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THE BOOK OF STONES: Who They Are & What They Teach by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian - BETTER THAN MELODY's CRYSTAL BOOK?!

I LOVE THIS BOOK! Full color pictures for EVERY crystal. Thorough properties of each stone interpreted by TWO crystal workers. What a MAGNIFICENT guide book for ALL energy workers!! THIS IS A MUST HAVE for ANY PAGAN, REIKI MASTER, WICCAN, LIGHTWORKER, ETC!!!

I enjoy this book far more than Melody's book just for the extraordinary specimen pictures alone. While this book *does* have some limitations with its contents, its utilization of TWO authors to define the properties of the stones gives better feedback to each person's experience with them. I myself have found that stones have a different affect and application for use for each person and one person will not experience the same energies, healing, lessons, or assistance with their workings as another may.

Melody's books do contain additional supplements and several volumes, but for a single volume text, The Book of Stones is lightyears ahead of where Melody's book was at the same stage of its publication.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca (Community Moderator) on November 3, 2009 at 2:50pm

Thanks for this insight, HEX... Does the book discuss or recommend how to buy quality crystals? I'm always unsure of the quality and therefore unsure of what to pay. I'd love to know how to be a discriminating buyer. Any help with that?

Permalink Reply by HEXtraordinary on November 3, 2009 at 3:01pm

Buying crystals of quality is usually a process of trial and error. Quartz is considered higher quality when it has more clarity, fewer nicks, surface marring from mining (I must stress FROM MINING as some marring that occurs naturally is actually considered often to be ancestral recordings etc), and generally good faceting & size.

I did not see any info in the book that really gave any advice regarding purchasing crystals. As for picking other gemstones, be wary of underpriced semiprecious stones from China especially as there is a BIG market in imitation gemstones there. Low-priced semi-precious rubies and emeralds can be found wholesale on eBay thru sellers in India and Malaysia. Good quality larger stones can be found thru sellers in Jaiput and Malaysia & Thailand.

There is a LOT of fake quartz on the market which is nothing but glass that was hit with a hammer to reproduce cracks and fractures seen in natural quartz. Cherry quartz found online is a manufactured quartz-glass product made by grinding quartz, adding copper powder, and reconstituting it into a crystal-like point. Much smokey quartz is nothing more than clear quartz and low-quality citrine that has been irradiated. If it looks unnatural, it probably IS. Buyer beware.,

Permalink Reply by Becky on April 11, 2010 at 6:08pm

I'm so gonna check out that book!
Rebecca,
I found that DK's (Dorling Kindersley) book Rocks and Minerals by R. F. Symes is best for finding high quality stones. They look at it from more of a Rock-hound's perspective so they have some good advice on how to pick out the best.
There is a cool mineral auctions site on-line that I like to frequent.
However, I prefer to go to my local trading post and just run my hands through their rock bins. The prices are very reasonable and this way I can "feel" which stone is correct for me.