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Those who have an affinity for the Mineral Kingdom were very young the first time they found and adopted their very first stone. Doesn’t matter what kind of a stone it was. It was a secret TREASURE. It was LOVED. There was just something about it that generated wonder. Wonder is the threshold to magic. Just its being close created myriad feelings, including but not limited to happiness, joy, security, strength, power, and magic. It might have been the first, but it certainly wasn’t the last stone they adopted.
Each stone, whether crystal, gemstone, or wild chunk of Earth, is a powerful source of energy that can serve as a magical means of channeling, absorbing, and directing energy. More than just a pretty face, they multiply any magic you make. Their cost is not reflective of their value. A wild chunk of Earth picked up from a place that resonates with power is far more valuable than a polished diamond for the power it can manage. One is a partner in your magic, the other is a pretty geegaw.