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Before I really delve into the topic of crystals, I would like to say that while this is a quick guide, I may not cover every topic and stone. However, I will provide all of the basics, to give you a gist of how you can enhance your life with crystals.

I would like to start by saying that I have been entranced by crystals since a very young age. At probably around 5-years-old I became obsessed after seeing them at a Pow-Wow with my grandmother. After that, I seized all opportunities to obtain crystals, yet sadly I wasn’t very good at keeping up with anything. However, while I may have lost my crystals, I did not lose my love for them.

Then, during my teenage years, I began studying witchcraft, paganism, Buddhism, and many other paths. Yet, one particular aspect caught my attention: eclectic paganism. And when I found out there were crystals involved, I knew I had found my spiritual path. Some years later, I have lost crystals along the way, but I have gained so much knowledge, and I would love to share it with you.

If you have never owned a crystal before, or have never had any practice with one, it is a good idea to study the various available stones in order to find the ones that suit your needs. For me, I keep a few basic stones that have multiple uses, and use the same dozen or so over and over again. Of course, I would love to have more, but for now, my collection is small. With that being said, you can accumulate as many as you like in whatever variety you prefer.

The following stones are a good foundation to work towards, as they provide a number of amazing benefits for the user. Of course, if you can’t purchase all of them, you can at least choose the ones that are calling you. 

Amethyst

The sobriety stone, also wonderful for divination, contact with the spirit realm, getting in touch with divine energy, and promoting peace and removing negativity. Also good for meditation and lucid dreaming. Opens the third eye.

Can also be used to battle addiction, headaches, pain relief, circulatory issues, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, asthma, phobias, pregnancy and preventing miscarriage, and general healing.

Aventurine

Creativity, imagination, helpful for seeing alternatives or for giving a positive outlook, provides courage, brings luck, and is thought to bring friendship.

Physically, aventurine is good for blood, circulatory system, balancing blood pressure, sinus problems, nausea, headaches, allergies, eczema, fever and sleep issues.
Sodalite- Heals breaches in communication, and is a stone of truth. Others have referred to it as the Poet’s Stone. Others believe it can help to end a disagreement and increases intelligence, knowledge, and learning.

Physically, this crystal is beneficial to the glands, digestive system, lymphatic cancer, relieving insomnia and decreasing calcium deficiency.

Agate

Agate is the stone of strength and is said to give strength in both battles and physically. It also enhances creativity, strengthens intellect and increases energy. Keep in mind it is a grounding stone, which means it won’t increase energy at all times, but rather in bursts.

Agate is considered to be especially helpful for anxiety and stress. Also helpful for balancing the Solar Plexus chakra. Can give courage and provides protection.
Helpful with tooth and gum issues, stomach problems, physical endurance, insomnia, detoxification.

Quartz

Often referred to as the universal crystal due to its many uses. Enhances energy by absorbing, storing, amplifying, balancing, focusing and transmitting. Quartz can energize other crystals and remove negativity while purifying and cleansing spiritual, mental and physical planes. Quartz also enhances spiritual growth, provides psychic protection and can be quite useful on the third eye.

Amplifies healing energy, effective for chronic fatigue, arthritis, bone injuries, depression, improves energy, and aids in helping digestive issues.

Rose Quartz

Opens the heart chakra and is the stone of love. (All love.) Rose quartz can raise self-esteem, and provide us with the ability to love ourselves as we should. Emotionally, it can be a calming stone which eases anxiety, however, it can also aid in releasing emotional wounds such as trauma. Helpful for brain function and increasing intellect.

Opens the heart chakra and is the stone of love. (All love.) Rose quartz can raise self-esteem, and provide us with the ability to love ourselves as we should. Emotionally, it can be a calming stone which eases anxiety, however, it can also aid in releasing emotional wounds such as trauma. Helpful for brain function and increasing intellect.

Physically, rose quartz can aid with fertility, reducing wrinkles, weight loss, fibromyalgia, spleen issues, ear aches, throat problems, acne, sexual dysfunction, lung problems, and kidney disease.

Tigers Eye

Protection, stability, enhance integrity, practicality and correct use of power. It can bring good luck, often in the form of money. Perfect for protection while traveling. Also, can work as a mood stabilizer.

Protection, stability, enhance integrity, practicality and correct use of power. It can bring good luck, often in the form of money. Perfect for protection while traveling. Also, can work as a mood stabilizer.

Protection, stability, enhance integrity, practicality and correct use of power. It can bring good luck, often in the form of money. Perfect for protection while traveling.

Tiger’s eye is also thought to be a blood fortifier, which increases vitality and strength. Thought also to boost the endocrine system. May also help with seasonal affective disorder and depression, alleviates nightmares and can relieve asthma attacks and lower blood pressure.

Obsidian

Corresponds to the root chakra. Is a strongly protective stone that can block negative energies and psychic attacks. Draws out mental stress and tension, while stimulating growth on all levels. Brings clarity and clears confusion. Promotes compassion and strength.

Corresponds to the root chakra. Is a strongly protective stone that can block negative energies and psychic attacks. Draws out mental stress and tension, while stimulating growth on all levels. Brings clarity and clears confusion. Promotes compassion and strength.

Aids in digestive process, and detoxifies. Can reduce arthritis pain, joint problems and cramps.

Orange Calcite

Very good stone for mental health as it can relieve emotional fear, mental breakdown, depression, accidents, rape, divorce, suicidal thoughts and is also helpful with phobias. Restores mental equilibrium.

Very good stone for mental health as it can relieve emotional fear, mental breakdown, depression, accidents, rape, divorce, suicidal thoughts and is also helpful with phobias. Restores mental equilibrium.

Physically, this stone is helpful for the reproductive system, genitals, intestines, irritable bowel syndrome, kidneys, chronic fatigue.

Unakite

It is believed that by placing unakite underneath the pillow, it will increase the chance of conception. Encourages harmonious partnerships, and is a professional support stone. A wonderful stone for post injury, surgery, or when you are in need of recuperation. If you are trying to cut down on smoking or trying to overcome an addiction, unakite can be quite helpful.

Helps promote the growth of healthy tissue, useful in support of the heart and lungs, circulation, and metabolism. This stone is so underrated because it can get to the root cause of a disease that may be caused by an emotional problem.

Dalmatian Jasper

Encourages fidelity, encourages you to carefully plan a project and is excellent for those that are quitting smoking. Children also benefit from this stone as it can rid them of nightmares.

Encourages fidelity, encourages you to carefully plan a project and is excellent for those that are quitting smoking. Children also benefit from this stone as it can rid them of nightmares.

Encourages fidelity, encourages you to carefully plan a project and is excellent for those that are quitting smoking. Children also benefit from this stone as it can rid them of nightmares.

Stimulates the nerves and reflexes. Also beneficial to the muscles, tendons, and cartilage. Prevents strains, sprains and muscle spasms. Many believe that it can boost the immune system and remove toxins.

Hematite

Hematite is the perfect stone to carry around with you, as it calms stress and worry, and is also a protective stone. It provides

Hematite is the perfect stone to carry around with you, as it calms stress and worry, and is also a protective stone. It provides its holder with the ability to stay grounded in situations that would otherwise pose a problem. Corresponds to the root chakra. Aids in the ascension process to a higher existence.

Hematite is also thought to be helpful for the liver, blood, and for stress. It can protect against geopathic stress, and support the kidneys. It also treats leg cramps, anxiety and insomnia.

If you could only choose a few of these, I would say to stick to amethyst, rose quartz, quartz, and citrine as they can cover many bases in regards to healing.

Once you have begun your collection, you can easily add to it later. And if you focus on merely a few at a time, it will allow you to bond with your stones as you should.

Now that we understand the basics of the basic crystals and stones, we can get to the fun part: the actual using of our pretty, new, friends.

So where to begin? Well here are a few ideas.

How to Utilize Your Crystals for Optimal Healing

 

1. Meditate With Your Crystal of Choice

This could be one of the simplest ways to connect with your crystals. Simply find a quiet place and take a seat, or lay down, whichever is most comfortable. Next, while holding your crystal in one or both hands, close your eyes and focus on your breath. As you breathe in, imagine that you are sinking into the ground (grounding.) You may see light surrounding you, or you may not see anything right away. If your crystal doesn’t seem to resonate with you, try another. Sometimes one crystal will do little to nothing and another will send shivers up your spine.

2. Use or Make a Crystal Grid

grif

Take a small piece of paper and write your intention on it. (For example, I wish to abstain from drinking.) You will need a crystal to go in the center (quartz is best, but any stone will do), and you will also need stones that align with your intention. So, if we need stones that help with sobriety we could choose Amethyst, unakite and a good detoxing stone like obsidian and a rose quartz for compassion on this endeavor. Use a quartz stone as the activator and then lay down a cloth. You can purchase grid cloths or make your own.

Focus on the goal you are attempting to achieve. Once again, for our example, it will be abstinence from drinking. When choosing an intention it is important to be specific. While there are no right or wrong stones to use, try to stick with ones that can somehow help your purpose. If you were doing a wealth grid you would need stones like aventurine, tiger’s eye, and citrine. Conversely, for a health grid, you would need stones like sodalite, rose quartz, hematite, etc.

Cleanse the space you are using by burning sage, sweeping, or by sprinkling salt.
Breathe deeply and state your intention, then fold the written intention and place it beneath the cloth. Breathe deeply and state your attention out loud again or visualize it.

Now, starting from the exterior, moving to the center, align your stones. As you place each stone, keep your intention in your mind. Place your center crystal on top of the intention. Activate the layout by taking a quartz crystal and starting from the outside, draw an invisible thread between each stone to connect them.
At this point, you are finished, however, you can incorporate other tools like candles, incense, etc. 

3. Carry A Crystal With You

Get to know your crystals by stowing one away in your pocket or purse and pull it out when you need to center yourself, or when you need it to lend its energies to you.

4. Wear Your Crystals

YAS

Make jewelry out of the crystals you need most and wear them daily to promote overall well-being.

5. Lay the Crystals on Your Body

Starting from the root chakra and moving all the way to the crown lay a crystal on each one. To start (based on the list above) place obsidian on the root, a rose quartz over your heart to open you up to giving and receiving love. Then, place an amethyst crystal on your third eye, and a quartz at the top of your head (crown.) Lay down and focus on the healing powers of the stones.

You can also try simply meditating while laying down with an amethyst over your third eye, as it opens you up to altered states of consciousness which are necessary for a meditative state.

Of course, there are many other ways to utilize your crystals. Some people like to make little medicine pouches with select herbs and crystals that match their intention. Others decorate their homes by using their crystal grids to match up the feng shui of their home.

Ultimately, above all……dip your toes in, little by little to better understand your stones, however, once you have a solid grasp on what your stones can do for you, go ahead and jump in head first! And if you are confused as to where to start, I suggest using the crystal grid. Not only does it take work, which adds energy to your endeavor, it also provides you with a method that allows you to utilize multiple stones at a time in order to amplify the necessary energies.

Crystal Care (Cleansing, Recharging, Activation, and Dedication)

And remember, crystals need to be taken care of. Start by cleansing your stones as soon as you bring them into your home. They may also need to be cleaned if they are losing their shine. After other people have touched your stone it is good to cleanse them and if you suddenly feel repelled by a certain stone. To cleanse them, soak in a solution of 1-2 tablespoons of salt per gallon of water. Allow them to soak for 24-48 hours.

Once your stones have been cleaned, try recharging them as well. This can be done with sunlight, moonlight, or with a quartz cluster. For sunlight, lay them in your windowsill for about an hour. If you opt for moonlight (my FAVORITE) you can use any moon cycle, however, it is important that the crystals be in the moonlight. If you can catch a full moon that is always best. I let mine stay in the moonlight overnight, wipe them with a soft, clean towel, and then store them in their special place.

Now that you understand the basics of cleansing and recharging, let us move along to the activation of our crystals. And the best way to achieve this is by holding the stone with your giving hand and focusing your intentions on activating the stone. If you used sunlight or moonlight to recharge your crystals you may skip the activation part if you wish. However, the best results are when the stone is additionally activated by you.

Other people discuss the notion of dedicating your stones. This is not something you must do, however, if you insist, you do this by setting up a sacred space and setting your stones on an altar or table. Say any choice words, such as “I dedicate these stones to the idea of love, light and good for all. I affirm abundance and prosperity for myself and all beings.” You can dedicate them how you wish, there is no right or wrong way to do this. Just make sure that you protect your stones from negative thoughts and entities.