-- Marley

A: The energy that is attributed to stones and crystals is usually a product of an association, emotion, or other sense that someone feels about the stone. It may not necessarily be the case that a spark like lightening jumps off that chunk of obsidian, but its smooth surface may spark images in your mind's eye that are just as potent.

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If you're drawn to rocks and crystals, you're already sensing energy that these objects have within them. A certain stone may sparkle and make you smile, another rock may remind you of a certain river you once visited, still another may set your mind to wander. Use your natural inclinations and trust your instincts because they're your best guides in sensing energy.

Take a stone you like and spend some time with it. Hold it in your hand and try to notice any feelings you get from it. Does it make you feel joyous? Does it make you feel relaxed and meditative? Does your hand or arm tingle when you touch it? Write down all the things that you notice within yourself. Also, write down any ideas that come to you about the stone itself. Do its colors remind you of a storm? Do cracks and flaws within it add sparkle or is there a smooth strength? Is there a particular "personality" to the stone?

If you're looking for a stone for a particular purpose, concentrate on that purpose and look for the stone that engenders a feeling that most closely matches your intention. For instance, if you're looking for a stone to help with a healing ritual, imagine feeling healthy and strong, then look for a stone that conjurs up a feeling of strength and health in your mind or heart.

If you have stones already and don't know what they're meant for, take time with each of them. Unless you received a great handful of stones all at once in a grab-bag of some sort, you probably picked each of them for a particular reason at a particular time. This is your key to their purpose for you. Pick a stone to carry with you for a week and see what kinds of things you notice -- perhaps you're able to more calmly react to stressful situations or luck seems to be with you. The more you use a particular stone for a particular purpose, the better that stone will "work" for you. Also, if you receive a stone from a friend or have been using a stone for a long period of time, check to see if you feel as though the stone is dirty or feels too heavy -- it may need to be cleansed of excess energy. To do this you can bury it in sand or earth for three days or run it under water (a faucet tap works fine) until you feel as though the stone is clean.

Above all else, practice getting in touch with stones. The more you handle natural objects and notices their differences, the better you'll get at sensing their energy and hearing the messages they have to tell you. Scientifically speaking, the energy may only be a psychic trigger for you, but if it helps you get the results you desire, go with it!