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Crystals 101

Your Friendly Familiar

A Beginner’s Guide

In recent years, it seems that more and more people are turning towards alternative or more traditional, complementary medicine.  It can come in many forms, including yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, and healing crystals.  Chances are at some point you have probably seen or heard about pretty stones being used to help heal or provide support to people.  Many magic practitioners also use Crystals to help aid them in practicing magic, including Witchcraft, Psychic Readings, and Tarot/Oracle Card Readings.  Maybe a big reason why we as humans are drawn to Crystals is because they are, quite frankly, beautiful and seem magical by nature.  The theory is that every Crystal can be used in different ways and contains unique properties that can help a person physically, mentally/emotionally, and spiritually.  Since there are so many stones, so many uses and unique properties for each kind of stone, it can be fair to say that the topic of Crystals is complicated, detailed, and can be daunting for those curious about the subject.  

So for this post, I did my best researching all I could about Crystals and compiled all the info I could find into this one place where you can refer back to, if you need.  Please note that throughout this post, when I say “Crystal,” please know that I am using it as an “umbrella term” which encompasses gemstones, crystals, and stones, since there are most likely technical, scientific distinctions between these types.  For those wanting a list of different Crystals with their corresponding specific traits, I shall do a separate post of a Glossary of Popular Crystals!  For this post, I intend to just dive deep into the subject and how they can be used.  Now then!  Let’s have some fun learning about Crystals and what they have to offer in practicing magic!

Table of Contents

    History

    Crystals have been used for thousands of years!  In fact, evidence suggests that Crystal Healing has been used since the Sumerians of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egyptians, which add up to around 6,000 years ago.  However, modern techniques/uses for Crystal Healing most likely dates back to the Chinese concepts of chi (or qi) or life energy and Hindu and Buddhist teachings of Chakras, which are life-energy sources that connect our physical bodies to the metaphysical.  For thousands of years, people have used Crystals to help aid people physically (such as to draw out poison, to help ease bodily pain, to increase longevity, etc.), mentally/emotionally (to ward off nightmares, to ease fear/anxiety, etc.), and spiritually (to be more spiritually connected, to be more in tuned with higher planes of thinking, etc.).  

    Using Crystals for Readings

    Crystals combining with magic practice can provide many benefits.  To start, they not only are convenient for the practice itself, but are handy for the magical tools you use, too.  Whether you use Tarot Cards, Runes, a Pendulum, or a Crystal Ball, having a Crystal present can bring a clean atmosphere and positive energy to your sacred space.  They can even help you with Readings in clarifying meanings behind them.  If you are receiving the Reading, having a personal Crystal on hand can help guide and support you through the Reader’s session.  Depending on the Crystal you have present in your sacred space, it can provide you specific attributes or strengths.  The following is a discussion of Crystals that work best for (1) any type of Reading, (2) Tarot/Oracle Card Readings, and (3) Psychic Readings and/or Readings for Others. 

    Any Reading Type

    No matter if you use tarot/oracle cards, runes, palm readings, psychic readings, etc., one could benefit having Crystals present to help your surrounding energy and your personal energy to be best prepared for the upcoming reading.  Many people combine Crystals with sage incense, meditation, Reiki, and others before Readings to maximize their effects and to best prepare your sacred space for an upcoming Reading session.  Below are charts for Crystals that are good for (a) protection and cleansing, (b) staying calm, (c) your Third-Eye Chakra, and (d) clarity.

    Tarot / Oracle Card Readings

    Crystals can not only empower you during Tarot/Oracle Card Readings, but they can also strengthen the cards themselves, which can provide a great Reading session experience.  Many people keep specific cards within reach so they can be cleansed on a regular basis by Crystals.  (I made a separate post on Cleansing Tarot Cards if you’re interested in further information.)  (NOTE: Make sure that your Crystals are cleansed themselves before using them for their cleansing properties towards other items.)  Having Crystals in your sacred space will help banish negative, static, old energies and welcome beneficial energies and strengths.  Many Readers organize their Crystals on their Tarot Cloth in a specific grid or pattern to help capture and maximize their benefits and strengthen your intuition abilities.  Crystals can also help you better understand card meanings and overall message interpretations.  If you’re struggling making a decision, they can help guide the right messages to come you, which will guide you in the right direction for accurate interpretations.  They can help provide clarity and at the same time provide a pathway for the Universe to provide support and encouragement.  If anything, Crystals can help you in your mindset before, during, and after a Reading.  Below is a short slideshow of popular Crystals that are recommended to have in your sacred space for Card Readings.  Please look to see which one appeals to you and what benefits they might provide:

    Psychic Readings & Readings for Other People

    When doing Psychic Readings and other forms of Readings that involve other people (such as a client), it’s important that key characteristics are in the best shape possible.  Specifically, one’s communication skills and the abilities in clarity and understanding for both you and the other person(s) involved should be at their best possible.   Crystals can help heighten these skills and abilities.  Below are a couple of quick charts on some Crystal suggestions that may best help your needs:

    TIPS

    The following are just some generic tips that may help you when combining Crystals and your Readings:

    Healing Crystals

    People who support the notion of Crystal Healing believe that Crystals have traits or properties that help people heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and/or spiritually.   The theory is that Crystals can interact with your body’s energy field, which can support, promote, or encourage healing in a physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual manner.  (That all being said, if you are experiencing ailments that are negatively impacting your daily life, if you haven’t done so already, please go consult a medical doctor.  If the medical science that the Universe has provided us can assist you live a happier, healthier life, then please pursue it, my dear friend.)  As we’ve discussed, every Crystal carry its own unique traits or special abilities.  (For example: Amethyst is said to be good for the intestines, Green Aventurine is supposed to help the heart, etc.  Crystals that are Red, Orange, Yellow, Green/Pink, Indigo, Violet/White in color are said to help align/balance the chakra points of those correlated colors.)  One could utilize Healing Crystals in other ways.  For example, you can place specific Crystals under your pillow at night to dispel sickness or nightmares.  You can wear Crystals as jewelry that promote healing or absorbing positive energy.  You can even have a Crystal in your pocket that helps with protection.  

    Crystal Healing Treatment

    If you are attending a Crystal Healing treatment session, the following is what you may experience.  You first may have a conversation with the Crystal Healer and be asked a few questions about any symptoms you may be experiencing, such as an upset stomach, back pain, depression, stress, etc.  You might be asked to lie on your back on a mat, the floor, couch, or a massage table.  The Healer may then various Crystals on specific locations around your body and/or on your body, such as the stomach, chest, forehead, etc.  As they do so, the Healer may help guide you to a comfortable, relaxed state physically and mentally.  Your Healer will take note to each Crystal being placed and how its amplifying positive energies and/or dispelling negative energies based on your reactions.  Depending on your responses, the Healer may make changes or adjust accordingly to your needs.  In the end, it is up to your Healer’s personal preference and interpretation of the best course of action to address your particular wants/needs for the session.

    The Crystals tend to be positioned where your Chakra points are located, such as the Heart Chakra is on the Chest, the Third-Eye Chakra on the forehead, etc.  Every Chakra point is said to be connected to a part of the physical body as well as a mental, emotional, and spiritual side.  So if you’re experiencing physical pain, a Healer should know which Chakra point should be aligned/balanced/opened with a particular Healing Crystal for that purpose.  So, for example, if you are experiencing symptoms such as stomach pain, heartburn, or digestive issues, that is correlated with your Solar Plexus Chakra, which governs those physical symptoms.  To help balance this energy center, a Crystal Healer may place a Crystal such as Pyrite, Yellow Jasper, Amber, Citrine, or Golden Calcite on your stomach area (where your Solar Plexus Chakra lies).  The hope is that by balancing this Chakra with Healing Crystals, it may, it turn, help ease your physical symptoms.  After a Crystal Healing session, it’s not uncommon to experience fatigue, lethargy, emotional instability (such as crying easily), or cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose.  Professionals say these are actually positive signs that both emotional and physical blockages are being released and opening up, which is a positive sign of healing.  

    Crystals for Different Needs

    As we’ve stated a few times already, there are different many Crystals that carry their own properties, uses, and purposes.  Did you know that Healing Crystals can be used for more than mere physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual health?  In fact, they can be used for different needs!  For example, they can be used to help bring about other positive life outcomes, such as wealth and love.  So take a look below and see if any of these Crystals speak to you and may be worth looking into possessing for yourself!

    Crystals for Balancing Chakras

    If one of your 7 chakras are imbalanced (either blocked/underactive or too open/overactive), you can use crystals/stones to help harmonize your chakras back into balance.  For example, if your Heart Chakra is blocked, you can hold a rose quartz in your hand while meditating and/or doing healing chakra chants.  To balance all your chakras, you can lie on your back on the floor, couch, or bed and place a piece of crystal/stone in the location of its correlated chakra.  For example, you place: an amethyst where your crown chakra is housed, a purple fluorite where your third-eye is located, an aquamarine for your throat chakra, and so on.  If you are interested in learning more about chakras, symptoms for an imbalanced chakra point, and how to balance your chakras, you can look at my Chakra post here.  Below is a quick guide on crystals/stones for each chakra:

    How to Choose Your Crystal

    Let’s say you wish to purchase a Crystal.  How do you choose one?  Well, the first thing you need to do is to decide what you are needing as of now, if anything.  Are you in physical pain and, if so, where?  Are you suffering from depression, anxiety, or stress?  Are you wanting to improve meditation, attempt astral projection, or conduct a spell?  Once you know what you are needing, look up different Crystals that can help you with your specific need.  Another approach is to look up crystals first and see if any carry specific properties that catch your eye or you feel you would benefit from at the moment.  Sometimes the Crystal chooses you!  If you live in a place that has a holistic shop, drop by and see if there’s a stone calling out to you.  If you find yourself instinctually drawn to a particular Crystal, that may be a sign that you are meant to have it.  It’s possible that you may actually need something within this stone’s qualities/traits and not even know it.  Trust your intuition and allow your subconscious to help guide and assist you in finding the right Crystal for you.  When in doubt and/or if you don’t have anything particular need in mind, I recommend to beginners to try Quartz (specifically Clear Quartz or maybe Rose Quartz) or Amethyst.  They are the basics that most magic practitioners that use Crystals own and swear by them since they contain powerful qualities and can be flexible and diverse in their uses.

    After you decide which Crystal is right for you, the next step is to think about if you want it in a particular shape or not.  Not only does each Crystal carry special effects, but also the Crystal’s shape can impact how its cleansed/activated.  As an example, a piece of Rose Quartz may produce different results depending on its shape as a tumbled stone, a wand, etc.  There are 4 primary shapes for Crystals:

    Where to Buy Crystals

    For many magic practitioners, finding an authentic and ethically-sources Crystal is very important.  Some Crystals can take literally thousands of years to form, which means that they can be in limited supply.  Plus, it’s no secret that many Crystals are being overmined in various countries, which is contributing to difficult environmental and social problems.  If you find a person or a shop selling Crystals, ask them where and how their products are being sourced.  There are a few “rules of thumb” you can follow in finding a place to purchase Crystals.  (1) Support your local, small, independent holistic or mystical shops.  You can ask them questions about their products for further information.  (2) For proof of having a rare Crystal, you can look to sellers who can provide you a Certificate of Authenticity.  (3) You can look at sellers who provide information about how their products are sourced.  (I heard that “Enter the Stargate” is one such retailer, even though I haven’t personally purchased something from them.)  (4) Keep a wary eye out for sellers who seem to have super cheap prices for their Crystals.  While it may seem great, if you’re really wanting quality, sometimes you may need to pay more for what you want.  

    Besides these “rules” that you can use to find Crystals, for those who do not have the money, the access, or the need to purchase top-notch quality Crystals, you can look at places like Amazon for retailers who may sell your product.  For beginners who are introducing themselves to the world of Crystals, I would recommend not spending a ton of money at first.  Look at more affordable options to start with.  That way, if you feel Crystals are not your calling, you didn’t lose much.  However, if you learn to love and feel connected with Crystals, you can always purchase more expensive products later.

    Crystal Accessories

    Many people of all different kinds of backgrounds and beliefs think that crystals are not only beautiful, but they also carry metaphysical abilities that can be beneficial, even if simply bringing about a little bit of extra positive energy.  Thus, you can find a huge market out there for Crystal accessories, including home decorations and jewelry.  You can even find seemingly random items such as coasters, water bottles, smoking pipes, and even sex toys made from Crystals.  But for our overview purposes, below I just review the two primary Crystal accessories that you may find interesting or want to investigate making/purchasing yourself:

    How to Cleanse & Activate Your Crystal

    Cleansing Your Crystal

    Taking care of your Crystal is not merely just how you physically do so.  After finding, purchasing, and receiving your Crystal, when you bring it home, Crystal experts suggest cleansing it.  That is because your Crystal didn’t come directly from the Earth and into your hands.  In fact, many people have handled it, from those who found the Crystal, those who packaged it, to those who helped sell it to you… all of these people’s energies have been in contact with this Crystal.  Thus, one should clear the Crystal of any negative or other unwanted energies from everyone who handled it before you.  Not only that, many experts suggest that by cleansing your Crystal, you are also cleaning away and doubt or skepticism you may have on their capabilities.  In the end, by cleansing, you are expressing respect for your Crystal, which, in turn, might provide many benefits for you when you need them.  There are many ways you can cleanse your Crystal:

    Activating Your Crystal

    After your Crystal is cleansed from unwanted energies, it can be activated.  As we’ve mentioned, different kinds of Crystals can carry specific powers or abilities.  Through activation, you can enhance these capabilities by programming your Crystal with your specific intentions and/or needs.  (NOTE: Clear Quartz is a very popular Crystal to own by magic practitioners because they are so versatile in what they can be programmed to do.  In other words, you can request almost any ability from the Clear Quartz with practically any intention you may have.)

    You can use almost any method you wish or that you feel is right to activate your Crystal.  If you need some ideas, the following are some popular methods in programming Crystals:

    After activating and programming your Crystal, it is ready for use.  For example, you can turn it into jewelry, such as a necklace by using a chain and small-gauge wire around the Crystal.  You can carry it in your pocket, purse, or something that you always have on you.  If you do magic spells, you can put your Crystal in a gris-gris bag and/or use the Crystal in your spells directly.  Another option is to simply display your activated Crystal somewhere in your home to help protect you or somewhere in your workplace to help guide you.

    Controversy

    As of now, there are no scientific studies that supports the claim that Crystals hold healing properties.  However, a study conducted at the University of London’s Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit once concluded that Crystal Healing may induce a placebo effect on participants who receive this form of treatment.  In other words, Crystals themselves do not provide healing properties and no direct therapeutic effect.  Rather, someone may simply feel better after receiving Crystal Healing treatments, possibly due to their belief of its effectiveness.  Science has explored the connection between the mind and the physical body.  So, in theory, it’s possible that one’s mind can make a positive or negative impact on their physical wellbeing.  However, if you are suffering from a medical problem, please seek treatment from a licensed medical physician first before relying solely on an alternative healer.  In the end, even if Crystals merely bring about a placebo effect, does that dismiss the practice entirely?  If it does not hurt yourself or others, does it really matter in the end?  If you believe Crystals work and it alleviates your pain, then doesn’t that make it work?  It’s up to you to decide for every magic practitioner is different and believes differently.  You do what feels right to you.

    What are your thoughts about Crystals?  Do you believe in their magical abilities or powers?  Do you own any Crystals?  If so, which one, how do you use it, and what benefits does it provide you?  If you don’t own a Crystal, is there any that seem to stand out that you may consider purchasing?  Please share your thoughts on this interesting subject!  If there are any Crystals that I didn’t mention that you think are worth discussing, please let us know so we can learn from you, too.  Thank you very much, as always, my friends, for reading this post and going with me on this fun journey into the world of Crystals!  I look forward to conversing with you more in the future!

    “When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle, and yet most of the audience still sleeps.”

    – John Lennon

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