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Here is a small "River" ritual, for blessing your stone/crystal: rivers have tremendous magickal and magnetic energy and the moving water will help to realign your crystal. First, before you put any kind of water on your stone or crystal, make sure it is one that doesn't mind being wet. Some very delicate crystal structures won't stand up to the treatment, so if you have a mineral specimen with fine needle crystals, don't do this! Keep it at home to look at and if you want to do something mentally with it, fine. Some specimens may contain water-soluble parts or be porous, so they are also best kept dry and certain gems, like opal, are best kept away from water. Make sure your crystal hasn't been artificially coloured, unless by heat-treatment or coating, which won't be affected by water, but may not be magickally pure anyway. If in doubt, ask the crystal. Certain gems, especially the softer ones, may discolour if exposed to sea water or heat, so either stick to visualisation, or do a proxy ritual: instead of the crystal itself, take a piece of cloth or suitable container (wooden or straw box, small basket etc). Dip that instead of the crystal, then leave it to dry thoroughly and put the crystal in it for one Lunar month.

Don't do any of this, not even mentally, with magnetite or any magnetic mineral. It has its own magnetism (obviously, that's why it's magnetic!...) and you'll just confuse it. There is an alternative blessing you can do, more of that some other time!

Back to your River ritual. First, research the river. It should really be the river nearest to where you live, unless there's a special reason to use another river. Find out what sort of activities are and were associated with that river's history and placing, and also look at her name. Rivers are Goddesses and the name of the river will tell you which Goddess will empower you and your crystal, and in what way. For instance, my two nearest rivers are the Wandle and the Thames. Wandle is a Saxon name and as the river is associated with the textile industry, a Saxon weaving Goddess, such as Frigga, would be a good one to invoke. She can help you with fate, prophecy and also house-protection. The name of the Thames, on the other hand, may be derived from Sanskrit, meaning dark river, so Kali, the dark Indian Goddess could be invoked if you're REALLY brave! She is the Goddess of Destruction and may be called upon if you can accept that new creation will only come if there is destruction first. She can enable you to come to terms with your own dark side. Not for the faint-hearted and if you are more comforable with Isis, the Patroness of this river nearer to its source, you can invoke her for matters of love, fertility, magic and art. Black Isis would be perfect - remember, the Egyptian Goddess has her dark aspect too.

If you're unsure about your River, ask me.

Also check the direction of your river on a map and compare it to the lie of the land near your house. Choose a place that is in harmony with your home.

Attach your crystal to some natural twine. Pure cotton thread or string, natural hemp rope or natural raffia is right. Then go and dangle your rock in the river! Keep hold of the end and stay with the rope until you believe the crystal has been cleansed and aligned. You will know this, because by holding the string, you're creating a link beween you, the river spirit, and the stone. As sure as hanging on a telephone line, you will know when you've got through! This process may take minutes, it may take a couple of hours. Natural features, such as rivers, streams, water banks and channels, as well as crystals, vibrate at different rates to us and you must be prepared for your attunement to work with that rate, not in conflict with it.

Reel your crystal in when you're ready and take it home. Let it dry naturally. Thank the River and its Patroness. A small coin tossed into the water is a polite way of giving thanks, but if you don't like doing that, throw a little bread in. The fish or the water birds will enjoy it and will carry your requests to the Goddess. A donation to an appropriate charity, such as wetlands protection, is also a nice way of giving thanks.

Your crystal will be cleansed and ready to work with.

One word of warning: Rivers are the life-blood of the Land-Goddess. If you want magickal help, you must live in harmony with the land. Poison her veins and you poison yourself. Harm a river or its wildlife and you may get the opposite of what you asked for!

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