it can also be used to lessen your hangups about sex and sexuality. It reminds you that acts of love and pleasure are rituals of the Great Goddess, and thus rose quartz can help you embrace sex as a form of worship or communion with the Divine. This stone helps elevate your consciousness so that acts of pleasure become pure magick.

In spellcraft, the primary use of rose quartz is in love spells. It can be added to charm bags, placed on your altar, combined with pink or red candles, or empowered as a talisman and worn. Use it to attract a new partner or to help you love yourself unconditionally. It can be used in magickal baths—either immersed in the water as you bathe or placed around the edge of the tub—to promote beauty, self-confidence, and peace. Rose quartz is an excellent stone to work with to prepare yourself for deeper healing on all levels; use it to initiate a cleansing process of body, mind, and spirit, to make room for growth and transformation.

SAKURA STONE

Magickal uses: love, beauty, inspiration, attunement to nature, regeneration, creativity, confidence

Elemental signature: earth, water

Astrological signature: Venus, Uranus; Taurus, Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Earth Mother

Formation process: metamorphic

In 2009, I was blessed with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit Japan for three weeks. During that time I immersed myself in the culture, language, mythology, and spirituality of the Land of the Rising Sun. I also made a special effort to find some native minerals, as I do whenever I travel. The most unusual formation I found was what the Japanese call sakura ishi (桜石) or “cherry blossom stone.” These are usually minute, fragile crystals that form as a replacement of complex intergrowths of indialite-cordierite (better known as iolite in its bluish violet formations). The resulting pseudomorphs retain the overall shape and appearance of the original mineral, which in this case has a trapiche (wheel-like) habit resembling flowers. Appropriately, these unusual stones occur in only one place in the world: Kyoto, Japan.

To the people of Japan, the cherry blossom signifies fleeting beauty and embodies the essence of springtime. Cherry blossoms last only a short while before fading, their petals carried away by the breeze. When I first laid eyes on sakura trees in full bloom, their breathtaking beauty felt overwhelming. There is something bittersweet about them, for their occurrence embodies the ephemeral nature of all life.

Sakura stones are rare formations from Kyoto, Japan, that resemble cherry blossoms.

Japanese culture recognizes that all things have a divine nature, a numinous force akin to the gods; this essence or divinity is referred to as kami (神)—the same word used for “god” or “goddess.” The Japanese believe that sakura trees each have their own kami, which is reborn in the sakura stones once the blooms have withered. Each of these flower-shaped crystals embodies the innocence, beauty, and grace that the cherry blossom conveys, but they do so for an eternity.

In the mythology of Japan, there is a much-loved goddess of the sakura. Her full name is Konohanasakuya-hime, meaning “princess of the blossoming tree,” and she is often called Sakuya-hime, Konohana, or Sengen-sama. Konohana is respected as the representation of Japanese culture itself. She is the great-grandmother of the first emperor of Japan and the wife of Ninigi, the god of rice. She is most frequently represented by the symbol of the cherry blossom, thus connecting her to the sakura stone. She can be thought of as residing in the stones while her beloved trees are dormant; she awaits their flowering each year by retreating to the stones. Konohana is also the patron deity of Mt. Fuji and is the Japanese goddess of volcanoes.

Sakura stones are delicate formations; much like living cherry blossoms they need to be handled with care. Their presence brings peace and uplifts the energy of the space in which they are placed. They can be used when seeking beauty within and without, for finding love, and for connecting to the spirits of the plant kingdom. Sakura stones have a strong relationship with the devic kingdom, including nature spirits, fairies, and the kami of Japan. They connect us deeply to the spiritual essence of the natural world and can be used to attune to Mother Nature.

Sakura stones can be employed in spells for love and abundance, as the cherry blossom traditionally symbolizes both. Place them on your altar or encircle a candle with a few small specimens to harness their energy for your working. Sakura stones can also be used in glamourie, the magickal art of changing or augmenting the way you are perceived by others, as they enhance the beauty within us. Being comprised of mica, these stones also promote flexibility and help us when you are faced with changes.

In healing, sakura stones are helpful tools for promoting regeneration after periods of exertion. Just as the spirit of the cherry blossom rests in stone after the flowering period, these crystals guide your spirit to its metaphorical bedchambers to recover when you need it most. They can also be used to promote creativity, overcome shyness, and inspire confidence. Since sakura stones are the result of a metamorphic process, they assist you in times of immense transition; with their delicate guidance you can weather any storm and become all the better for it.

Sakura stones are surprisingly visionary stones. Their mica content promotes awareness, self-reflection, and clarity of psychic vision. In addition, their overall appearance is due to the cordierite of which they were once comprised prior to becoming pseudomorphs. The best-known variety of cordierite is iolite, a blue-to-purple gemstone known to enhance psychic awareness and open the third eye. Holding a sakura stone can provide many of these same benefits; I always feel its energy enter my brow first as it subtly enhances my perception of the spiritual planes.

I find myself more open to accepting the present moment when I work with sakura stones. They are compelling reminders of the ephemeral nature of life itself. Holding them or meditating with them invites you to see the gifts in each moment; these stones instill appreciation for the gifts of the Goddess that we receive each and every moment.

SAPPHIRE

Magickal uses: wisdom, prophecy, love, devotion, fidelity, harmony, goal-setting, justice, protection, peace, discipline, truth, legal matters

Elemental signature: air, water

Astrological signature: Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune; Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo, Gemini, Pisces, Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Queen of Heaven, Goddess of Love, Maiden, the Muse

Formation process: igneous or metamorphic

Sapphire refers to corundum in any color but red (red corundum is ruby). Its name derives from sapphirus, a term that originally applied to lapis lazuli and later to many other blue stones. Sapphires are found around the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Madagascar, Kenya, Vietnam, Australia, and the United States. Blue sapphire is colored by varying traces of titanium and iron; other types of sapphire are called “fancy sapphires.” The following properties refer to blue sapphire; additional entries for padparadscha sapphire and star sapphire follow.

Blue sapphire is fairly split between the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine in ancient lore. Vedic wisdom purports that there are two distinct genders among the sapphires, with darker shades being male and lighter shades female. There is an Asian myth that claims that sapphires were created from the last drops of the elixir of immortality, or amrita. This spiritual sustenance was sometimes regarded as the life-giving milk of the Great Goddess.²³⁹ A Sinhalese legend describes blue sapphire as originating when the blue eyes of a nature spirit called a daitya were entranced by the hypnotic dance of young women.²⁴⁰

Sapphire is available in a variety of colors, though blue stones such as the one pictured here are the most popular.

Michel Coquet, a scholar of Hinduism, esoteric Buddhism, and Eastern philosophy, regards blue sapphire as an emissary of the second ray, the ray of love in the esoteric tradition of the seven rays. He writes, “A stone of the second ray, sapphire has a female polarity. . . . This polarity grants sapphire the power to console the tormented, relieve the anguished, calm the nervous, give tranquility to the anxious, and transform hatred into clarity. Buddhists maintain that sapphires produce peace of mind and create equanimity, establishing in the awareness of the meditator a profound and enduring vibration of peace and harmony.”²⁴¹

Perhaps this esoteric link between sapphire and love finds its roots in the archaic belief that sapphires are the guardians of love. Greek texts state that sapphire is under the patronage of Aphrodite,²⁴² though this may actually refer to lapis lazuli or another blue gemstone. Sapphire has long been used to induce harmony, love, and fidelity. Blue sapphire was thought to help lovers attune to each other in order to forge a deeper connection.

Sapphire also connotes devotion and chastity, and ecclesiastical rings were once set with sapphires to encourage such virtues in churchmen. In the Christian lapidary tradition, blue sapphire was linked to the Virgin Mary. The chasteness of sapphire connects to the archetypal Maiden, who helps us find our intrinsic innocence and freedom. Sapphire promotes a spiritual sense of love that helps us achieve union not only with our partners in body, but also in soul. Blue sapphire calls on the archetype of the Goddess of Love to help us harness the transformative power of unconditional love.

Blue sapphire is esteemed for its mental virtues. This gemstone is the preeminent healer of the mind, bringing clarity and focus while nourishing the mind with its energy. As a Muse archetype, blue sapphire represents wisdom and thus can help us connect to goddesses associated with learning, the arts, and scholastic pursuits. Accordingly, this gemstone is used for expanding consciousness, healing conditions of the sensory organs (especially the eyes and ears) and the brain/nervous system, and for seeking truth. Ultimately, this is the stone that most embodies the truth behind the Delphic injunction of “Know thyself.” Blue sapphire reminds us that we are not our minds, no more than we are our physical bodies, and that our true nature is that of spirit.²⁴³

As a stone of truth, sapphire cuts through illusion, reveals deceit and lies, and protects against harmful spells. It can be useful in magick aimed at obtaining a favorable outcome in legal matters, as well as warding off jealousy and vengeance. Blue sapphire is also used as an amulet against poverty; surely anyone wealthy enough to afford a fine sapphire in the first place is likely to have no problems in this area.

The celestial color of sapphire endows it with similar properties as stones such as lapis lazuli (with which it has been linguistically conflated for centuries). It is believed to be highly protective, especially against the evil eye. Since medieval times magicians and witches have favored sapphire for strengthening their enchantments. Blue sapphire unlocks the psychic senses and helps us interpret divination with greater accuracy. Many crystal mystics today use blue sapphire to enhance communication in all endeavors and for channeling higher intelligences.

Padparadscha Sapphire

Magickal uses: prosperity, learning, wisdom, creativity, good luck, happiness

Elemental signature: fire

Astrological signature: Sun; Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Maiden, Goddess of Love, the Muse

Formation process: igneous or metamorphic

Padparadscha sapphire is named for its color, which resembles a pink lotus flower.

Padparadscha sapphires have a striking pinkish orange hue. The name of this stone is taken from the Sinhalese word for the lotus blossom because of their resemblance to the color of this sacred flower. Though the color range is varied, true padparadscha sapphires must be a mix of both pink and orange, with pastel tones being among the most coveted. Trace amounts of chromium and iron create the unusual color of these gemstones. They are commonly found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Tanzania.

Padparadscha sapphires are traditionally associated with wisdom, and they are believed to remove obstacles. I find these sapphires to be closely connected to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of abundance and wealth. This goddess is often depicted with a lotus in her hands, thus she is also named Padma (lotus); the padparadscha sapphire shares a linguistic origin with her. Like Lakshmi, the padparadscha embodies the symbolism of the lotus, radiating enlightenment and fecundity to all who bear it.

The padparadscha’s association with wisdom and learning makes it an excellent tool for those who are studying, whether as part of a formal school or independently. It broadens the perspective and facilitates mental acuity. For these reasons, the padparadscha sapphire is beneficial for those involved in research, writing, and teaching. It connects to the archetype of the Muse and brings inspiration and creativity to pursuits in education and the arts.

Because of its inner fire, padparadscha sapphire evokes creativity and helps us channel that into authentic expression. This makes it an ideal stone for creators of all types—painters, writers, sculptors, musicians, dancers, and anyone else involved in creative pursuits. Naisha Ahsian says this stone facilitates expression of our deepest truth in our creative expressions, adding that it enables its bearer to become “inspired by divine revelations, communications, and experiences. It is a stone of bliss, rapture, and surrender to the eternal Creator.”²⁴⁴

Padparadscha sapphire lends itself to workings for abundance, material wealth, wisdom, learning, inspiration, and creativity, bringing fertility and success to any endeavor. It can be worn to remove obstacles on your path or to remove your inner resistance, while it helps you achieve union with the glory of the Great Goddess herself.

Star Sapphire

Magickal uses: luck, protection, success, devotion, finding direction, service, power

Elemental signature: air, water

Astrological signature: Jupiter, Saturn, Moon; Sagittarius, Capricorn, Libra

Goddess archetypes: Queen of Heaven, Stellar Goddess, the Fates, Triple Goddess

Formation process: igneous or metamorphic

Star sapphires and star rubies are produced when corundum contains an abundance of fine, needlelike inclusions of rutile that are arranged in intersecting arrays following the geometry of the corundum crystal itself. When cut en cabochon, this stone reveals a six-rayed, silky optical phenomenon known as asterism when viewed under a bright light. The rays of the star are made from three intersecting lines. The effect is most pronounced in opaque gemstones, with the star effect mobile, moving with the source of light. Star sapphires can be found in Sri Lanka, India, Australia, and Myanmar, and they can be virtually any color, including blue, pink, gray, black, purple, lavender, orange, yellow, and green. Today, many star sapphires are synthesized in labs; though synthetic stones have the same composition and structure as natural stones, many practitioners find them gentler in their effects.

Gemstones with unusual optical phenomena such as asterism have been considered unusually potent magickal talismans since the early days of the lapidary arts. I have faint memories of my great-grandfather Leonard Pearson wearing a ring with a star sapphire—the very same one pictured on the following page. The stone fascinated me, for the star on its surface moved as if by some mystical force. The ring was passed on to my grandfather, and then to me. It continues to be a sacred talisman for me as it was for them.

Star sapphires and star rubies were believed to be inhabited by three spirits representing hope, faith, and destiny. These spirits bring good luck and protection to whomever bears the stone. From their connection to destiny, star sapphires have been attributed to the Fates. Use this stone when seeking their insight or assistance. The three intersecting lines creating the appearance of the star represents the triune image of the Fates, and this stone is can also be of service in connecting to the Triple Goddess.

This star sapphire once belonged to my great-grandfather.

A common name for star sapphire in German is siegstein, “victory stone,” indicating its helpfulness in attaining success in all endeavors. Since the asterism in this gemstone moves with the source of light and the angle of view, it can resemble a moving arrow pointing toward your destiny. Worn or meditated with, star sapphire can help you find direction and motivation, providing clarity and insight into your life path

In kabbalistic lore, star sapphire is attributed to the sefirot Binah, which represents the cosmic principle of the Divine Feminine.²⁴⁵ Star sapphire is also considered the ideal stone for people who have devoted their lives to be in service to others. It helps prevent the burnout that so often is associated with service professions, especially healers and counselors.

Star sapphire is associated with many goddesses from around the world in Western occult practice, especially as inspired by the correspondences in Aleister Crowley’s 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley.^*27 Some of these goddesses include Bhavani, Cybele, Demeter, Hera, Isis, and Nuit. The heavenly color of blue star sapphire naturally lends this stone to the archetype of the Queen of Heaven, and the stone’s asterism is the domain of the Stellar Goddess. Star sapphire is a regal gemstone that confers autonomy, authority, and spiritual strength to all who wear it. As a stone of the Divine Feminine it resurrects the power and magick of the Great Mother by compelling us to serve as instruments of her work.

Employed in magick, the star sapphire is one of the most potent of gems for protection, especially against the harmful magick of others. There is a custom in Sri Lanka that purports it is the best stone against sorcery and the evil eye. The properties of star sapphire are said to be so potent that the stone continues to exert its positive influence over its first wearer even when it has been passed on to a new owner.²⁴⁶ This gemstone can also be used to ensure privacy and prevent interference in your affairs, be they business or personal. Star sapphire lends power to any magickal working, regardless of motive or intention.

In particular, black star sapphire is sacred to Hekate. It is not recommended for those with scattered minds, though, as it requires greater focus and discipline to work with the energies of black star sapphire. Use it for connecting to the Dark Goddess and for exploring the shadows in your psyche. Black star sapphire is strongly protective, and it can also be used in glamouries.

SELENITE

Magickal uses: intuition, healing, lunar rituals, purification, alignment wisdom, justice, past-life exploration, karmic healing, dreamwork, clarity

Elemental signature: water, air

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, the Muse

Formation process: sedimentary

When gypsum, a calcium sulfate dihydrate mineral, forms lustrous, transparent crystals it is known as selenite. Gypsum is a common mineral found worldwide, and it is used commercially in pigments, plaster, and drywall. Gypsum crystallizes in a variety of forms and colors, generally as a result of secondary (i.e., sedimentary) processes. It is a soft stone, rating only a 2 on the Mohs scale of hardness; in fact, it is soft enough to be scratched by a fingernail. Some common forms include grainy masses (alabaster), sheets of transparent-to-opaque crystals, fibrous masses (satin spar), transparent crystals, translucent or opaque crystals (often in delicate clusters), rosettes (desert rose), twinned crystals (fishtail, swallowtail, or angel wing selenite) and the unusual ram’s horn selenite, a curved or spiraling shape. The general properties of transparent, crystalline selenite are discussed below, with additional entries for several varieties, including desert rose, peach, and satin spar selenite. For the properties of alabaster, see the separate entry in this compendium.

Selenite takes its name from Selene, a Greek goddess of the moon. In ancient Greece there was a stone known as selenites, meaning “moon stone,” which may have been the crystalline form of gypsum we call selenite today. Its pearly shine and beautiful optical properties naturally connect this stone to the moon; in ancient Greece and Egypt it was known as “foam of the moon.”²⁴⁷

Most forms of gypsum, selenite included, form as mineral-rich water evaporates. In many instances deposits of selenite crystals are the result of inland seas and lakes leaving behind their salts and other minerals as the water is carried away, transforming the landscape as the crystals form. Such selenite crystals are frequently found in abandoned mines that have subsequently flooded, sometimes encrusting human artifacts. This formation process is associated with sedimentary activity. Many selenite crystals exhibit inclusions of water, sometimes with air bubbles or mineral solids visible too. These inclusions, called enhydros, illustrate the watery environment that birthed the selenite and point to this stone’s connection to the emotions.

A sharply terminated selenite crystal with a hematite phantom, from Mexico

Water is an element generally associated with the moon and the emotions in esoteric lore. The waters of our planet ebb and flow in tides that are influenced by the cycles of the moon. The constant flux represents our emotional constitution, for it too is ever-changing. Selenite is a capable emotional healer, as it sheds light on the emotional patterns latent in your heart, mind, and soul. Selenite restores movement to stagnant energies, especially those held in the mind, the emotions, and the aura. It helps to stimulate forward momentum and objectivity, allowing you to examine the interior landscape of your psyche with clarity and compassion.

Selenite is a natural choice for invoking the blessings of the Lunar Goddess. Selene was an early lunar figure in Greek mythology; she was the sister-wife of Helios, the sun god. Selene is sometimes depicted with long wings and wearing a crown of light.²⁴⁸ One of her daughters is another moon goddess: Hekate, the witch-goddess and keeper of the crossroads. The root of Selene is selas, meaning “light.” Her Roman counterpart, Luna (after the Latin word for moon), shares this linguistic theme, as her name is derived from lux, or “light.”²⁴⁹ Like the moon, selenite is luminous; as satin spar it is naturally fiber optic, while many other varieties exhibit strong fluorescence and phosphorescence.

Transparent masses of selenite were once known as Marienglas (Mary glass), Frauenglas (woman glass), and Fraueneis (woman ice) in German. Frauenglas and Fraueneis suggest selenite’s connection to the Virgin, implying that the feminine principle is contained within this stone.²⁵⁰ Since selenite is soft and easily cleaved, transparent sheets of water-clear selenite were used to protect images of the Virgin Mary as well as in reliquaries housing holy objects. Selenite was preferred over glass because its cleavage results in uniform sheets, with fewer imperfections than the glass available centuries ago. Selenite even became a substitute for images of Mary because of its association with her.

In traditional Chinese medicine, selenite helps to generate and regulate the fluids of the body, a trait that mirrors the moon’s relationship to the tides. Though it relates to all fluids for all people, selenite is particularly adept at treating conditions of the female body. It has been used to treat fibroid tumors and lumps in the breasts, as well as to help regulate menses and water retention during menstruation, and it assists lactation in nursing mothers.²⁵¹ Western lore associates selenite with childbirth, children, and healing childhood trauma, all the domain of the Mother Goddess.

In crystal healing today, selenite is an important stone for healing and transformation, mostly because of its relationship with light. Katrina Raphaell describes selenite as one of the four “predominant power stones” along with kyanite, calcite, and hematite. She notes how important these four minerals are for our spiritual evolution. Selenite, she says, “resides on that thread of a threshold between pure white light and physical matter. It vibrates more on the spiritual level than that of the physical. . . . Capable of displaying total transparency, Selenite’s essence is that of which dreams and visions are made. Selenite builds the bridge through which the highest frequencies of light can be integrated with the most subtle levels of physical form.”²⁵²

What Raphaell is describing here is the sacred marriage of spirit and matter. Selenite is one of the quintessential New Age stones because it heralds the shift in consciousness needed for a new era, one in which the energy of the Divine Feminine is fully acknowledged. That this stone is named for an ancient moon goddess is no accident; to fully rebirth the Divine Feminine on our planet, it will be necessary to return to our ancient roots and allow the shining face of the Goddess to emerge, leading women of all walks of life to their rightful status.

One of the themes I always associate with selenite is alignment. In crystal healing it is frequently recommended for cases of physical misalignment, especially of the spine. This stone is also used to etherically align and open the chakras. Following this thread further, we find that selenite helps us align with our true spiritual nature. This innermost essence is born of the Great Mother, and selenite encourages us to seek greater alignment with her love and magick. Selenite helps us unite with the cosmic tides, the cycles of natural time born of the Great Goddess. We can take advantage of this on both a personal and planetary level. For the individual, selenite deepens intuition, enhances communication with guides and spirits, and supports deep meditation and dreamwork. On a grander scale, selenite seeks to align the material world with the spiritual, impregnating all that we do with the transformative power of the Divine Feminine.

Though there isn’t much ancient lore about selenite, there is some evidence of its use in magickal workings in the early centuries of the Common Era. Sandra Kynes reports that tablets made of lead and selenite dating from 200 to 300 CE were discovered on the island of Cyprus. “Inscribed in Greek, the selenite tablets contained invocations to chthonic deities, curses, and calls for justice. Archaeologists regard this cache as one of the most substantial records of ancient magical practices.”²⁵³ We can surmise that selenite can therefore be employed in modern magick. Use it in times of injustice to shine its brilliant light on the truth, as well as for balance in workings such as binding, banishing, and so forth.

Contrary to popular belief, selenite must be cleansed frequently. Its soft, often porous structure allows it to act as a sponge in your environment. As a result, along with its brilliant spiritual light, it is adept at cleansing other crystals and ritual tools. Placing other stones, jewelry, or other items on a slab of selenite is a simple way to ensure that they are wiped free of disharmonious energies—just be sure to exercise care so as not to scratch or otherwise damage your selenite. Since it can be used to cleanse other stones, many sources assert that selenite needs no upkeep of its own. This is a case of faulty logic. We clean our own bodies in the shower and bathtub, but that does not exempt those facilities from needing to be cleaned as well. Similarly, the sponges used for washing dishes are not miraculously able to clean themselves. The same goes for our stones. Be sure to maintain your selenite by cleansing it often. Avoid methods that involve water, salt, or anything else that can damage it, as selenite is very soft.

Selenite can be used for facilitating psychic development. It enhances meditation and promotes a clear mind, and it makes the dream state more vivid. It is excellent for astral travel and lucid dreaming. In the metaphysical community, selenite is commonly used to access higher guidance and to help you become a clearer vessel for channeling information from nonphysical entities. Magickally, it can be used for spirit contact, especially since its purifying energy filters out many unhelpful—or even harmful—beings. Use selenite with your favorite divination tool, such as tarot, to ensure clear and accurate messages.

I use selenite around the home to keep my environment energetically clear and safe. An ancient practice from Mesopotamia reveals that selenite was used to safeguard against evil spirits; it was mixed with bitumen and smeared on the door of a sick person to keep away negative entities.²⁵⁴ Reminiscent of this ancient practice, small pieces of selenite can be placed above the front entrance to your house to protect and purify all who enter; one of my clients has had so much success with this that she says it “stops the devil at the doorway.” Be sure to cleanse and empower these stones frequently, and visualize a curtain or waterfall of white light streaming from the stone, so that it will bless all who enter.

Use selenite for uncrossing, luck, and peace. Scott Cunningham suggests that it can be used to seek reconciliation between lovers,²⁵⁵ a property likely due to selenite’s watery nature and close association with the emotions. Selenite is an excellent choice for a wand; you can choose from naturally terminated crystals, polished wands, and raw pieces that are easily shaped by hand with sandpaper. Such a tool is adept at healing and circle casting, and good for many other uses.

Finely ground selenite can be added to powders, oils, pouches, flying ointments, and other magickal projects. Because it is so soft, it is easy to make selenite powder yourself—simply grind it in a mortar and pestle. Satin spar, easily obtainable and economically priced, is the best choice for such endeavors.

Desert Rose Selenite

Magickal uses: fertility, spirit contact, psychic development, plant magick, mental healing, love, protection

Elemental signature: earth, water

Astrological signature: Moon, Venus; Cancer, Taurus, Virgo

Goddess archetypes: Earth Mother, Great Mother, Maiden

Formation process: sedimentary

Rosettes of selenite connect us to the natural world.

Desert roses are aggregates of bladed crystals of gypsum, usually heavily included with sand. Most desert roses are a whitish color on the exterior, though they can be transparent, golden, peach, or brown. These crystals are formed in arid regions all over the world. Desert roses can also be formed of other minerals, chiefly barite, but only those comprised of gypsum are discussed here.

Of all the formations of selenite, the desert rose is the most grounded, centered, and connected to the natural world. It can be used to facilitate communication with nonphysical beings such as ancestors, angels, guides, and other tutelary spirits. Placed on an altar or shrine, these crystals invite the local nature spirits and benevolent fairy folk to visit your sacred space.

My friend Margaret Lembo describes selenite desert roses as “a perfect stone for aligning with the Divine Mother, specifically Mother Mary and Kuan Yin.”²⁵⁶ The symbol of the rose allows you to connect with the sacred heart of love, our true essence, she says. Roses and flowers have long symbolized the Divine Feminine, and the desert rose is an exquisite example of Mother Nature’s ingenuity.

Judy Hall suggests using desert rose selenite to dissolve self-imposed beliefs and patterns. This formation “releases the program and assists in finding an appropriate replacement.”²⁵⁷ We can use desert roses for our personal healing in this way, as well as for uprooting institutionalized programs that limit the expression of the Divine Feminine and perpetuate the oppression of women, patriarchy, misogyny, and toxic masculinity.

Desert rose selenite is a useful adjunct to spellcraft and manifestation. It reinforces your intentions, gently grounding them in the material plane. This crystal formation is also helpful for enhancing the potency of affirmations; hold it while reciting an affirmation.²⁵⁸ You can also place a written intention or prayer beneath a desert rose to help it manifest.

Use desert roses as a substitute for fresh flowers in spells that require them, especially spells for love, beauty, and growth. They promote healing and can help you maintain contact with the spiritual planes, especially in a ritual setting. Desert rose selenite can be employed in spells or workings for fertility, protection, and joy. Desert roses are also used by many magicians and healers to help their gardens grow.

Peach Selenite

Magickal uses: love, peace, joy, earth healing

Elemental signature: water, earth

Astrological signature: Venus, Moon; Virgo, Taurus

Goddess archetypes: Maiden

Formation process: sedimentary

Most peach selenite is in the form of satin spar selenite, and it is frequently mined in Morocco. Occasionally fine selenite crystals—both opaque and transparent—are found. The peachy hue is usually derived from trace amounts of iron.

Peach selenite represents the budding and adventurous Maiden archetype. Because of its iron content, this variety of selenite has a gentler, more grounded energy. It has a playful quality, as if the stone seeks awe, joy, and spontaneity in all things. Use it to work with the archetype of the Maiden and it will assist you in attracting pure, uncomplicated pleasure, beauty, and love.

Polished pieces of peach selenite from Morocco

In crystal healing, peach selenite gently transforms your emotional makeup. Peach selenite awakens memories from childhood (and occasionally from past lives) so that you can face issues related to abandonment, rejection, and betrayal. Peach selenite transmutes these into forgiveness and acceptance.²⁵⁹ You can use it to return to the state of innocence and freedom embodied in the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess.

Peach selenite assists with planetary healing too, by reestablishing the primacy of Mother Earth and the spiritual beings responsible for her well-being. Working with peach selenite can improve communication with the local spirits of your home and surrounding area. Use small tumbled or raw pieces as offerings to the nature spirits, or bury them in a grid around your home or property. Peach selenite can also be added to workings for love and beauty.

Satin Spar Selenite

Magickal uses: protection, cleansing, fertility, channeling, weather magick

Elemental signature: water, air

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer, Pisces

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess

Formation process: sedimentary

Satin spar is the most common variety of selenite available today. It crystallizes as fibrous masses that display fiber-optic properties when transparent. Technically, satin spar should be termed gypsum, since it is not always transparent, nor does it form discrete crystals. It is found worldwide in locations such as Morocco, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Russia, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Poland, and Italy. Other names for this crystal formation include satin stone, feather gypsum, and plaster stone.

Satin spar selenite is ubiquitous in today’s market. When relatively clear, satin spar is dramatic when lit from one end, as the light is drawn through its fibrous structure. Rough towers and unpolished slivers of this stone have a rustic appearance that belies their inner light. The energy of satin spar is tangibly more mental than the transparent, crystalline varieties of selenite. It imparts mental clarity, strengthens your reasoning skills, and increases awareness. Working with this form of selenite brings clarity and focus to the mind, and its porous nature is excellent for cleansing the aura. Slabs of this stone are commonly sold for use in cleansing other crystals.

Satin spar, a fibrous form of selenite, in both raw and polished states

When polished, satin spar selenite exhibits a striking cat’s eye effect. This chatoyance may be the reason why selenite has its name, as it is reminiscent of the moon’s satiny glow. Like other chatoyant stones it is considered protective. Satin spar shares a visionary quality with other cat’s eye stones; it enhances psychic vision and can help you see with greater accuracy and objectivity.

Satin spar was once popular in Egypt, where it was polished into shapes called “Pharoah’s eggs.”²⁶⁰ These ovoid gems traditionally conferred protection and good fortune; similar egg-shaped selenites were exchanged as gifts at Easter in Russia. Polished eggs of satin spar are still common today, and they are excellent choices for adorning the altar for Ostara, the vernal equinox.

Some native cultures used forms of fibrous gypsum such as satin spar for weather magick. In an act of sympathetic magick, tiny fibers of this stone are thrown into the air in ceremonies for rainmaking.²⁶¹ Modern practitioners can source ground or broken fragments of selenite quite easily for this purpose. Simply empower the selenite fragments by charging them with the intention of bringing rain, and then cast them into the air. Be sure not to breathe it in or get any in your eyes.

Use satin spar for cleansing, purification, and connecting to lunar energy, much like other varieties of selenite. It is a stone of connection, just like the way the individuals fibers from which it is made join together to create the entire crystal formation. Satin spar engenders group harmony and is helpful for connecting to nonhuman intelligences too. Use it to create grids around your ritual space to filter out disharmonious energy and anchor the intentions of your spells and rituals. Polished eggs and spheres of selenite are excellent for lunar rituals, and they can be used for workings related to fertility, both literally and figuratively.

SERPENTINE

Magickal uses: healing, protection, kundalini awakening, past-life recall, memory, nature spirits, ancestral communication

Elemental signature: earth, fire

Astrological signature: Saturn; Gemini, Scorpio, Capricorn, Libra

Goddess archetype: Earth Mother

Formation process: metamorphic

Serpentine refers to an entire group of minerals rather than a single discrete species. Serpentines are common rock-forming minerals, usually comprised of fibrous structures rich in iron and magnesium. Serpentine minerals are often green, brown, gray, or black in color, and they form as compact masses, fibrous (asbestiform) formations, and in serpentinite rocks. Many forms of serpentine exhibit striped or speckled patterns. Serpentine is sometimes conflated with jade, which it resembles, though it is softer and easier to carve. Serpentine is found throughout the world, and some of the principal locations for this stone include Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Russia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Serpentine is a family of minerals found in a range of colors, textures, and patterns.

Serpentine is a stone that has been used for more than five thousand years, yet paradoxically there isn’t a whole lot of lore about the magickal properties of this stone. It is named for the resemblance of its colors and patterns to the scales of a snake; for this reason the most commonly recorded belief is that this stone could ward off venomous creatures and draw the venom from a snakebite. As a talismanic gemstone, serpentine was once used by nursing women to ensure a plentiful supply of milk.²⁶² It has also been used to provide safety during travel and as an offering to both deceased and deity alike. A serpentine chalice was also thought capable of detecting poison.²⁶³

As you might imagine, serpentine deeply connects to the earth, and it is a wonderful stone of the Earth Mother. Placed in the garden, serpentine can help you attune to the natural rhythm of your land and invite the blessings of the nature spirits to help in tending your plants. Serpentine has a long tradition of being connected to spirits, as it was used to conjure spirits who predict the future as well as to drive out unwanted spirits from the possessed.²⁶⁴

Serpentine is often formed by metamorphic activity. It helps to sustain us through our own metamorphoses by allowing us to tap into the energy of Mother Earth through grounding and by stirring the hidden reserves of energy within us. This stone helps activate the flow of kundalini, the energy that resides at the base of the spine like a coiled snake; the rising of this energy through the chakras brings spiritual awakening, healing, and transformation. Medieval lore reminds us that serpentine was thought to kindle fire and keep candles burning;²⁶⁵ perhaps this actually refers to the stone’s fiery energy and its ability to ignite the inner fire of kundalini.

The image of the snake is inseparable from the mission of serpentine. Serpents are symbols of regeneration, wisdom, and female sexuality. Many ancient cults used the serpent as a representation of the Divine Feminine; later, the matriarchal tradition was overthrown by the patriarchal tradition when male gods replaced the Great Goddess, as illustrated in the myth of Python, a serpent (or alternately a dragon) who dwelled in the center of the earth, who was slain by Apollo. Clearly, this imagery points to the telluric and chthonic aspects of the Earth Mother. The metamorphic processes responsible for the formation of serpentine often take place deep in the earth, where tectonic plates are subducted and make contact with the molten mantle. Serpentine is the mineral representation of the same chthonic aspect of the Earth Mother, for it dwells in the same subterranean realm as Python.

Snakes were sometimes believed to be immortal, like the Great Mother, and by shedding their skin these mysterious creatures were rejuvenated. Serpentine helps us shed the skin of our past, enabling us to learn from past lessons—not only from this lifetime, but from past lives, as well. It bolsters the memory and encourages us to learn from the world around us. This mineral is a helpful tool for physical rejuvenation, as it promotes healthy regeneration at the cellular level.

Serpentine is an excellent stone for past-life recall and for ancestral communication. Meditating with or wearing serpentine can augment any spiritual endeavor, from astral travel to spellcraft. It can be used as a substitute for jade in workings for health, abundance, or peace.

SILVER

Magickal uses: psychic development, protection, invoking the Goddess, dreams, travel, emotional healing, wisdom, communication, prosperity

Elemental signature: water

Astrological signature: Moon; Cancer

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, Queen of Heaven, the Muse, Solar Goddess (rarely)

Formation process: igneous (native silver) and sedimentary (silver ores)

Silver is a precious metal, one of the most readily available in its native state. Because it is so easily found and refined from ores, silver is one of the earliest metals to be worked in human history. It occasionally forms crystals, and as such it belongs to the cubic crystal system. Most natural formations of silver resemble plantlike branching forms and serpentine wires. Silver is often available as traces in ores of copper, antimony, and lead. Silver has been mined since antiquity in Greece, Great Britain, Asia Minor, and Central Europe. Though silver is found in many locations, the most commercially important sources for silver today are Mexico, Poland, Bolivia, Peru, Turkey, and Australia.

Silver leaf and silver jewelry are readily available for use in ritual and healing.

Since silver shares its color with the moon, it has long been connected to this heavenly body, thus it has always been revered as the metal of the Lunar Goddess. It is reflective, soft, and beautiful, much like our conception of the Divine Mother. Silver jewelry, especially in the form of crescent moons and pentagrams, are the favored accouterments of the witch; they improve a person’s psychic sensitivity and attunement to the Goddess.

To understand silver’s spiritual qualities you have to observe its physical properties. Chief among metals, silver is the best conductor of heat and electricity. It is also the most brilliant of the metals, with great response to light. Wilhelm Pelikan, a chemist and anthroposophist, describes silver in his treatise The Secrets of Metals:

In the cool and noble luster of the pure metal [i.e., pure silver] there is perfect mirroring power. No other metal equals it in this. It returns the instreaming light undimmed and almost unchanged, declining to absorb any of it for itself. Nothing of its own nature is mixed with this light; neither color, as with gold or copper, nor turbidity, as with lead, antimony, etc. Look into a silver mirror and you see nothing but mirror-pictures; the silver itself withdraws completely.²⁶⁶

Silver does not display any of the stereotypically masculine qualities; it is somewhat passive and receptive. This enables silver to act like the moon, which is also cool and reflective. It is this connection to light and the moon that makes the metal such an effective magickal tool. It is an excellent conductor of energy, for it will not disrupt or change the energy passing through or contained within. Gemstones set in silver jewelry, or crystals attached to a silver wand, are therefore enhanced by their silver settings.

Magickal lore ascribes a protective influence to silver. Beloved witch Scott Cunningham states that “as the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, so too does its metal reflect negativity away from the wearer. Tiny silver globes (or any silver jewelry) are worn for magical security. Silver crescents, whose ‘horns’ turn back evil, are popular worldwide.”²⁶⁷ He notes that silver lockets are used to protect children in China, and betrothed couples in France were once protected by silver chains, similar to those worn as necklaces.²⁶⁸ This may be the source for the popular trope of silver bullets fighting off supernatural beings.

Silver is one of the finest metals for making musical instruments, and it can frequently be seen in bells and chimes, flutes, and occasionally in brass instruments. Silver “has an inward nobility that manifests in its pure ring.”²⁶⁹ Unusual among the lighter metals, silver readily transmits sound just as it does light, which accounts for the beautiful, clear sound that it transmits. For this reason, silver can promote clear thinking and concise communication. In the same way that it conducts heat and electricity, silver can link the speaker to his or her audience, ensuring that no loss of meaning occurs.

Silver becomes the perfect conduit—the empty reed—through which the message flows, much like the ancient shamans and magicians of times gone by. By wearing silver, you can empty yourself of attachment and become a vessel to receive the Divine, especially the Goddess. Silver has long been touted for opening the psychic senses, and this is because it is such an excellent conductor. Silver jewelry can foster better communication with the gods and with the spirit realm, thereby making each of us a priestess or priest who can receive messages from beyond this world. Wearing silver jewelry to bed (safely!) or placing a piece of silver under your pillow encourages prophetic dreams and nighttime astral journeys.

Silver is frequently worn or placed on the altar during rites to honor the full moon. Like the moonstone, silver is also believed to confer safe passage to travelers, being especially protective during journeys over water. Silver is sacred to virtually all goddesses of the moon and the sky, including Diana, Artemis, Selene, Ishtar, Isis, Luna, and Selene. The Welsh goddess Arianrhod, whose name means “silver wheel,” is a lunar deity who cherishes her namesake metal. She is associated with reincarnation, as her home, Caer Arianrhod (a cluster of circumpolar stars), is the place where souls seek respite between incarnations. Silver can be used to reach out to those loved ones who may be visiting her celestial palace.

Despite its overtly lunar associations, silver is occasionally attributed to solar imagery. The Finnish sun goddess Päivätär is connected to silver; her sister, the moon, is associated with gold.²⁷⁰ Päivätär is clothed in white raiments and she holds a silver reed while she weaves. Silver and silver-colored altar vestments can be used in rituals that invoke or honor her. Silver is often used for manifesting wealth, and the atypical connection to the sun fortifies this magickal aim.

Due to its use in adornment and the arts, silver can connect you to the Muse. Whether seeking contact with the nine primordial muses of the Greek pantheon, or simply requesting inspiration from your own personal muse, silver can help you in artistic pursuits. It clears the mind, offers balance, and allows you to receive whatever spark awaits.

As a result of its lunar correspondence, silver is a balancing force on the emotions. It can be an emotional tonic, soothing you like an embrace from the Mother Goddess. It cools anger and quiets an overly analytical mind. Silver draws grace, beauty, and stillness to you in quiet contemplation.

Use silver for your rituals to honor the Goddess in any of her guises. Silver essences or oils can be used for anointing the brow to confer second sight, as well as for emotional and mental healing. Silver coins or jewelry can be placed in a chalice, bowl, or cauldron for use in scrying. Place the bowl where the silver will reflect the light of the moon and gaze into the vessel; allow images to arise on their own. Water that has been empowered in this way bestows blessings, and it can be used to consecrate your magickal tools, cleanse crystals, or protect your home, car, or garden. Consider using a silver cup or chalice on your altar to represent the water element or for the sacrament of the cakes and the ale. Drinking from a silver cup has other benefits too; drinking water from a silver cup is an old practice that was employed to guard against infections of all types. This “silver water” remains popular today, as does drinking colloidal silver; both are reputed to have many health benefits.

Silver has a special affinity with moonstone; the two work together to forge a strong psychic connection to the Great Mother, especially in her aspect as Lunar Goddess. Jewelry made of these two noble substances can be potent amulets for conferring the Goddess’s protection. As the metal of the moon, silver is the ideal metal for all your magick connected to the Divine Feminine.

TIGER’S EYE

Magickal uses: balance, protection, strength, willpower, truth, money, confidence, grounding, psychic development

Elemental signature: fire, earth

Astrological signature: Sun, Mars; Leo

Goddess archetypes: Fierce Goddess, Solar Goddess, Earth Mother

Formation process: metamorphic

Tiger’s eye is an attractive mixture of crocidolite fibers in massive quartz. The common theory on the origin of this stone is the process of pseudomorphism, wherein the fibrous mineral is gradually replaced by quartz and limonite. However, newer analyses show that these minerals in fact may have grown simultaneously. Tiger’s eye usually exhibits a golden color, and it is easily recognized by its velvety sheen, called chatoyance. This optical effect is named after the French chat, meaning “cat,” in reference to the shimmering of a cat’s eye. The golden hues in this stone resemble those of a tiger, and its stripes evoke the same cat’s coat. Tiger’s eye is found in other colors, some of which can also be induced artificially by heating the stones. Blue tiger’s eye is often called falcon’s eye or hawk’s eye. Dark, chocolatey brown varieties are bull’s eye. Red stones (usually heat-treated) are sometimes called dragon’s eye. Though the same general properties apply to each of these varieties, this discussion focuses on the golden tiger’s eye. Tiger’s eye is traditionally found in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Namibia, South Africa, and the United States.

Tiger’s eye has an overtly solar energy. Its cheery, golden appearance appeals to the nature of the sun, and it is the ideal gemstone for invoking solar deities both masculine and feminine. As a stone of the Divine Feminine, it connects us to the energy of the Solar Goddess archetypes, which are often associated with eye-related imagery. The optical phenomenon within tiger’s eye evokes the image of the all-seeing eye, and certainly this stone accesses deeper insight and illuminates hidden truths. Tiger’s eye is also a popular stone for endeavors related to the solar influences of wealth, success, and confidence.

The characteristic colors in which this stone is found result from inclusions of iron-based minerals. Golden tiger’s eye in particular contains limonite, an ore of iron with varying composition. The iron content and fibrous structure lend an earthy, grounded feeling to this gemstone. It can help you develop assertiveness as well as the ability to remain grounded during times of stress or in ritual. The combination of its solar and earthy vibrations makes tiger’s eye a powerful catalyst for becoming the intermediary between heaven and earth; wearing or meditating with this gemstone can help you move into a ritual trance that can be used for healing, spiritual journeying, and manifesting.

Golden tiger’s eye consists of fibrous crocidolite inside massive quartz.

As a stone of psychic development, tiger’s eye is a helpful ally to those who feel too grounded or “unspiritual,” as it helps lift the consciousness gently toward the celestial realms. I have always considered it a great tool for opening the intuition in people who have difficulty perceiving spiritual energy. Talismans of tiger’s eye were once used to reveal secrets, and the people of Egypt once believed that this gem gifted its bearer with visionary powers, including the ability to see behind closed doors.²⁷¹

Tiger’s eye is a beguiling gemstone. Silky bands of light and dark move across its surface when the stone is moved in the light. Patches of gold will dim and brighten depending on the angle from which it is viewed. This endows tiger’s eye with a balancing effect; it can help you achieve equilibrium on the mental and emotional levels when used as a healing stone. The balancing properties of tiger’s eye can also be used to bring balance to matters of justice; use this gemstone to invoke divine retribution when you have been wronged or to aid in legal matters where the truth must be revealed. Try working with this stone to petition Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of truth and justice.

The iron in this stone engenders a warriorlike energy, as iron is traditionally ruled by the planet Mars. Although tiger’s eye does not convey a strong Martian energy, it does reveal the fiercer aspects of the Great Goddess, especially in her aspects as warrioress and protectress. For this reason (and perhaps for its feline appearance), tiger’s eye is sacred to Sekhmet, the fierce and terrible solar goddess of Egypt. Sekhmet is often depicted as a lion or a lion-headed woman. According to Stephanie Woodfield, Sekhmet is known by the epithets “the Great One of Magick,” “the lady of Action,” “the One Before Whom Evil Trembles,” “the Avenger of Wrongs,” “the Lady of Flames,” and “the Lady of Slaughter.”²⁷² Tiger’s eye can be used to find balance within Sekhmet’s dualistic nature, for Sekhmet is both terrifying and courageous, deadly and healing. The destructive qualities embodied within this Fierce Goddess work to balance the principles of order and harmony seen in goddesses such as Ma’at. Tiger’s eye can initiate balance through the union of opposite forces, much like these two goddesses combining their talents. Through this combined force, tiger’s eye can break down your inner barriers to healing and success in order to initiate a state of rebuilding that will leave you stronger and more confident than ever before.

Using tiger’s eye in magick for prosperity and protection also yields excellent results. In India, this gem is not only believed to bring riches, it is also thought to prevent the loss of wealth.²⁷³ Add it to charm bags for drawing money, or place it on your altar for spells for abundance. A green or gold candle ringed with eight pieces of tiger’s eye is a powerful attractor of prosperity. Keep a small piece in your wallet or purse to ensure wise spending habits. Carrying or wearing tiger’s eye to job interviews helps you stand out from the other candidates, as it boosts your confidence and draws success to your every endeavor.

Like many other symbols of the eye, tiger’s eye has a long history of use in protective workings. It is one of the most powerful stones for breaking curses and warding off dark magick. For a simple and effective uncrossing ritual, place this stone around the tub or in your bathwater with sea salt and cleansing herbs or essential oils such as hyssop, lavender, and sage. Soak in the tub and be sure to immerse your entire body in this cleansing bath to rid yourself of negative energies and circumstances.

TURQUOISE

Magickal uses: truth, beauty, regeneration, wealth, friendship, love, healing, wholeness, wisdom, the Great Rite, protection

Elemental signature: all elements

Astrological signature: Jupiter, Venus, Saturn; Sagittarius, Aquarius

Goddess archetypes: Queen of Heaven, Solar Goddess, Goddess of Love, Underworld Goddess, Earth Mother

Formation process: sedimentary

Turquoise is an opaque gemstone, a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium. It forms in arid regions through secondary (i.e., sedimentary) processes. As acid-rich solutions percolate through existing rocks and minerals, they leach the ingredients necessary to form turquoise and generally deposit them in veins and seams. Nearly all turquoise is massive in formation, though crystals do occasionally occur in isolated deposits. Some of the most highly prized turquoise is an even blue color, though traces of other minerals can produce breathtaking patterns and colors, including black veins and shades of bluish green, green, and yellow. Turquoise is found in Iran, the United States, the Sinai Peninsula, China, Tibet, and several other locations around the world.

Turquoise is sacred to many deities, especially those of the heavens.

The name turquoise is derived from the French pierre turquoise, meaning “Turkish stone,” as it was initially brought to Europe via Turkey. It has been revered the world over, and it is one of the first gemstones to be used in jewelry. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Aztec, Maya, Inca, Tibetans, and many tribes of Native Americans valued turquoise for its spiritual and aesthetic virtues. Fine shades of blue like that of the sky have long connected this stone to the celestial sphere; it has been a favored gem of sky gods and goddesses for millennia. As a symbol of the Queen of Heaven, turquoise is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Roman goddess Juno. To many Native Americans, turquoise represents the sky, rain, and water. Among these tribes it is generally considered a masculine stone, but to the Zuni, only blue turquoise is male, while all other colors are female.²⁷⁴

One pervasive belief about turquoise relates it to horses. It was thought that wearing or carrying turquoise would protect both horse and rider from falls. This belief likely originated in the Middle East among Arabian horsemen and probably spread to other countries along with this gemstone via trade routes. This piece of lore points to the archetype of the Solar Goddess, for the horse is a totemic animal often associated with the sun in several cultures around the world. Turquoise is frequently the color of the daytime sky, and thus both stone and beast can be equated with solar goddesses. Epona, a Celtic goddess linked to horses, is also a sun goddess, and turquoise can be used to petition her.

The marbled appearance of turquoise has identified it with the appearance of reptilian scales in lore around the world, and this gem is rife with serpent imagery. To the people of Tibet, turquoise is sacred to naginis, the half-woman, half-snake personification of the intelligent, telluric forces of nature. The tails of these demigoddesses are depicted in the elaborate, beaded turquoise headdresses worn by the women of Ladakh.²⁷⁵ The naginis are guardians of the unseen kingdoms of our planet and thus are linked to the Great Goddess as the Underworld Queen and the chthonic aspects of the Earth Mother. Naginis are also connected to Kubera, the lord of karma, and to precious stones and minerals. Serpentine energy is echoed in other myths concerning turquoise, such as the Egyptian belief that turquoise prevents snakebite and heals in cases of venomous bites and stings as well as poisoning. In Vedic astrology turquoise is associated with Ketu, the descending lunar node or “shadow planet,” a point often called “the tail of the dragon” in Western astrology. Notably, turquoise is sacred to the goddess Persephone.²⁷⁶ Her Latinized name, Proserpina, is derived from serpere, meaning “to creep”—the same root as the English serpent.

Serpents are symbols of female sexuality (as described in the entry for serpentine), and turquoise can be used to symbolize the holy marriage of heaven and earth. From this union we are all born, for each of us is a child of the Great Mother. This idea is echoed in the belief that friendship can be obtained by seeking the new moon’s reflection on the polished surface of a turquoise gemstone. The new moon rises and sets around the same time the sun does and thus this stone represents a time when the solar and lunar (i.e., the masculine and feminine) energies are conjunct. Snakes also represent regeneration and wisdom, two qualities that also manifest in the workings of this gemstone.

From its copper content, turquoise is an excellent choice for magick that aims at love and romance. Turquoise is used by the Hopi in love enchantments; it is believed to excite a woman and invite her to choose the man named in a song sung by the magician.²⁷⁷ This gem has been used to attract love and friendship for centuries, and I find that it works to build a spiritual foundation for these to manifest. Tibetans have traditionally used turquoise to represent the sealing of marriage vows, and a piece of turquoise is carried on the bride’s back during the marriage ceremony.²⁷⁸ Since turquoise also symbolizes the Great Rite, it can be used in sex magick to facilitate deep connection between partners, as well as to invoke the God and Goddess during the symbolic union of the chalice and the blade in this ritual.

In addition to love magick, turquoise provides protection, peace, and spiritual awakening. It is a stone of truth, helping to stir the inner wisdom that resides in each of us. Turquoise promotes shamanic journeying in the dream state, and it facilitates meditation. This gemstone brings joy, happiness, and good health to whomever wears it. An elixir of turquoise brings healing to body, mind, and spirit; it can also be used to purify the aura or ritual space of disharmonious and stagnant energies. Turquoise is occasionally employed in rituals for prosperity and to attract luck.

VANADINITE

Magickal uses: creativity, strength, stamina, meditation, manifestation, personal gnosis, efficiency, money, sex magick

Elemental signature: fire

Astrological signature: Venus, Mars; Virgo, Taurus, Aries

Goddess archetypes: Goddess of Love, the Muse, Earth Mother, Sacred Harlot

Formation process: sedimentary

Vanadinite is lead chlorovanadate, an ore of vanadium that is found in shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown. Vanadinite is available from Morocco, Mexico, the United States, and Russia. It is a relatively soft mineral, registering only 3 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Crystals of vanadinite are usually hexagonal prisms, sometimes with hollow, hopper-shaped faces. It is an attractive mineral species that remains popular with collectors and healers alike. Note that due to its lead content vanadinite is toxic if ingested or mishandled, so handle with caution. Never make an elixir via direct methods.

Vanadinite, and its constituent vanadium, are named for an epithet of the goddess Freyja.

First discovered in Mexico in 1801, vanadinite’s composition remained a mystery for nearly thirty years after being unearthed. Once it was determined to contain a previously unknown element, this element was named vanadium, after Vanadis, for the Norse goddess Freyja. Vanadis translates as “goddess of the Vanir,” referring to the race of goddess-centered divinities that still existed when the newer pantheon, the Aesir, joined the Norse pantheon, shifting the influence to warrior gods. Freyja is sometimes called “Vanabruder,” or “lover of the Vanir.”²⁷⁹ Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and sexuality, and this mineral (and its constituent element) are named in her honor for its extraordinary beauty.

Vanadinite represents Freyja in more ways than just its inherent good looks. One of its primary missions is to assist in grounding; it helps the soul become more anchored in the physical body.²⁸⁰ Vanadinite can help us accept and find more enjoyment in our physical embodiment,²⁸¹ arousing passion, sensuality, and joy in the process, and it thus can be used for exploring sacred sexuality. Some therapists claim that red vanadinite is a potent aphrodisiac.²⁸² Since it is a powerful stone for manifestation, it can combine these seemingly disparate themes in one avenue, making it a preeminent stone for sex magick. It can be gridded around your bedroom or sacred space to enhance the pleasure and power of your magickal workings.

Although vanadinite is at first exuberant, it has a tendency to still the mind as you sit with it. As a hexagonal mineral, one of its primary themes is efficiency. This makes vanadinite a helpful tool for exploring the mind’s full potential; it helps to eliminate mental clutter (which may even translate to helping you remove physical clutter around your home), and it can help in steering your life toward your goals. Working with vanadinite can also increase your motivation and endurance, helping you maintain the momentum needed to achieve your goals without being sidetracked by distractions. Robert Simmons recommends this stone for overcoming writer’s block, drowsiness, and fatigue.²⁸³

The unbridled creativity that vanadinite can help you uncover taps into the energy of the Muse. Not only can it propel you forward toward a creative pursuit, vanadinite’s regular, elegant structure helps you cultivate your artistic sensibilities. It drives you forward in the search for beauty, and it can even encourage you to do so while being mindful of deadlines and other responsibilities.

Several crystal authors suggest that vanadinite can improve your finances. One of the ways this manifests is by limiting extraneous spending.²⁸⁴ Meditating with vanadinite or quietly contemplating it before shopping can help you purchase only what you need. It is a stone of smart investments, as it awakens good financial sensibility and efficiency. Keep it in the wealth corner of the bagua map of feng shui or wherever you usually review or manage your finances.

Vanadinite is a mineral that fosters transcendent states. It provides spiritual inspiration and facilitates communication with the Goddess.²⁸⁵ Though it is most obviously related to the archetypes of the Goddess of Love, Sacred Harlot, and the Muse, vanadinite is also a crystal of the Earth Mother. Robert Simmons indicates that this stone “provides a direct link to the Earth energies, and it can increase one’s sensitivity to elemental forces. Carrying or meditating with vanadinite, one can sense and even predict changes in weather.”²⁸⁶ He suggests that vanadinite can assist those engaged in the psychic arts, as it provides both grounding and stamina to those offering readings. It can help prevent burnout from seeing too many clients or overexercising your intuitive skills.

Vanadinite has a fiery energy that lends power and passion to your magickal workings. It can inspire you to write new rituals as well as to follow through in enacting them. For this reason, vanadinite can be a remedy for the lazy witch or armchair occultist. It lends an air of sensuality and beauty to love magick, and thus can be used to attract a new partner or spice up a current relationship.

Vanadinite emphasizes the importance of personal gnosis on the spiritual path. Far more important than what you can learn from a teacher or read in a book is the relationship that you cultivate with your spiritual allies. This includes the rocks and minerals you use in spellcraft and ritual, as well as your guardians and tutelary spirits. Above and beyond all this, vanadinite invites you to enter into ecstatic union with the Goddess, whether as an archetype or as a specific deity. The energy of this stone will jumpstart your spiritual practice and expand your horizons.

VIVIANITE

Magickal uses: healing, inspiration, tolerance, compassion, clairvoyance, cleansing, initiation, ancestral magick

Elemental signature: water, earth

Astrological signature: Pluto; Scorpio

Goddess archetypes: Mistress of Magick, Crone

Formation process: sedimentary

Vivianite is a rather curious stone. When freshly mined it is usually a pale, translucent blue or bluish green; however, upon exposure to sunlight it gradually darkens, usually becoming a deep blue or green. Vivianite can be found as prismatic, fibrous, or blade-shaped crystals, and a recently discovered deposit in Australia produces dense nodules of this stone. Vivianite is also found in Great Britain, Brazil, Camaroon, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Russia, and the United States. Through vivianite does not carry any traditional magickal attributions or lore, it has been used as the pigment blue ochre since antiquity.

Raw and polished vivianite from Demon’s Bluff, Anglesea, in Victoria, Australia

Among feminine stones, vivianite is unique for being an iron mineral. Iron compounds tend to present a more stereotypically masculine energy that implies strength and vigor. In Crystal Healing for the Heart, I wrote that vivianite “differs from most of the other iron compounds . . . in that its energy is decidedly softer and more feminine, which can be attributed to the relative softness of its crystal structure, as well as its color and the water in its formula. This stone embodies the stereotypical iron strength through surrender. It engenders peace, tranquillity, and a proclivity for forgiveness. This gemstone helps us trust that our life is headed toward its highest potential.”²⁸⁷ Vivianite is truly a compassionate tool for healing on many levels.

Vivianite was named by German geologist Abraham Werner for its discoverer, John Henry Vivian, a minerologist and mine owner. Vivian discovered this mineral in 1817 in Cornwall, England, a region steeped in Arthurian legend. In connecting to the Goddess energy, vivianite conveys a sense of magick and mystery. It is an appropriately named stone, for its energy is reminiscent of the legendary Isle of Avalon, whose high priestess is the Lady of the Lake, also known as Viviane (also Vivien, Nivien, or Nimue) in some tellings of the Arthurian legend. Vivianite helps to peel back the veil between the worlds and is a shamanic ally for learning the intuitive and magickal arts.

Vivianite trains the inner priestess or priest in each of us. It helps us attain spiritual transcendence and inner clarity. One of its gifts is its ability to help you discover your personal power through inner vision. Vivianite can be held or worn in meditation, especially at the brow, to awaken psychic vision and intensify the dream state. This stone offers the hope that such talents are within reach of everyone, for we can all claim our spiritual gifts through dedication and perseverance.

Working with vivianite can help generate greater peace and compassion. It instills tolerance and acceptance, especially of those who are not walking the same spiritual path as you. Vivianite helps you look for common ground with others and promotes cooperation in lieu of competition. These goals traditionally reflect more feminine worldviews; they offer a counterpoint to the current sorry state of patriarchy, which seeks competition and domination. Vivianite helps awaken the ancestral memory of a more cooperative world predicated on community and compassion.

Vivianite is a truth-seeking stone. It peels back the veils of the illusory world, and it is most effective at helping you recognize what you are unwilling to see in yourself and in others.²⁸⁸ This makes vivianite an important ally in integrating the lessons of the shadow self, a necessary step in authentic spiritual evolution. Vivianite, which usually forms via secondary (or sedimentary) formation processes, acts as the wise guide and seer in your spiritual development. This mineral is the wise Crone who trains and teaches the next generation of priestesses. She shares her wisdom and initiates new healers and seers by opening the realms to the mystical and seemingly unreal. Vivianite helps to stabilize and protect us during such meditations and astral journeys.

Among stones that awaken the archetype of the Crone, vivianite has the strongest effect on your cellular or ancestral memory. It can clear karmic debris and clarify your memory of past lives; often it reveals lives in which you have already walked the path of witch, healer, or shaman. Vivianite is like the witch’s cauldron in which transformation takes place. It serves as a catalyst for reclaiming your personal power and reminds you of the need to occasionally withdraw to regenerate your body, mind, and spirit.

In healing, vivianite stimulates the body’s innate ability to regenerate tissue and mobilize the immune system.²⁸⁹ It is relaxing, and it can hasten recovery from illness and injury. Vivianite is also emotionally protective and nurturing if you are convalescing from psychological trauma.

In magick and ritual, vivianite facilitates entering the trance state, heightening the ritual consciousness that witches, magicians, and shamans seek to attain. It aids in psychic pursuits and can improve the accuracy of divination, especially in the interpretation of signs or symbols in dreams, tarot and oracle cards, and other psychic arts. Vivianite provides additional protection during astral travel, rituals for spirit contact, and dreamwork; it cloaks the energy field of its user so that you can move unhindered and unnoticed by spirits and other entities that may not have your best interests in mind.

The watery and earthy elemental signature of vivianite indicates that it can be used for ancestral magick. Placed on your altar, it promotes contact with your ancestral lineage. In meditation, vivianite stirs the echoes of ancestral memory, including understanding any outstanding karma that may be playing out in your life. Vivianite can be placed at the western quarter of your sacred space to open a doorway through which ancestral spirits can make contact during ritual.

Vivianite’s mission is to assist in rebirthing the Great Goddess and helping her ascend to her rightful place in the world. This stone brings balance, cooperation, and harmony to communities, including the world at large. It is a stone of magick, vision, and mystery that can enhance any magickal working.

YEH MING ZHU

Magickal uses: granting wishes, enlightenment, protection, intuition, ecstatic rites, transformation, boosting energy, miracles, enlightenment, heart chakra activation

Elemental signature: spirit

Astrological signature: Moon

Goddess archetypes: Lunar Goddess, Queen of Heaven, Stellar Goddess

Formation process: varies

A polished sphere of yeh ming zhu

Yeh ming zhu (夜 明 珠) translates as “luminous pearl” or “evening bright pearl” when taken more literally. Many other epithets, including “bright moon pearl,” “fire pearl,” “wish-fulfilling jewel,” and “dragon-phoenix pearl” are also ascribed to this gem in legend and myth. Rather than being a single, discrete mineral species, this ancient term is applied to a number of stones that exhibit a phenomenon called persistent phosphorescence: In short, when minerals such as fluorite, calcite, diamond, and many others contain just the right trace elements, they sometimes emit a brilliant glow after exposure to light or heat. If this glow is very bright and has a preternaturally long duration it is yeh ming zhu. Nowadays, most yeh ming zhu on the market is man-made, either synthesized or simulated. Thanks to the concept of morphic resonance, even artificial and treated stones can exhibit truly remarkable energies when you work with them sincerely. Traditionally, yeh ming zhu is found in China, but any mineral exhibiting the requisite phosphorescence, no matter its country of origin, may be considered yeh ming zhu. Natural yeh ming zhu is exceedingly rare and quite costly.

I remember the moment I first held a piece of yeh ming zhu. Initially, it seemed like it was a rather unremarkable green stone. When the light was turned off, however, I felt as though I were witnessing a miracle. Now I’m no stranger to luminescent stones; fluorescent minerals fascinated me in college, and I have a collection of them, but yeh ming zhu is truly in a class all its own. I’ve held pieces that glow so brilliantly that you can read by them in a dark room. Breathtaking doesn’t even begin to describe it.

In Chinese folklore, yeh ming zhu is often connected to the goddess Xi Wangmu, whose name translates as “Queen Mother of the West.” This deity is often shown holding a luminous pearl or sphere that alludes to this nearly mythological gemstone. She is regarded as an ancient goddess of Taoist origin, and her sphere of influence includes longevity, prosperity, healing, bliss, enlightenment, and immortality.²⁹⁰ Xi Wangmu is said to dwell at the edge of heaven and earth. Many of her characteristics are equivalent to those ascribed to yeh ming zhu.

One Chinese folktale depicts yeh ming zhu as being fashioned into a pearl (i.e., a sphere) from a shining pebble by a phoenix and dragon, thus lending this stone the moniker “dragon-phoenix pearl.” By the influence of this stone’s light, plants, trees, and creatures grew as never before. The brilliant light of yeh ming zhu attracted the attention of Xi Wangmu, who sent her guards after the stone. She secreted it away behind nine locked doors until she showed it off on her birthday. The dragon and phoenix recognized the light of their beloved luminous pearl and fought to take it back. In the midst of the struggle, the stone fell to Earth and transformed into Xihe, a grand lake in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, in China.²⁹¹

The bodhisattva Kuan Yin (Kannon in Japanese, Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) is also frequently depicted as holding a luminous pearl. Though the modern image of Kuan Yin is often derived from an actual historical figure who was a devout Buddhist nun, many people the world over have fused her Buddhist roots onto other goddess forms, thus effectively deifying her in many places. She is generally regarded as a goddess of compassion, and several of her images depict her in the role of the archetypal Mother Goddess. Her own light and benevolence are reflected in that of yeh ming zhu.

Yeh ming zhu is a relative newcomer to the world of crystal healing. It has been popularized by a small group of people who have marketed it largely to qigong and martial arts enthusiasts, as traditional Chinese lore believes that this stone enhances your qi, or life force. Several scientists have created beautiful lab-created gems whose light is unrivaled by natural stones; it is sold under the names “celestial” and “modern” yeh ming zhu. There are many fakes and forgeries on the market too, and they are far more numerous than the authentic material. Depending on the composition of these materials, they may exhibit some or none of the same properties as genuine yeh ming zhu. Some lab-created varieties are equally as potent as natural yeh ming zhu, and they are a fraction of the cost.

Magickally, this luminous gemstone has a deep connection to the moon. More than one of its titles in Chinese includes the character for moon (月), and it is sometimes called the “bright moon pearl” or ming yueh zhu (明月珠). I have witnessed how this stone is unusually reactive to moonlight; the light of the full moon can cause pieces of yeh ming zhu to glow, flash, and produce patterns of light. These stones are excellent tools for meditation, as they provide a powerful visual focus during contemplation. The energy of yeh ming zhu is one of light overall, as it propels us toward our own illumination.

Yeh ming zhu can be used on your altar for lunar rituals, and it lends potency to practically any intention. Because its energy is so lofty, it can cleanse and purify your sacred space, and it casts a protective influence wherever it is placed. Its connection to Xi Wangmu and Kuan Yin makes it the perfect stone for compassionate sovereignty; the best leaders are those who have empathy for the people they lead. The Queen of Heaven archetype of Xi Wangmu, as well as the Great Mother archetype that both of these goddesses frequently portray, are benevolent forces. Yeh ming zhu gently instills these motherly traits and serves as a link to the energies of the Mother archetype in her most transcendent form.

Thanks to its association with light, yeh ming zhu speeds up manifestation of all sorts. It helps spells, rituals, and intentions manifest practically at the speed of light. I have near-instantaneous results just by wearing this stone, let alone from actually employing it in more conscious workings. I’ve seen it work wonders with manifesting money, opportunities, material goods, and health. Yeh ming zhu has a powerful, dreamlike quality, and it reminds us that anything we can dream we can create.

Different formations of yeh ming zhu have different properties. Those that are naturally occurring minerals (or even natural minerals coated with phosphorescent pigments) will retain the qualities of the stones from which they are comprised, as in the case of phosphorescent calcites, fluorites, and diamonds. The lab-created gems and the simulants made in autoclaves have an energy all their own, which doesn’t quite match any other stone. Those that are treated with pigments on the exterior are generally much gentler than natural or artificial stones, whose phosphorescent activators are dispersed throughout the crystal structure.

The various formations can glow different colors too, the most frequent being green or yellowish green, blue to bluish green, white, and purple. The greenish stones tend to work better at the physical level. They are strongly supportive of physical healing and offer protection. These are the ones I’ve used the most in manifesting abundance and opportunity. Yeh ming zhu with a blue phosphorescence is soothing to the mental level; it inspires hope. Violet yeh ming zhu is deeply transformative on the spiritual level; it represents mastery, alchemy, and soul-level healing. Any color can manifest brilliant changes in your life when embraced with an open heart.

Working with yeh ming zhu has been one of the most mystical experiences of my life. It has deepened my connection to the Goddess, especially in her lunar guises. This gemstone represents a profound mystery: that of a hard stone emitting its own light. It symbolizes illumination and awareness, two states that are often tied to initiation. For this reason, yeh ming zhu has become a stone of initiation for me, one that has awakened my inner vision and pierced the veil to reveal the holy mysteries of the Goddess.