I personally believe stones are a gift from the earth and have power and wisdoms inside of them that reflect Goddess. They vibrate with the pulse of life that reflects Goddess- but the subtle little electric pulse really doesn’t begin to explain why a piece of Labradorite is protective or why black Hematite can absorb negative energies. It is only when one accepts that we are all connected and that by becoming one with the reflection of Goddess that is the stone's beauty can we realize the power and flow of the energy that is the stone.

Stones have been valued, traded, used as tools and weapons for as long as man has been able to pick up and physically hold a stone. They have been analysed and explain scientifically, metaphysically and spirituality in as many ways as one can research. They are as old as time and as young as eternity. They are as much of a part of our planet as the creatures of old and those yet to breathe. In acknowledging this we understand the healing wisdom that is ours when we embrace a stone.

Today we discuss the gifts of Goddess in the beauty and reflection of stones. I offer not exactness for that is impossible and changes with every individual perspective of what one see within a stone. Instead I offer you the opportunity to personally attune to the stones as Goddess leads you, leaving the books behind.

The color of stones do not decide the chemical makeup of the stone as much as the chemical make up of the stone dictates its category and name. A perfect example is green garnet. Having began with this stone we will talk of its possible healing properties. Its green color certainly relates to the heart charka's color, it can also be thought to reflect the color of money/prosperity and growth. Being the color of our Mother Earth we can also see it as a grounding stone.
*So do we consider its vibration as projective or receptive? Certainly for the heart to know love it must be willing to receive love.
For prosperity one surely receives but expands with growth.
Grounding is also a reflection of balance- we connect with mother Earth through Her stones- releasing yet receiving sanctuary.
Might we say then the stone is in balance with Mother Earth, spiraling out yet drawing in? Lets discuss the same stone but in red. Its color reflects our root charka, our blood and the Element Fire/South.
Certainly we consider our life’s blood to run filled with passion, once again projective in connection of someone/thing. Our sanctuary is filled with this connection, once again receiving. In reflecting the color of our blood we are also reminded of the blood of Goddess that is life, grounding and connecting. Once again balancing.

Life is a harvest of colors that is Goddess and Her stones are no less of a reflection of this harvest. As humans we too are part of the great harvest, our pallet painted from our many lives, the rainbow that is our aura and the charkas that fill with these colors. It is in embracing our connectedness we embrace the gifts of Her stones. We use them as tools to aid and remind us of our power to live in balance of Her reflection.

Within these 4 methods/concepts I find a base for anything I could conceivably wish to do or achieve with a stone.
Attuning with Stones
Programming a Stone
Projecting Energy via a Stone
Receiving Energy via a Stone

ATTUNING
Tuning into a stone. This I always liken this to tuning into a radio broadcast. The stone is vibrating at a certain level. My energy is vibrating at a different level. The idea is to get my being and the stone vibrating at the same frequency, alternatively to get the stone and my being vibrating at complementary frequencies.
How to Attune To A Stone
Hold the stone in your left hand -grasp it tightly. If you allow your mind to become quiet and expectation to fade you will become aware of a tiny pulse or vibration in your palm. Wait till you are sure it’s not your heart.
You will soon become aware of the particular vibration of the stone you are holding. Draw this vibration into your chest cavity or heart charka; wait till you feel your left arm tingling with that vibration. Then slowly begin pushing that vibration through your body and outwards, Allow it to flow freely. Soon you will become aware that its coming out of you not from the stone. In this manner you have mimicked the exact vibration of the stone you are holding.
Attuning to a stone is one of the most potent forms of cleansing and connecting of which I am aware. At this moment you are vibrating at the same frequency as a sacred piece of earth. Now close your right palm over the stone in the left and pass energy back through your right arm to the stone. It is when the 2 vibrations are working in harmony that the spiral is complete and the stone is attuned to you/your vibration/ intent that you have brought into balance with the vibration/healing energy of the stone. Stones have memory and once attuned it becomes a working tool you can count on.

PROGRAMMING OR CHARGING A STONE
I like to think of this as creating an ever-burning beacon of ones intent. As I often state, energy is magnetic so even the smallest charge will attract like energies. When I am at a state of union between my energies and those of the stone in question I am able to charge the stone with my intent The principle is that of a simple spell but can be taken as far or as big as the Witch desires.
A basic example would be passing my intent to send healing to a friend through the stone. The vibration will change slowly in your palm; you will feel your desire to bring healing resonating from the stone and the energy of the stone upping the power of your intent. To continue your spell it can be given for a person to hold on their person or charged to flow through the universe towards the person intended to receive. The simply beauty of this method is, even when you have physically disconnected to the stone it will continue to do the work you charged it for.
I have purposefully kept this aspect of working with a stone vague, as I don’t believe there is one better or worse way to do it. I think we all have our own way of manifesting our intent and sending out our will.

PROJECTING WITH A STONE
This is the act of directing or sending energy from or through a stone. First attune to the stone you wish to work with. Draw the stones vibration into your chest cavity. Wait till you feel you have established a link with the stone then slowly begin to pour your energy and intent back through the stone. I prefer to direct my energy from different points depending on my goal- heart for healing, third eye for manifestation or solar plexus for projecting personal energy. Simply put you can use the stone as a focus point for transferring personal energy. After that it is very much about visualization and intent.

RECEIVING ENERGY USING A STONE
Receiving energy with a stone is as easy as projecting. First attune and forge a connection with your stone of choice. Once you can feel the energy flowing between your being and the stone feel the flow take on a circular sensation. Then visualize a third energy to bring into the equation. An example would be to work with blue turquoise and focus on the energies of water. Focus on the energy and feel the vibrations flowing through the stone and into your being. The reason there must be a circular flow is that you do not want to overload yourself or on rare occasions the stone. As you practice you can employ this technique to charge a stone with a specific energy or to cleanse or recharge yourself wit specific energies. It is also an easy way to work with energies that are not readily available.