How do you actually use the stones?

[Sage Rainsong]

Hello I was reading some spell books recently and in it there were several ways to utilize the stones' power. Some hold the stone and "program" it, some meditated, connected with the stone spirit, and ask them for help, some simply held it and felt that the stones vibration would help them with whatever the purpose is. So my question is, how do you do it? Do you feel the need to program a stone or connect with its spirit (if you believe they have them of course)?

[thornblossom]

I wasn't aware that you could program stones. I believe that each stone has an energy that it gives off all the time. I try to work with that energy.

For example: Clear Quartz magnifies energy around it; Loadstones draw enery to them; and Rose Quartz has a loving energy. So if I wanted to make a valentine spell I would use Rose Quartz for love, Loadstone to draw more loving energy (from me, herbs, etc.), and Clear Quartz to magnify the energies in the bag. And then I'd put them in a red natural fiber bag and give it to someone who needs love.

I don't really "program" the stones I just use their natural tendencies. And while I believe each stone has a spirit, I don't try to connect to that spirit.

I believe that all spells also have an individual spirit in addition to their component spirits. Does that make sense?

Let me try again....Each component of a spell has a soul. But when they are combined with intent the resulting spell gains its own soul that is separate from the individual components souls.

It's kind of hard for me to explain, but I tried :) .

[Lorrie]

I agree with using the natural energy. I am noticing that some people can connect with stones, and some can't. My sister thinks I 'm crazy because I can't pass by stones without picking them up and holding them. My mother can easily sense them. My son can, my daughter can't. I am also finding that I got my abilities from my mother, she got them from her grandmother, my son got them from me. It seems to only go to one person from each generation in our family! I tend to let the stones tell me how to use them. When I have need of one, I find one that has the correct properties, hold it and find out how I should use it.

[CzechWoods]

i too agree with using the stones natural energy. if you feel the need to program something use glass. it also consists of quartz, but is already man-made. there are all kinds of colours of glass, and sometimes you find tumbled glass, or shapes as eggs, balls, hearts etc. or even pyramids and wands. so if you need to program something, please use the glass substitute.

if working with stones, learn all about stones that you can and use the proper stone for proper use.

using a stone and reprogram it is disrespectful at best

[Pesha]

My stones and crystals tell me what one to use and how I will need it. I just let their natural energies flow into me and I understand. Also being empathic seems to help me.

[mtpathy]

theres several different ways that i program and open stones
but this is my most common method.
set the stone according to its purpose within the shape of a
circle,square or triangle drawn on a piece of paper,or etched
into a piece of wood,use symbols within our outside of the shape
accoring to preferences. "mandalas work but ive personally found
simpler gemetrical shapes to work the best".
i personally never use or work with a stone till i find its perticular
purpose,you can have 20 pieces of agate setting on a table and
all 20 are used in completely different ways.
for those that work with pre-defined uses of certain stones
are the lucky ones cause it simply dosen't work for me that way.
the way i "open" a stone is that i hold it between my thumb and
index finger "with the index finger looped over the thumb to the first
knuckle". and i hold the stone within the circle of those two fingers
interlocked. "on my left hand",right hand is for others purposes.
i meditate till i start seeing the swirling colors of smoke "which dosen't
take very long",then i simply keep moving forwards within meditation
towards the stone till it "opens" for me.
this is a method of finding the door to your stone,not how to find its
purpose,the stones purpose is only shown to you when you have
moved deep enough within itself and yourself and you fully understand
the vibration it gives off.
sometimes this opening is a flicker of multicolored light,sometimes this
opening is two eyes looking back at me,other times this opening is a
literal image of a door opening in front of me,sometimes its animals
other times its strange looking creatures etc.
either way this portal can be used at any time to open this perticular
stone for whatever its purpose may be.
salutations

[CzechWoods]

dragonsinger has a very good point:

listen to the stones