Stones and Crystals
It should be clear by now that I’m inspired by different stones and crystals in my tarot designs, but they are also a big part of my tarot practice and everyday rituals.
I had quite the rock collection growing up. I don't mean crystals or anything fancy, just stones I would find when playing in the woods or walking home from school. I kept them in a box with my collection of cicada shells, feathers, and whatever else I picked up and saw as a treasure. It seems silly now, but when you're a child the magic of the natural world is wide open to you because you don't overthink it. I’m trying to recapture that spirit.
When I got a little older I did start to collect more conventionally attractive stones and crystals. The majority of the ones I have today are from that period of time. Over the years, I’ve forgotten what some of them are or where they came from, but it doesn’t really matter. Sometimes it’s better that way. When you know the name of a particular stone you automatically assign a defined meaning to it. Those meanings are nice guidelines, but rules don’t always apply to nature.
Have you ever found yourself attracted to a particular stone but didn’t know why? The shine or color might have caught your eye. Maybe the shape spoke to you. It’s fine to seek out a stone for a particular purpose or intention, but in my opinion it’s more powerful to allow a stone to find you and listen to the intention it has for you.
The idea that natural inanimate objects like stones are able to connect with and serve people comes from a biblical idea that all matter on Earth has a spiritual force and exists to benefit humankind. I personally believe that humankind should serve the Earth just as much as it serves us. It's a give and take relationship. There has to be balance for there to be a true connection.
The connection to a stone is similar to the one you want to foster with the cards. I’ve heard it’s good to charge them by bathing them in moonlight, which is a nice, romantic idea that I sometimes practice if I remember to, but overall I think the winning formula is time + touch + proximity. In addition to that, the benefit of an open mind cannot be overstated. The result is a totem of positive energy that can aid mind, body, and spirit in myriad ways.
I use stones in my tarot readings when I am trying to focus my attention in a specific way. There are some I keep on my desk to help me focus, others I keep in my bedroom to stay calm, and some I wear as jewelry to feel happy, confident, and beautiful. The weight of a stone in your palm can serve to keep you grounded and can be a useful tool for meditation.
A shelf with raw rose quartz, tumbled rose quartz, garnet, raw moonstone, and raw amethyst to attract and promote love.
A smoky quartz, howlite, and citrine that I keep by my desk.
There is a lot to talk about on this subject so this post is just an introduction. I already talked a little about rose quartz in an earlier post and would like to go more in depth about a few others that especially resonate with me like citrine, howlite, and fluorite.
Stay Tuned!
