As you kneel by the stream bank you spy,
A lovely site to catch your eye.
You dig with your hands through the rich brown soil,
And praises raise at your spoils.
Stones from many a place rest free,
Each with a different energy.
Some for grounding, some for love,
Some summon spirits from below or above.
Each of the Gems with a property its own,
You can learn more about them as your knowledge has grown.
Listen to the Stones, they can tell you a tale,
Whether it be moonstone, garnet or shale.
The Stones contain energy from life like you,
But the Stones desire most what is pure and true.
Keep an amethyst by your pillow and an onyx in your hand,
Rose quartz is for love, and Clear helps understand;
Just listen to their story and let your heart be free,
The Stones have vowed they will take care of thee.

Gemstones and Gem Magick are an important part of many Wiccan's practices. As Wiccans believe that all creatures and plants are created of Energy and come from Energy, so too are the more "lifeless" components. Gems contain an energy all of their own, and many contain various magickal properties, for which the Stones are mostly used for. For example, Amethyst is a stone which brings to the one who uses or wears it mental clarity and enhances psychic sight and ability. Coal - which does create heat in the home when burned, of course - attracts money, and in this is often carried by people who hope for luck economically and monetarily.

The magickal properties of these Stones are used in Rituals, both for Covens and Solitaries, as Gem Magick, meaning that the properties of the Gems are used to help fulfill whatever purpose that is desired.

One of the most important things to try and remember is to CLEANSE your Stones both before AND after you work with them. Just like we do, Stones will eventually run out of Energy, and so need to be recharged. Also, when you recieve a new stone, especially one purchased, it is a good idea to cleanse the stone as soon as you get it home, and before you even begin to work with it. This will remove the negative Energies of anyone who may have touched the Stone prior to you. The most well known way of cleansing stones is running water, from a brook/stream/river/etc., or holy water (usually rain water that is collected and blessed).

For more cleansing and tips, go to the cleansing information page.
Or check out Full Moon High Tide's page on cleansing stones.

Most people believe that you don't *choose* your Stones; in fact, it is the opposite, where the Stone *chooses* you. In talking to many people, there are many different ways that a Stone can draw you to it. It is possible that you could pick it up and have feelings about it, possibly feel warmth or a tingly or throbbing feeling as it rests in the palm of your hand. You might see it and have it catch your eye, and find yourself continually returning to that single Stone, as had happened to Critter. Sometimes, it turns out that a person could be drawn to a particular Stone, or even repulsed by a particular Stone. It is very possible that this is because of one or more properties of the Stone in question. Someone who is drawn to Carnelian perhaps could have some sort of heart condition, as Carnelian deals with healing of hearts with heart disease. Just an example, but there are many others as well.

AMBER: Rids Depression, Lifts the Spirit
AMETHYST: Heightens psychic ability, very helpful in Meditation
AMETHYSTINE AGATE: Stimulates, Brings about change
AQUAMARINE: Clears thinking, Purifying, Confidence
BLOODSTONE: Soothes the mind, Relieves depression
BLUE LACED AGATE: Promotes feminine qualities, Gentleness
BOTSWANA AGATE: Attracts gifts and small pleasures, Mood lifting
CARNELIAN: To focus, Helps in making decisions
CITRINE: Attracts abundance, Prosperity
CLEAR QUARTZ: Inner awareness, Concentration, Energy enhancer
CORAL: Sea travel protection
DIAMOND: Use sparingly, Solidifying
EMERALD: Psychic Awareness, Future seeing
GARNET: Heightens sexual awareness
GOLD: Healing, Promotes abundance
JACINTH: Friendship, Healing
JADE: Inner beauty
JASPER-BROWN: To direct energies towards the body
JASPER-RED: To attract a love affair or maintain passion
LAPIS LAZULI: Justice, Honor
MALACHITE: Inspiration, Spiritual Harmony
MOONSTONE: Divination, Dreams
ONYX: Stabilization, Comfort, Faith
OPAL: Spirituality, Contact with the spirits
PEARL: Intuition, Divination aid
PERIDOT: Compassion, Simple pleasures
QUARTZ-ROSE: Healing, love
ROCK CRYSTAL: Direct contact with spirit world, Centering
RUBY: To bring about a very deep and pure love affair
SAPPHIRE: Protection, luck, peace of mind
TIGER'S EYE: Strength, Independence, Business startups
TOPAZ: Dispel fears, warmth
TURQUISE: Physical protection, Creative force

Stones With Holes:
Stones with natural ( caused by the elements not man) holes are considered extremely magical. Protective in nature they are a symbolic of the Mother of Creation. Looking through the hole in the moonlight, and you may see visions, ghosts, and other nonphysical entities.

Diamond Shaped Stones:
Diamond shaped stones remind of the precious gem, and therefore are attributed with attracting riches.

Pyramid Shaped Stones:
Concentrate and release energies up through the tip. Placing a dollar bill under the stone and visualizing the moneys energy flow up and through the stone to bring you prosperity.

Body Part Shaped Stones:
Stones that resemble body parts are used to heal or strengthen that part of the body it resembles.

L shaped stones:
Stones that have an L shape are used to bring good fortune.

Triangular Shaped Stones:
Stones that have a triangular shape are said to be protective and are worn or carried for this purpose.

Heart Shaped Stones:
Heart shaped stones as you might have guessed are used to bring love to the person wearing the stone. They also are used for keeping the relationship you are in true. And can be used to bring a self love.

Square Shaped Stones:
Symbolize the Earth, Prosperity ,and abundance.

Egg Shaped Stones:
Stones that hold the shape of the egg are used to help maintain focus on creativity and bring fresh ideas to the person wearing the stone.

Round And Long Stones:
Round and long stones are used in conjunction with other love stones to bring added power to the spell.

Long, Thin Stones:
These stones are obvious phallic symbols. They are protective and represent electricity and represent the great God of Pagan religions.

Round Stones:
These stones represent the receptive powers of the universe, of magnetism and the Mother Goddess. Linked with the female reproductive system, they can be used to represent the woman in a healing spell. They are the keys to spirituality and unfolding your psychic powers. Used in love spells and all manners of attraction spells.