A beginner’s guide to crystal healing
When most people hear about crystal healing, the first thing they ask is – how does it work? Many theories can answer this, including the colour resonances between crystals and the chakras, and the effect their energy/vibration has on our largely water-filled bodies.
What we do know is that, even though they look rather calm and unassuming on the outside, crystals are a mass of energy on the inside with tiny particles vibrating around an atomic core. If you want to explore this energy yourself, read our guide to selecting and cleansing healing crystals:
Selecting your crystals
Each crystal is associated with a meaning – a specific energy and an intention. You may notice that you are drawn to certain crystals, similar to how you may respond to a familiar colour or smell.
There are several different ways you can choose your crystal, but our favourite way is by intuition. Close your eyes and clear your mind before making your selection and when you open your eyes, see which crystal jumps out at you the most.
When selecting, try not to focus on its healing abilities and let your intuition take the lead. Instead, focus on things like its colour and shape. Go with your gut and you’ll always pick the right crystal for you; it’s said that the crystals you are drawn to are the ones that contain the energy you seek.
Types of crystals
There are many different types of crystals available depending on your needs, however, the following four are great to start with if you are a newbie to crystal healing.
1. Amethyst
A favourite of many, this beautiful purple stone instils feelings of peace and is often used to reduce stress and aid sleep.
2. Rose quartz
Pale pink in colour, rose quartz resonates with the heart chakra and helps to heal emotional upset and is also known for soothing headaches.
3. Smokey quartz
Smokey quartz is a grounding stone to use at the end of a healing session. Absorbing negativity, it is a great crystal to deter anxiety and depression.
4. Clear quartz
Known as a master healing stone, clear quartz can be used to improve clarity of mind and to draw out pain from the body.
Or, if you’re looking for a crystal to help with a happy life, here are seven crystals to boost your mood.
Cleansing your crystals
The reason crystals are used so often in healing is because of their ability to absorb and project energy. So, before you start using your crystals, it’s important to cleanse them of any previous energy that may be attached to them. There are several ways you can do this, ranging from simple visualisation, soaking them in a salt bath or burying them in the earth overnight.
We like to cleanse our crystals by holding them under running water for a few minutes – visualising the water as pure white light – before leaving them on the windowsill to charge in either sunlight or moonlight.
Find out how you can use a full moon to cleanse your crystals, as well as other methods.
Setting your intention
This is where you get to harness the powers of your new crystals. To set your intention, hold the crystal in your dominant hand. Clear your mind of any unwanted thoughts. When deciding on an intention, think of the whole journey. For example, instead of setting, “I want to win the lottery”, set one along the lines of “I wish to welcome courage and new financial opportunities into my life”.
Empty your mind and start focusing on the crystal in your hand and the intention you wish to set. Repeat your intention out loud until you feel connected with your crystal. Listen to your intuition, you will know when to stop.
Storing your crystals
To benefit most from the crystal’s energy, it’s best to keep it near you. This could be in your coat pocket, at work, under your pillow or on your bedside table. This way it will serve as a constant reminder of your positive intention.
If you wish to store them to keep them safe, a soft cloth bag is ideal for storing tumbled stones. But, particularly if you have more delicate crystals, you may want to wrap them individually in cloth or even display them on a shelf. Remember that crystals on display and those worn as jewellery will pick up lots of energies and should be cleansed often.
Find out more about crystal therapy and find a crystal healer near you.
This article was last updated on 20/12/22