The Basics of Healing with Crystals
Many people may see healing crystals as a beautiful piece of home décor or an interesting jewelry choice. However, The National Center for Integrated and Complementary Health says that more people turn to these stones and other methods of complementary and alternative medicinal practices in recent years. Although you've probably seen healing crystals used as decorative accents, rings, or necklaces, you probably didn't know just how powerful they can be to your body, mind, and soul.
- What are healing crystals?
- How to use healing crystals
- Healing properties of moonstone
- Using quartz as a healing crystal
- Rose quartz for healing
- Jasper for positive energy
- Tiger's eye healing crystals
- Using amethyst jewelry as healing crystals
What Are Healing Crystals?
The use of healing crystals came from Buddhism and Hinduism and was typically used as a form of ancient medicine. Cultures borrowed the concepts from the Chinese concept of chi or qi, also known as life energy, and the idea of chakras. Chakras are said to connect your physical body to the supernatural elements, and each of the seven chakras connects to a point of energy in the body.
The 7 chakras are:
- Crown chakra for spirituality
- Third eye chakra for awareness
- Throat chakra for communication
- Heart chakra for love and healing
- Solar plexus chakra for wisdom and power
- Sacral chakra for sexual creativity
- Root chakra for basic trust
How to Use Healing Crystals
Before beginning to use healing crystals in your everyday life, it's important to understand the powers they can hold and which stones are beneficial for different issues. According to Crystal Muse author Heather Askinosie, "Crystals are not these magical stones that are going to change your life. Crystals are tools to help you go to those deeper layers within yourself, but you still have to do the work."
Before selecting a healing crystal, research the types of crystals and the powers and properties they hold. Then, examine the goals you have and how you hope to use healing crystals to promote change within your own life.
Here are some essential things to consider when selecting and using healing crystals:
- Be intentional. For your healing crystal to work, you must give it a task. Program your crystal by holding it in your hands, closing your eyes, and taking three deep breaths. Then, aloud or to yourself, ask the crystal to clear itself of all previous intentions, connect with your inner self with the purpose of what it is you are aiming to achieve, and then speak your goal into existence. To finish, say "thank you" three times to reiterate that your intention already exists.
- Carry your crystals. The more you connect with your crystal's energy, the more power it creates for you. Select a healing crystal that is easy to wear, such as a ring, necklace, bracelet, or pendant. You can also keep your healing crystal in your pocket or bra — whatever is most convenient
- Place them in your home. In addition to creating internal healing and power, crystals are a great way to cleanse the energy of your home as well. Place them on your coffee table, bedside table, or create a special space for all of your crystals where you can see and touch them.
We've broken down some of the most popular healing crystals you can purchase, as well as ways you can use them to start living your most powerful and relaxing life. Be sure to examine the ways that your needs connect with each stone, any experience you have with healing crystals already, and any jewelry you may already have that contains these crystals.
Healing Properties of Moonstone
Moonstone is part of the feldspar family and features a beautiful pearly glow. The opalescent stone can be white and can also appear in shades of brown, peach, green, pink, yellow, gray, and blue. The way light reflects within moonstone is called adularescence, and its levels can range from transparent to opaque. Moonstone jewelry dates back more than two thousand years to Roman times and even longer in Asia.
As a healing crystal, people believe that moonstone can support:
- Karmic healing
- Joy
- Protection during travel
- Communication
Moonstone is known as the traveler's stone and is also considered the stone of eroticism and love. The crystal stimulates kundalini energy and can be used as a fertility crystal to support people in new relationships and provide comfort if holding the burden of a secret love. In fact, moonstone is considered sacred in India, and couples frequently receive it as a traditional wedding gift.
Using Quartz as a Healing Crystal
Quartz crystals are part of the most diverse and most extensive family in the mineral world. These silicates are a mix of oxygen and silicon, and they create beautiful prismatic hexagonal formations. Clear quartz is considered by many to be a gift from Mother Earth, and many cultures hold them in high regard as incarnations of a higher being.
As a healing crystal, people believe quartz can promote:
- All chakras
- Problem-solving
- Protection
- Aural cleansing
- A healthy immune system
Healers believe that clear quartz can open the heart and mind to spiritual guidance and help increase the user's energy and intent. In the technology world, quartz crystals can amplify, focus, transform and store energy in watches, radio receivers and transmitters, ultrasound devices, and even memory chips. These properties make clear quartz incredibly versatile for meditation, healing, and communication.
However, it's crucial to remember that wielding the power of healing crystals also comes with responsibility. To benefit from the power of quartz, you must use the power for good, or it is believed that harm will come back to you.
If you're new to using healing crystals, quartz is a wonderful choice if you struggle with concentration, memory, and restful sleep. Carry a quartz stone with you, wear it as a piece of jewelry, or place quartz healing crystals in your bath water to promote peace and protect against negativity.
Rose Quartz for Healing
There are hundreds of varieties of quartz, and rose quartz is one of the most common varieties. The stone is only found in large formations instead of smaller sizes like other healing crystals. Rose quartz is typically found in the center of granite pegmatites and can range from a soft, pale pink to a deep red magenta.
Rose quartz is believed to carry feminine energy, and it is known for its ability to promote appreciation, calm, and compassion. The use of rose quartz as a healing crystal dates back to 600 BC and is known as the heart stone for its ability to connect with the heart chakra.
As a healing crystal, quartz may promote:
- Forgiveness
- Love
- The opening of the heart
- Circulation and heart health
Rose quartz is a fantastic crystal for healing, comfort, and personal love. Healers believe that this healing crystal can help dissolve resentment, fear, and emotional scars and provide the ability for someone to give and receive true love. This crystal is also said to promote self-love and can be used to support connections both romanticly and through friendship and community.
Besides promoting forgiveness and love, healers recommend rose quartz as a healing crystal for preventing nightmares, calming those experiencing trauma, and protecting against professional gossip when used in the workplace.
Jasper for Positive Energy
Jasper is a variety of quartz, and its opaque, dense, vibrant colors make it one of the most unique healing crystals. The stone is known as the supreme nurturer for its ability to provide strength, comfort, stability, and security. Although jasper is known for its earthy tones, varieties exist worldwide and in nearly every color.
Jasper's role as a healing crystal focuses on:
- Problem-solving
- Organization
- Aura cleansing
- Imagination
Jasper plays an essential role in the history of many ancient civilizations. Priests, shamans, and kings frequently wore jasper as a sacred piece of the spiritual afterlife, and it was also included in the Jewish High Priest's breastplate. Native Americans also placed jasper in high regard for its ability to bring rain to an area.
This healing crystal helps reduce stress and promote tranquility by eliminating negative energy from the aura and providing strength during trying times. Healers believe that jasper can help remove negative influences, allowing you to focus, heal, and persevere. Many healers encourage jasper as a healing stone for people looking to quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, and heal emotionally and physically by addressing and removing the triggers that cause the pain and addiction.
Carry a jasper crystal as a worry stone that you can touch during stressful times, or wear a ring or necklace made of jasper to be constantly in touch with the powerful nature of this healing crystal. To align your chakras with jasper's healing energy, place a piece of jasper over your navel and heart chakras.
Tiger's Eye Healing Crystals
If you're looking for a powerful and ancient healing crystal, tiger's eye is a fantastic choice. The stone is known as an all-seeing eye and was popular in Egyptian culture to express divine vision and protection. People are also known to use tiger's eye to promote prosperity, protect against threats, and increase personal good fortune.
Tiger's eye is another stone in the quartz family, and it is known for its vibrant layers of brown and gold. There are several varieties of tiger's eye, including cat's eye quartz, falcon or hawk's eye, and bull's or ox eye.
Healers recommend using tiger's eye for:
- Power
- Courage
- Vision
- Knowledge
- Integrity
Tiger's eye is more of a support than a healing crystal. Healers believe that it discourages satisfaction and instead always encourages people to seek out challenges. If you have an exam, presentation, public speaking event, or professional event, you can use a tiger's eye to overcome fear and increase determination.
In the home, the tiger's eye is believed to attract financial success, increase attention to detail, and promote harmony. You can use the tiger's eye as a healing stone to resolve struggles with pride, jealousy, and frustration, as well as diminish nightmares.
Using Amethyst Jewelry as Healing Crystals
If you own gemstone jewelry, you may already have a healing crystal in your possession. Amethyst jewelry is known for its beautiful purple shades and can range in color from nearly transparent purple to deep violet. Amethyst is also the birthstone of people born in February, the month of the water god Neptune.
Amethyst has been a popular fixture in religious settings for centuries, especially in the Catholic church, as a way to ground the user in spiritual ways of life. The stone is also known to connect wearers to the divine, and it is represented in the cultures of the Hebrews, Egyptians, and Eastern culture.
To apply amethyst as a healing crystal, healers recommend it for:
- Reducing stress
- Protecting energy
- Improving mood
This healing stone is said to increase intelligence, protect against infection and disease, and ward off black magic and witchcraft. Amethyst is a popular choice for prayer beads and necklaces for its ability to provide calm and mental stability and inspire enhanced meditation.
For the chakras, amethyst is said to develop and accelerate intuition and psychic powers, and it pairs with the crown, third eye, and etheric chakras to expand the mind and provide wisdom. In the home, place amethyst in the bedroom to relieve insomnia, promote the understanding of dreams, and decrease negative thoughts.
People worldwide have used crystals for centuries, and many of the crystals themselves have been in existence for millions of years. All information contained in this blog is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitution or replacement for seeking treatment from a health care professional. Please contact your doctor or health care professional before beginning any diet, supplement, program, or alternative treatment.