Welcome to Witchy Reads! We’re going to read a bunch of books in 2024 and discuss the reasons that we love, like or dislike, as whether this book is actually a good read, an appropriate read, or a… niche read.
101 Power Crystals by Judy Hall is all about crystals. The author organizes the book on alphabetical order for the crystal names, which is great as a quick reference. All entries of the crystals include lore, and associations, as well as wonderfully taken pictures that highlight the lovely stones themselves.
Frankly, this book is an easy read. There’s a brief introduction were the author discusses different aspects of historical use of crystals for mystical and healing purposes. The stones all have their own pages/sections. Using the book as a quick reference guide will be the best use of the material.
As a jumping off point for getting into crystals, this book acts as a great place for most beginners to start researching further. Especially crystals that may be a bit more obscure.
Unfortunately, the book does not list a true bibliography. It does list an acknowledgements page where it looks like there is additional reading list you can pick from. But no specifically sited sources within the text. But isn’t the point of researching, and more importantly, witchcraft, mean that you take what you can and learn what you can.
Overall, I give this a 5/10. It’s a great reference, not a lot to build off unless you really want to work with crystals. I found it a little more as a reference guide than an evocative read. I do think it is a great beginner book to keep on hand, and a great place to start additional research. The author does include some very helpful tips for crystal safety, such as which may be toxic or not water safe. Not every entry is listed as safe or unsafe.
The author has done a great job of compiling the most common crystals into a quick guide. Most readers will be able to get through this book easily and can easily build off to make their own practice. Of course, more research should always be done before using any substance before is used, internally or externally.
Rating: Beginner Friendly
Grade: 5/10 – could have more sources sited well, easy to read and good organization,