One of the most beautiful manifestations of our Holy Parents is the formation of crystals and gemstones. Their geometric shapes hold particular fascination for Pagans, for we believe that each one has qualities unique unto its' type, and further, that each individual stone has a spirit and character all its' own.
Some prefer polished stones, others fancy them in their natural state, but the only "real test" is what feels right, and I mean this literally.
Pick up the stone, (in any case, try the stone in each hand before you decide whether the stone is "right", as you may get a different "flow", or feeling from the other hand.), and hold it a moment. Does it buzz or vibrate? Does it feel particularly warm or cold? How does the stone make you feel? Calm? Edgy? I have a friend who describes bad stones as making her feel just plain "icky". Whatever works.

Uses for Crystals

Care and Feeding of Stones

Magickal Correspondences

Contructing a Wand

Uses for Gems and Crystals

Aside from the common use of crystals for ornamental jewelry, we Pagans use stones for:

placing in plants to help them grow healthy

on a cat's collar (amethyst works wonders to calm a wildcat)

in wands, gris-gris bags, or spell bottles,

in mandelas, to align energies in the home

single stones or a single cluster placed in corners for purification or protection

elixirs for overall health

washes for other tools, especially those of divination

tiny, polished stones in a finger bowl to run your fingers through

in strings of "worry beads" sometimes used in tarot readings

scrying, as with crystal balls, plates, and mirrors.

Care of your Stones

Once you get your stones home, they'll need a thorough cleansing before they can be used. There are many methods; I prefer tying them in a mesh bag and either holding or hanging this in a brook or stream for awhile, but lacking that, I like to give my stones an overnight soak in spring water, with some sea salt, and then some time in sunshine, or moonlight, or both, depending on the stone, and if I have a specific purpose in mind for it. In a real pinch, tap water will do, but with everything polluting our water nowadays, this just doesn't feel right to me.
Gems can be stored in most any box; I prefer wood, but my larger spheres of quartz and obsidian rest on silk and cotton pillows, which have been stuffed with a combination of Sweet Annie, Cinquefoil, and Hyssop. Quite the pampered little entities, they are.
If you notice your stones becoming dull, then a bath as described above, and a sunning is in order, to keep them "fed" and happy. I find that some stones (malachite, onyx, and opals especially) can become very "jumpy" if not attended regularly, and may disappear on you, sometimes permanently.

Magickal Correspondences

Here are just a few correspondences and uses for stones in magick:

Amber: an all-purpose stone, often called "the Witches' Gem". Especially good for ritual & ceremonial jewlery. Amber makes a effective gem elixir.

Amethyst: calming, soothing, balancing. "The Psychic stone"; it opens avenues of the mind to divination and insight.

Apache Tear: Place one in purse, car, or any item you want protected from thieves.

Bloodstone: Also known as "Spotted Heliotrope", this stone was the "Soldier's Stone", as it was renowned for its' ability to stop any bleeding. Another very magickal gem, it is used for invisibility, courage, long life, and legal or money matters. Bloodstone makes an excellent pendulum.

Carnelian: This stone was worn by ancient Egyptians to dispel negative emotions, and is used today to fight depression and heal areas of the throat. It also is useful for preventing nightmares if placed at the head of the bed, or under one's pillow.

Flourite: this is one of the "fair-haired children" of Paganism. Flourite comes in many colors, and is sometimes used to magnify the effects of other stones. It provides excellent headache relief.

Garnet: a wonderfully protective stone, garnet is worn as a ward against thieves & muggers, and was once thought to banish demons.

Hematite: A powerful magick stone, hematite is a good scrying stone, and is also used for healing. It makes a good "grounder", if one is felling "spacey or disconnected". Take special care of your hematite; for it can be a "jumpy" stone, and is liable to be lost if not properly cared for.

Jet: also known as "black amber", and is said to be magically "married" to amber, and when worn together, as in a necklace, are an almost sure sign you are in the company of a Witch. This stone's electrical properties become magnified when rubbed; I've seen appliances go haywire when I've worn jet, so watch out.

Malachite: one of my personal favorites, malachite is a beautiful green, with darker green veins running through it. It is used in many types of magick, but very good for protection, especially the protection of children. It is also an excellent money-drawing stone. Malachite is also very "jumpy".

Obsidian: a volcanic stone, obsidian spheres or mirrors make for excellent scrying. A word of caution: obsidian tends to reflect the darker side of things, including the Reader, and obsidian scrying should not be attempted by beginners. As with Hematite, it is very good for grounding and protection.

Peridot: a watery green, peridot is used for calming, protection, and, because of its' color, for attracting wealth. In my experience, peridot is better suited to dealing with nervous disorders than money matters.

Pyrite: pyrite, or "fool's gold" is used for money-drawing and for luck. Carry a small piece to ward off negative people.

Sodalite: a deep blue stone with veins of white, sodalite is a good healer and "de-stressor", and doubly so when paired with hematite. Be sure that no flecks of gold are in the stone, as sodalite is often mistaken for Lapis Lazuli.

Tiger's Eye: Cunningham recommends the use of tiger's eye for past-life regression. Another all purpose stone, it is used for protection, healing, luck and divination.

Making Your Own Wand

My first Craft tool was a wand. Although most are wooden, I prefer the more intricate copper varieties.
Click the thumbnail to view them larger.

For one Wand, you will need:

Copper tubing~1/2 or 3/4 inch wide, at a comfortable length for you; this can be cut at the hardware store. A Cap the same size as the tube Leather strips for wrapping (from a fabric store-usually in the NA Crafts aisle)~OR~ Sheepskin, cut into long strips (chamois from the automotive aisle is fine) Herbs ~You may wish to have these correspond to the planets, or numbered to a specific purpose; Stones or Crystals Crystal Points, one if you plan to use the copper cap at the bottom, two for double-terminated wand. Suede lacing(optional) Decorations~These can be conchos, charms, carved stones, beads of wood or glass, jewelry; let your imagination run! Miscellaneous: wax to hold the crystal snug in the wand tip(s), glue, to secure the leather strip(s), permanent marker or fabric paints, of any color, for letters, runes, etc.

Some folk leave the wand bare, with no leather binding at all, but I find the smell of copper disturbing, plus, over time, it will discolor or stain your hands. If you like verdigris, go for it! Cap the tubing at one end, fill with herbs and stones, oils if you like; anything which you feel will aid in making it yours alone. If you fill the tube fairly tightly, the wax cap will stay in place that much better, but some like the sound of movement within the wand, rather like a rainstick. Cap with warm wax; this may be a small candle stub, or melted wax poured in on top of the filling. While still warm, set your crystal in the wax and let harden. (If you are making a double-terminated wand, be very careful, and do this one at a time!) Starting at the crystal end, wrap the leather strips around the wand in a spiral pattern, securing with strong glue at both ends. Wrap the lacing in a criss-cross pattern, again, starting at the crystal end, and tie at the bottom, after wrapping around once or twice. Decorate with stones, beads, and markings as you see fit. Consecrate your new wand as your tradition dictates.