Stones and Crystals

That is a really cool idea! Our local new age store does something similar, but they are just sitting out where you can pick through them.
I would love to have one of those amethyst geodes up there :D

Angela, it depends on who you ask really lol. In one camp you have the staunch traditionalists (aka foo-foo ninny poo heads is my pet name for them) Who say you have to be in a coven and be initiated in order to be Wiccan. Then on the other side you have the eclectics who say whatever floats your boat. I am of the second camp. I can see a person seeing Jesus as God, and Mary (the mother or Magdalene if you are Gnostic) as their Goddess. Try googling Christian-Wicca and see what you come up with. (Not to hijack your article Rick :) Please forgive me lol)

There are Christian - Wiccans, and many Wiccans will welcome them, but few Christians will. But you notice that Heather said about Jesus as the God and Mary as the Goddess - in other words you follow the Wiccan Path, but use the Christian Pantheon as your God and Goddess. I agree much with Heather, I personally don't like the term "what ever floats your boat" - because there are lines that once crossed the person may be Pagan, but not Wiccan. Being in a Coven is a good thing, or at least Coven trained, as there are many parts of the Craft that can not be learned from books or the Internet. You will find many of the Heather's "foo-foo ninny poo heads" have a REAL reason for acting the way they do. The area in South Florida that I am from had a lot of "Posers". They looked the look, talked the talk, but didn't walk the walk. There is a lot of training and learning to become a Witch, a lot of people like to read one book or a few articles on the Internet and they become "SUPER- WITCH". (And for some reason if a newspaper is running an article and want to interview a Witch - these people are the ones they do, and they will spout out garbage and put the craft back 100 years in the area.) It's sort of like the person who buys a Ph.D off the Internet for $100 and expects to be welcomed by his fellow Ph.D's that did it the hard way - going to college and learning about their profession. There is nothing wrong about being a self taught solitary, but remember not all will accept you, and usually it has nothing to do with what you know, its with what you don't know. (Something that will tick off a Wiccan is the use of Lady or Lord by a newbie - these are title, when used by a Coven are given to members who have reached a certain level - in many case third degree and in others it can only be used by elders. I've seen this on many groups when someone is introducing themselves - Hi, My name is Lady soNso and I've been a Wiccan for almost three months now- the response from the group will usually let you know a little about the group.
If you have a CUUP's in your area - go to some of their meetings - as they will welcome Christian - Wiccans and help them learn more about Wicca and the Craft and not expect you to have to conform to any tradition. (CUUP groups can usually be found within a Universal Unitarian Church) I get carried away at times.

I love geodes. There was a place in Iowa where they were found. I think it was Keokuk. I know very little about Wiccans but some of my favorite people are Wiccans and I'd like to learn a little, but have nothing to contribute. Mostly it's the crystals and other stones that brought me here. :)

It's always a good thing to want to learn. And crystals and stones are wonderful things. Geodes can be found in a lot of places - but most people see them and think they are just rocks, not knowing of the beauty thats inside. I would love to own one of the big ones - I have a few little ones, mostly Agate nodes and some chunks of amethyst geodes.

Rick we have a yard full of geodes. Two owners before us collected them. At first I was mesmerized and then all the work it took move them took the joy from me. I need to go back into the yard and celebrate the gifts that I'm surrounded by. Kind of like life huh?

nice stones. The funny shaped one is really neat.

I'll have to come vist your store in Pigeon Forge. I love crystals but don't know as much about them as I would like. I do have some favorite rocks --granite and other simple rocks, but not in crytal shapes--that I keep on my computer and my altar.

Very interesting! Please tell me more!!!

Love the stones you show here. I am a rockhound so I would really love to visit your area! I collect all sorts of stones and fossils. Both my husband and I really love the hunt for the rocks and then the work to make the stones into something beautiful.

Thanks for publishing this article.