Gemstones, Magic and Ritual

Gemstones and minerals have been used as talismans and amulets since prehistoric times for personal adornment and sacred votive offerings. They are perfect for magic work because they are formed through dynamic processes; the powerful creative and destructive forces of the natural world. In addition, many have a long history in healing practices as well as being regarded as mystical and otherworldly.

Explore these pages for details about gemstones and minerals, their historical use and their magical associations.

Basic Characteristics

When we look at a gemstone what we see is light that has been altered by the internal structure of the stone. Our eyes register different colors according to the length of the light wave. The chemical and structural attributes of a gemstone alters the light that passes through it. Some light waves are refracted while others are absorbed and the higher the angle of deflected light, the more spectacular the sparkle. This is a result of how light enters, passes through, and then exits the stone.

The characteristic called luster describes the appearance of a stone’s surface in reflected light.

Lusters are described as follows:
Adamantine – Sparkling and brilliant like a diamond.
Greasy – A little less brilliant than diamond like ink or a grease spot on paper.
Resinous – Less brilliant than greasy; the appearance of resin.
Pearly – Like mother-of-pearl on the interior of some seashells.
Silky – Has a ray of light like a piece of silk.
Vitreous – Glassy.
Waxy – Has a dull shine.
Dull or Matt – Like chalk.
Metallic – Has a sheen like metal.