wyld-magik:

Before you use a stone, it is important to cleanse and purify it. Cleansing is a physical removal of dirt or debris; just wash the stone in plain water and scrub it with a cloth or brush if necessary. Purifying the stone means cleaning its energy. Before you use a stone for any magical purpose, it should always be purified. 

There are several ways to purify a stone:

• Leave it in sunlight or moonlight for a specific period of time.
• Bury it in a small dish of salt for one to three days. Salt is a natural purifier. Never use salt to cleanse a stone that has iron in it, such as hematite, or if it is set in metal, for the metal will rust. 
• Bury it in a small dish of dirt for a measured period of time. Earth will accomplish the same purpose in the same way that salt does, though it may take longer.
• Immerse the stone in water for a measured period of time. Moving water will purify it faster, although leaving the stone in a small bowl of water for a longer period will work as well. You can add a small pinch of salt to the dish of water to speed the process, unless you are cleansing a stone set in metal or a stone with iron content, such as hematite.

How long you leave the stone to purify by your chosen method depends on hom much foreign energy is clinging to it. (see Attuning to Stones post)

I like cleansing them with chime vibrations. I want to try smudging them.

wyld-magik:

When you work with energy, it important to ground. Grounding means connecting your personal energy to that of the earth and allowing a rebalancing of your energy to occur. If you are nervous or excited, you may be running too much energy through your body. The earth is a good place to shunt that extra energy. If you are lethargic or dizzy, you may be suffering from a lack of energy, and the earth has plenty to share with you. Once you are grounded, you can absorb the energy of the earth to replenish your low energy levels.

To ground yourself, take three deep, slow breaths. Next take a moment to feel your own energy flowing through your body. Focus on a point in the center of your chest and visualize a small green glowing light there. This is your energy center. Now visualize a tendril of green energy growing from that energy center down toward the earth. Let it reach down past your feet. *I prefer sitting when I do this since it’s more comfortable for me* Visualize it growing into the earth itself, spreading into roots and twisting through the soil. Take a moment to feeel how solid and stable your root is in the earth.

now that you have formed a connection with the earth, you can either allow your excess energy to flow down to mingle with that of the earth or draw some of the earth’s energy up to replace the energy you are missing. 

Grounding is good to do when you get up in the morning, last thing at night, before you do any energy work, or whenever you feel a little out of sync with the world around you.

*I know it’s hard but just getting up a little earlier and doing this exercise each day and you will see that it does make a difference in the rest of your day. If you do it at night it also allows you to wind down and I tend to rest a lot better. My girls know when I need to go and ground and if anyone tries to bother me they will NOT allow it. lol I can get pretty upset at times and they know that if I disappear, that I have gone to meditate and ground,and when I get back everything will be better. No, I am NOT perfect!!! I need these exercises at least as much as my girls and you do, probably more so. Don’t let it discourage you in any way that the first few tries may seem a burden, give it some time to become natural to you and you WILL see a benefit. Blessed be*

wyld-magik:

Green witchcraft is not Wicca. Wicca currently enjoys great popularity as an earth-wise spiritual path, and as a result many of those who honor nature assume that they are Wiccan. Not so. Wicca is a formal, structured religion which sets out certain tenets and moral guidelines and whose followers celebrate certain rituals in certain ways. Green witchcraft is a non-structured, flexible practice that has no set holidays and no compulsory rituals. The green witch is adaptable. They create their own path according to their individual strengths and talents and the energies and supplies native to their geographical locale.

I like the sound of that