Using Crystals and Stones in Wiccan Ritual: 
De-Mystifying an Ancient Practice
By Foxglove
Introduction 
The power and use of crystals and stones has been known for millennia to humans. We know from various sources that they were used as trinkets and adornment, we also know that to some ancient cultures crystals and stones were seen as holding great magical capabilities.
In this workshop, I will attempt to de mystify these sometimes pretty and sometimes rough creatures we call Gems and semi precious stones. Although references may be made, there will be no handing out lists of correspondences and huge tables of the magico-healing benefits of particular stones. Instead I will give ideas of how to use these natural wonders as functioning tools to be used within the craft to aid your magic and ritual.
Within the Craft we utilise the powers found within nature and direct that energy as a means to an end. These energies can be found in plants, colours, numbers, The Stars and also within Stones. 
Each stone is said to carry energy within it, giving each one its own personality and vibration. From the most beautiful faceted Diamond to the most humble looking river pebbles, we are able to make the connection with Earth energies by working with each stone. The most important thing to remember, the stone itself only lends power, we as the Crafters, guide and direct the energies to its ends. It is also important to remember that the stones themselves are mere tools used for focus of energy and perception and should never be relied upon without intent being passed on to it.
Projective, Receptive, Neutral
Now we will consider modern uses and so we need to see what the stones themselves can do for us.
As mentioned previously, stones have a life of thier own, which to many can be seen as a persona. Each persona, not unlike people, would be different and individual. However there are some easy steps to determining if the stones you wish to use are appropriate. This is when tables of correspondences can come in handy, I however, have a more simplistic approach. Firstly a stone may seem to ‘call’ to you, this is by far the simplest method as it follows the adage ‘if it feels right, use it’. The other ways are to remember that stones are one of three things, projective, receptive or neutral.
A projective stone is one that has a high vibration and is generally a bright vibrant colour like red, yellows and oranges. Projective stones send power forth or outward. Magic relating to this could be to send healing, protection; hexing etc. stones like Garnet, Citrine, Calcite, Amber, and Sunstone are considered Projective.
Receptive stones draw energies inward toward the stone. These will generally be coloured in cooler hues of greens, blues, purples and whites. The magical acts that can be used are things like drawing love and money. Amethyst, Adventurine, Lapis Lazuli, Rose Quartz, and Howlite are considered receptive.
Neutral stones are more absorbing and are mostly used to retain energy for use later. They are generally coloured black or brown. Stones such as Jet, Onyx, Smokey Quartz are considered Neutral.
The main exceptions to my rule are stones like Quartz and Diamond, which hold no colour as such, yet contain all colours. It is my opinion that these stones can be used for ANY magical reason.
Now that we have explored a basic use, lets now look at the practical applications of projective stones.
This is a true story. A friend of mine was diagnosed with HIV, after 3 years his health started to deteriorate. He, being Pagan, was welcoming of my offer to do a healing for him, however since he lived 2 hours away I could hardly do the healing in person, so I set to work. 
Going through my tables of correspondences, I found that Bloodstone (as the name suggests) is good for treating blood disorders and is excellent for the immune system.
(N.B Now blood stone is coloured Green with red Jasper flecks, which being mostly green makes it in my mind a receptive stone. So I used my clear quartz in conjunction)
 And I took my clear quartz point. I cast the circle and all that entails, I invoked upon a nameless Goddess and God. On a piece of paper I drew an image of my friend and drew appropriate symbols which to me represented him.
I then took hold of the Bloodstone in my right hand (being my projective hand), blessed and charged it and focused all the healing energy I could muster from within myself. Holding the image of my friend firmly in my mind I placed the Bloodstone into my left hand (which is my receptive side). Taking up my clear quartz point in my right hand I allowed the energy to pass from the Bloodstone, through me and out via the point and directed the energy into his image on the paper. 
He did get better and a year later his viral load was undetectable. Please understand that since then he has been up and down, so No, no cure!
As you can see by combining various magical techniques, the stones gave me their energy and were used as an aid for my focus. 
The same ideals apply to receptive stones and magic, these however would have a more personal application. These stones would generally be worn or carried by the witch to allow the energy to be drawn to them. of course as with most spell work, the stones can be left upon the altar, but the decision should be based on what the desired outcome is. The best way of using receptive stones is in the form of amulets, which as many of you would know, are natural, magically charged objects. Wear a Rose Quartz for love, a Diamond for protection, and Amethyst to aid in developing the intuition etc..
Neutral stones can be used to preserve energy for using later, a similar concept to why the Athame has a black handle. By saving energy within a stone, we are able to call upon that energy when we need to, without using much fuss. 
Since I work in the nursery industry, my prime time starts in Spring. I am called upon to work six days a week (this weekend being an absolute exception) and so my energy stores may dwindle away throughout this period. I have stored magical energy within a stone so that when I do feel as though I hate life, I can draw some of that energy back into myself. At work I doubt I would have time to sit and focus and reconnect in order to find balance, so I consider this a ‘Witches quick fix’.
Another modern concept is to place a smoky quartz on your computer screen as this is said to absorb radiation from the screen, but regular use of the PC means regular cleansing of the crystal.
Shaping the Magic of Stones
Now that we have an idea of receptive and projective stones, let’s look at other ways that crystals can be used within Ritual. Certain stones can be associated with specific deities. Therefore those stones can be placed upon the altar as a sacred image which can represent the gods on the altar. A pearl necklace for Aphrodite, a selenite rod for Diana or a chunk of Lapis Lazuli for Ishtar. We can also use generic symbolism such as a quartz sphere for the Moon Goddess, a sun stone for the Sun God. But the shape of the stone is also important.
Ever since we lived in caves, stones played an important part in human spiritual and domestic life but certain shapes were considered holy. A stone with a natural whole in it was considered to be most sacred to the Goddess as its shape was seen as a vaginal in nature and as such was used within religion to impart fertility. Phallic shaped stones have been found throughout the world and suggest phallic worship. By using stones shaped like the phallus or the vagina we are able to enact religious magic in its most sympathetic forms.
When I first started in the craft, I worked predominantly as a solitary and in my second Beltane ceremony, I enacted the union of the Goddess and God by inserting a flint arrow head into a Geode. The symbolism alone was enough to make me understand the power within the act!
Stones have also been carved into the shapes of other body parts which have been found in healing sites, obviously this shows that an act of sympathetic magic has taken place where, the sick person offers the image to the Goddess or God of that place in the hopes of being made well. The same principles can be utilised in modern day ritual. Akin to the poppet, the stone is used as the vessel into which we impart the illness and is then offered to the land or water in the hopes that the earth will neutralise the illness or the water wash it away. Very powerful!
Have you ever seen the stones in stores that are carved into the shapes of animals? These bits of jewellery can be used for some of the most intense forms of trance magic, that of shapeshifting. shapeshifting requires the magician to take on the persona of an animal and by doing so connects with the spirit of the animal. Purely by wearing such an amulet we are telling our subconscious mind that this is the animal we wish to become. This is akin to Native American Shamans who will carry a bear’s paw to connect with the spirit of the bear and so on. The stone adds its energy to the act but again you need to guide its energy so that it is in tune with the working at hand. 
Round stones are considered sacred to the Mother, the Quartz sphere is a fantastic altar piece for Esbats and not only can be used as a focus for indoor rituals it can also be used for scrying, but I will discuss that a little later. I have a clear quartz sphere which I use at full moons and Smokey Quartz which I use for dark moons. 
An egg shaped crystal can be used to promote fertility, whether it is to fall pregnant or just to help create change, Quartz clusters with points facing outwards or away from you can be used to repel negative energy away from you and a heart shaped Rose quartz can help draw love into your life. So you see, it is important for you to seek out stones which can have symbolism which is personal to you, as the shape of the stone can be seen as a connection to your focus, not just a tool.
Making Magic the Good Ole Way!
Now that we have briefly looked into what the stones can do for us in magic. Lets now look at how we can put them to practical use within a ritual.
I explained before a healing that I performed for a friend a few years ago and that is but a simple way in which crystals can be used. However when crystals are combined with other magical tools and ingredients far more options are awakened. I will now give you some other examples of rituals that utilise the magic of crystals and stones which I have either been apart of, witnessed, or have been exposed to in some way or another.
Lets first look at healing spells and rituals. Some of you may be familiar with the Healing Spiral ritual. This ritual is usually done with incenses but I have made it a little more personal by exchanging that idea and have used stones instead.
Everyone starts within a circle, they then perform a slow spiral dance inward to the centre, but rather than coming back out again, the Witches are stopped when the first person reaches the centre and they form a physical spiral.
The person to be healed is then lead through the spiral and is then assisted to lay down at its centre. A dark coloured stone is placed upon the ‘patient’s’ or their representatives, solar plexis or heart chakra. The witches then begin to chant the healing rune and as they do so they begin to visualise the illness or injury leaving the person’s body and entering into the crystal. The visualisation is carried on whilst the stone is still in its place. Once the stone has been imbued with the illness, the group leader then takes the stone off the chakra and as the chanting continues, it is passed from person to person until it reaches the last Witch who then buries the stone in the ground or a black cloth if indoors.
A new stone is then passed person-to-person whilst the chanting continues and is sent into the spiral. As each person holds it, they should put healing energy into the stone and pass it on. When it reaches the centre, it is placed on the chakra point as before. The chanting then becomes louder as the visualisation gets stronger and healing power is taken into the ‘patient’ via the stone.
This stone should then be kept by the ‘patient’ to do what they will. The ritual is then ended.
As you can see with this ritual, many elements are brought into play to achieve the desired outcome with the main focus being placed on the crystals which take away the ailment and brings in healing.
Another ritual that I have performed is much simpler but was quite effective. A very close family member has quite a history of minor strokes, in order to do a healing, I took a photo and placed it on my altar with a Smokey Quartz point placed on her forehead. I visualised the clots in her brain as being quickly dissolved and that they were absorbed into the stone. I continued chanting over it just briefly every morning and every night, maintaining the same visualisation, but each time I did it, I saw the illness’ form as diminishing until after a lunar month, I could see no more clotting energy entering the crystal. Once this was complete, I planted the crystal in a bowl of sea salt and it remained there for another cycle so that the illness was taken from the stone and quickly grounded.
These 2 examples show you that the crystals are used as the vehicle for change. In the instances of healing, they are used to carry the illness out of the physical and spiritual body. Crystal healing, which even though is not really apart of Wiccan practice, still has its uses. By placing crystals on the body in particular areas, the vibrations are sent into the physical skin, blood, and bone but are also effecting the Auric field of the patient, which heals on many levels, the main difference is that the crystals are seen as neutralising the illness, not absorbing it or taking it away.
Another way to use the stones is to draw upon their energy and to infuse it with water. You take the stone for the appropriate use, again use your intuition or a table, place the stone within the water and leave out in the sun or moon for a period. Add ¼ cup of vodka, brandy or whiskey to each cup of water and voila, you have a Bach remedy of crystal magic. I have used this recipe using Rose Quartz which I used as a remedy for depression. Just a teaspoon every 4 hours or as needed. The Rose quartz brings clarity to the heart and mind. It is a soothing stone which, when left out in the sunlight, draws strengthening energy. Had I have left it out in the Moon light it would be more charged for emotional ailments. My depression was brought on by many things which were more affected by outside influences and not necessarily emotions.
This idea of infusing water can also be used to create sacred water which can then asperge the circle, or be used as anointing water. Again, use stones that compliment the energy of the work at hand. No point using bloodstone if it is a scrying ritual (unless you feel otherwise). For a scrying ritual I would use Lapis Lazuli or Amethyst. Full Moon water can be made using Clear Quartz, Selenite and Moonstone. It is also useful to do this type of magic for Handfastings, Wiccanings or other Rites of Passage.
The same process can be used to infuse oils minus the alcohol, which can then be made into healing oils. I have made a kick ass oil for eczema which works wonderfully on my niece, in her earlier life, I used a Brown agate piece with essential oils and herbs. It worked wonderfully. She may not be able to feel the vibrations but the stone would have helped in some way.
Money is something that we all have to make in some shape or form. Thanks to the earth, we have many stones related to wealth and prosperity. The Golden pyrite or “Fools Gold” is of course the most obvious, but copper, adventurine and Mica are also commonly seen as wealth bringing.
Take a bill which is hard to pay off, charge the crystal with the power and thought of paying the Bill. Place the stone on the bill and visualise it being paid. 
Simple yet effective. Again this type of magic calls for you to charge the stone and direct its energy. Carrying a gold Pyrite with you for job interviews is another way, as its energy can charge your Aura with a vibration that any boss would love to have on their team. But of course the pièce de résistance for money magic is of course Gold!
As I have shown, spell work and ritual used in conjunction with stones is extremely easy if you know what it is you wish to achieve and once you have gained a passion and understanding of the stones then it really does become easier.
The Spiral Ritual of Blessings.
We will go through a practical ritual which will give an example of how to use the stones within a ritual context.
The healing ritual; which I outlined earlier is the foundation for the ritual we are about to do. We will start by forming a very basic circle of protection, we will then spiral inward. 
Rather than a healing, we are going to charge two crystal eggs. One is Labradorite, which will be used as our farewell blessings to the Winter , this stone will be given to the Maiden to wear during the Main Ritual as she represents the dark half of the year that will give way to the light of the sun.
The second stone is a clear Quartz egg, this stone will be blessed by us and then given as a gift to the Young Stag who will wear it as a sign that our hopes and desires will grow with the ever strengthening light that he represents.
The water that the stones are placed in will then be used as the water for the main ritual, as it contains the energies of the Light and the dark aspects within it.
Practical
Everyone stands in a circle hand in hand. High Priest casts a basic circle:
By crystal wand a circle born,
Between the worlds a boundary formed
By the powers raised herein
To guard without
And hold within
Be this circle cast.
Participants are then lead in a spiral dance (deosil) until HP reaches the centre of the circle. Participants are told to be seated.
A small cauldron filled with water in it is then passed one by one until it arrives at the end of the spiral.
High Priestess then passes the Labradorite egg into the spiral as everyone begins chanting:
By sacred stone
And healing well
We charge this gem
To aid our spell
As it is passed along, each person should charge the stone and pass into it any energy they wish to leave behind them.
Once the stone has made it into the centre, the HP then takes the fully charged egg and holds it in the air and says a blessing.
Powers of the receding light, take with thee our past, take with thee our fears and take with thee anything that binds us. Stone of Winter we charge thee!
He then places the stone in the cauldron, to infuse the water with its vibrations. As this happens, the HPS then passes the clear Quartz into the spiral. Again everyone begins chanting as before.
This time the participants will charge the stone with their hope and dreams of the future year.
Once the stone has reached the centre the HP takes the stone and says something like:
Powers of the rising Sun, we beseech thee, take our hopes and dreams and give them form, give them life and grant us thy divine light. Stone of Spring, we charge thee!
The stone is then placed within the cauldron to imbue the water with its energies. The cauldron is lifted and everyone stands up. The spiral dance is continued by the priest who carries the cauldron. Since the spiral outward will leave everyone facing outward it is repeated so that they all face inwards.
The HP and HPS the take the cauldron in both hands HPS says something like:
The powers of light and dark have been united within the womb, may the eggs inside be blessed and made sacred that our fears are taken and our hopes renewed. Blessed be!
The rite is ended.
The eggs will then be placed around the necks of the Maiden and the Young Stag during the Main Ritual when they are being robed.