216 Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard
Lesson 8: Gem Therapy
Minerals are imbued with
prana just as are liv-
ing creatures and
plants. Stones are
the bones of Gaea.
Crystals in particular
grow almost like living
things, and some (such
as quartz) can even gen-
erate peizo-electric
charges. From the most an-
cient times, people have treasured
various minerals—especially crystalline gems. These
have been used to ornament clothing and bodies, al-
tars and sacred objects, magickal tools and instru-
ments. They are valued for their spiritual, magickal,
and healing properties, and considered as aids in medi-
tation and psychic development.
The prana of gemstones and other minerals can
be absorbed into the human body and used in healing.
Gem therapy is similar in concept to color healing.
The most important thing is to go by the color of the
stone, using the same correspondences as above. The
most popular stones for such use are polished lumps
of various types of quartz, which are available cheaply
in baskets at any rock shop. Choose ones of a size and
shape that fit comfortably into your closed hand, like
a bird’s egg. Before using them, your gems should be
cleansed, consecrated, and empowered. First, hold
them in a stream, in the ocean, or even under a run-
ning faucet. Then let them soak overnight in the moon-
light in a glass of spring water or seawater.
The stone should be placed directly on the afflicted
area (it can even be held in place with a garter, belt,
tape, or bandage and left there for at least an hour
each day. For the rest of the time, it should be kept as
close to the body as possible, such as in the patient’s
pocket, or worn around his/her neck in a mojo bag. If
he/she has a pendant, headband, or other jewelry with
appropriately colored stones, these should be worn
as much as possible.
For a list of many gems and their associated magickal
properties, see the Chart of “Magickal Minerals” in
3.VII.8. Here is a sampling, arranged according to color.
Note that some gems come in multiple colors:PINK: Fluorite, moonstone, rhodochrosite, rose quartz.
RED: Aventurine, carnelian, red coral, chrysolite,
bloodstone, garnet, jasper, opal, ruby, sardonyx,
topaz.
ORANGE: Amber, carnelian, opal, sunstone, tiger eye.
YELLOW: Amber, beryl, chrysolite, jasper, opal, topaz.
GREEN: Aventurine, beryl, bloodstone, chrysolite,
emerald, fluorite, jade, jasper, lapis, opal, topaz,
turquoise.BLUE: Aventurine, beryl, fluorite, lapis, moonstone,
sapphire, topaz, turquoise.
INDIGO: Lapis, malachite, opal, sapphire, sodalite.
VIOLET: Amethyst, fluorite, lapis, sapphire.Lesson 9: Herbal Healing
(by Ellen Evert Hopman, Master Herbalist;
and Morning Glory Zell, Hedge Witch)The wise Wizard should never be at a loss when it
comes to healing themselves, their friends and family,
or even a pet. Sometimes the simplest remedy will do
wonders—for example, taking a hot bath will often
ease the symptoms of a cold, especially if a little salt
and some lavender flowers (about a cup of each) are
added to the water. In the past, all children were taught
basic herbal remedies so they could doctor themselves
and their friends. By using natural remedies you will
be helping to preserve an ancient art. In this Lesson
you will find an assortment of natural remedies using
easily available ingredients from the kitchen shelf. Af-
ter you have mastered the use of these “home rem-
edies,” you may wish to progress to further study
using medicinal plants from Nature or a local health
food store (suggestions for further reading are given
at the end of this chapter).
Some basic guidelines for kitchen herbal recipes:1.Never cook with aluminum utensils; the aluminum
flakes off and can lead to health problems. Use cast
iron, steel, copper, or ceramic cookware only.
2.Be sure you simmer ingredients in a pot with a tight
lid so the volatile oils won’t evaporate into the air.
(Do not boil herbs, or they will lose their virtue).
3.Herbal teas can be kept in the refrigerator for up to
a week in a glass jar with a tight lid. They can also
be frozen into ice cubes and stored in a bag in the
freezer for later use.
4.Whenever possible use organic ingredients so you
avoid pesticides. Fruits and vegetables must be
cleaned with hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly
to remove pesticide residues, which are often oil-
based to make them stick to the skins of fruits and
vegetables.
5.Dried herbs and seeds should come from commer-
cial organic growers. It is irresponsible to purchase
wild-crafted organic herbs and spices, as in many
cases these are becoming endangered species in
their natural habitats.
6.Flowers and leaves are steeped in freshly boiled
water that has been removed from the stove. Roots,
barks, and berries are simmered—never boiled.
7.Honey is not suitable for babies as it may harbor
bacteria.
8.If any herbal preparation does not agree with you
or makes you feel bad, then DON’T USE IT. “An
ounce of caution is worth a pound of cure.”- Spectrum 1.p65 216 1/15/2004, 9:15 AM