A Beginners Guide to the New Age Movement: Gemstones, Incense, and Herbs

The New Age movement is growing and spreading quickly throughout the US and the world. Everyone seems to want more natural products or homeopathic cures for what ails us. Whether you need help in various areas of life or need a little pick-me-up, the use of various natural objects can help you reach your personal goal. Here is a little something for those of you starting out on the New Age path, or even for those that have been practicing but needs some insight on some of the basics. Take the lists with a grain of salt and use it to help develop your own uses and techniques for everyday living. The following is a list of gemstones and crystals that you may want to have, along with what they are good for. (DISCLAIMER: Most of what I am posting here is from my own personal experience, or is information that has been passed onto me from others over the years)

*Gemstones and Crystals*

-Hematite: My favorite. I use this for grounding of personal energy. I have also heard that it can be used to reflect negativity. Plus, if you have a major problem shorting out anything electrical (ex: cameras) or your computer is running slow then wear hematite or place it near or on your computer. I have also heard this is a very strong healing stone. Recently I have seen magnetized hematite used to help with arthritis.

-Quartz (Clear): I use this to meditate with, since it helps align your consciousness. It also helps in healing and can be used as an amplifier for other stones. You should have one in each hand for optimal performance. Plus, when you go to buy them make sure you get a good "feel" for the ones that should be yours.

-Obsidian: I have had a huge chunk of this since I was a child. I think some stones tend to find you for some reason or another, and this has been one of them. Some people use it for scrying, but I never have. As far as I know this is a good stone for protection since it is known to absorb the negative. It is also known to find its way into the hands of people that tend to be good hearted and gentle.

-Peridot: This used to be one of my favorite stones until I found hematite. This is more of a visionary stone and is good to use for channeling. It is also known to stimulate the mind, reduce stress, and can increase intuitiveness.

-Rose Quartz: Love, love, love. Helps you open your heart and can help teach forgiveness, and also helps to reduce anger. I've also heard that it can help with weight reduction, but I have never tried it personally.

-Tiger Eye: Helps promote wealth and money. It also helps you to see things more clearly and helps sooth emotional turmoil.

-Aventurine: Can be used to attract money(the green ones). Really most things "green" have this property. This stone can also be gray, yellow, brown, orange, or blue. I have really only used the green ones. Besides attracting money, it can also help with intelligence and balance. Orange can help with originality and sexual healing.

-Amethyst: I have used this to draw out sickness, and then ground or cleanse it to remove the bad property from the stone. It is also good to meditate with if you need an extra kick to your psychic awareness. I have also heard that it helps with mild depression, anxiousness, or addictions.

-Moonstone: Helps you connect to the Goddess. It is also supposed to help heal/balance female hormones and organs.

That was a small listing of gemstones and crystals that are available. There are actually too many to sit and list along with all of the properties they each possess.

Now, let's move onto a small list of incense and/or herbs and their properties. (DISCLAIMER: Most of what I have writen here is from my own personal experience, or is information that has been passed onto me from others over the years)

*Incense*

-Patchouli: Burn this to attract wealth and prosperity. I have also heard that this also can help attract love.

-Sandalwood: Good during meditation since it also helps with psychic awareness.

-Sage and White Sage: Burn to purify an object, area, or even a person.

-Frankincense and Myrrh: When used together they help heal, protect, and dispel evil and negativity. When cleansing my house, I often mix this in some water and add sage oil, then heat it as potpourri.

-Dragon's Blood: Love, protection, consecration, and it also helps to strengthen a spell.

-Eucalyptus: Helps heal, especially if it is a general sickness like a cold. It can also be burned to help maintain good health.

-Cinnamon: Can be burned to raise high vibrations of protection and spirituality. Also aids in healing and prosperity (money). It is also an aphrodisiac, and I find that males like it more than females.

-Lavender: Helps with sleep and relaxation. It can also help protect and/or attract relationships.

-Vetivert: Can be burned for luck and money. I have also heard that it can aid in love. This also blends well with Patchouli and Sandalwood.

*Herbs*

(DISCLAIMER: Use any herb with caution, especially if planning to ingest them. Not all herbs are safe to eat or drink, since some are poisonous. Please research before using. Also some people may have an allergic reaction to certain herbs, so use with extreme caution.)

-Basil can be used for protection and wealth. This has a pleasant aroma so you can actually carry this in a sachet, unless you would prefer to cook with it instead.

-Bay may be used for protection and healing. You can add bay to food while cooking, especially if others are also in need of protection or healing.

-Chamomile holds the mystical properties used to aid sleep and help in purification. Chamomile can be found in convenient packages of tea, making is a breeze to grab when in need.

-Cinnamon promotes money, love, and psychic powers. I prefer to use the stick form and grind it down because it is fresher and has more aroma. It is also said that the smell and taste of cinnamon may make a man more "in the mood".

-Clove may be used for protection and cleansing. However, you have to be able to tolerate the smell of cloves. Some people like the smell and not the taste, while for others it's the opposite.

-Eucalyptus can be used to for healing, cleansing, and protection. This is another great herb that can easily be found in tea form, making it a lot easier to use in a pinch.

-Eyebright helps promote 6th sight and mental powers. This can be carried in a sachet or ground and burned on a charcoal disk while meditating.

-Jasmine promotes love and prophetic dreams. If you can find a room or fabric spray with Jasmine, it works wonders for the bedroom.

-Mugwart can be used for Astral projection, protection, or healing. People used to place a little mugwart on a cut or scrape in the old days to help it heal. Use at your own discretion if you decide to try this. You can grind and burn it on a charcoal disk while meditating to help with astral projection.

-Passion Flower is used for peace and to help with sleep. You can find passion flower in tea form and can also be found in already made drinks, or you can also by the herb by itself.

-Pepper helps with protection and exorcism. I am referring to black ground pepper, but I have also heard people use various hot peppers as well. You can also mix black pepper with olive oil and rub it on your thighs to help with circulation and to lessen the look of cellulite.

-Peppermint wakes up the mind and can be used for purification or healing. Peppermint is another great herb that is easily found in tea form. You can also find peppermint in many products such as hair care products and lotions to help you wake up in the morning.

-Salt is used for purification. You can toss fresh sea salt around a new home, especially the doorways, to purify it from negative energy. You can also leave out a bowl of fresh sea salt to aid in continual purification.

-Valerian Root is used to help aid in sleep. You can mix this with other herbs for a combination punch (ex: lemon balm and passion flower)

-Witch hazel is used for protection, but can also be used for healing cuts and scrapes or cleansing. Some people also prefer to use it as a natural way to help with hemorrhoids. If used for protection, you can buy the pre-made liquid and dab a little here and there on yourself or sprinkle around a room or house.

-Wormwood helps to aid psychic abilities. This is normally either ground and burned or carried in a sachet.

-Yarrow promotes courage and love, and helps with psychic powers. This is another one that can be burned or carried in a sachet.

There are so many New Age benefits to many objects. Once you begin with the basics of herbs and incense, you can use the herbs to make oils for burning and various other uses as well. There are really no boundaries to what you can do with gems, crystals, incense, or herbs. Once you are more familiar with their properties it is easy to make or scent your own candles, among other things. The possibilities are endless just as long as you use your imagination and follow your instincts.