ENERGY: Projective
PLANET: Saturn
ELEMENT: Fire
DEITY: Tezcatlipoca (Aztec, "Smoking Mirror" or "Shining Mirror")
POWERS:Protection, Grounding, Divination, Peace
MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE:
Obsidian is simply lava that cooled so fast that the minerals contained within didn't have time to form. It is a naturally occurring glass.
The Ancient Aztecs fashioned flat, square mirrors of this black glass for use in divination. According to legend the famous Dr. Dee, a magician-alchemist hired by England's Queen Elizabeth I, may have used one of these mirrors in his scrying sessions.
It was a popular material for fashioning stone knives, spear points and arrowheads, and when used for these purposes, it is often known as "flint." Such arrowheads have magical properties.
MAGICAL USES:
Obsidian is a grounding, centring stones. Hold it in your hands or place your bare feet on two small, polished pieces when you're flighty or can't seem to get your physical life in order. Remember the physical is the path to the spiritual. Each is a reflection of the other.
Obsidian is effective when carried or used in protective rituals. One involoves surrounding a white candle with four obsidian arrowheads that each point to one of the directions. This sets up aggressive energies which guard the place in which it is set up.
Spheres of obsidian, still fashioned in Mexico, are fine scrying tools. If you don't have good results with quartz crystal, try a piece or sphere of obsidian. For some, the blackness of the stone allows easier access to the subconscious mind.
FOLK NAME: Carbuncle
POWERS: Wealth, Protection, Power, Joy, Anti-Nightmare
ENERGY: Projective
DEITIES: Buddha, Krishna (not to be confused with the modern expression Of Krishna-centered reverence)
MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE:
The ruby fashioned into a cabochon of a specific shape was known as "carbuncle" centuries ago. There is no stone of this name, though many books list carbuncle as a separate stone. Another example of the strangely convoluted history of gemstones!
This beautiful stone was considered the most perfect offering to Buddha in China and Krishna in India.
A widely held belief: Dreaming of rubies indicates coming success in business or money matters. If dreamt of by a gardener or farmer, the ruby denotes a good harvest.
This stone is one of many that is thought to grow dark when danger or negativity approaches its owner or when illness threatens. Whether this was physically viewed, symbolic, or an actual change in color or clarity of the stone is undetermined, but was probably a psychic phenomenon. In this sense the ruby can be used as a tool of scrying, as can most of the transparent stones.
MAGICAL USES:
Rubies are truly precious stones. Perfect specimens of a deep, blood red hue are outrageously expensive.
Lower grade, non-gem quality rubies are available at nominal cost and can be utilized in magic.
In 13th-century magic, rubies were well established as wealth-increasing stones. They were especially effective if engraved with the image of a dragon or snake before using.
Ancient magic from India states that the possession of rubies helps their owner to accumulate other precious gems, perhaps because of the stone's wealth-inducing qualities.
Worn, the ruby was thought to convey invulnerability, or protection against all foes, wicked spirits, negativity, plague, fascination (magical manipulation), and famine. It was also a special mascot of soldiers, guarding against wounds in battle. Basically, the ruby strengthens the body's own psychic defense system when worn.
The ruby in the home guards it against storms and negativity, especially if first touched to the four outside corners of the house.
Similarly, touching trees or the boundaries of a garden magically protects them from lightning and the affects of violent storms.
Ruled by Mars, the ruby is worn during magical rituals to increase the energies available to the magician or placed in the altar beside a red candle to lend energy to you when you're feeling depleted or drained.
In a similar line of magical influence, wearing a ruby is said to increase the body's warmth.
Jewelry set with rubies is worn to banish sadness and negative thought patterns. Such jewelry also produces joy, strengthens will power and confidence as well as dispelling fear.
Placed beneath the pillow or worn to bed, it assures a restful sleep, undisturbed against nightmares.
Star rubies, those rare stones with a naturally occurring six-pointed star, are thought to be particularly potent in protective and other forms of magic since a spirit was thought to dwell within it. Star rubies can also be used as divinatory tools by gazing at the crossed lines of light.
FOLK NAMES: Holy Stone, Star Sapphire, Astrae
ENERGY: Receptive
ELEMENT: Water
DEITY: Apollo
POWERS: Psychism, Love, Meditation, Peace, Defensive Magic, Healing, Power, Money
MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE:
The Greeks identified the sapphire with Apollo, and the stone was worn when consulting oracles such as the famous one at Delphi.
MAGICAL USES:
This stone is worn to stimulate the third eye for the purpose of expanding psychic awareness. The ancient Greek practice mentioned above seems to indicate that even they were aware of the sapphire's ability to tap the subconscious mind.
Sapphire is a guardian of love. That is, it promotes fidelity and attunes the feelings between lovers. Anciently it was also worn to banish envy, to promote positive social interaction and to reconcile with foes; sapphire can be used for all those purposes within any kind of relationship, not just marital.
Its one time usage for promoting chastity is probably also related to this: chastity can be viewed as the lack of sexual activity outside an established relationship. Star sapphires are thought to be especially effective for drawing or inducing love.
Sapphire is a soothing deep blue hue. It is worn during meditation or contemplated upon to expand wisdom. When you wear it, the stone promotes peace. The author of the pseudo-Albertus Magnus manuscripts of the late 1300's stated that this stone, worn, cools the "inward heat," or anger.
Its use in defensive magic stretches back to antiquity. Once thought to "scare devils and evil" away, it is today worn in protective jewelry and during rituals designed to return negativity to its sender.
A related power attributed to sapphire is its legendary ability to guard its owner from captivity. Currently, it finds favor with those involved in litigation and legal matters, possibly because it banishes fraud. The stone will work only if its wearer is in the right.
The sapphire is utilized in healing the body, especially the eyes, which are strengthened by its presence. It also reduces fevers and, when pressed to the forehead, halts bleeding from the nose.
Sapphires are also worn as general health-protectants, for, as Budge says in "Amulets and Talismans," the stronger and healthier a body, the less chance "evil spirits" (i.e., disease, infections) have to do harm.
An ancient work by Bartholmaeus says: "also wytches love well this stones, for they wene (ween, "believe") that they may werke certen wondres by vertue of this stone." It is worn and utilized in rituals to strengthen the magician's ability to tap and send forth power.
Generally worn as jewelry, sapphires are also utilized in money and wealth-attracting rituals. In early ceremonial magic the image of an astrolabe was engraved on the gem to increase wealth.
Star sapphires are considered to be more potent, magically speaking, for all uses.
ENERGY: Projective
PLANET: Sun
ELEMENT: Fire
ASSOCIATED METAL: Gold
POWERS: Money, Protection, Courage, Energy, Luck, Divination
MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE:
Roman soldiers wore tiger's-eye engraved with symbols for protction during battle.
MAGICAL USES:
Tiger's-eye is a fine stone for promoting wealth and money. A simple money spell involves empowering several tiger's-eyes with your need for money. Use them to surround a green candle. Light the candle and visualize.
They are also carried for protection against all forms of danger. A tiger's-eye cabochon set in gold is a fine protective ring or pendant.
Ruled by the Sun and possessing a golden flash of light, tiger's-eye is worn to strengthen convictions and create courage and confidence.
This is a warm stone, and it promotes energy flow throught the body when worn. It is also benficial for the weak or sick.
Sit outside on a sunny day. Hold a tiger's-eye in your hands and gaze at the flashes of light. Still your conscious mind and look into the future.Or, use the stone as a tool to delve into past lives.
ENERGY: Projective
PLANET: Sun
ELEMENT: Fire
DEITY: Ra
ASSOCIATED METAL: Gold
ASSOCIATED STONE: Tiger's-eye
POWERS: Projection, Healing, Weight Loss, Money, Love
MAGICKAL/RITUAL LORE:
The stones we know as peridot and olivine were named topaz in the distant past. It was used at one time to cause its wearer to become invisible.
MAGICKAL USES:
Topaz is another of the gemstones used for projection purposes. It is considered a specific against envy, intrigue, disease, injury, sudden death, sorcery and negative magic, and lunacy. The stone was thought to be especially effective when set in gold and bound to the left arm.
Worn, it relieves depression, anger, fear, greed, frenzies, and alldisturbing emotions.
Placed in the home, it is a charm against fire and accidents. When put under your pillow or worn to sleep, the topaz fends off nightmares and ends sleepwalking.
The topaz is used to relieve the pain of rheunmatism and arthritis as well as to regulate the digestive system. Perhaps this is why the stone is also worn for weight loss.
Known as "lover of gold," the topaz is used to bring wealth and money. Combine with an equal amount of tiger's-eye. Empower and place these stones around a green candle. Burn the candle and visualize.
*Wearing a topaz draws love.
FOLK NAMES: Fayruz (Arabic, "Lucky Stone"), Turkey Stone, Turkish Stone, Thyites (ancient Greek), Venus Stone, Horseman's Talisman
ENERGY: Receptive
PLANETS: Venus, Neptune
ELEMENT: Earth
DEITIES: Hathor, Buddha, The Great Spirit (American Indian)
ASSOCIATED METAL: Gold
POWERS: Protection, Courage, Money, Love, Friendship, Healing, Luck
MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE:
Turquoise is a sacred stone to many American Indian tribes. The Navajo used ground turquoise and coral in creating sand paintings to bring rain to the parched land. Other native inhabitants of the South-western United States and Mexico placed turquoise in tombs to guard the dead.
The Pueblos laid turquoise under the floor in offering to the deities, when a house, or kiva, was built. A piece of turquoise was a nearly equired tool in the Apache shaman's medicine, or power, bag. Other American peoples attached turquoise to bows to ensure accurate shots.
Besides these and many more uses, turquoise has been prized for its beautiful color and potent magical properties.
MAGICAL USES:
It is a protective stone. Turquoise carvings of horses and sheep are kept by the Navajo as potent guardians against negative magic.
A turquoise ring is worn to guard against the evil eye, disease, serpents, poison, violence and accidents, and any and all dangers. Worn, it promotes courage.
Horse riders wear turquoise to protect themselves from falls. For this purpose it is mounted in gold. They attach a second small piece onto the bridle or saddle to give protection to the horse.
It is a valuable amulet for travelers, especially when venturing into politically volatile or dangerous places.
An old ritual utilized turquoise to gain wealth. Perform this rite a few days after the New Moon when the crescent is first visible in the sky. Avoid looking at the Moon until the proper time.
Hold a turquoise in your hand. Visualize your magical need - money -manifesting in your life. Move outside and look at the Moon. Then directly shift your gaze to the turquoise. The magic has begun. Carry the stone with you until the money arrives.
Turquoise is also worn or used in money-attracting spells, such as placing circles or necklaces of turquoise around green candles and visualizing wealth. Given as a gift, it bestows wealth and happiness upon its receiver.
The stone is also utilized in love magic; turquoise is worn, carried or given to a loved one. It is frequently used to promote marital harmony, ensuring that the two persons involved blend with each other. Some sources say that if love fades in the stone's recipient, the stone's color will fade as well.
Wear turquoise to attract new friends, to be joyous and even tempered and to increase beauty.
It is also a healing stone. It strengthens the eyes, alleviates fevers and reduces headaches. When turquoise is pressed against the diseased or troubled part of the body, the illness is visualized as entering the stone. Water into which turquoise has been dipped is drunk for its healing energies.
Turquoise rings and pendants are worn to promote and to protect the health; blue candles surrounded with turquoise are visualized as speeding the healing process. The stone is said to prevent migraines when worn.
*Like all blue stones, the turquoise is lucky and is carried to attract good fortune.
