--by Kirsten Houseknecht

(Part Four; more info and recommended reading)

You may choose to never allow anyone else to touch your magical jewelry, or that may not bother you, but always respect other peoples' beliefs. Many people believe that no one else should touch their magical items at all. Unfortunately some people have a habit of grabbing other's necklaces or jewelry and then asking. (For people like me with neck injuries, this can be very unpleas-ant in any case!) I suggest that if you are in an environment where you might have this problem that you wear your jewelry inside your shirt. Also be certain that you have a polite response ready if anyone does ask to touch your jewelry. It creates a much more pleasant impression, and draws less attention, if you simply say "No, I am sorry, I don't allow people to handle my pentacle, but thank you for the compliment", rather than making a fuss.

If you think you will need to take your jewelry off while away from home, it makes sense to put your items in a safe (and magically protective) case, out of sight,

both for magical reasons and to prevent theft. Sadly, I have had pieces stolen at events where I would not have expected it.

I personally recommend the following books for information on the care, selec-tion, and magical use of gems and jewelry. This reflects my personal opinions, and not the opinion of any group. It is by no means an exhaustive listing, just a place to start. (Also, I cannot recommend books if I have not read them.) Many of these books have very good information about some things, and not so good information about others, so please read with common sense. It is also very important to note that just because an author recommends a stone, or it was historically used, does not mean you will like it. While Hematite, for example, is a commonly used grounding stone it does not work equally well for all people.

Books on Magical Uses "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem& Metal magic" by Scott Cunningham, published by Llewellyn Publications.

One of the typical books to start with, it lists many of the less common stones. This book does NOT generally cover care, cleaning, or toughness of the stone, but does give an overview of the magical uses and historical associations.

"The Curious Lore of Precious stones" by George Frederick Kunz, published by Dover Books.

A treasure trove of historical uses for gems and jewelry, it discusses amulets and magical properties at some length. Unfortu-nately some of the historical data is now considered out of date and inaccurate.

General Information "Gemstones" by Cally Hall, published by Dorling Kindersley Handbooks.

A recognition guide (like a bird or plant guide) for gemstones. Surprisingly this book covers a great deal of the mystical lore of many stones. This book also covers

some of the less common stones, like Jet, in detail. One of the staple books in my library.

"Gemstones of the World" by Walter Schumann, published by Sterling Publish-ing Co.

This book is aimed at the rock or gem hobbyist, and is not nearly as much fun to read as the Cally Hall book, but it is a very good quality technical work, including a section in each gem entry on what other stones may be mistaken for that one. Not what I would start with, but a good read for the technically minded.

Other Sources "Fire Mountain Gems" publishes a catalog that contains information on the magical lore, and proper care, of Gems. It is a sales catalog, however, and is hazardous to your wallet.

"Lapidary Journal" a monthly magazine with ads for more books, and stones, than you can imagine.

Many websites contain information on gems, but always check the facts in a reliable sourcebook.

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