Once the preserve of out-there alternative healers, crystals and crystal healing has become a billion-dollar industry with followers from all walks of life. Perhaps it’s a comment on the state of the world and how much people need to find solace. But crystals have become part of the mainstream wellness industry, working their way onto the shelves of major retailers and into high-end products.
Going back as far as Ancient Egypt and Greece, crystals are believed to hold spiritual energies and healing properties. By using them properly, it’s said that one can harness these to exorcise negative energies from the body and mind. While there’s no scientific evidence that this is true, crystals are often used in items like watches, lasers, and hospital equipment, where their energy (read: electric current) can balance that within the objects. By extension, the idea is that crystals can also balance the electromagnetic currents in our bodies.
But how exactly do you heal yourself with a crystal?
CHOOSING A CRYSTAL
Different crystals are said to offer different types of healing energies to address certain problems and blockages. So, if you have a general idea of what you want your crystal to do, then you might focus on these. But, you might also want to trust your gut. It’s generally believed that we’re instinctively drawn to crystals that will provide the specific type of healing we need. So, don’t agonize over your decision. Let your intuition be your guide.
Need somewhere to start? Below are some of the more popular crystals and the type of healing they offer:
- Clear quartz: an all-rounder healer
- Rose quartz: said to encourage love and trust
- Turquoise: believed to attract luck and soothe emotions
- Tiger’s eye: used for motivation and lessening fear
- Jade: said to attract prosperity and luck
- Citrine: said to boost creativity and concentration
See also: A Beginner’s Guide to Crystal Healing
CLEANSING A CRYSTAL
Once you’ve chosen your crystal, though, the real work begins. Because these stones absorb energy from everything they’re exposed to, the crystal you pick may be infused with energies that don’t align with your own. So, before you can start using them, you’ll need to cleanse your crystals to neutralize any negative energy and restore their natural state. There are several ways to do this, but you’ll need to find the one that works best for you.
- Water: run your crystal through a stream – or under a faucet – for a minute.
- Brown Rice: good for all stones – simply bury your crystal in a bowl of brown rice for 24 hours.
- Natural Light: set your stone out at night and let it bathe in the moonlight and the morning sun – just be sure to bring it in before 11am so it doesn’t weather. Best for tumbled stones.
- Sage: like you would smudge a room, you can use sage to cleanse your crystals –simply move your stone through the smoke for about 30 seconds.
- Sound: you can use chanting, singing bowls, tuning forks – anything that will emit sound vibrations for up to 10 minutes.
Don’t forget that energies collect in crystals, so the more often you use your stone, the more energy it retains. Generally, you’ll want to cleanse your stones once a month.
See also: Sacred Geometry Explained
PROGRAMMING A CRYSTAL
While it’s not strictly necessary to program your crystals, doing so may make them more effective. Essentially, this means harnessing the crystal’s natural properties and setting clear intentions for what you hope to achieve. This reputedly gives your crystal a laser-like focus in helping you achieve exactly the healing or goals that you are looking for.
It’s important that while programming, you choose stones that match your intention for the best effect. For example, clear quartz might be a good multipurpose stone, but if you’re using a crystal to help you focus on writing, you might want to pick a citrine stone.
To program your crystal, first find a quiet space. Then, you can either hold your stone in your hand, place it on your third eye, or on the chakra (area of the body) you want to work with. Then, spend some time in meditation, feeling the crystal’s energy infuse your body, and focus on what you’re trying to heal or achieve.
See also: Akashic Records – What are they? How do I access them?
HOW TO HEAL WITH CRYSTALS
There are many ways to use crystals to heal. The main takeaway? Keep your crystal programmed and with you. Below, you’ll find some of the most popular ways to access crystal healing:
- Wear them: the more you touch them, the more their energies infuse your body. Try them as jewelry, beauty products – or just tuck one next to your skin, under your clothes.
- Keep them in your bag: carry your stone with you and touch it throughout the day to access its energies.
- Meditate with them: hold your crystals as you meditate to get a boost in spiritual energy.
- Keep them around you: place crystals where you spend a lot of time – think your desk or bedroom – to surround yourself with healing energies.
See also: Healing with Sacred Geometry
CRYSTAL-INFUSED PRODUCTS
Because of the energies they possess, crystals can be a great addition to your skincare routine. It’s said that adding crystals to your beauty regime can bring a host of potential benefits, including boosting your natural glow, giving you more positive energy, and even improving circulation and easing tension. In fact, crystal-infused skincare and products have become so popular that you’ll find plenty that use rose quartz, jade, moonstone, and citrine.
Exactly how crystals are infused in a beauty product depends on the product itself. For example, you’ve probably seen facial rollers and Gua Sha tools made of jade, rose quartz, or amethyst. But, certain brands take it one step further. British wellness brand Aura-Soma and its sister skincare brand AEOS, for example, infuse crystals into the waters or oils it uses. The products sometimes contain up to seven crystals, to further enhance its efficacy.
The Aura-Soma Academy at Dev Aura also offers Crystal Master courses taught by its CEO Mike Booth who shares his deep love for the mineral kingdom and the knowledge and wisdom he’s derived over the years through working with various crystals.
In the end, it may be that the efficacy of crystal healing depends on how much you believe in it. But there’s no harm in trying it, right?
See also: 7 Crystal-Infused Skincare Brands
