Crystals are beautiful, enchanting stones that people have admired throughout human history. People collect them, wear them as jewelry, set them out in their homes, and carry them in their pockets or hands. People seek out crystals in the hopes that they will bring them good luck, wisdom, healing, creativity, or love.
In addition to the joy and visual delight they offer, these semi-rare stones are believed by many to be vehicles for spiritual, physical, and emotional healing and growth. Some of their many uses include cultivating strength, happiness, optimism, energy, forgiveness, decisiveness, protection, romance, balance, and courage. But how exactly do you harness the power of crystals for these aims?
Most of us are somewhat familiar with crystals, particularly the fact that they come in a range of colors, shapes, and sizes. However, getting started using crystals can be intimidating for many beginners. Learning more about crystals, what they can do, and how to use them, can help you feel more comfortable putting them to use.
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If you’re new to crystals, we’ve got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, discover how to utilize the awesome power of crystals to bring more healing, wisdom, and love into your life.
One of the great things about crystals is that their appeal is near-universal and using them is very accessible to beginners. They are readily available online and in a wide range of brick-and-mortar stores. Also, while some crystals can be expensive, most can be had for quite reasonable prices, in sizes large and small.
Once you learn more about crystals, how using them works, what they can be used for, and how to harness their power, you’ll have a better sense of which ones you want to purchase and can start putting them to use in your life.
What Are Crystals?
Before we get into how to pick the right healing crystals for your needs and how to use them, it’s helpful to understand exactly what they are.
Essentially, crystals are any solid material in which its molecular components are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating, geometric pattern. On a microscopic level, the atoms crystals are composed of have a very regular, symmetrical internal structure.
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Crystals are made from a variety of minerals. They start small and increase in size as more atoms are added, and tend to grow underground in a variety of cavities. They can grow in water that contains dissolved minerals. They can form from melted rock (magma) as it cools. Warm or hot water is an ideal breeding ground for crystals.
The origin of the word crystal is from the Greek word krystallos, which means “coldness drawn together” or ice.
Are crystals and gemstones the same thing?
Not all gemstones are crystals, but some are. Likewise, some crystals are gemstones. The terms are not interchangeable. Gemstones, which can have mineral or organic bases, are stones that are used to make jewelry. Crystals are any stone with its atoms arranged in a geometrically patterned order. So, if a crystal is used to make jewelry, then it’s also technically a gem as well.
Types of Crystals
Crystals grow in a variety of different structures. These include the following crystalline patterns:
- Cubic: Cube shapes
- Hexagonal: Six-sided shapes
- Monoclinic: Prism shapes
- Orthorhombic: Double pyramid shapes (aligned base-to-base)
- Tetragonal: Rectangular shapes
- Triclinic: Abstract forms
Crystals come in a huge range of colors, including purple, pink, red, green, white, blue, orange, black, brown, and yellow. Some develop in neon and opalescent shades as well. Others are clear or have more than one color. Tourmaline is a type of crystal that is known for its stunning mix of colors. The depth and intensity of color vary quite a bit as well.
Crystal benefits
For many people, using crystals offers a variety of benefits. First off, they are pretty and enjoyable to look at. Secondly, they are believed to hold a range of healing and transformative energies that can be transferred to the holder or wearer of the crystal. Some of the benefits may include helping people to recover from physical and emotional pain, find balance, wisdom, and purpose, release negative energy and blockages, and call love, joy, and positivity into one’s life.
How do crystals work?
While there are limited studies proving the efficacy of using crystals, anecdotal evidence points to a variety of benefits. Plus, it is known that different crystals emit various vibrations. It is thought that these vibrations interact with a person’s natural energetic frequency to produce the desired healing results.
Crystal Uses
Many people find crystals provide relaxation and calm. Others use them to combat mental health issues like anxiety, stress, depression, and sleep problems. Some people rely on crystals for rejuvenation and optimism and to rid themselves of baggage. Other people use crystals to call what they want, whether it’s love, happiness, forgiveness, friendship, professional success, or creativity, into their lives.
The power of crystals
For millennia, people have been fascinated by crystals. Whether drawn to their stunning beauty or healing, transformative energy, or both, the allure of crystals is powerful and nearly universal among modern and ancient humans alike. In fact, there are historical records documenting an interest in crystals and their transformative power going back to the Ancient Sumerians and Ancient Egyptians. They have been used for healing in traditional medicine practices and rituals for centuries as well.
Crystals have been (and continue) to be used for a wide range of purposes, from personal adornment and decoration to magical potions and religious objects. Many people believe that crystals are imbued with different forces that will impact the wearer or person in their vicinity. These powerful energies include healing, love, wisdom, luck, protection, positivity, and rejuvenation.
How to choose your crystals
There are many different criteria to use when choosing your crystals. Ultimately, you should pick your crystals based on your own priorities. Some people want to select their crystals primarily based on aesthetics and which ones they are drawn to. In this case, you can simply choose the crystals that are the prettiest to you and/or that simply call to you.
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However, if you have specific goals, such as relaxation, magnifying good energy, or finding a new partner, you’ll want to select a crystal that is known to work well for that intention. Below, we detail the purposes of some of the most commonly used crystals.
Crystals and Their Meanings
Crystals can work their magic on the body, mind, and soul. Different ones are known to work in different areas. Ultimately, there are ideal crystals to use for just about anything. Note that many crystals can be used for a variety of purposes though so you’ll see some listed multiple times. However, different crystals that work in similar ways can be grouped together, into categories like health, love, and protection.
Protection crystals
Some crystals are thought to offer superior protection from a variety of ailments, negativity, bad luck, or adverse energy. These include the following:
- Black obsidian: Absorbs negative energy
- Black tourmaline: Assist in repelling negative energy
- Clear quartz: Absorbs and regulates negative forces
- Citrine: Guards you from toxic people
- Amethyst: Helps to heal addiction, grief, and sadness
- Pyrite: Protects from financial problems
Healing crystals
Many crystals are generally believed to offer healing properties, including dispelling negative energy and drawing in positive vibes. Healing crystals can work on your mind, body, and soul. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Amethyst: Aids in purification and boosting willpower
- Bloodstone: Enhances circulation
- Obsidian: Helps to cope with emotions
- Clear quartz: Boosts healing generally
- Jasper: Offers nurturing and stress-relief
Love crystals
Draw romance and passion into your life with these crystals:
- Rose quartz: Boosts self-love and self-compassion, while also attracting and opening your heart to love from others
- Aventurine: Attracts love and romance
- Pink kunzite: Fosters open communication between lovers
- Lapis lazuli: Improves communication and bonding
- Agate: Builds passion
- Moonstone: Draws in former lovers
- Ruby: Makes you more enchanting to others
- Rhodonite: Heals heartbreak
- Garnet: Enhances your natural allure and strengthens bonds
Motivation and creativity crystals
Boost your self-confidence and creative fervor with these crystals:
- Clear quartz: Clears the mind of unhelpful or unwanted energies to allow creativity and positivity to flow
- Aquamarine: Promotes calm, courage, and risk-taking
- Amethyst: Boosts self-confidence and trust
- Carnelian: Encourages creative thinking and enhances motivation
Money crystals
To improve your prosperity and financial outlook, try these crystals:
- Citrine: Brings abundance and confidence
- Pyrite: Draws in prosperity and wisdom
- Peridot: Cultivates financial success and letting go of self-doubt that keeps you from achieving your goals
Wisdom crystals
Many crystals bring wisdom along with their other benefits. These are particularly helpful when seeking to clear your mind and make effective decisions:
- Green jade: Fosters mental peace, harmony, and clarity of thinking
- Malachite: Provides motivation, strength, patience, and focus
- Tiger’s eye: Boosts goal-setting, luck, follow-through, and grounding
What Crystal Should a Beginner Get
You can choose any crystal you like to begin with. And often people start with several crystals at once. Feel free to let the crystals choose you, as well. Simply look at different crystals and notice which ones you respond to the most intensely.
If you feel drawn to one or more crystals, that’s a good sign that those are the ones you need and/or that will be effective for you. However, you may want to choose a few crystals that work for many areas of life to get started with. Some of the best ones for beginners include amethyst, rose quartz, obsidian, pyrite, citrine, and moonstone.
What do I do when I first get my crystals?
When you first bring your crystals home it’s suggested to cleanse them (see instructions below) and welcome them into your life. Cleansing them releases any older energies they may have and opens them to connecting with you.
How Do I Start Using Crystals?
Once you’ve selected your crystals, you can start reaping the benefits right away. Depending on the crystals you have, there are a variety of ways to use them.
If you got crystals as part of jewelry, you can start by just wearing the jewelry. Crystal rings and necklaces are very effective as the fingers, throat, and chest provide ideal pathways for receiving the healing energy of the crystals.
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Other crystals can be used simply by holding them in your hands. Try meditating while you hold the crystal. You can also run it over your skin while thinking about your intentions and hopes. You can place them over your chakras (the body’s energy centers), which include the heart chakra, throat chakra, third eye chakra, root chakra (at the base of the spine), sacral chakra (just below the belly button), solar plexus chakra (between the ribs and belly button), and crown chakra (top of the head).
Open your heart to receive the crystal’s powerful vibrations. You can also set up your crystals on an altar. You can use meditation, chanting, incense, and candles to intensify your receptiveness to the crystal’s healing energies. Follow your intuition while working with your crystals. Trust yourself and believe in the magic crystals have to offer.
How Long Does It Take for Crystals to Work
You can begin experiencing the benefits of crystals right away. They begin to work the moment you touch them. Their vibrations can also be felt from a distance if you simply place them in your environment. The longer you use them and the more you integrate their power into your life, the stronger their impacts may be on your life.
How to cleanse your crystals
Crystals that are well cared for will be more effective. While they always hold their power, keeping them clean and happy will prime them to work optimally. Tending to them will also keep them fully charged.
There are a variety of ways to clean and recharge your crystals. You can soak and/or rinse them in salt water (either from the ocean or make your own by adding sea salt to water). Wipe them down with a clean cloth to remove dust, oils, and dirt.
Other methods include placing your crystals outside under the moon to bathe in moonlight. You can bury them for a few hours or days in the dirt to reconnect them to primal, natural energy. You can also place them in a bowl of salt. Burning incense and herbs over them and letting the smoke cleanse them is another popular method. Additionally, you can also use your own breath to revitalize their power.
Key Takeaways
At first, it can be daunting to start working with crystals. But really it’s quite easy. Crystals offer an accessible way to find healing, love, and wisdom. All you need to begin is to pick some crystals that appeal to you and start using them. Then, you’ll soon be enjoying their benefits.
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