Spirit beings are like people in that not all of them are benevolent. Not all of them are malefic either. Some tend toward neutrality. They have limited ability to interact with the material world. Since we have the ability to seek them out, some points need to be made. It is very important to take precautions because some creatures can be extremely violent and chaotic. That is why one must have a good understanding of the subject before any forays into the spirit world are made. One MUST think the matter through first. Stepping into the spirit world is somewhat like getting into a car with a stranger. The more you know, the better off you are.
Some useful questions to ask:
What is my motivation? Why do I need to do this?
Is there another way I can accomplish the same goal?
What can I do to protect myself if something goes wrong?
Do I actually know what I am summoning or trying to banish?
There have been some who have taken the attitude that nothing can hurt them when they venture into spiritual realms, whether it is journeying on the astral plane or attempting to channel or even trying rituals from another religion. This is most emphatically not the case. You can be harmed by doing these things. When opening spiritual doors, it is paramount that one understand what they are opening the door to! This does not mean that one should not do it. What it means, as stated above, is that research and complete understanding are necessary. If one is going to an unknown place, either earthly or spiritual, it's a good idea to read the travel guides first and also have some form of protection. It can be a weapon or a shield or a strong bodyguard or knowledge of empty-hand self defense. In all cases, a strong will is needed, and the desire to protect oneself. That is why going out to meet spiritual beings, or intruding into their domain, is a task best left for those with more experience.
There is a lot of misinformation floating around about crystals. Some consider them magical in and of themselves. Others treat them as if they were alive, in the same way that a person is alive. The truth is far subtler, yet borne out by experience and testing.
First of all, there are lots of kinds of crystals. Salt is a crystal. So is a kidney stone. Sugar is, too. For this discussion we will talk about quartz crystals and salt crystals, since they are the most commonly used for magical applications.
Quartz crystals store energy, somewhat like a magical battery. They can also store information, somewhat like a CD or flash drive. Once formed, they do not grow over time. They also do not change color. Though they can change surface color due to oxidation or similar effects, the interior color will always stay the same. The clearer and more perfect the crystal, the better it will work. Size, color, and form have effects but it is more of a symbolic assistance than a true difference in structure. An amethyst is the same as a citrine, the only difference being the kind and amount of impurities in the stone. But the color affects the mind as a symbol, helping to focus the energy that goes into it. This is simply an overview. There is much more to say about the subject, but these are the essentials.
For more information about crystal formation, go to this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz
Salt crystals are good for banishing evil. Since the beginning of civilization, it has been an excellent purifier and preservative. Tens of thousands of years ago it was used to cure meat and hides. It has healing and cleansing effects. Wounds washed in salt water heal more cleanly, a salt water gargle will help cure a sore throat. This has been known for a long time and probably influenced the magical applications people put it to. Throughout history, salt was also very valuable, often being used as currency. But what makes it good for banishing evil? Evil, by its nature, is chaotic. Salt has a very regular crystalline structure. It is cubic, and occasionally pyramidal. It does not automatically make evil vanish, but it is very painful to evil creatures. Think of how you would feel if sulfuric acid were splashed in your face. It wouldn’t take much to make you go away, would it? It is the same with salt. An important note, though, is that whatever you threw the salt at is still there. What you do next is up to you, but the various options need to be dealt with at another time, due to their complexity.
Astrology is valuable only as a system of symbology and a rough description of different types of personality. It cannot predict the future and it cannot describe the present. Astrology is based on an outmoded system of cosmology that places Earth in the center of the Universe and states that the other planets and stellar objects orbit it. Anyone who looks at the fundamental precepts of astrology (Chinese or Western, either one) will soon see that it is inherently flawed and is easily provable to be false. It is not evil, it is simply outmoded.
Logic is NOT a limit, it is a tool.
R. Shaw