Stone Witchery & Divination, by Amber K

Praise for Stone Witchery & Divination “Whether you’re a crystal witch, a diviner, a devout rock enthusiast, or all of the above, Stone Witchery & Divination deserves a place of honor on your bookshelf.

In a voice that is both humorous and wise, Amber K guides readers down a remarkable path of lithomantic and lapidiary magic, generously sharing her deepset knowledge and experiences, and illuminating the reality that stones can be so much more than simple tools—they can be trusted allies and companions.”

—Thumper Forge, author of The Chaos Apple “Stone Witchery & Divination is thorough, insightful, and, above all, practical.

Filled with detailed, hands-on methods and useful techniques to enhance divination skills with stones of all types, this is a valuable asset to any crystal library.”

—Ember Grant, author of The Book of Crystal Spells and The Second Book of Crystal Spells

Stone Witchery & Divination

© Karen Kvehn

About the Author Amber K is a third degree priestess of the Wiccan faith. She was initiated at the Temple of the Pagan Way in Chicago and served on the Council of Elders there. Her books on magick and the Craft have been widely circulated in the United States and Europe, and she has traveled across the United States teaching the Craft for more than forty years. She has worked with Circle and the Re-Formed Congregation of the Goddess, and she served as National First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess for three terms. She is a founder of Our Lady of the Woods and the Ladywood Tradition of Wicca, and she currently is Executive Director of Ardantane, an Earth-centered school and retreat center based in northern New Mexico.

Stone Witchery & Divination

Lithomancy and Magick with Rocks, Gems, and Crystals

Amber K

Stone Witchery & Divination: Lithomancy and Magick with Rocks, Gems, and Crystals Copyright © 2025

by Amber K. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd., except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems.

First Edition First Printing, 2025 Book design by Christine Ha Cover design by Shannon McKuhen Interior illustrations by the Llewellyn Art Department Doreen Valiente material in chapter 5 is used with permission and is copyright © Valiente, D. Witchcraft For Tomorrow 1978. London: Robert Hale.

Llewellyn Publications is a registered trademark of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Pending) ISBN: 978-0-7387-8091-7 Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between our authors and the public.

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Any internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific location will continue to be maintained. Please refer to the publisher’s website for links to authors’ websites and other sources.

Llewellyn Publications A Division of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive Woodbury, MN 55125-2989 www.llewellyn.com Printed in the United States of America GPSR Representation: UPI-2M PLUS d.o.o., Medulićeva 20, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, matt.parsons@upi2mbooks.hr

Other Books by Amber K How to Become a Witch: The Path of Nature, Spirit & Magick RitualCraft: Creating Rites for Transformation and Celebration True Magick: A Beginner's Guide

Dedication This book is dedicated to my beloved Azrael Arynn K, with thanks for proofing and editing this work to make it presentable … … and to Lora Jackson Legare, stone sister extraordinaire who also follows the rocky road… … and to David Legare, who cares for the Earth (where all the local rocks live).

“Not all who wander are lost…

Some are just looking for cool rocks.”

—Source unknown

Disclaimer This book offers several workings that are intended to support your health and healing, but nothing offered here is intended to replace the care and counsel of your physician and trained health professionals. Follow the advice of your medical staff; and if you wish, add these metaphysical and energetic techniques, only as a supplement to your regular professional care.

Contents INTRODUCTION: THE LOVE OF GEMS, STONES, AND CRYSTALS 1

Stones in History and Myth 2 A Brief History of the Art 3 The Spirits of Stones 4 Unique Stones, Unique Energies 5 Finding Stones 6 Building Relationships 7 Clearing and Storage 7 Journaling Your Experiences 8 Let's Rock and Roll 8 PART I: DIVINATION TECHNIQUES WITH STONES 11

About Divination

13

Chapter 1: Drawing Stones 17 A Morning Stone to Guide You 18 Drawing for Decision-Making 19 Drawing to Place on a Diagram 25

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Chapter 2: Simple Casting 27 Casting Stones for Yes and No 28 Casting Stones for Past, Present, and Future 29 Casting Stones to Discover Elemental Energies 30 Chapter 3: Casting on a Board 33 Making a Casting Board 33 Casting on a Pentagram 35 Casting on the Wheel of the Year 37 Casting with the Life Compass 39 Chapter 4: Lithomancy in an Astrological Framework On Astrology 46 Planetary Stone Correspondences 47 The Planets 48 The Houses 49 The Cast 50 The Interpretation 51 A Sample Reading 52

45

Chapter 5: Doreen Valiente’s System 55 The Valiente System 55 Adapting the System 56 A Sample Reading with Valiente’s System 59 Chapter 6: Casting Plus: Adding Shells, Coins, Seeds, and Charms Bones 63 Shells 64 Coins 65

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Contents — xv

Seeds 65 Charms 65 Chapter 7: Scrying with Stones and Crystals 67 History 67 Showstones, Magick Mirrors, and Crystal Balls 69 Alternatives to Stone 70 Consecration of the Tool 70 Formulating Your Question 72 Visualization Skills 73 A Scrying Technique 74 Interpreting the Images 75 Chapter 8: Stones in Other Forms of Divination Pendulums 77 Runestones 78 Tarot Correspondences 80 Oracle and Tarot Decks 83

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PART II: MAGICK AND SPELLS WITH STONES

About Magick and Spellworking

87

89

Working 1: A Meditation into the Stone

93

Working 2: Touching the Past: Psychometry with Stones

97

Working 3: Amulets to Wear, Carry, or Place on Animals or Buildings Working 4: Stone Talismans: Shapes and Symbols

103

Working 5: Magick and Healing with Name Stones

107

Working 6: Chakra Care with Gems and Crystals

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101

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Working 7: Power Storage Stones

115

Working 8: Memory Storage Stones

117

Working 9: Grounding and Deep Grounding Working 10: Releasing the Negative

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121

Working 11: Gratitude Stones

123

Working 12: Stone Spirit Allies

125

Working 13: Ancestor Contact Points

127

Working 14: Circle of Elemental Balance

129

Working 15: Protective Home and Boundary Stones Working 16: Sleep- and Dream-Enhancing Stones Working 17: Suiseki and Scholar Stones

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Working 20: Spell of Attraction

147

Working 21: Using Link Stones

149

Working 22: Coven in a Bag

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Working 18: Healing with Stones and Water Working 19: Sand Tray Exploration

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151

Working 23: A Hearthstone for Your Home Working 24: Cairns and Standing Stones

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Working 25: A Stone Circle for Your Personal Temple Working 26: Stones for the Stages of Life Working 27: Your Magickal Pouch

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165

Working 28: Wear the Color of the Day

167

Working 29: Medicine Wheels, Sundials, and Labyrinths

171

Contents — xvii

Working 30: A House of God

175

Working 31: Meditations with the Life Compass Working 32: Create a Spell Serpent Working 33: I Am a Rock Conclusion

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191

Appendixes 193 A: Traditional Gemstone Identification and Correspondences 193 B: Gemstone Correspondences Alphabetically by Attribute 203 C: A Gallery of the Weird and Wonderful 211 D: Color Correspondences 221 E: Symbols for Stone Talismans 225 F: Special Stones from Folklore 233 G: Birthstones 239 Recommended Reading Bibliography 251 Index

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Introduction

The Love of Gems, Stones, and Crystals You know who you are. Whenever you go for a walk, if there are stones underfoot, that’s where you’re looking. Windowsills, dressers, and tables are filled with populations of stones that call to you because of their beauty, their sizes, their colors, or the energies they radiate. Crystals, semiprecious gemstones, fossils, and “plain” rocks full of character. You love to touch them, look at them, and show them off to your friends, even your long-suffering non-rockaholic friends. Your house will never be carried away by a tornado because your stones hold it safely to the earth.

If you have a yard or a garden, it is populated with more stones. Rocks cluster on the porch, watching with beady invisible eyes, silent sentinels protecting your home as visitors thread their way to the door. Perhaps small communities of like-minded stones huddle together, or perhaps they are as diverse as the life of the land and the seas. They may form circles, spirals, or labyrinths, inviting you to perform ceremonies or embark on spiritual journeys within.

We are the rockhounds, the petrofiles (or petraphiles), the lapidists or lapidarists, the mineral collectors, and the amateur geologists. Why are we so attracted to these little pieces of Mother Gaia? If you follow astrology and know that your chart is full of Earth signs … That’s not it. Many of us who are stoned on rock energy are replete with Water, Fire, or Air in our

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2 — Introduction

charts. But if you are one of us, a rock person, there’s no escaping. You can either meld your love of stones with wonderful spiritual and magickal techniques or just relax and enjoy your obsession. You are in good company.

Stones in History and Myth The earth began forming about 4.54 billion years ago, so chances are most rocks are way older than we are. They have experienced subduction deep into the planet, great heat and pressure in the depths, volcanic eruptions, gentle sedimentary layering on the floors of the sea, erosion, and tumbling from mountaintops and cliff edges.

Yet much of this happened in slow motion, and the stones gently exude a sense of timelessness, strength, and stability. Sticks and stones were the first tools of our ancient hominin ancestors, and stone tools forever changed their world. Our ancestors discovered that stones could make hunters more deadly, chop meat from bone, weight fishing nets, harvest plants, create fire, cut hides for clothing and blankets, discourage predators, and even build walls, roads, cottages, and magnificent temples.

It is little wonder that stones, gems, and crystals are key players in so many myths.

Carved stones commemorate ancient kings, queens, and warriors. They mark the sites of great battles. One stone, a black meteorite, is embedded in the Kaaba, Islam’s holy of holies. Legend says that the great gem embedded in the helm of Lucifer fell into the sea as he fell from heaven, and was later found and carved into the Holy Grail. Other precious gemstones are embedded in the crowns and scepters of royalty. In one of the tales of the American Southwest, an angry boulder chases Coyote and flattens him.

Sacred places are built of great stones, from the oldest temple of Göbekli Tepe in Türkiye to Stonehenge in England to the megalithic temples of Malta. Some are great stones, such as the Stone of Destiny at Tara in Ireland and enormous Uluru Rock in Australia. Natural arches, hoodoos, towering sea stacks, balanced rocks, and mighty stalagmites in dark caverns amaze us.

Introduction — 3

Legendary Stones: The Blarney Stone This stone was built into the battlements of Blarney Castle in Ireland in 1446. Kissing this particular limestone block is an old tradition. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The word blarney has come to mean “clever, flattering, or coaxing talk.” Irish politician John O’Connor Power defined it this way: “Blarney is something more than mere flattery. It is flattery sweetened by humour and flavoured by wit.”

A Brief History of the Art Using stones for spellwork and spiritual purposes long predates recorded history. We can only guess when lithomancy (divination with stones) in some form was first used, and when people first began noticing that different stones had different energies that could be used for magick and healing. (NOTE: I use magick with a k throughout this book, to distinguish true magick from stage magic and illusion.)

Archaeologists know that stones were used in gambling and games thousands of years ago; they have found crude dice in ancient Rome and sophisticated dodecahedrons that could’ve been used in games or magick. We have the ancient game of Mancala from Africa, Senet from Egypt, the Chinese favorite Go created at least 2,500 years ago, and of course comparatively “modern” games often played with stone pieces, such as chess, the Norse Hnefatafl, and many more.

Ancient rings and pendants set with gemstones are common, often carved with symbols for luck, health, or strength. Even more ancient are stones—often quartz—handdrilled and worn as pendants or necklaces in the Stone Age. Most had meaning and probably magickal intent. They were much more than just pretty stones.

Alchemists, from Roman times through the Middle Ages and into the modern day, sought to create the Philosopher’s Stone. It is a sort of spiritual tool that could grant health and healing, immensely long life, and spiritual perfection.

4 — Introduction

Legendary Stones: The Philosophers’ Stone An alchemical substance that turns base metals to gold and makes humans immortal. In spiritual alchemy, it symbolizes the completion of the Magnum Opus, the Great Work, and attainment of spiritual perfection (or as close as people can get); thus becoming the Phoenix, the Crowned King, the Golden Child, or the Soma Heliakon.

The documents of early civilizations tell us that certain stones were believed to have particular powers. The semiprecious gemstone amethyst, often a lovely translucent shade of purple, was thought by Romans to prevent intoxication and restore moderation and balance. The stories say that certain emperors would drink their wine from chalices made of amethyst. Special powers are ascribed to many other precious stones, such as diamond and sapphire, as well as semiprecious gems known to antiquity, including carnelian, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. These traditional powers or meanings will be discussed throughout this book and in the appendixes.

The Spirits of Stones Do all living creatures have souls or spirits? Do bears, nightingales, dolphins, and their kin—our kin—have spirits? And what about so-called nonliving creatures: stars, planets, and even rocks? The belief that all things have life of a sort, and spirits, is called animism. For many of us, the belief that only human beings are ensouled seems arrogant and unlikely.

So, what if stones hold not only energy—and they do, whether this is warmth from the sun or energy held in crystal lattices—but also spirit? What if there is an overarching deva of each type of stone: the Obsidian Deva, the Granite Deva, the Sandstone Deva?

And what if each individual boulder, rock, stone, and pebble had its own unique and personal spirit, as well as comprising part of its species’ greater deva?

And what if every stone held not only energy and spirit but also intelligence of its own unique sort? Certainly the concept of human intelligence keeps expanding, from

Introduction — 5

the mental acuity of standard intelligence tests to the ideas of emotional intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, linguistic intelligence, and several others. Intelligence has long been proven to exist in elephants, dolphins, chimps, crows, and many other animals. James Lovelock has postulated a kind of planetwide intelligence, in the Gaia Hypothesis. Can we assume that it stops there? Or can we admit that we don’t know everything about our universe, including whether stars and rocks have their own form of intelligence?

And if stones have not only energy but also intelligence and spirit, let us invite them to be partners in our spiritual and magickal quest.

Unique Stones, Unique Energies Certain stones have traditional meanings ascribed to them by one culture or another.

Unfortunately, many authors on stone magick will share these meanings as though they are holy writ; or even share other meanings from their own experiences, and treat these lists as gospel. Read enough of these books and you will realize that the powers and meanings ascribed to different kinds of stones are somewhat different in every book.

For example, according to various sources, diamonds are great for abundance, clarity of mind, courage, creativity, enlightenment, faithfulness, fearlessness, fortitude, harmony, imagination, innocence, inventiveness, ingenuity, love, power, protection, purity, selfrespect, spiritual evolution, and strength. Well, maybe.

Perhaps each and every stone is unique, just as each human is. A stone’s energy comes from its chemical composition and crystalline structure—for example, all jaspers share these—but also from its location, size, color, shape, and “personal history.” Thus, every stone is somewhat different from its brethren. No two pieces of rose quartz are alike.

To add more complexity: every human being is a unique individual, with a unique energy field and nervous system, not to mention different emotional makeups, intelligences, personalities, and tastes. So we each will respond differently to the same stone.

If some expert proclaims, “Amethyst will help you develop moderation and selfcontrol,” we must ask, “But which amethyst will accomplish this best for which person?”

This is why the discerning magician will select their partner-stones carefully, and not just grab the first one of type X that they see in the shop or on the ground. It has to feel

6 — Introduction

right for the work you plan to do. Trust your senses, your feelings, your instincts. Selecting the right stone for the right job is always more art than science. You can begin with traditional meanings in order to narrow the field, but never stop there. Trust yourself, listen to the stone, and you will find the right companion for your work.

Finding Stones Where can you find stones for your magical and spiritual work? You can order stones of all kinds online, but you will be choosing based on type and appearance and little else.

There is no substitute for holding a stone in your hand, if you really want to get a feel for its energy.

Stones can be found at geological formations, along nature trails, at the seashore, and anywhere else outdoors. You can use these rough or water-polished stones as they are, or you can polish them in a tumbler or by hand, or even shape and carve them with the proper lapidary tools.

Rock shops are wonderful! Sometimes they are called gem and mineral emporiums or other fancy names. Many have a wonderful selection of polished and rough stones, and as an added bonus the staff can teach you a lot about the different varieties. On long road trips, I used to drive my companions mad by begging to stop at every rock shop along the way. That did not make me feel bad, as they always wanted to stop at restaurants, gas stations, and motels. To each her own.

Local geology clubs will often sponsor field trips to unused mines or other sources of interesting minerals. Stamina may be required, but what fun! Also, some Bureau of Land Management territories allow visitors to collect a certain quantity of natural stones for their personal collections; usually a few pounds are allowed. State and national parks, though, tend to forbid collecting of anything except T-shirts and stuffed animals at the gift shop. Do not try to collect arrowheads or other stone artifacts at parks; these are pieces of Indigenous history and removing them is illegal for good reason.

Are polished stones or birthstones better for magick? Make no assumptions. Hold the stone, feel the stone, and trust your instincts.

Introduction — 7

Building Relationships If you are trying to get to know someone better, and that someone is human, what’s your strategy? My guess is you’re going to spend time with them in different environments, such as at home, at your job, traveling, and so forth. You are probably going to talk with them. Hopefully you will listen as much as or more than you talk. Stones are generally not very verbal, so you should not expect them to share their experiences and ideas in eloquent spoken language. You need to listen not only with your ears but also with all your senses and with an open heart. You need to be able to clear your mind and patiently await whatever images or sensations come to you from the stone.

Working together is a great way to get to know someone. With stones, you can form a magickal partnership to accomplish your goals, and very possibly the stone’s goals as well.

Of course, you won’t simply assume that the stone wants to help with anything you’ve got going; do ask first. If you wait patiently, you will get either positive feelings from the stone—“Sure, let’s try it!”—or negative impressions—“Sorry, not interested”—or possibly complete indifference—“Yawn, what?”

You can also play together. Most stones are not especially interested in video games or even chess, but you could try watching clouds together, telling each other stories, or even more active games like rolling and stacking. Fun and laughter are great icebreakers.

Clearing and Storage I hope you have no interest in clearing a stone’s innate energies or memories; but what if the stone has been handled a lot by other humans who have left their psychic imprints on it? Unless you have a particular interest in learning those stories through psychometry, you will want to clear any human energies left over from earlier associates.

Clearing people stuff is generally not difficult. As you would with a magical tool, use Earth, Air, and/or Water for the cleansing. Try burying the stone in natural soil for a while, immersing it in living water such as a stream, or simply placing it outside where sun and wind are plentiful. Fire can certainly be cleansing, but using it with stones is problematic: it would be all too easy to scorch or crack the rock, or even cause it to explode.

8 — Introduction

Stones that will be used in divination or magick should be stored in a special place indoors. Perhaps you have a cabinet where you keep your magickal tools. Place the gem, stone, or crystal in its own pouch or box, wrapped in silk, if you want to keep it from picking up stray energies. Rough stones will probably be happy living outside near your house, especially if it’s not likely they will disappear into some passerby’s pocket.

Journaling Your Experiences As with all your magickal or spiritual work, it is very useful to write down your meditations, spells, and rituals for future reference. You may want to note your purpose, the timing of your work, what stone or stones you worked with and exactly how, and of course the results of your working.

Your notes on timing may include the time, day, planetary hour, and season of the work, as well as astrological information. You can even make a chart showing the positions of each planet in the houses, whether the moon was void-of-course or Mercury was retrograde, what phase the moon was in, and so on. If all this is unfamiliar, get advice from an astrologer friend or an experienced magickal practitioner, or do some research in books and online.

Most Wiccan practitioners have a personal Book of Shadows in which to keep such information. It may be an actual bound book, a loose-leaf binder, or even a set of files on a home computer. If you don’t have a Book of Shadows, you can start one and call it your Rock Record, Stone Scripture, Gem Journal, or whatever you please. I recommend that you keep it in a safe place and do not share with anyone, except other magickal workers you are close to.

Let’s Rock and Roll!

The rest of the book is divided into two major sections: one on divination with stones and the other on spells or magickal work. Try as many of these techniques as you can; nothing beats hands-on experience. Soon you will discover favorite techniques or find ways to adapt them so they are most effective for you. Experiment! A technique is only wrong if it doesn’t work … if you intend harm to anyone … or if you get mad and hurl the rocks across the room and they bonk someone coming in the door.

Introduction — 9

Appendixes at the end of the book provide a quick and easy way to look up information you might need as well as resources for further study.

I worked hard on this book; it is a labradorite of love. Metamorphically speaking, I hope everything is crystal clear. If you enjoy this book and write a gneiss review with your favorite online bookseller, I can only say: You rock!

Now: let’s get serious about divination and magick with stones.

—Amber K, 2024

PART I

DIVINATION TECHNIQUES WITH STONES

About Divination What is divination? Most dictionaries say something like: “The art or practice of seeking to foretell the future through omens or the supernatural.”

Yet we don’t need to invoke the supernatural to explain divination; even if we think gods or angels are providing insights in response to our questions.

This still begs the question: Who are the gods and angels, anyway? Are they psychological archetypes buried in the collective unconscious of humanity, powerful entities that created and maintain the cosmos, remarkable ancestors whom we promoted to godhood in honor of their achievements, or simply a great mystery beyond the power of our brains to comprehend?

Divination may exist in the realm of religion, spirituality, or psychology; that does not mean it’s “supernatural.” It simply means that we don’t fully understand how it works.

We can offer some theories or models. Perhaps the great psychologist Carl Jung was right, and all humans potentially have access to the collective unconscious. This is the great pool of all humanity’s memories and experiences that are normally not available to our conscious minds but crop up in myths, legends, and folktales. Perhaps this is the source of the insights we gain through divination.

If divination draws on ancestral memories, that’s a huge database. Homo sapiens have been around for at least 300,000 years—that’s about 12,000 generations worth of human experience. If we add in our pre-sapiens hominin ancestors, that takes our lineage back millions of years … at least six

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million that we know of. It’s amazing to think that so much knowledge and experience could be hiding deep in our brains.

According to the Theosophical Society, a metaphysical way of understanding the “database” that divination references is the Akashic Records. This is a collection of all events that have ever occurred anywhere in the universe, in the past, present, or future.

Think of the internet if it covered everything, everywhere, everywhen. It would make the Library of Alexandria look like a toddler’s collection of storybooks.

If the Akashic Records exist, what’s the search engine (or library card) that will let us in? Well, divination—tarot cards, runes, the I Ching, and yes, drawing or casting stones.

Divination cannot give us instant access to the whole thing, but our brains are not big enough for that anyway.

A wonderful Hindu metaphor that might help is Indra’s Net, which is also called Indra’s Pearls, Indra’s Jewels, or Indra’s Web. Indra is a sky god from India, the king of the devas or Hindu deities. His infinite net or web holds a jewel or a pearl at every vertex of the net, and every one of them reflects all the others, and is connected to them. Each jewel is a creature, and every single thing in the cosmos is in the web. If we are connected to every other entity in the universe, then in theory we have access to them all—and their knowledge. Divination would be the tool that reveals the net to us.

It is a lovely tale, but is there any evidence for this kind of infinite connectedness?

Maybe so. You have heard of quantum mechanics, the branch of physics that explains “how extremely small objects simultaneously have the characteristics of both particles (tiny pieces of matter) and waves (a disturbance or variation that transfers energy). Physicists call this the "wave-particle duality” (and that’s the simplified description!). This definition is courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy; thanks for clarifying that, DOE. This concept includes the idea of quantum entanglement, which is, according to space.com, “a bizarre, counterintuitive phenomenon that explains how two subatomic particles can be intimately linked to each other even if separated by billions of light-years of space.” That is, once linked up close and personal, those two particles stay in touch even if one hops on a spaceship and visits the far end of the universe.

Okay, but were we ever linked with all the stuff in the universe? Probably so. Just before the Big Bang tossed all the stars and galaxies in every direction, creating our really

About Divination — 15

big (and still expanding) reality, everything was smooshed together (technical term) in an extremely tiny space. Like smaller than your coat closet. And having been expanded out to our current address, we are still linked to everything from the dawn of time. And so perhaps Indra’s Net is quite accurate, from a scientific point of view.

Some people seem to have direct access to that database of all-that-is; they are called clairsentient, a psychic word for simply knowing things. Other people have relied on drugs to expand their minds and find hidden knowledge, from the Oracle at Delphi (breathing ethylene gas in her cave) to modern proponents of LSD and other hallucinogens. A third group, which is most of us, can use divination tools to get the goods.

Gemstones are not the only divination tools in the toolbox, of course. You can toss Chinese coins in the I Ching, draw little wooden chips with runes engraved on them, check your pendulum, learn palmistry, or lay out a spread of tarot cards on your dining room table. And yet it goes far beyond these popular tools. You can work divination by walking in circles (ambulomancy), studying globs of melted wax (ceromancy), observing cheese as it coagulates (tyromancy), counting the knots in a newborn’s umbilical cord (omphalomancy), or watching the movements of mice (myomancy). Or you can employ burning coals, the shoulder bones of oxen, meteors, the soles of your feet, marks on tree bark, or stomach sounds. And many, many, many more.

To sum up, anything at all can be a tool for divination. The information is there—it’s just a matter of access, and then interpretation … and then of course, deciding what to do with the information once you have it.

One more thing you need to understand: divination can usually just give you clues about trends. It can tell you how things will turn out in the short run if nothing important changes the situation. Very often something changes the situation. We do not live in a static, unchanging world, nor usually a predictable one. So quite often divination of any kind provides a snapshot, true in the moment and less certain with every hour that passes. It’s like sitting in the front passenger seat of a fast car on the highway. You glance up from the book in your lap, briefly see the road and maybe a sign, then go back to your novel. But the driver may speed up, slow down, or turn off the road at any time.

But if it’s about your life, then you are the driver. You can’t control the traffic or make that highway turn in any direction you want, but you do have a lot of control. You have

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agency. Therefore, you may need to repeat your divination from time to time, because things change—and you may be the one making the changes.

Let’s get started, with our favorite divination tools. You know what they are: stones, gems, crystals, or minerals. Let’s explore how our rock friends can help us find what we need.

Chapter 1

Drawing Stones A simple way to get guidance for your day or for a difficult decision is to draw one or more stones from a pouch. You can have as many or as few stones in the bag as you like, as long as each has a particular meaning.

Here’s an example, based on the seven classic planets recognized by ancient astrologers: THE SUN might be represented by a gold or a yellow stone: sunstone, amber, citrine, pyrite, yellow topaz, tiger’s eye, or yellow agate.

THE MOON might be represented by a milky or a silvery stone or a bit of shell: moonstone or selenite, angel agate, snakeskin agate, or mother of pearl.

MERCURY might be represented by a clear stone: quartz (faceted crystal or polished round), clear calcite, clear topaz, white spinel, Herkimer Diamond; or diamond if you’re wealthy, clear glass if you’re on a budget.

VENUS might be represented by a pink or a light green stone: rose quartz, green aventurine, green calcite, malachite, peridot, amazonite, chrysocolla, green fluorite, or emerald.

MARS might be represented by a red stone: red jasper, garnet, red aventurine, red tiger’s eye (occasionally called dragon eye), red beryl, or ruby.

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JUPITER might be represented by a blue stone: lapis lazuli, sodalite, larimar, aquamarine, blue topaz, blue calcite, or sapphire; or labradorite, which often has a blue and gold sheen.

SATURN might be represented by a black stone: black onyx, Apache tear, black tourmaline, obsidian, black jade, or shungite.

You could also add an Earth stone, perhaps represented by a green or a brown stone: agate, turquoise, picture jasper, or granite; or a small fossil such as dinosaur bone, turritella agate, or petrified wood.

A Morning Stone to Guide You Each day, ask yourself: “What is the primary energy I will encounter today?” Then reach into the pouch and draw one stone. Let’s say you draw a red jasper, representing Mars.

This sounds like a high-energy day ahead, requiring bold initiatives and decisive action.

Of course, there may be other people riding the same energy wave. It’s time to bring out your inner warrior.

What if you pull a polished blue sodalite, representing Jupiter? Expansion is the order of the day. Make big plans, reach out, ask for more resources, meet new people and expand your network, think about the future—think big.

You might draw a black onyx, which indicates the energy of Saturn. Saturn calls for order, discipline, structure, and following procedures. You might encounter major challenges or obstacles, but you can learn from them. If any part of your life is messy or chaotic, it’s time to organize.

What if you draw a pretty yellow-white citrine for the Sun? This is a day for light and enlightenment. Educate everyone around you; clarify what’s happening and what needs to happen. Spread light, radiate warmth, exude self-confidence, encourage others.

Growth and success will be yours.

On the other hand, you might draw a moonstone. Bring out your inner mystic. It’s a good day for quiet dreaming, imagination, magick, and connecting with the women in your life. But be careful: it’s not always easy to see clearly by moonlight; illusions can lead you astray.

Drawing Stones — 19

If a clear quartz comes out of the pouch, it may represent Mercury. A great day for travel, communication, and business. Be clear and careful in all of your communications.

Reach out and share the plan, share information, ask questions. Purposeful movement is great; where do you need to be to do the most good? Take care of practical business matters now.

Suppose you draw a green aventurine, which can represent Venus. She is the planet called the Morning Star and the Evening Star, representing the great goddesses of old.

Today’s energies are all about love, life, birth, and nurturing. Show your most compassionate self, and be open to receiving the love of others. Remember to love yourself as well.

And if you have added an Earth stone, perhaps a little nugget of turquoise, it represents you, yourself. Make sure you take care of all your basic needs: get enough rest, eat healthy meals, exercise, see your doctor, and take care of your body. Invest in your health and well-being, and everything else will become easier.

See the appendixes for a complete list of planetary energies corresponding to various stones.

Drawing for Decision-Making Think about a decision that you are faced with. Let’s suppose that you have been offered a job. Write down the directions you might go, starting with accepting the job. Ask the question, “What is the major energy I will encounter if I accept this offer?” Obviously, you’ll be looking at the work you will be doing, the salary, the hours, the length of the commute, the benefits, and so forth. But you will also want to know the overall energy of the workplace.

Suppose you have a pouch of stones for the planetary energies, as described above.

(You might also use some other set.) You draw the black Saturn stone: This tells you that the job is going to be filled with obstacles and challenges. Yes, you will learn a great deal—but it won’t be easy.

What if you draw the pale green or rose Venus stone? Expect a happy, growthoriented situation,with coworkers who are friendly and supportive. The Mars stone might indicate a high-energy workplace, very goal-focused, with lots of competition. Jupiter

20 — Chapter 1

indicates expansion and opportunity, Mercury promises excellent communications and chances for travel; the Moon hints at good relationships with your female colleagues, but also that not everything at work is as it seems. The Sun stone is all about light and success, energies that are hard to beat.

You can follow up by asking, “What’s the major energy I will feel if I turn down this job offer?” Draw one stone and interpret it. You might ask a third question: “What response will I get if I negotiate for a higher salary first?” Or you could ask, “Is there a better job opportunity for me in the near future?”

Please notice that the stones are not giving you a “yes” or “no” answer. They are not saying “Take the job” or “Run away!” It’s up to you to take the information and decide whether that sort of workplace is what you want and need. Some people thrive in a competitive work environment, others really want an amicable place where they can get along with their colleagues, and so forth. You are a human being with the freedom to make choices, with power, with agency. Never surrender your decisions completely to divination.

Other Sets to Draw From So far, we have focused on planetary stones. But there’s no limit to what kind of stones can comprise a set. Here are three other possibilities.

You could gather a set of Life Compass stones from the system that Azrael and I created (see details in chapter 3, “Casting with the Life Compass”). Each stone would symbolize a different area of your life. Possible stones to include, for each life area, are:

Drawing Stones — 21

COMPASS POINT

ASSIGNED COLOR

POSSIBLE STONES

Health and physical self-care: diet, exercise, clean air and water, safe and healthful environment

True green

Malachite, jade

Money, Job

Job, vocation, money management, financial opportunities

Yellow-green

Serpentine, peridot

East

Mind, Learning

Mental exercise, imagination, learning, thinking time

Yellow

Citrine, amber

Southeast

Time, Recreation, Play

Rest, relaxation, hobbies, play

Orange

Orange calcite, carnelian

South

Energy

Energy level, stamina, passion, goals

Red

Red jasper, red beryl

LIFE AREA

SCOPE

North

Body, Health, Healing

Northeast

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COMPASS POINT

ASSIGNED COLOR

POSSIBLE STONES

Community, social connections, citizenship, service

Purple

Amethyst, lepidolite

Emotions, Personal Relations

Feelings, emotional health, family, close relationships

Blue

Lapis lazuli, aquamarine

Northwest

Home, Possessions

House, vehicle, possessions

Turquoise

Turquoise, chrysocolla

Center

Spirit

Connection with the Divine, religion, spiritual practices

Clear or Pink

Clear quartz, rose quartz

LIFE AREA

SCOPE

Southwest

Community Relations, Service

West

Simply ask yourself, “What area of my life requires special attention today, in order that I may live a happy, successful, and balanced life?” Then draw a stone, and make sure you devote some time, thought, and energy to the particular area it represents. Drawing a stone for one area does not suggest that you should spend your whole day on that part of your life, but simply that it should be included in your plans.

You could also create a set of “People Stones.” Simply choose a stone for each important person in your life, plus a stone for any other person who might be important to connect with. You might include stones for: your spouse or partner, your children, your

Drawing Stones — 23

best friend, other close friends, your boss or supervisor at work, other key work colleagues, close relatives, plus, of course, an “Other Person” stone.

Don’t overdo it. It’s not necessary to include everyone you know, or even most of them. Ten to twenty stones might do it. Which stones you choose is entirely up to you. If you can find a stone that suggests an individual’s personality or looks, great! Rose quartz for your spouse or partner? Red jasper for a red-headed sibling? A warm carnelian for your mom? It’s up to you. At first, you may need to write down which stones represents which important person in your life.

When you choose a stone that morning, make sure that you communicate with the person represented. Sure, you might connect with lots of people during the day, but make sure that one gets some of your undivided attention. Why? The stone you drew doesn’t say why. Maybe it’s simply to reinforce an important relationship. Maybe they need your counsel or advice. Maybe they know something that you should be aware of. Maybe they could use a smile or a compliment. Trust the draw, and see what happens.

If you draw the “Other Person” stone, you won’t know who it represents at first. Just keep your eyes open, and chances are someone who is not on your short list (doesn’t have their own stone) will appear, and your interaction with them will be important.

For something completely different, try a set of “Spontaneity Stones.” See the list below. Everyone gets in a rut sometimes; everyone needs a break from the “same old, same old.” When that happens, take a break and pull one to three of the stones. Follow their guidance. If it’s something you cannot do right away, then schedule it or commit time later in the day or soon on your calendar; meanwhile, do a little planning for it right now.

BEVERAGE BREAK—You’re probably dehydrated. Fix that now: find the best drink you can legally have and savor it. Can use a clear stone (clear quartz, Icelandic spar, clear calcite).

DEEP BREATH—You can do this immediately. Start deep breathing; breathe in light and good cheer, use your diaphragm, try a pranayama exercise if you know one. Can use a light blue stone (larimar, celestite, sodalite, kyanite).

EGO BOOST—Find or call a good friend and frankly tell them that you need to hear something positive about yourself. Listen and take in what they say next.

MORE UNUSUAL STONES

These may be a bit trickier to track down and purchase.

Alexandrite

Apatite

Aquamarine

Argonite

Calligraphy Stone

Charoite

Chyroprase

Danburite

Desert Rose

Diamond

Emerald

Fire Opal

Herkimer Diamond

Iolite

Kunzite

Meteorite

Moldavite

Moqui Marble

Nuummite

Opal

Peridot

Petoskey Stone

Ruby

Sapphire

Sardonyx

Spinel

Staurolite

Sugilite

Tanzanite

Tekite

Tiger Iron

Topaz

Zircon

Body, Mind & Spirit / Divination / Crystals “In a voice that is both humorous and wise, Amber K guides readers down a remarkable path of lithomantic and lapidiary magic, generously sharing her deep-set knowledge and experiences, and illuminating the reality that stones can be so much more than simple tools.” —Thumper Forge, author of The Chaos Apple

The Answers You Seek Are Just a Stone’s Throw Away Rockhound, witch, and Wiccan priestess Amber K shares her vast experience working with stone allies for empowerment and a better life. Sharing dozens of spells and magickal techniques, she teaches you how to develop a relationship with each unique stone, work with crystals for specific purposes, and much more. Amber helps you: • Scry with Crystals, Mirrors, Water, and Smoke • Cast Stones on a Board, Cloth, or Pentagram • Charge a Hearthstone for Your Home • Set Up a Standing Stone Shrine • Care for Your Chakras Using Gems • Improve Your Stone Reading with the Zodiac Signs

From creating amulets and talismans for protection to using the divination system of Doreen Valiente, the Mother of Modern Witchcraft, this crystal-clear guide features a plethora of wisdom that goes far beyond a simple list of stone meanings and energies.

Includes a full-color insert with nearly 100 gemstone and crystal photos AMBER K is a third-degree priestess of the Wiccan faith. Her books on magick and the Craft have been widely circulated in the United States and Europe, and she has traveled across the US teaching the Craft for more than forty years. Amber is a founder of Our Lady of the Woods and the Ladywood Tradition of Wicca, and she currently is Executive Director of Ardantane, a school and retreat center in northern New Mexico. Learn more at MagickWithAmberK.com.

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