Everything You Need to Know About Healing Crystals

by Erin Lukas July 14, 2016

Green Aventurine ? #greenaventurine #thegratefulgypsyshop

A photo posted by Grateful_Gypsy (@thegratefulgypsyshop) on May 28, 2015 at 4:11am PDT

The path to spiritual enlightenment can be a long one. If your weekly yoga classes and daily scheduled transcendental meditation sessions haven’t been successful in killing the bad vibes, it might be time to take a new approach to getting in touch with your spiritual side.

Healing crystals have garnered popularity due to the belief that these stones that form naturally in the earth hold healing properties, and produce positive energy to help restore life’s balance and bring prosperity in areas like money and love. Ok, so many of them also look pretty too, but aesthetics aside, utilizing the right ones in your collection can potentially help you get the results you’re looking for.

Understanding how crystals work, which formations to pick and how care for them, are the first steps in spiritual healing and emotional self-discovery. So, if you’re ready to buy some crystals and (maybe) fix your life, let’s get our rock on.

How do healing crystals work?

Healing crystals (minerals that have a defined crystal structure) and rocks (a mix of two or more mineral elements) are stones believed to emit energy that vibrates on measurable frequencies. “Working with them [crystals and rocks] is a natural, holistic, ancient healing art, and exposure to their energy can affect a person’s well-being and health, weather it be physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually,” explains Krista Mitchell of Rock Whisperer NYC.

How do you know which crystals will work best for you?

Choosing crystals is like finding a new pair of jeans. After trying on a million fits and styles, you instantly know when you slide on the perfect pair. “Take a walk around the store to allow yourself to see what you’re drawn to, even if it’s purely aesthetic before you read all of the descriptions. This gives you the opportunity to which stones you have a communication channel with. If you need to be tactile, then touch, feel and hold, and choose based on which one speaks to you,” suggests Samantha Chin, owner of The Rock Store in Toronto.

In addition to following your intuition, you can also research which ones will serve you best before visiting a store, or consult with a crystal therapist or expert.

How do you care for crystals?

To ensure their maximum effectiveness, Mitchell suggests clearing a crystal’s energy as soon as you get it home. “It’s important to clear their energy before you work with them, as you can’t be sure what they’ve been exposed to before they came into your keeping. Easy ways to do this are to run them several times through the smoke of burning ceremonial sage, leave them in a bowl of lightly salted water or uncooked organic brown rice overnight or bury in them in fresh soil (a potted plant or a garden will do) for a few hours.”

Just like your iPhone, crystals also have to periodically get recharged. “I recommend clearing crystals every so often when you feel something has changed. There are many ways including: cold water, salt, sound, sunlight, sage, incense, moonlight and burying in the ground. My recommendation is to use sound as it clears the stone the fastest. You can use a crystal-singing bowl, or some classical music turned up loud. If you stand in front of a loud speaker you can feel the dense vibration of sound in your body. So is true for the crystals, and the vibration of sound helps “shake off” and return the stone to its base frequency aligned with the earth,” explains Chin.

Both Mitchell and Chin agree that like any strong relationship, quality time together is essential. In order for your crystals to take care of you, you need to spend time with them and treat them with care.

Browse the gallery to learn about the different types of healing crystals.

1/10

Amethyst

An upcoming job interview or a meeting with your boss to ask for a raise are two situations that can be major sources of anxiety. Amethyst can act as a calming mechanism to ease nerves and anxiety. “The crystal is also excellent for helping people retain their thinking to be more positive, lift people up from depressive moods, and beak old habits of self-sabotage,” suggests Mitchell.

2/10

Aquamarine

If you’re dehydrated from being a little too enthusiastic about last night’s after-work drinks, aquamarine can help making getting through the day a little easier. “Aquamarine is the stone of the throat. It brings with it the ocean and balances hydration in the body. It’s also a great stone to bring truth and clarity to your interactions,” explains Chin.

3/10

Black Tourmaline

If you’re traveling, and want a little extra reassurance that you’re going to have a safe flight, black tourmaline offers protection and neutralizes and purifies energy by repelling negative energies and destructive forces. “It creates the equivalent of an electrified force field around the aura, instantly repelling lower and harmful energy and intentions,” explains Mitchell.

4/10

Carnelian

If you’ve planned to “Netflix and chill” next weekend and the only R-rated part of the activity is the film you’re going to watch, carnelian can aid in reviving your love life. “Carnelian is a great stone of courage, strength, vitality, sexuality, creativity and passion. Not only is it good for reproductive and blood related issues, carnelian also harmonizes relationships between parents and children,” explains Chin.

5/10

Citrine

As the temperatures continue to drop as we get deeper into fall, so do last season’s sunny dispositions. Citrine is literally sunshine in a crystal and can aid in treating seasonal depression. “It has a very optimistic, inspiring, creative energy that attracts good will, abundance and opportunity. It has a grounding, revitalizing energy and boosts the immune system,” explains Mitchell.

6/10

Green Aventurine

Attending a wedding where the couple already has everything on their registry, or your own relationship is on the rocks? (Pun intended.) Enter green aventurine. “Green aventurine is an excellent protector of the heart, and balances male and female energies in a relationship. It also brings universal love and prosperity and makes an excellent wedding gift,” says Chin.

7/10

Lapis Lazuli

If you’re taking up a hobby, like a new language or mastering the art of photography, lapis lazuli can help you reach pro status. “Lapis lazuli is the stone of the spiritual seeker and self-knowledge,” says Chin. “It stimulates the one’s desire for knowledge and understanding and aids in self-knowledge and reflection to help identify one’s gifts and opportunities for growth.”

8/10

Quartz

If you’re looking for the one-size-fits-all of crystals, quartz is an option many people use. While it may be considered a master healer, it can be very powerful, but also destructive if used incorrectly. “Quartz can channel and direct any form of vibration for any intent or purpose, so in a way it’s the wild card of crystals,” explains Mitchell. “It amplifies and magnifies energy, good or bad, so while it can enhance your psychic abilities, sharpen your focus, and increase your energy, for instance, it can also make you feel hyper and more anxious.”

9/10

Rose Quartz

“Rose quartz is love in a crystal. It’s extremely therapeutic for people who struggle with self-worth, self-love and self-esteem issues,” says Mitchell. Instead of posting selfies in hopes that likes will serve as validation, rose quartz may benefit you and change your point-of-view towards yourself, “When we’re more loving towards ourselves, we’re more likely to attract love into our experience, which is why rose quartz is good for friendship and romance.”

10/10

Selenite

An unexpected opportunity like a career change that takes you to a new city, can be a tough decision. Selenite can clear your mind and help guide you towards your destined path. “It is the stone of angels and acts as a radio antennae to the heavens,” says Chin. “It is a great stone to carry on the body as it constantly clears the auric field of negative debris and shields you from others. It’s great for meditation and messages from your guides.”

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