Stones have been carried as charms for as long as people have had pockets. In modern witchcraft, crystals are used as points of focus: each kind is linked with a purpose, and holding or placing the stone helps to hold the purpose in mind.
An honest starting point
You will see many claims about crystals healing illness. There is no scientific evidence for them, and we do not make them. On this site, crystals are tools for attention, symbolism, and ritual. A stone in your pocket can remind you to breathe before you speak. It cannot treat a medical condition, and it should never delay a visit to a doctor.
With that said, working with stones is a real pleasure. They are beautiful, they last, and they link a practice to the deep age of the earth.
Eight stones to begin with
You do not need eight. One or two are plenty. The fuller table is in our crystal correspondences.
| Stone | Traditional associations | A simple use |
|---|---|---|
| Clear quartz | Clarity, focus, and all-purpose work | Place it on a written intention |
| Amethyst | Calm, intuition, restful sleep | Keep it on a bedside table |
| Rose quartz | Self-kindness, friendship, love | Hold it during a few quiet minutes of self-care |
| Black tourmaline | Protection and grounding | Keep it near the front door |
| Citrine | Confidence, optimism, abundance | Keep it on your desk |
| Moonstone | Intuition, cycles, new beginnings | Carry it at the new moon |
| Tiger's eye | Courage, focus, steady nerves | Carry it to an interview or an exam |
| Selenite | Cleansing and peace | Rest other stones on it overnight |
The cheapest stone of all works just as well. A pebble that you picked up on a meaningful walk carries more of you than anything from a shop.
Cleansing your stones
A new stone is cleansed before use, and again whenever it feels dull or has done heavy work. Choose a method that will not damage it.
| Method | How | Take care |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke | Pass the stone through incense or herb smoke | Safe for every stone |
| Sound | Ring a bell or clap over it | Safe for every stone |
| Moonlight | Leave it on a windowsill overnight, and bring it in before the morning sun | Safe for every stone |
| Earth | Bury it in a pot of soil for a day | Avoid for soft or porous stones |
| Running water | Hold it under the faucet for a minute | Not for selenite, which water damages, or for soft, porous, or metallic stones |
| Salt | Rest it on a bed of dry salt | Not for soft, porous, or metallic stones |
| Sunlight | An hour in morning sun | Fades amethyst, rose quartz, and citrine. Never leave clear quartz in strong sun, since it can focus light and start a fire |
If you are unsure, use smoke, sound, or moonlight.
Charging a stone with a purpose
- Ground and center.
- Hold the cleansed stone in both hands.
- Say clearly what you want it to help you with. For example: "Help me to stay calm and speak honestly."
- Picture that purpose filling the stone.
- Carry it, or put it where it will do its work.
Ways to use crystals
- Carry one. Keep it in a pocket and touch it when you need its reminder.
- Place them. Set stones on your altar, your desk, or your windowsills.
- Add them to spells. Put a stone beside a spell candle or inside a charm bag.
- Meditate. Hold a stone in your hand as a point of focus.
- Make a simple grid. Place four stones at the four corners of a room, with a fifth at the center, to mark the space as protected.
Buying ethically
Crystals are mined, and mining has costs. Some stones come from operations with poor working conditions and serious environmental damage, and sellers often cannot say where their stock was dug. This is an uncomfortable fact for a practice that honors the earth.
- Buy fewer stones, and use the ones you have.
- Ask sellers where their stones come from, and favor those who can answer.
- Buy secondhand, swap with friends, or look for locally found stones.
- Remember that the stones under your own feet are free and blameless.
Crystal safety
- Do not make drinks by soaking stones in water. Several popular minerals contain copper, lead, arsenic, or other toxic elements that can leach out.
- Wash your hands after handling raw or dusty mineral specimens.
- Keep small stones away from young children and pets.