Magickal Crystals Book Tag! (Original)

I can't always find book tags that fit my current vibe... so I decided it's high time I wrote my own! Welcome to the Magickal Crystals book tag! These questions are inspired by some of my favorite crystals and their magickal properties, appearance, or general uses throughout history. I decided to not only answer the prompts associated with the gemstones, but also use this post to talk about each crystal in hopes you may learn something and possibly develop a fondness for them as well!

If you love book tags, consider yourself tagged. Enjoy!

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Malachite - Favorite Fictional Animal (or Nonhuman) Companion

Malachite is a rather dense green stone, known for it's lovely layered look. (Picture Jupiter's storms in rich green hues.) It's been most known for ornamentation uses in Ancient Egypt and was carved into crosses to bring luck through pregnancies in Switzerland. Accordingly, it's been used to remedy menstrual pains and labor difficulties throughout Europe. As a stone with magickal properties dealing with fertility, malachite may also help bolster creativity. It is also said to be the favorite stone of Saint Francis of Assisi, so many believe it can aid one's endeavors to connect with or communicate with animals.

The black cat in Neil Gaiman's Coraline makes an already remarkable story into perfection. I said what I said. Seriously though, I don't understand why every spooky story doesn't have a sassy all-knowing black cat to accompany the main character. The cat in this book is everything the Cheshire Cat wishes he could be. I am a strong believer that the cat is the real hero of the story. The Other Mother would still be taking the eyes of children today without him.

Diamond - A Great Romance

As the stone most likely found in a wedding ring, diamonds are best known for their representation of eternal love. They are also a 10 on Moh's hardness scale--only another diamond can cut a diamond. It's also thought to be a stone of purity or honesty. In contrast, some believe excessive adornment of diamonds can be almost a bad luck charm to the wearer, especially if worn on the torso.

I don't read many romances, and most of my favorites actually appear in fantasy novels. I did come up with a romance novel that fits this prompt though. Annie on My Mind is a favorite that I reread annually. It's credited with being one of the first sapphic published works, and it was the first one I ever read. This book is just so pure, nostalgic, and warm. I can't really explain how, but the book just twinkles like a diamond in my mind. It reminds me of being snuggled warmly on a cold winter night while light reflects off snow in the window. I know it sounds absurd but the sweet youthful romance in this novel is sure to drum up some of those same feelings in you.

Clear Quartz - A Book With a Fantastic Fight Scene

Quartz is a very powerful stone, and one that is often used in magickal workings to amplify the intentions or powers of herbs or other stones. On their own, the pure transparent stones can symbolize resurrection or rebirth. It may also be associated by some with raw determination and the inner will to fight and persevere.

I read the Lunar Chronicles series a very long time ago now, so many details are fuzzy. I remember each book introduces a classic fairy tale with a sci-fi twist, and the characters all bound together to defeat the Lunars, or those who live on the moon in this world. Beyond those basics, I have a distinct memory of reading a fight scene towards the beginning of Cress (book 3) and being so astounded at Meyer's ability to keep track of action flow, spacing, and character actions throughout. After reading the scene I went back and reread it several times to see how well I could reenact each character's role in the fight. I absolutely could. It comes from a very surprising place, but this fight scene takes the cake.

Tiger's Eye - A Bold and Self-Confident Character

Tiger's eye is my favorite stone! Tiger's eye (and the relative stones of similar namesakes) has an incredibly distinct appearance. It's very much like the shadowy and reflective hues of a cat's, but the colors dance across the stone as you move it. I suggest you go to your local occult shop to check one out, because pictures do them no justice. Tiger's eye is used to enhance self-confidence, self-assuredness, and generally dulls anxieties and nerves related to the lack of these traits.

Sakura of I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is probably the most self-assured character I've ever been fortunate enough to hang out with. Essentially, she learns she is dying from a pancreatic disease. However she chooses to hide this truth from her friends and colleagues, live life to the fullest, and look death in the eyes with confidence. She comes to terms with her death sentence, and chooses happy and bold anyway. Gods, I love her.

Petrified Wood - A Fictional World You Wish You Could Visit

Petrified wood (sometimes called silicified wood) is a wonder of our world that never fails to astound my mind. I dream of one day walking through a petrified forest in the west (US). Essentially dead wood of a tree is slowly replaced by minerals such as jasper or opal until it's a standing tree of stone. As living vegetation turned to mineral, petrified wood represents a suspension in animation or time stopped as if before a cataclysmic event. To me, this stone represents wonder and intrigue--a melding of the conventional and whimsy.

Don't get me wrong, the politics of the world in The Lightbringer series is absolutely NOT something I want to experience. A magic system revolving around the use of light and color is an extremely intriguing experience though. I desperately want to see this masterful magic system put to use. I want to see for myself how a color can become a substantive conjuring in the real world and build wonderful structures and defy physics. The feats within these pages are truly a sight to be seen.

Lapis Lazuli - A Calm or Soothing Book

Lapis Lazuli is a rich blue stone with thin white or golden veins on some tumbled stones. Though it looks and behaves similar to sodalite (the version I tend to reach for), lapis lazuli is thought to have far more powerful properties making it the stone of choice between the two. Lapis Lazuli was once used by Ancient Egyptians as good luck scarabs, and that practice has been honed in more today as the stone is attributed with harmony, balance, and general calming effects.

I know this answer is overdone, but it really is the most honest answer to this prompt. Shitbag author aside, the world of Harry Potter has been there as a gentle guiding hand through some real horrors in my childhood and will always remain a place of harmony because of that. The world and characters are a grounding place for me. When it feels like my world is in shambles, I can reach for Harry Potter and find a place of refuge. I can't stand the author, but I cannot deny these simple truths.

Emerald - A Character With Tremendous Growth

Emerald is the only stone on this list that I do not actually own. Perhaps one day... Anyway, emerald is a very well known deep green precious gemstone. It's widely agreed that an emerald is just as effective if it is not of the high-end pure cuts you'd find with a jeweler. This stone brings about balance between the mind and spirit--emotions and conscious thoughts. As it alleviates emotional distress, it also encourages growth and development. The stone also has a long history of use in aiding poor eyesight, dating all the way back to ancient Greece.

My favorite character growth ever can be found in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The majority of this character's development happens in the last book, so I feel bound to silence for fear of spoilers. However, if you have read this book, it's our dear friend who gets separated from his (in my opinion) platonic soulmate and finds himself a soldier of a walled city. You dig?

Rose Quartz - A Book You Love Deeply No Matter How Many Times You Read It

Rose quartz is a gorgeous blush pink variety of the aforementioned quartz. Some associate this stone with sensuality, but the widely held association is that of unconditional love. To me, this is the love of animal companions, strong friendships, and my mom. It's the sort of love that never wavers or diminishes with the passing of time. Stella cuddles any rose quartz I place in front of her. It's quite heart-melting.

A book I love deeply and always will is The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson. When I was approached to read and review this book upon release, I did not necessarily expect to find a new favorite book. However Sean and all of his characters have weaseled their way into my heart without difficulty. I was hooked from the very first page, and have been since. Every reread is just as good as the last. This book never fails to make the smile, and Haley Catherine's audiobook rendition never fails to raise gooseflesh on my arms. Hell I love this book! I'll be damned if it doesn't make it on to almost every book tag I ever complete on this blog.

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Hey, thanks as always for visiting! I hope you enjoyed this new tag. If you're interested, please consider yourself tagged! My only request is that you link your post back to this one.

I decided to add a little background on each of the stones featured to help inform your pick or change a prompt to better suit your reading tastes. Obviously if you complete this tag, you do not need to write your own crystal descriptions, though you're welcome to find and include pictures of them! I hope this tag taught you something about crystals or inspired you to start/grow a collection!