Crystals and Tarot

[Tarot card from the Tarot of the Dead deck By Monica Knighton. Llewellyn, 2004. Crystals round and up from left to right, Snowflake Obsidian, Rose Quartz, Chrysocolla, purple Fluorite, Red Jasper]

A Rainbow of Confusion [Crystals and Tarot, a Beginners Perspective]

As a beginner the range of associations for tarot can seem insurmountable and downright confusing, so if you’re also interested in crystals and want to utilise them in your tarot work where do you start? And why would you want to?

Adding another dimension to your tarot work could combine and enrich two interests. Perhaps crystals will add a special energy to your readings? Or protect your tarot deck from bad vibes? But whatever your reasons for combining crystals and tarot you need to get a foothold somewhere.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a definitive list of associations that matches every deck or lifestyle, but choosing a ready made list is still a good place to start and a base from which you can broaden your knowledge.

As for me, I’m a Rider-Waite-Smith/Mary K Greer type of gal, mostly because they’re my early influences and I’m comfortable with the associations, for example Fire for Wands and Air for Swords.

But I’m also a list-lover; I love lists! Why, oh why isn’t there a big mother of them all, ass-kicking definitive list out there? Why? Why?

I know, I have issues, work with me people.

In the end there is no right or wrong with tarot associations, which is one of tarots greatest charms and, for the learner, one of its biggest frustrations!

And on that note here are two sets of crystal/stone associations for you to ponder and possibly utilise in your tarot work.

The first from Mary K Greer’s book ‘Tarot for Yourself‘ and the second from Scott Cunningham’s ‘Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic‘. Both published by Llewellyn.

Major Arcana	Tarot for Yourself by Mary K. Greer	Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
0-Fool	Tourmaline, Turquoise	Agate
1-Magician	Tiger-Eye, Citrine, Fire Opal, Agate	Quartz Crystal [can be charged with the attributes of any stone]
2-High Priestess	Moonstone, Pearl	Emerald, Pearl
3-Empress	Emerald, Rose Quartz	Peridot, Olivine, Turquoise
4-Emperor	Ruby	Ruby
5-Hierophant	Topaz, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli	Topaz
6-Lovers	Alexandrite, Agate	Rose Quartz
7-Chariot	Amber, Chalcedony	Staurolite, Cross Stone, any twinned crystals
8-Strength	Cat’s Eye, topaz, Chrysolite	Diamond, Herkimer Diamond, Garnet
9-Hermit	Peridot, Bloodstone	Sapphire, Blue Tourmaline
10-Wheel	Sapphire, Amethyst, Lapis	Sardonyx, Black Opal
11-Justice	Emerald, Coral, Jade	Carnelian
12-Hanged man	Beryl, Aquamarine	Beryl, Aquamarine
13-Death	Snakestone, Bloodstone	Amber
14-Temperance	Jacinth, Amethyst	Amethyst
15-Devil	Black Diamond, Jet, Obsidian	Black Diamond, Black Tourmaline, any square black stone
16-Tower	Ruby, Garnet	Lodestone, Lava
17-Star	Turquoise, Rock Crystal	Meteorite, any Star Stone
18-The Moon	Milk Opal, Moonstone, Pearl	Moonstone, Chalcedony
19-Sun	Diamond, Heliotrope	Tiger’s-Eye, Sunstone
20-Judgement	Fire Opal, Malachite	Fossil
21-World	Onyx, Jet, Lapis Lazuli, Black Pearl	Opal, Kunzite

Obvious matches are in red, I don’t know enough about crystals to match up the generalisations such as ‘fossil’ or ‘any twinned crystals’.



NB: ‘Quartz crystals can be charged with the magical attributes of any stone, as can opal, through your visualization.’ [Cunningham, S. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. Llewellyn. p. 191.]

Now that we have some associations to scratch our heads over, one of the most common combinations of crystals and tarot is the use of a crystal to cleanse and/or protect a tarot deck.

Amethyst, associated with 14-Temperance in the above table by both authors, is a popular choice because of its protective and calming qualities.

I have some of these lovely purple stones with my decks just because I like the colour, feel and idea of them.

‘A spiritual stone, with absolutely no negative side effects or associations with violence, anger or passion, the amethyst is the stone of peace‘ [Cunningham, S. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. Llewellyn. p. 72.]

Amethyst is well matched with 14-Temperance, ‘Blending; Balance…This card signifies getting in touch with one’s inner being and the integration of self… In most instances, thought, this card shows the querent as finding peace and harmony in his life, by combining different elements to create the correct formula for personal success‘ [Berres, J. (1997). Textbook of the Tarot. International Tarot Society. p. 15.]

But you don’t have to use an Amethyst, any stone you’re drawn too or like the colour and/or properties of could be used if you like the idea of ‘protecting’ your deck from negative influences, or even if you just like accessorising!

You could even try matching your perception of your decks personality to a crystal. It’s down to you to decide what kind of energy you want linked with your deck and why.

For example, Hematite is a dark almost metal like stone that in appearance alone would make a good foil to a darker themed deck, but that isn’t the only reason to choose it to keep your cards company in their tarot bag:

‘HEMATITE

Folk Name: Volcano Spit

Energy: Projective

Planet: Saturn

Element: Fire

Powers: Healing, Grounding, Divination

Magical/Ritual Lore:

Hematite is a strange stone. It is heavy, solid, and silvery black. Its name alone is something of a mystery. To ancients, hematite was what we now know as bloodstone, so virtually all magical information relating to “hematite” in old books refers to bloodstone. This hematite, though, when worked on a lapidary wheel, “bleeds” and produces stains that look much like blood…

Magical Uses:

Hematite is said to be powerful in drawing illness from the body… is worn for grounding and stabilizing purposes, and to focus attention on the physical plane.‘ [Cunningham, S. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. Llewellyn. p. 100.]

If that doesn’t float your boat how about Jade? Jade is associated with ‘Love, Healing, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Gardening, Prosperity, Money‘. [Cunningham, S. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magicc. Llewellyn. p. 102.]

Or Rhodocrosite? I’ve never seen one but it sounds lovely and you can put it in the bath with you! ‘Energy, Peace, Love… This beautiful pink stone is carried or worn to lend extra energy during times of extreme physical activity… It is also soothing to the emotions and the body‘. [Cunningham, S. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. Llewellyn. p. 127.]

Perhaps Sapphire is more your cup of tea? ‘Psychism, Love, Meditation, Peace, Defensive Magic, Healing, Power, Money’. [Cunningham, S. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. Llewellyn. p. 132.]

As in all things, there are plenty of options and as you grow your ideas of a suitable match may evolve and change, meaning you’ll never run out of options.

A simpler way to match your deck to a crystal could be to use its birth stone/star sign. Depending on how you feel about it you could go off the date you purchased the deck, or my preference, when it actually arrives at your home.

I’ve often used this idea for fun to determine the ‘personality’ of new decks in the same way I worked out my own personality card, which is based on your birth date. For example:

DAY + MONTH + YEAR

10 + 10 + 1970 = 1990

1 + 9 + 9 + 0= 19 = 19-The Sun

[Keep adding the digits together until you get the number for a Major Arcana card, 22 is used for The Fool]

And after all, why try and pinpoint the exact day/month your deck was printed originally in the year it was published? Surely it’s the time it came into your life that’s important?

On the subject of birthstone Scott Cunningham has this to say, ‘there is little agreement as to the “correct” birthstones… as with all magical symbolism, there correspondences are suggestions only. They are (generally) based on the planetary ruler(s) of each sign.‘
[Cunningham, S. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. Llewellyn. p. 192.]

A list, a list, my kingdom for a definitive list! I’ve had to break the table up into 2 sections due to space restrictions.

As to whether or not you want a particular crystal’s influences surrounding your deck is, once again, entirely up to you. If you don’t like a stone’s associations don’t use it.

BIRTHSTONES - Table Key [prt 1…]

1. Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic
by S. Cunningham

2. Easy Crystals - www.easycrystals.co.uk

Star signs	Crystals/Stones
	1 - USA	2 - UK
Aries	Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby	Aventurine, Citrine, Haematite, Jade, Apache Tears
Leo	Amber, Carnelian, Diamond, Topaz	Peridot, Jasper, Labradorite, Sunstone, Carnelian
Taurus	Emerald, Jade, Lapis Lazuli	Carnelian, Rhodonite, Rose Quartz, Red Jasper, Jade
Virgo	Agate, Aventurine	Peridot, Amazonite, Snowflake Obsidian, Jasper, Chiastolite
Gemini [Agate]	Agate, Aventurine	Moonstone, Citrine, Jade, Howlite, Agate
Libra	Chrysoprase, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise	Chrysoprase, Citrine, Lepidolite, Rose Quartz, Moonstone
Cancer	Beryl, Moonstone, Sapphire	Carenlian, Moonstone, Tektite, Chrysoprase
Scorpio	Kunzite, Spinel, Tourmalated Quartz	Unakite, Rhodocrosite, Labradorite, Malachite, Turquoise
Aquarius	Aquamarine, Fossils, Jet	Moss Agate, Amethyst, Angelite, Garnet, Haematite
Sagittarius	Amethyst, Sugilite	Rhyolite, Sodalite, Labradorite, Malachite, Obsidian
Pisces	Amethyst, Sugilite	Rock Crystal, Amethyst, Coral, Bloodstone, Verdite
Capricorn	Apache Tear, Hematite, Onyx	Agate, Flourite, Tiger Eye, Garnet, Smoky Quartz

BIRTHSTONES - Table Key [prt 2…]

3. He Hi She Lo - www.hehishelo.co.uk

4. Dacha - www.dacha.freeuk.com/zodiac/1ari-0.htm

Star signs	Crystals/Stones
	*3 - UK	4 - UK
Aries	Bloodstone	Ruby, Sardonyx, Diamond
Leo	Onyx	Cat’s Eye [usually some kind of quartz], Jasper, Sapphire
Taurus	Sapphire	Topaz, Carnelian, Emerald
Virgo	Carnelian	Peridot, Emerald, Sardonyx
Gemini [Agate]	Agate	Tourmaline, Topaz, Agate
Libra	Peridot	Emerald, Beryl, Opal
Cancer	Emerald	Amber, Chalcedony, Ruby
Scorpio	Beryl	Snakestone, Amethyst, Topaz
Aquarius	Garnet	Chalcedony, Crystal, Amethyst
Sagittarius	Topaz	Jacinth, Hyacinth, Turquoise
Pisces	Amethyst	Pearl, Sapphire, Bloodstone
Capricorn	Ruby	Carbonado, Chrysoprase, Garnet

NB: The original format in the book is not in table form. Also note, this is an America book so some associations may differ from UK lists. The UK comparison list here is not in the book.



*3 He Hi She Lo Website: ‘A bit of history is probably called for here so that we can understand why there are so many lists… Just to complete the record, a more or less “standard” UK modern star sign chart nowadays looks like this…. unless of course you live in America….or India….or‘

In the above table you’ll notice that Pisces and Sagittarius have the same crystals associated with them. I haven’t a clue if this was deliberate, or a mistake the author overlooked.

Another use for crystals with tarot could be to bring more focus to a particular type of spread by using the crystals associations.

In the ‘Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic‘ Scott Cunningham lists associations for the crystals energies, planetary and elementary rulers, magical intentions and even a list of substitutions that can be made if you don’t have a particular stone available.

For example, if you’re doing a spread that focuses on dreams, Amethyst and Azurite are listed under the title of dreams. For Business, Bloodstone, Malachite and Yellow Zircon amongst others.

For money, Opal, Pearl and Coal are amongst the usual suspects and the associations go on, Happiness, Healing/Health, Gambling, Friendship, and Mental Powers to Peace, Love and Childbirth!

You could place a crystal above each position in the spread to really cement it’s meaning, or use the crystals for inspiration in creating your own spreads.

Try putting some of your favourite crystals in a bag and picking them out blind as positions in a new spread and see what you come up with.

Or you could add crystals to your tarot reading space rather than directly to the spread or cards. Some readers even give seekers a crystal with a taped recording of their reading or just as a gift.

This foray into crystals and tarot wouldn’t be complete without mentioning spell work, or more specifically tarot spells.

‘For the purpose of these Tarot spells, crystals and gemstones are optional accessories…If you want to use them to enhance your spells by holding and amplifying the power you raise, you needn’t know any of their lore or have any previous experience with them.‘ [Renee, J. (2000). Tarot Spells. Llewellyn. p. 250.]

Music to my ears! The book Tarot Spells doesn’t go into detail on using crystals with the cards, but it could be a useful place to start if you’re interesting in trying magick and combining it with tarot.

‘The stones you use do not need to be of any particular variety, but you may want to choose stones coordinated to the colors recommended for use with accessories for the individual spells.‘ [Renee, J. (2000). Tarot Spells. Llewellyn. p. 250.]

To give you an example, the Courage spell from page 101 uses the tarot cards Star, Strength and the Chariot. Accessories for the spell include red candles, flowers and crystals.

As the colour red is important, a choice of crystal might be Red Jasper, ‘A fine protective stone, it is utilized in defensive magic, for it sends negativity back to the original sender.‘ [Cunningham, S. (2002).
Encyclopaedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. Llewellyn. p. 104.]

Or any red stones like Rubies or Garnets, which repel negative energy.

You could also use the colour associations on page 256 of Tarot Spells as suggested in the book to tailor the crystals to the spells, such as yellow for confidence or white for an absence of negative feeling.

But however you decide to meld tarot and crystals enjoy it and do what feels right for you.

On a final note here are some tarot and oracle decks that use, or have been inspired by, crystals, or just plain mention them! And a few articles you might like to read:

*Crystal Tarots By Elistabetta Trevisan

Tarot Deck - 78 Cards - Published by Lo Scarabeo

Buy at Amazon UK

Card Graphics at Aeclectic

*Crystal Ally Cards By Naisha Ahsian

Oracle Deck - 55 Cards - Published by Heavan & Earth Books

Buy at Amazon UK

Card Graphics at Aeclectic

*AORA Gemstone Oracle Cards By James McKeon

Oracle Deck - 44 Cards - Published by Viktara

Buy at Amazon UK

Card Graphics at Aeclectic


Author Website: http://www.crystalhealing-aora.com/

*Gems Oracle [published by Lo Scarabeo]

http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=J568&affiliate=QF7IB

*Tibetan Gemstone Oracle

By Dawn Silver & Pam Gullett

Oracle Deck - 45 Cards - Published by Bluestar

Buy at Amazon UK

Card Graphics at Aeclectic

*An introduction to crystal therapy by Cathie Welchman

http://www.holisticshop.co.uk/itemdetl.php?itemprcd=cnt-lib-cyl-ait

*Beginners guide to Crystals by Brett Almond

http://www.holisticshop.co.uk/index_crystals.html

*How to Buy and Use Gemstones and Crystals to Activate Ancient Wisdom By: Sandra Kynes

http://www.llewellynjournal.com/article/470

*Dignities: Elemental characteristics of tarot cards

http://www.llewellynencyclopedia.com/term/Dignities

*Uses of Crystals by Phyllis Galde

http://www.llewellynencyclopedia.com/article/274