Sandra Mariah Wright - Awakening the Crystals : The Ancient Art and Modern Magic of Gems and Stones

How many items from your childhood do you still own, and of those, how many do you still use? Most of us have kept a few treasures, but they are typically tucked into a hope chest or an attic, or displayed on a shelf. But how many of them do you interact with regularly? One of my most prized possessions was given to me by my father: my first tumbled stone, a piece of fossilized coral. It has been by my side through every decade of my life, traveling with me through every move, whether it was across town or across the country. It is a relic of an ancient time in the planets history, and it links me to the most distant days of my own story. Its one of the only things I have that my father gave me, and it holds the most meaning, because I have never stopped using it.

I have always loved crystals and gems, and along with my connection to animals, they form the basis for some of my forays into the world of magic and Witchcraft. When I was still in high school, I had a local woodworker build me my first altar, and one of the first things I did with it was create what I now know to be called crystal grids. When my family would gather for holidays, I would allow my cousins to stand at it with their hands behind their backs so they would not be tempted to touch the glittering rainbow of rocks laid out intricately in the shape of a pentacle. Tumbled stones were not expensive, and they were readily available at several shops in downtown Salem, so my collection quickly grew, along with my aspirations and the challenges I faced on the road to achieving them. My very first spell was a charm bag holding herbs and stones, and this is the same kind of working that I recommend to this day.

Decades later, I am now managing two shops in downtown Salem, watching record numbers of adults and children choose tumbled stones to help them accomplish their goals. My own company, Gallows Hill Witchery, offers larger pieces, like palm stones, wands, spheres, towers, flames, and carvings, to beginners and seasoned rock hounds alike. We have formed our own Crystal Coven, welcoming like-minded lovers of Earths natural treasures to live sales online that are educational as well as fun: we discuss the metaphysical meanings of the crystals, and joke around, getting to know one another and enjoying one anothers company.

During the shutdown at the start of the pandemic in 2020, Leanne and I began hosting what we called Tea Time, a daily Zoom gathering that brought people together when we all felt truly isolated. I would lead everyone in a grounding and centering exercise and then pull an Oracle card, Leanne would pull a Tarot card as an action plan, and wed discuss them. Then Id choose a stone and Leanne would choose an herb, and wed explain their metaphysical attributes. We did this every single day. Some people would take notes, while others were just happy for the kinship and resulting sense of belonging. I joked that we had become the Mister Rogers of the Witchcraft world, but I meant that in the best possible way; I was proud of the community we built. I loved sharing my knowledge of crystals and stones with the Tea Timers. I hope this book will capture some of that energy and deliver it to anyone who feels drawn to the magic inherent in natures jewelry box.

Sandra

Even though Ive been a Witch for many years, crystals and stones are a relatively new passion for me. I was never a crystal freak like many of my friends. I didnt understand the obsession. I was aware that crystals provide energy to some magical tasks, but they werent my cup of tea, no pun intended. Gifting clients a rose quartz for love or a tigers eye for protection thrilled them, and a large amethyst I had been given by a friend decorated my living room. But beyond that, crystals were pretty rocks that adorned my altar or psychic reading table. I never really worked with them.

When Sandra and I started writing our first book, Reading the Leaves, we would occasionally suffer writers block, and Sandra was quick to turn to her stones for help. Her extensive knowledge of gems and crystals intimidated me. Her hands and neck are always adorned with sparkling jewels, and any time we hit a wall, she sat with her stones, got inspired, and called me with her breakthrough idea. That enthusiasm was contagious, and soon wed be off and running again. It became clear to me then: crystals were calling me. First, I put my citrine ring on my finger to warm up to the writing process and stimulate my creative mind. Next to my computer, I placed fluorite so I could focus on my own individual story, and an aventurine stone to open my mind to inspiration. Armed with my newly charged thoughts and ideas, powered by the gifts from the earth, the book took shape.