Stone Magic

[Tanemis]

I went to the library and got a book called Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham. I've started reading through this a bit and found some interesting stuff I just wondered if any of you were familiar with it and had any suggestions to start my own collection of magickal gems.

[ZeldaFitz]

I have his books, and so does my love.

[Tanemis]

I actually spoke with a ruby in my late grandfather's ring. The week he died there was a massive flood in his town and it destroyed his and my Grand Mother's home. Very few possessions were able to be recovered the flood damage was so bad so this is literally the last thing of his that I own. I fully intend to make this ring (which is now my wedding band) into a protective stone.

[ZeldaFitz]

I am so sorry for both your losses, and yes the stone would be perfect.

[Tanemis]

I've really enjoyed reading this book I spent 6 hours yesterday with my nose in it taking notes down in my BoS for further use. I slept with the ring on last night so more of my personal power could seep into it and this morning the ruby is as clear as ever. there is also a VERY small chip of diamond centered in a a diamond with a cross from the 4 points. I intend to charge the diamond once I've figured out what I want the diamond to do.

Another strange note... before yesterday when I wore the ring it was sloppy on my hand, my grandfather was probably a ring size bigger than me. Today, it fits like it was fitted to my hand.

[ZeldaFitz]

It was meant to be.

[Tanemis]

I think so... I've always had a fascination with geology. I used to go to the little "mining" places where you buy a bucket of dirt for 20 bucks and sit and sift through it on a long aqueduct to find a few garnets and a bunch of quarts in some sand. I finished the book today. Over half the book is just an encyclopedia of the different gems, their qualities, their symbolism and magickal properties. Very interesting read.

[ZeldaFitz]

Isn't there a place in Western NC where you can mine for stones?

[Tanemis]

There is actually. I'm about to take 30 days of leave from Fayetteville and head back to Asheville for the holidays. I plan on doing a good deal of stone searching while I'm there. Not to mention I feel a real connection with the area so I hope to further some of my studies while in the area as well. That esoteric school is very enlightening.

[Tanemis]

Last night was my first time working with the stone. I focused on the ruby last night because it is the larger of the 2 stones on the ring. My only goal for last night was to let the stone speak to me and hear it's song. I was successful and actually got a very vivid flash back of my grandfather. I've not yet attempted the diamond chip on it.

What sources were you using to learn the stones? I'd love to find some more books to read.

[Tanemis]

I'll try and keep that in mind once I get some stones that I have found on my own. I think my ring is a bit too sentimental for me try and do that with.

[Tanemis]

True but I'm not that advanced yet in my meditations... I'm still rather new to the occult world so I'm doing things slowly. I will eventually get to that, I personally am not on a level to do it yet.

[Tanemis]

True. I have set several goals for myself though in regards to stone magick.

I'm actually studying several things at once right now. I'm enrolled in the school on the Esoteric Magick forums, which is taking up a lot of my mind as well as reading through a book that is teaching me the basics of the Wicca path. The stone magick is my to the side learning point since I've held a fascination with geology for a long time.

My thing is I'm waiting to truly delve into this ruby because I know the context's behind it. This ring has seen many many things. It survived a flood that destroyed almost everything my grandparent's owned while at the same time my grandfather died in the hospital during the flood.

My grandfather's presence is already known to me within the ring. His presence has actually been known to my entire family very shortly after he died.

My first experience with my grandfather's presence happened when we moved into a new house in December of 1993. My grandfather died in June of 1993 and so I was still very much grieving him since I was especially close to him. As I laid in bed I heard the sound of a walker going down the hall next to my room to the kitchen. I got out of bed and looked around the corner and saw my grandfather walk into the kitchen.

The next big experience we had was in 2000 or 2001. I can't remember exactly. My Aunt had a little girl and she had just started walking. We took a family trip the grave site of my grandfather. He is buried in Andersonville Civil War Memorial along with thousands of other people. His plot is almost literally in the middle of a very large group of stones. My Aunt set my cousin down to get the rest of the stuff out of the car and my cousin set off running. She didn't touch anything but ran swiftly to the middle of the graveyard. She finally stopped and started patting and baby talking to one particular stone. It was my grandfather's stone.

The same cousin later once she could talk came to my Aunt one night and told her she couldn't sleep that a Brown man was talking too much. My Aunt freaked out and ran in her room and no one was there so she sent my cousin back to bed. A few weeks later she came and told my Aunt the same thing. My Aunt asked her who this Brown man was. My cousin went and got a picture of my grandfather and handed it to my Aunt and said "Him."

I joined the Army in August of 2004. I was at basic training in Fort Benning, GA about 80 miles away from where my grandfather is buried. I attended a Lutheran service one Sunday. The hymn choices for the day were every single one of my grandfather's favorites. Amazing Grace, Onward Christian Soldier, and one other that I don't remember the name but could sing you the tune. The entire time I was there I felt his hands on my shoulders. I left that chapel crying.

His presence has already made itself known to me in the ring long before I did anything with the stone. My fear is the emotional response that I'll get if I delve too far into the ring. I know that I am not ready for this just yet and I need to strengthen myself first.