Magic & Spellcraft Library

Why do we ground?

In healing and magic it is good to ground regularly. In crystal work, grounding is important because the crystals themselves have very high vibrations and frequencies and we can sometimes end up 'light headed' when not properly grounded.

What is grounding?

Grounding is a way to connect your energy fully to the earth and surroundings. If you feel light headed, dizzy, have a lot of accidents, find it hard to focus, avoid having to concentrate, trip over regularly, feel disconnected, or find it hard to be fully present in the here and now, the chances are you need to ground. Air signs ('head in the clouds') and people who are naturally 'away with the fairies' a lot might need to ground more than most, but it is best to ground before and after working with crystals or doing any healing or magic.

Earth signs and people who are naturally 'down to earth' might need to ground less than most, but if you feel you have your feet on the ground, have few if any accidents, feel able to concentrate and focus on work or study, feel connected/fully in the present, and feel calm and stable, then the chances are you're a grounded person.

Quick Grounding

Red or black crystals will help with grounding. Carry or wear them or sit for a while with a black crystal at your feet. Iron based crystals like hematite are powerful grounding stones.

Tree Roots

Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Hold a black crystal or place one at your feet. Imagine or visualise that you are a tree, with your roots growing down into the earth. See your roots reaching and extending all the way to the core of the earth. Spend some time feeling connected.

If you want to go further, imagine or visualise your branches growing and spreading outwards from the earth and grounding you into the universe, connecting with all the stars and planets around you.

Finish when you feel calm and grounded. You can drink a glass of water afterwards. Stay sitting down until you are fully present and calm.

Crystal Elements.

Crystals and Earth

Earth crystals that have grown slowly, or have been bonded by gravity within the earth, help support the development of patience and perseverance. Meditating with Earth crystals is grounding and provides balance and stability.

Earth crystals: Chrysocolla, Aventurine, Emerald, Jet, Malachite, Onyx, Smoky Quartz.

Crystals and Fire

Fire can be a destructive element, but also a creative one. Fire is transformation and change, and is a powerful and cleansing force. Crystals with transformational properties correspond to the element of fire. Many crystals were formed in high temperatures deep in the earth’s crust or by lava flows. These crystals can help bring in positive change.

Fire crystals: Calcite, Citrine, Quartz, Amber, Garnet, Bloodstone, Obsidian, Pyrite and Ruby.

Crystals and Water

Water can be gas (steam), liquid and solid (ice) form. The evaporation and movement of water can create crystals directly and indirectly. Water crystals bring balance to the emotions and can influence your dreams, helping to move ideas from the subconscious mind to the conscious.

Water Crystals: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Beryl, Moonstone, Pearl and Tourmaline.

Crystals and Air

Air is an element necessary to sustain life. The presence of air causes chemical reactions (like combustion) and air fills in spaces. Air is in and around us at all times. Air crystals are stones for the mind, providing clarity, focus, insight and knowledge, and enabling us to formulate plans and ideas ready for action.

Air Crystals: Kunzite, Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Rose Quartz, Opal, Sapphire, Sodalite and Turquoise

Crystal Toxicity.

Most crystals are safe to handle. Most tumble stones and polished stones are safe.

Here is a list I have put together of toxic stones. This list will be useful for anyone wanting to make gem elixirs by putting crystals in water. DO NOT put any of the minerals in this list in an elixir. Types of stones that are toxic to ingest or take internally are ones containing copper, lead, arsenic, cadmium, barium, zinc, aluminium, mercury, and other poisonous substances.

The following minerals might react to become toxic if placed in water or if you get them in your mouth. Wash your hands after handling to avoid getting any in your mouth, and only use the polished/tumble stones on the skin. Some stones have a soft surface that can rub off onto skin and clothing, and if they do and they are on this list, DO NOT use them.

Adamite - zinc, copper
Amazonite - copper
Amber - toxic dust, fumes, possible ingestive toxicity
Angelite - lead, sulphur
Aragonite
Atacamite - copper
Auricalcite - zinc and copper
Azurite - copper
Boji-stones/Kansas Pop Rocks (may contain sulphur)
Bronchantite - copper
Cerrusite - sulphur, molybdenum
Chalcantite - copper
Chalcopyrite (Peacock Stone, Peacock Ore) - copper and sulphur
Chrysacolla (Chrysocolla) – copper, can be toxic if not in its polished form.
Cinnabar - mercury
Cobaltocalcite (Pink Cobalt Calcite) - cobalt
Conicalcite - copper
Copper - copper
Coral - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in
Cuprite - copper
Diopside - copper
Dioptase - copper
Eliat Stone - copper
Emerald - aluminium
Garnet - aluminium
Gem Silica - copper
Galena/ Galenite - lead
Garnierite (Genthite, Falcondoite) - nickel
Hiddenite - aluminium
Iolite - aluminium
Kansas Pop Rocks - may contain sulphur
Kunzite - aluminium
Kyanite - aluminium
Labradorite - aluminium
Lapis Lazuli - may contain copper, sulphur
Marcasite (Markasite) - sulphur
Magnetite (Lodestone) - iron in large quantities
Malachite – copper, can be toxic if not in its polished form.
Meteorite - may contain many toxic substances
Mohawkite - copper, arsenic
Moldavite - aluminium
Molybdenum - molybdenum
Moonstone - may contain or other toxic substances
Mother of Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in
Opal - toxic dust for inhalation at least, so if you must use opal for an elixir, etc., be sure to carefully clean off any opal dust
Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in
Psiomelane - barium
Pyrite (Fool's Gold, Inca Gold) - sulphur
Quartz (all types) - toxic dust for inhalation at least, so if you must use quartz for an elixir, etc., be sure to carefully clean off any quartz dust
Realgar - sulfur, arsenic
Rhodocrosite (Rhodochrosite) – lead, safest in its polished form.
Ruby - aluminium
Sapphire - aluminium
Sodalite - aluminium
Spinel - may contain aluminium, zinc
Stibnite - lead, antimony
Smithsonite (Galmei, Zinc spar)- zinc, may contain copper
Sulphur - sulphur
Tourmaline, Watermelon - aluminium
Turquoise - copper
Uranium - radioactive mineral
Vanadanite - lead
Variscite - aluminium
Wulfenite - lead, molybdenum

De-Programming Crystals .

What is Programming?

Crystal programming is a method to place (some would say impose) a function onto a crystal. Or a way to give the crystal properties that it does not normally have.

Programming can also happen accidentally; if someone has worn or carried the stone for long periods of time, their goals and ambitions might have been programmed in to the crystal structure unintentionally.

Crystals are at their most powerful when they are working at their own natural frequencies. The best way is to find a crystal that has the right properties for what you need, working with nature not against her. You can work with a clear quartz for any and all healing.

It has been said that only clear quartz can be programmed - this is not the case, although it is a master healer so will work for most most healing purposes.

Has my crystal been programmed?

Sometimes when you get a new crystal you might notice that even though you have cleansed it and attuned to it, it is not working in the normal way, if at all. The energy might be different than for other stones of its type, or other problems might be evident.

How do I de-program a crystal?

If you think this might have happened to your crystal, cleanse and hold the crystal, and ask the stone to release all past programming and return to its natural vibration. Keep asking until you feel the release.

Attuning to Crystals .

Being attuned to a crystal means that you are 'in tune' with it's energy and the crystal is in tune with you.

When you attune to a crystal, you match your own energy with the energy of the stone. You can attune to most cleansed crystals easily by holding the crystal in your hands and sitting with it for a while until you feel the two energies are aligned.

Attuning to a crystal will also activate the stone and the crystal will become easier to work with.

A few other ways to attune to a crystal.

Meditation ( a lovely method, can take time and focus)
Guided Visualisation
Journeying inside the crystal (a more shamanic way to get to know the crystal, takes time and effort)

Attunement allows a deeper understanding of the crystal, and gives time for your own energy to mimic the healing vibrations of the crystal, so you will normally receive some healing at the same time. Attuning to a crystal will also energise your aura.

Some types of attunement can mean connecting with the crystal Deva (crystal spirit) within the stone and communicating with it. This is a more shamanic experience though if the crystal does have a Deva and you work with the stone regularly, you will at some time experience a connection with the spirit of the stone.

Sometimes with a new crystal you might find the stone is attuned to a previous owner.

One advantage of attuning to crystals is that the crystal is ready to work and in tune with your energies. This provides a harmonious energy flow.

Altered Crystals

Aqua Aura Quartz, Dyed Agates etc.

Some crystals are treated with dyes, chemicals or electricity to enhance their appearance. Altered crystals are little use in healing because most will have lost their natural frequency, but you can give healing to a crystal like this if you come across one, or you have one in a piece of jewellery.

Crystal Pendulums .

PDF Download - How to Dowse with Pendulums: Presentation A basic introduction to using pendulums. (Beginners)

If you do not know what each swing of your pendulum is telling you, you might want to try some of these pendulum charts instead. Print off the chart of your choice. Hold the pendulum over the spot on the chart and then ask your question.

The pendulum will swing over the answer. If the pendulum does not swing, make sure you are not blocking the answer. If you are open to the answer and the pendulum does not swing, the answer is not available at this time for you. Enjoy!

Celtic Health Chart

Celtic Cross

Alphabet

Let the pendulum spell out the answer

Crystals for the Chakras .

A few crystals that can be placed on the chakras for healing by colour.

Crown

Clear and violet crystals

Amethyst, Prehnite, Apopholite, Ametrine

Third Eye

blue and indigo crystals

Lapis Lazuli, Angellite, Sodalite

Throat

blue and silver crystals

Sodalite, Moonstone, Aquamarine, Turquiose, Kyanite

Heart

pink or green crystals

Aventurine, Malachite, Rose Quartz

Solar Plexus

golden crystals

Topaz, Citrine, Amber, Yellow Calcite

Sacral Chakra

orange and red crystals

Orange Calcite, Red Garnet, Orange or Red Carnelian, Bloodstone

Root Chakra

red and black crystals

Smokey Quartz, Obsidion, Jet, Red Garnet

Aura Cleansing .

Flourite and Chlorite are aura cleansing crystals. Selenite will remove unwanted energies from the aura. Pass one of these crystals over your body from head down to toe, and finish by flicking the crystal slightly at the ground and holding the intention that the energies will be healed and transmuted by the earth.

You can also carry or wear these crystals. Wearing Flourite for long periods will gradually cleanse your auric layers and keep them clear. Chlorite will heal psychic attack effects in the aura and deflect psychic vampirism. Hold or wear any of these crystals for as long as required, especially in your chosen situations, e.g. at work etc.

Basic Crystal Meditations .

Receptive

Meditate with your crystal by holding the crystal in your receptive hand. This allows the energies of the crystal to flow through you. Start by noticing the energy of the crystal as a tingle or heat in your skin, and allow this energy to spread through your body. Once you are attuned, close your eyes and spend some time relaxing, allowing thoughts and feelings to flow and pass without judgement as the energies of the crystal bring you wisdom, clarity and healing. When you feel ready, open your eyes and do a quick grounding technique if you feel light headed. Stand up once you feel fully in the present. Cleanse crystals after use.

Projective

Meditate with your crystal by holding it in your projective hand. This is your strongest hand. Allow the energies of the crystal to flow out from the crystal and into the universe, going wherever they need to go, or helping to bring about a wish or dream you might have. You can also use this projective energy to send energy out into your room or space. Cleanse the crystal after use.

Health

Hold a clear quartz and spend some time tuning in to its energies. Once you feel relaxed, close your eyes and allow the healing energy of the crystal to flow through your body to the site of any illness, dis-ease or pain. Spend some time relaxing and accepting healing. Cleanse the crystal after use.