Hoodoo Stones and Minerals
From Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers
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The use of stones, crystals, minerals, and metallic elements in magic is ancient in origin. Rootworkers employ them in spell-casting, divination, and as talismans. Their lore has been incorporated into hoodoo, and, over the years, has merged with the lapidary magic of Europe and the Middle East. The Bible names many magical and precious stones, and techniques of using them can be found among Catholic and Protestant Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Taoists, Pagans, Spiritualists, New Thought practitioners, and members of the New Age community.
Stones, Rocks, Minerals, and Crystals
Stones are comprised of one or more minerals melded together, with no crystalline pattern; they tend to be roundish or lumpish and lack geometric shape. For the most part, stones are opaque or slightly translucent, not translucent; they can be tumble-polished, worked, or carved into shapes such as spheres, cabochons, Shiva-Linga stones, or figural pieces, but they are rarely faceted because light does not easily pass through them.
Crystals "grow" in a repeating pattern called tessellations, often around a nucleus. They are minerals too, but instead of being melded in a homogeneous lump, the crystalline structure is repeated in a symmetrical pattern. This is easily seen in the larger crystals such as Quartz, Fluorite, and Pyrite, but it is not so obvious in a crystal such as Aventurine, which has such a small crystalline pattern.
Some crystals are clear, some semi-transparent, and some completely opaque, and they come in every colour imaginable. Even after they have been cut and polished into smaller pieces, such as for jewelry or spheres, the stones that tend to form crystals are still called "crystals", whicle those that have not been cut or polished are called "natural" crystals or "roughs." Probably the most popular natural, unworked crystals used in folk-magic are clusters of Quartz for cleansing and healing, Amethyst for home protection, and Pyrite for money-luck and business success.
Despite all of the differences in formal terminology, most crystal workers include non-crystalline healing stones, such as Calcite, Sodalite, Turquoise, and Lapis Lazuli under the umbrella term "crystals," even though they are more properly termed stones. This is just for convenience, like calling all carbonated beverages "colas" even though some aren't cola-based recipes.
Crystals are not organic. Amber isn't a crystal, nor is it a stone. Coral isn’t organic, but some consider it a stone because coral is almost pure calcium carbonate. Others do not, for the same reason Amber isn't: Coral is a product of living beings, not geological processes. But in common usage, both Amber and Coral are counted as "crystals."
Obsidian is lava glass, so it isn't a crystal, nor is it a stone. It is fused silicon dioxide — like most glass — and it is classed as a mineraloid -- but common folks also consider it a "crystal," and many will further include among their magical tools man-made glass Opalite, and Goldstone, and all manner of transparent coloured glass spheres known as "crystal balls."
So the "crystals" used in folk-magic are:
- Solid, not liquid at normal temperatures: Mercury isn’t a crystal.
- Mineral, non-organic: Sugar forms crystals, but it is not a mineral.
- Naturally occurring: For our purposes, crystals are not man-made.
- Structurally comprised of tessellations: They show a repeating pattern.
- "Crystals" in name only: Amber, Coral, Obsidian, Opalite and coloured glass.
Partnering Stones and Crystals
Just as with hoodoo roots and herbs, which are mingled in making a mojo hand, or compounded in a conjure oil, or blended together in a magical food or medicinal tea, minerals also can be mixed for effective working.
Crystal combinations may be based on the mineralogical qualities of the stones. For example, colourful Quartzes like Citrine, Amethyst, Ametrine, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Lemon Quartz, and Prasiolite have similar hardness and reflectivity, so they work well together as a grouping of same-sized stones.
Combinations may also be based on the magic of colour symbolism, for example, green and gold stones for money, gambling luck, business, a good job, and abundant crops or red stones for love, sexuality, affection, passion, reunion, and bodily vigour.
Because worked stones, such as spheres, palm stones, or hearts, require labour to cut and polish, a pleasant way to begin a collection of semi-precious magical gemstones is to buy them singly or as an assorted lot from a rock shop or a spiritual supply shop. Assorted tumbles are economical because they are generally off-cuts from the manufacture of crystal spheres and are polished mechanically, not by hand. Select those that are natural and discard any that are artificially dyed. Sort them by colour, and if you are interested in mineralogy, try to identify them so that you can understand their useful symbolism in Zodiacal and Planetary Magic, Chakra balancing, Lithomancy, and Colour Magic. The little tumbles that call out to you can be added to a mojo bag and will perhaps lead you on a journey to find a more finished piece of the same stone, such as a palm stone, hand-sphere, or large sphere for your altar.
Scrying with Crystals, Palm Stones, and Crystal Balls
For more information, see Scrying and Visionary Reading
Small gemstones set in silver, gold, or a combination of the two, have filled the need for portable scrying tools. One way to wear such a scrying stone is to have it set in a ring. Depending on the stone, it can be a smoothly domed cabochon or a sparkling faceted gem.
A gemstone necklace pendant in an open setting makes a great portable scrying stone too, and it can double as a divinatory pendulum for dowsing.
Figured, translucent, chatoyant, and opaque spheres of polished Agate, Rose Quartz. Calcite, Obsidian, Tiger Eye, Jasper, Fuchsite, or Selenite make fine scrying stones at reasonable prices. The famous root worker Dr. Jim Jordan of Como, North Carolina, for instance, was known far and wide during the 1920s through the 1960s for his use of a figured stone palm ball.
Crystals, Stones, and Minerals for Specific Conditions
Here are some common life conditions and the stones, minerals, and crystals that address them:
- Angelite
- Blue Lace Agate
- Celestite
- Danburite
- Clear Quartz
- Green Jade
- White Jade
- Clear Quartz
- Salt
- Malachite
- Heliodor
- Blue Apatite
- Copper
- Hematite
- Franciscan Jasper
- Heliodor
- Sunstone
- Ruby in Kyanite
- Ruby in Fuchsite
- Rose Quartz
- Garnet
- Agate
- Carnelian
- Turquoise
- Rose Quartz
- Pink Kyanite
- Ruby
- Rhodochrosite
- Rhodonite, Morganite
- Emerald
- Coral
- Paired Lodestones
- Magnetic Sand
- Pyrite
- Lodestone
- Magnetic Sand
- Watermelon Tourmaline
- Green Aventurine
- Citrine
- Flourite
- Malachite
- Peridot
- Black Tourmaline
- Holed Stones
- Picture Jasper
- Eye Agate
- Tiger Eye
- Carnelian
- Sapphire
- Jet
- Jade
- Ruby
- Salt
- Alum
Uncrossing and Reversing Evil:
- Black Obsidian
- Mahogany Obsidian
- Black Tourmaline
- Rutilated Quartz
- Green Tourmaline
- Salt
How to Discharge or Cleanse Crystals
Once crystals has been used in a magical working, they may become "filled" or "congested" with the energy of the work. This problem is solved by cleansing or discharging them. Cleansing is a word that was not used with respect to crystals until the 1980s. The previous term was discharging. This meant releasing any negative energies the stones had absorbed during difficult healing sessions, similar to discharging a battery prior to taking on a new charge. When stones become "tired" or "stuck,", discharging or cleansing seems to recharge them. Here are some popular methods:
- Let the sun shine on them for a day.
- Place them in running water for a day.
- Bury them in the earth for a day.
- Place them in a bowl of Salt for a day.
- Rub them with Van Van Oil or perform Uncrossing work with them.
- Smudge or smoke them with Frankincense, Sage, Sweetgrass, Palo Santo, or Uncrossing Incense,
- Selenite can be cleansed by exposing it to the Moon’s beams overnight.
- Citrine, Clear Quartz, and Kyanite never need cleaning or discharging.
- Lodestones are fed by sprinkling them with Magnetic Sand. To wash them, remove their Magnetic Sand, then bathe them in whiskey, Hoyt’s Cologne, Florida Water, or any high-grade perfume. Do not use water; it will cause them to rust. When they are dry, give them a feeding of Magnetic Sand.
- To energize a weakened stone, hold it and send your own positive energies through it.
Soluble and Insoluble Minerals
Minerals that dissolve in water, sometimes call mineral salts, are often used as the basis for personal spiritual cleansing products such as hoodoo bath crystals and floor washes. Those that are not soluble in water may work better as additions to perfumes, carried in a mojo bag, or placed on an altar.
Minerals Soluble in Water
- Kosher Salt
- Epsom Salts
- Rock Salt
- Alum
- Saltpeter
- Borax
Metallic Minerals Insoluble in Water
- Gold
- Silver
- Copper
- Pyrite
- Lodestone
- Magnetic Sand
Birthstones
The custom of assigning a stone to each month dates back a few hundred years. Originally the idea was to keep a set of twelve stones and wear one each month. In time, however, the notion of having one special Birthstone took hold. No one agrees on which stone suits each month. Try these choices:
- January: Garnet
- February: Amethyst, Hyacinth, Moonstone, Pearl
- March: Bloodstone, Jasper, Aquamarine
- April: Diamond, Sapphire, Clear Crystal Quartz
- May: Emerald, Agate, Chrysoprase
- June: Cat’s Eye, Turquoise, Agate, Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite
- July: Turquoise, Onyx, Ruby, Carnelian, Sapphire
- August: Sardonyx, Carnelian, Moonstone, Topaz, Peridot, Ruby
- September: Chrysolite, Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli, Zircon
- October: Opal, Aquamarine, Pink Tourmaline, Coral
- November: Topaz, Pearl, Citrine, Cat’s-Eye
- December: Bloodstone, Ruby, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Zircon, Topaz
Crystals by Colour
For more information, see Colour Magic
In the book, "Secrets of the Crystal Silence League," Claude Alexander Conlin suggests the use of coloured glass crystal balls when sending out or attracting certain conditions.
- Clear Crystal: The universal sender and receiver, useful in all aspects of crystal ball work.
- Aqua or Blue Crystal: Employed in health, tranquility, spirituality, and peace work. Good for reception but not very powerful for Projection.
- Red Crystal: Employed for love, sexuality, action, adventure, blood. It takes a great deal of passion to send with a red crystal, but as a receiver, red is a strengthener of the physical and spiritual heart.
- Green Crystal: Used for prosperity, money, and business. It takes someone with a generous heart to be a good sender with green crystals.
- Yellow, Honey-Amber, or Purple Crystal: Employed to work with success, career, personal power, travel, and legal matters. These are good for sending and receiving.
- Black Crystal: Employed to absorb negativity and evil spirits. Mr. Conlin says Black is the "ultimate receiver," and as a sender it requires "Masterful Will."
Gems of the Zodiac
For more information, see The Zodiac
In "The Book of Talismans, Amulets, and Zodiacal Gems," written in 1915, William Thomas Pavitt and Kate Pavitt presented an extensive list of gems by Zodiac sign. Their well-researched list, still valid today, is as follows:
- Aries: Bloodstone, Diamond
- Taurus: Sapphire, Turquoise
- Gemini: Agate, Chrysoprase
- Cancer: Emerald, Moonstone, Cat’s Eye, Pearl, Selenite
- Leo: Sardonyx, Amber, Tourmaline, Peridot, Imperial Topaz
- Virgo: Carnelian, Jade
- Libra: Opal, Lapis Lazuli, Chrysolite, Coral
- Scorpio: Beryl, Aquamarine, Carbuncle, Lodestone
- Sagittarius:White, Yellow, or Pink Topaz
- Capricorn: Ruby, Malachite, Black Onyx, Jet
- Aquarius: Garnet, Jacinth, Hyacinth, Zircon
- Pisces: Amethyst
Gems and Metals of the Planets
Each of the Seven Sacred Planets (five visible planets plus the Sun and Moon) has traditional links to an elemental metal and to s selection of gemstones, crystals, rocks, and minerals. These ascriptions vary from one culture to another, but this is a representative selection:
- The Sun: Gold, Citrine, Heliodor, Golden Topaz, Amber
- The Moon: Silver, Moonstone, Selenite, White Calcite, Pearl
- The Planet Mercury: Mercury, Banded Agate, Blue Lace Agate, Carnelian
- The Planet Venus: Copper, Emerald, Rose Quartz, Pink Coral, Watermelon Tourmaline
- The Planet Mars: Iron, Bloodstone, Red Coral, Garnet, Red Jasper, Mahogany Obsidian
- The Planet Jupiter: Tin, Lapis Lazuli, Azurite, Amethyst, Tiger's Eye
- The Planet Saturn: Lead, Jet, Black Onyx, Black Tourmaline, Hematite
Stones and Crystals to Balance the Chakras
For more information, see The Chakras
Specific crystals are believed to harmonize with each Chakra of he body, and these crystals are usually paired to the Chakra by colour. Furthermore, since each Chakra harmonizes with a different colour, this type of work also lends itself to experimentation by those who work with tinted glass crystal balls. When in doubt about what stones to use, match the colour of the stone with the colour associated with the Chakra. Here is a handy list of Chakras and crystals related to them:
- Root Chakra (Muladhara): Ruby, Red Jasper, Black Onyx, Black Tourmaline, Garnet, Obsidian, Hematite.
- Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana): Carnelian, Cinnamon Aventurine, Orange Calcite, Moonstone, Tiger's Eye, Amber, Jasper
- Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura): Heliodor, Sunstone, Lemon Quartz, Citrine, Yellow Apatite, Yellow Chrysoberyl.
- Heart Chakra (Anahata): Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Emerald, Chrysoprase, Jade, Ruby in Fuchsite, Bloodstone, Unakite.
- Throat Chakra (Vishuddha): Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Shattuckite, Larimar, Turquoise, Blue Topaz, Blue Kyanite, Blue Lace Agate.
- Third Eye Chakra (Ajna): Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, Star Sapphire, Azurite, Tanzanite.
- Crown Chakra (Sahasrara): Amethyst, Alexandrite, Charoite, Spirit Quartz, Sugilite, Moonstone, Selenite, Milky Quartz, White Calcite.
Credits
This page is brought to you by the AIRR Tech Team:
- Author: Jon Saint Germain
- Contributors: catherine yronwode, Papa Newt, Nagasiva Yronwode
- Images: catherine yronwode, Papa Newt, nagasiva yronwode, Insima, HayDmitriy, Grey Townsend, CSA-Images, Unknown Photographers
See Also
- Spiritual Supplies
- Hoodoo Roots and Herbs
- Hoodoo Candles and Lamps
- Hoodoo and Conjure Oils
- Hoodoo and Conjure Incense
- Hoodoo and Conjure Sachet Powders
- Hoodoo and Conjure Bath Products
- Hoodoo Washes and Waters
- Hoodoo Perfumes and Colognes
- Hoodoo Health Care and Beauty Products
- Hoodoo Food and Drink
- Hoodoo Stones and Minerals
- Hoodoo Amulets and Talismans
- Hoodoo and Conjure Altar Tools
- Hoodoo Petitions and Magical Papers
Learn Stone and Crystal Magic from AIRR
 "Lodestones on the Altar" with Clifford Low. Set up and use simple lodestone altars to draw love and money. |
 "Amulets, Charms, and Talismans in the Hoodoo and Conjure Tradition" with Papa Gee. Magic you can wear! |
