For a more comprehensive introduction to the mystical properties of popular precious and semi-precious stones – and a few ordinary ones – see the lesson “A Guide to Magical Stones.” Each type possesses a unique set of attributes, affiliations, powers, and symbolic values that Pagans can use to their advantage. Sometimes different cultures assign the same qualities to a given stone; other times these impressions vary. By studying the stones and their properties, Pagans can make the most of their jewelry and altar tools.
There are certain basic types of mystical property that a stone can possess, and most cover more than one of them. These properties include attraction, emotional influence, energy manipulation, enhancement, healing, magic, mental influence, prosperity, protection, purification, and spiritual influence. Attraction involves bringing something to the wearer, such as love or success. Emotional influence helps the wearer achieve a desired state, like calm. Energy manipulation covers stones that receive, store, project, or focus subtle forces. Enhancement means that a gem strengthens some specific quality in the wearer, such as fertility or psychic awareness. Healing encompasses a wide range of physical benefits from disease absorption to pain relief. Magic stones serve purposes like divination. Mental influence grants the wearer clarity of thought or the like. Prosperity concerns stones that bring abundance or material wealth. Protective gems guard the wearer from harm. Purification involves removing or transmuting negative energies from the wearer. Spiritual influence aids the wearer in reaching enlightenment or communicating with higher powers.
Stones also come with correspondences, in which a given stone relates to some other concept. These stones help manifest the qualities of their corresponding planet, element, or whatever. Thus you might display stones according to their energy (projective or receptive), planetary ruler (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, or Pluto), zodiac sign (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, or Pisces), element (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, or Spirit), etc.
Birthstones comprise a famous example of correspondences. There are many different lists suggesting stones for each month, historical and modern. A common selection goes January/garnet, February/amethyst, March/aquamarine, April/diamond, May/emerald, June/pearl or moonstone, July/ruby, August/peridot, September/sapphire, October/opal or tourmaline, November/topaz, and December/turquoise or lapis lazuli. So people could choose a gem based on their time of birth, their favorite element, etc. and then see what else it does.