Fearie Stones

An Exploration of the Folklore and Faeries Associated with Stones and Crystals

John Hunt Publishing Ltd.

Contents

Looking For and Looking After Stones

Geologists have a saying – rocks remember.

Neil Armstrong

Whenever possible it is always best to seek out stones that have been ethically collected with relevant permissions by well-paid workers who care about crystals. Some stones are hand gathered from outcrops, but unfortunately most stones and crystals today have been mined unethically and traumatised by being blasted or ripped from Mother Earth. We too have suffered traumas in our life and if a stone comes into your life that has been traumatised in this way, you can help it heal just as crystals are thought to help us to benefit from their metaphysical properties. In fact, this shared trauma can sometimes help you to bond and befriend crystals. You can literally help them get their shine and power back with some serious tender loving care.

Many people like to collect pebbles from nature, but this is also unethical. The problem is that nowadays mankind thinks it owns everything, so taking a stone from a field or even the beach is technically theft unless you own the land or can obtain permission from the landowner. The ownership of English beaches is very complicated: the area above the high water mark belongs to whoever owns the adjacent land, but the area between the high water mark and the low water mark, and below the low water mark belongs to the Crown. Some beaches, such as Chesil Beach, are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest or World Heritage Sites. Hopefully it goes without saying, never, ever take stones from a sacred site or chip bits off one, no matter how much you feel connected to a place. There are countless tales of people who have taken stones from sacred sites only to be cursed with bad luck until they return the stone with a heartfelt apology. A very well known instance of this is Pele's Curse: the belief that taking rocks or stones from the Islands of Hawaii will invoke the anger of the local Volcano Goddess, Pele, who views all the rocks and stones as her children until those stone children are returned to her. In serious cases it has also believed that theft of and damage to stones has even resulted in death. The death of the Barber Surgeon of Avebury is one such case. The Barber Surgeon either sought to cart off one of the stones for building materials or destroy one of the stones to de-Paganise the site depending on the version, but by some very fast-acting Karma was promptly crushed to death beneath the very stone he was attempting to remove. There is some truth to this legend as his skeleton was excavated in 1938, complete with his gear.

Stones choose us as much as we choose them; they come into our lives for a reason, although that reason is not always clear at the time. There are many ways to seek out stones and many ways in which they seek us out. If you're looking for help with a particular issue, or just looking for the most appropriate stone to be with you at that time, ask for the right stone to come and find you or reveal itself to you. Quite often a stone will catch your eye – you will find yourself very drawn to it. It may not be the biggest, the prettiest, the most colourful, or the shiniest, but be sure it has called out to you for a very good reason – it wants to work with you. If you are choosing from a selection of stones, for example in a New Age store, and nothing catches your eye, try sensing the stones and see if any give you 'vibes'. Place your hands over the stones or place them in your hand one at a time and feel what vibrations you pick up from the stones. You may find that one feels warmer or colder to the touch, or that gives you the tingles. These sensations can occur in your hand where the stone is or they can also occur in other parts of your body, for example as a warm feeling in your Heart Chakra area, as a pull in your gut – just like a gut feeling, or as a buzz in your brain area near either your Crown or Third Eye Chakras. If you feel any of these sensations then that stone is speaking to you and wishes to join you on your journey. If it is not possible to really see or touch a stone before purchasing or obtaining it, perhaps because it is from an online retailer, many of whom batch-sell rather than photographing every stone individually, you can still go with your feelings. Does the idea of the stone and its name as you see it on the web page give you good vibes? If so, know that the right stone for you is going to make its way to you. Stones can also be gifted to us by friends and family, again know that the stone has had something to do with that!

You will also get feelings and sensations when a particular stone from your collection is wishing to work with you at any time. That stone piece of jewellery that's been sitting in your drawer for a bit may suddenly catch your eye as if to say, 'Wear me!' Or you find yourself thinking, 'Yeah, I'd love to wear you today.' Those are great signs.' As you cast your eyes over your collection, a stone may sparkle at you, catching the light just right, to say, 'Hello, please choose me today.' You can pass your hand over your stones and see which one or ones give you a warm or cold sensation, or you may randomly select it from your stone collection with your eyes closed. If you feel you would like to work with stones and their Faeries for help with working through or healing a certain issue, you can always ask them which one or ones can best assist you. They will be happy to let you know.

If you're new to energy working or for any reason don't find yourself getting strong sensations from the stones, you can try working with a pendulum as a go between twixt you and the stones. Pass your pendulum over the stones available to you. If you have a specific purpose in mind that you're looking for help with, tell the stones and the pendulum, otherwise simply ask whichever stone wishes to work with you at this time to reveal itself to you. Does the pendulum pull towards a certain stone or try to drop from your fingers over one? Does it start circling over a certain stone? These are all good indicators. You, the stones and their Faeries all know on some level what you need and which of them can best help you at any time, so trust them and trust your higher self to guide you.

Some stones will leave us once their mission with us is complete while others stay with us for our time on Earth. There are times when you will feel the need to gift one of your stones to another person, this is because the stone has completed its work with you and can now help that new person, just as they have helped you. If this happened, thank the stone for all its assistance and give it to its new caretaker with love. Some stones will magically become lost; this is often because the Faeries and stone have decided to move on either temporarily or permanently (although sometimes it can be a little bit of cheekiness from the Faeries). Sometimes these stones can turn up again, sometimes not. Be grateful for the time you had together and trust that whatever happens could well be meant to be. However, if your feelings tell you that it is down to mischievousness rather than the stone's natural time to move on from your life, you are quite entitled to ask the Faeries to return it or for the stone to find you again. Occasionally Faeries will require something in return, say a shiny stone or coin of their own to play with.

When a stone comes into your life, it will have already picked up many energies from where it was born, the cultures that developed in that area, where it has since been, how it was mined and from all the people who handled it before it reached you, such as miners, merchants and postal workers. Cleansing stones will not only rid the stones of these energies, it will also clear out any negative energies and allow the stone to rest and rejuvenate itself.

There are many different ways to cleanse and recharge stones. Some stones will definitely have one preferred method while others might like trying different methods. Amber, for example, with its fiery and earthy energy, loves both Earth cleansing and Sun bathing. Think of it like a human with the whole bath or shower preference thing; some of us love baths, some love showers and others will do whatever they feel like at that moment. You'll need to first consider what type of stone you are dealing with, salt-based stones and calcite will actually dissolve in water, so that's a definite no-no. Whichever method you choose, it is well worth cleansing and recharging your stones regularly to help keep them healthy, happy and free of any stagnant or negative energies. Think of it like their spa day! Stones and the Stone Faeries will generally tell you how they wish to be cleansed and recharged and how long for. Don't be afraid to ask the stone what it wants as it'll be only too pleased to let you know.

Moon Bathing

This involves leaving the stone below the light of the Full Moon, allowing it to soak up the silvery energies of the Moon overnight. Many people enhance this by placing the stones on a cloth of white or silver. The Full Moon is especially loved by Faeries who love to dance below it. You can do this outside in your garden (but be warned the Faeries may think it is a gift and run off with it) or inside on a window ledge. Moon bathing works very well for all non Sun-orientated stones, those that might fade in sunlight or focus the Sun's rays and for very delicate stones. Stones that adore this method include Moonstone, for which it is especially potent, all of the Fairy Quartz formations, Jet, Snow Quartz, Clear Quartz, Fluorite, Calcite Fairy Stones, Cassiterite, Amethyst and Aquamarine.

Sun Bathing

Some of your stones will be Sun lovers just as some humans are. Leaving your stones out on a window ledge on a sunny day can really enliven them. A cloth of gold, yellow or orange under the stones can enhance the Sun's energies. Do not use this method with any of the Quartzes as they can fade and even start fires! Stones that love bathing in sunshine include Amber, Carnelian, Garnet, Flint, Chiastolite Fairy Stones, Preseli Bluestone and Moss Agate.

Cleansing with Water

A very popular and easy to use method. Simply run the stone under running water or place it in a little pot of water for a while. Some combine this with Moon or Sun bathing. It is best to use water from natural sources such as a river or spring rather than tap water, which contains a lot of chemicals. Aquamarine and Holed Stones really love water cleansing. Do not use water with Calcite Fairy Stones.

Salt Cleansing

Placing your stone in salt can help draw off any stagnant energies, and salt itself is a crystal. Staurolite Fairy Cross Stones are very fond of this method.

Cluster or Geode Cleansing

Smaller stones can be cleansed and revitalised by placing them within a crystal Geode or on a crystal Cluster and they will pick up a little of the Cluster or Geode's energy in this way so you'll need to make sure that their energies are compatible. Remember that the Geode or Cluster will also need cleansing and recharging periodically. This works very well with Fairy Crystal formations and the Quartz family in general.

Smudging

Stones can be passed through incense smoke in order to be cleansed, but in my experience this method does not recharge stones very effectively, so is best used along with other methods.

Sound Cleansing

Stones can be cleansed with sound as stones and sound both work through vibrations. Make sure that whatever sound making tool you use has a pleasant tone. Play the tone close to your stones so that its sound carries through the stone, transmuting its energies. Sound making tools that you can use include bells, Tibetan singing bowls, drums, cymbals and even your stereo. Stones with a softness to them or a deep Earth origin, such as Calcite and Granite, adore this method of cleansing.

Intention or Visualisation

This method is the stone version of a quick shower or power nap. It involves 'seeing' or intending that the stone be cleansed and charged and works best as a stop-gap between deeper cleansing or energising sessions.

Earth Cleansing

By placing stones back into the Earth they can recharged from Mother Earth. This is a very powerful and potent method for those that were born of the Earth in any way. It is very easy to lose stones if you bury them directly back into the Earth as they may feel that they are going home and leave you or you may not remember quite where you put them. The best way to do this is to bury a brown glass jar into some soil, say in your garden or in a pot of soil, then place the stone inside the jar, pop the lid back on and leave for between one and three days, depending on the stone's needs. Stones that enjoy Earth cleansing include Moss Agate/Tree Agate and all the Quartzes.

Storage

Stones will also have their own ideas about how and where they would like to be kept when not in active use. Some, like Jet, appreciate being put safely away in wooden boxes, some like being wrapped in cloth, such as Amethyst and Fluorite, and some will detest the idea of being put away at all, instead preferring to be kept out in pride of place or on your Faerie Altar, including Calcite Faerie Stones, and some like to be placed near plants or other greenery, including Moss Agate and Aventurine. Again, every stone will have its own preferences and might even like to go exploring around your home until it finds its perfect new place.

Faerie Stones

If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song.

Carl Perkins

Amber

Other Names:Bernstein ('Burn Stone' in German), Jainitar ('Sea-Resin' in Phoenician), Eolh ('Light of the Sun' in Anglo-Saxon), Electrum ('Brilliant Sun' in Latin), Glessum or Chryselectrum

Chemical Composition: C10H16O

Element: Fire and Earth

Season: Summer

Planet: The Sun

Chakra: Solar Plexus

Birthstone: Taurus and November

Other: National gemstone of Germany, Lithuania and Romania. Regional stone for East Anglia in the UK

Faerie Monarchs/Deities: All Sun-associated monarchs, e.g. Freyja, Thor, Áine, Brighid, Baldr, Lugh/Llew, Druantia, Jurate, Ra, Belenos, Amaterasu, Beiwe, Apollo and Saul?

Faeries: Dryads especially those of the pine tree, Elves, Tree Sprites, Nymphs, Alseids and Dwarves

Amber is an amazing substance that is millions of years old and therefore carries with it very ancient wisdom and magic. The Faeries that accompany Amber have lived through almost everything imaginable and can offer us guidance and comfort because of their great experience. Amber comes in many colours, most commonly ranging from bone-like white, through lemon-yellow, honey, cognac and cherry to almost black. Blue Amber and natural green Amber can also be found, although they are very rare.

Not technically a crystal, Amber is the fossilised resin of an ancient tree akin to the modern pine. As the resin was exuded from the tree and fell to the ground, Amber sometimes has picked up inclusions along the way. These inclusions can be anything from air bubbles to leaf litter or bark to insects and even feathers. Inclusions can be quite sought-after for their beauty or for their paleontological importance. The inclusions are indicative of life going on all around us even if we don't particularly notice it because we are focused on other things. Like us, the tree and its Amber do not exist in a vacuum, but in bustling, busy nature where we are surrounded by Faeries if we only stop, look and listen. Because it has an organic origin and comes from trees, Amber it is beloved by Dryads and Forest Elves who dwell within the forests and who care for the trees therein. Wearing jewellery of Amber or carrying some in your pocket can help you connect to the Dryads, Elves and Tree Spirits and their wisdom wherever you happen to be, even if it's in the midst of the concrete jungle.

Amber is said to hold the power of a thousand suns due to both its warm-hued appearance and the fact that as the tree that made the resin grew in the sunlight over many years it is said to have absorbed the power of the Sun over days and many long summers. It certainly has a very warming energy to it and, unlike crystals, Amber is warm to the touch and therefore highly tactile. In the ancient world Pliny, citing Nicias, wrote of how Amber was said to be, 'A liquid produced by the rays of the sun; and that these rays, at the moment of the sun's setting, striking with the greatest force upon the surface of the soil, leave upon it an unctuous sweat, which is carried off by the tides of the ocean, and thrown up upon the shores of Germany.' It certainly has a very sunny disposition and like the pine torches of old, Amber brings inspiration and enlightenment and can help light our way. Amber was also known as Eolh in Anglo-Saxon, perhaps meaning something like 'light streaming forth from the Sun', and Eolh is also the Anglo-Saxon name for the Rune better known today as Algiz. Eolh refers to the Elk or the Elk-Sedge, a rather sharp type of marsh-loving plant. Eolh is a Rune of protection, especially Divine protection, and represents the concept of reaching for the stars or the Divine as the Rune itself looks rather like a man with his arms up reaching for the heavens. We too can reach up to the heavens, to the powerful Sun or out to the realm of the Fae to ask for protection, guidance, enlightenment and inspiration.