Crystals 101
They're everywhere — department stores, spiritual bookshops, in jewelry, and in the media. We're talking crystals, and with the recent boom of popularity with these earthly gems, the idea behind them seems to have gotten a little lost. What are they used for? Do you need to cleanse them? Which crystal means what?
Breathe, relax, and smile — here is your guide to simplify the process of connecting and using crystals.
Step one — Know How They Work
The use of crystals for intent can be traced back to the Ancient Sumerians, Romans, Japanese, Chinese, Greeks, and Egyptians. They were definitely on to something, because as Eastern medicine began to rise, so did the idea that your body is an energetic field influenced by energy. The Hindu and Buddhist ideas of chakras, and the Chinese idea of Chi harmonized perfectly with these little energetic conduits.
Stones are made up of elements, just like us. Those elements turn out to be major conductors of electricity. Did you know that crystal quartz is used in most technology like computers, phones, lasers, and more? Some technology is actually finding that crystals can store information! The use of crystals in science and medicine is quickly being developed. Since they impact energy and can store information, you can “program” them to give a serge of electricity and energy to your intention — healing, manifestation, etc…
Step Two — Choosing a Stone
Whether you are looking for a crystal, mineral, or gemstone, the variety can seem overwhelming. Tell me if you’ve ever found yourself in this position — you look for a stone to fit your intention (i.e ease anxiety) and then you do a quick search, find a name, pick it out, and it just doesn’t jive with you. That story is not unique — with so many stones having similar properties, it is important to find one that jives with you specifically. Remember that nothing you are drawn to is an accident. If you find yourself called to one — your energy more than likely aligns. Pick it up and hold it for a while, really feel into it. If it is sitting well, then that’s the stone you can work with.
Step Three — Clear it out
You’ve probably heard of “cleansing” your crystals. Depending on the stone, you can run it in a natural body of water (just watch out for anything water soluble, ending in “ite” — they can get damaged or dissolved in water), you can leave them out in a moon bath, smoke-cleanse them with herbs and incense, or put them on a piece of selenite. Some stones that do a lot of cleansing and lifting, like fluorite, need to be cleansed daily. Others, like smokey quartz, rarely if ever need to be cleansed.
Because these energetic powerhouses work so much with other’s energies, it can be easy to pick up their vibe. Keep it simple — clear it out. Just like you need to eliminate waste, so does a crystal (graphic but true).
Step Four — Charge It Up
Now that your crystal is cleared, it’s time to charge it on up and give it a job to do. This is an often times overlooked yet incredibly important step in using crystals. You have to program it so it holds an intention. Think of your stone and the properties it has, and then come up with what you want to attract. You can block out bad vibes, protect and ground yourself, open up your mind for some huge hits of intuition, or give yourself a hefty dose of healingThen, you can write out your intention on a sheet of paper and put the crystal on top of it (you can also make a beautiful crystal grid or mandala if you’re feeling creative!). Or, if you’re wearing it, hold your stone in your left hand with your right hand on top and state your intention like it is already happening (i.e I am healing, I am protected, I am radiant). You can also use it to add extra energy to your daily practices, rituals, or ceremonies.
Each stone is as powerful as it is unique. Find what stone specifically jives with you and watch how your world can expand.