I love crystals. And honestly, who doesn’t? Who can deny the absolute awesomeness of an insanely colorful, completely natural, divinely manifested and moleculed, stunning shimmery organic compound that houses a crystalline consciousness?
Crystals, along with rainbows, shooting stars and love, show us every day that the world is a magical place.
Since I was a child I was mesmerized by the crystals in my family home. My dad had crystals on all of our shelves and countertops, crystals hanging from the ceiling in the corners of rooms, crystals in the window that would playfully cast rainbows on the opposite walls when they caught the sun. His best friend’s gift to me when I was born was a beautiful quartz crystal. I have been surrounded by crystals my entire life. Literally.
On family vacations after I was done running or swimming off all of my energy I could be found strolling the beaches of the Great Lakes, neck bent and head down looking for the ~ perfect stones ~ to take home with me to adorn my dresser to remind me of summer, or vacation, or a just a time away from normal life.
To this day one of my favorite gifts to give is rocks or stones from my wanderings around the world. Several best friends boast rocks from Ireland, shells from Bali and the isolated beaches of Vietnam, and even rocks from my trip to Mount Everest Base Camp :)
Rocks, stones, shells; things from the mineral kingdom have always held a special place in my heart and they continue to do so. But now the mineral kingdom and I work together for a larger purpose and vision.
I have studied the metaphysical and healing properties of crystals since childhood. I have always intuitively understood them and later in life I studied with a Crystal Gridding mentor and was Certified in Crystal Healing in 2015. I use Crystal Grids in all of my sessions. Honoring the Mineral Kingdom and welcoming them into a session is an amazing way to help unstick you, unsabotage you, expand you and ground you.
Crystals have been used for many different purposes for thousands (if not millions) of years. Crystals amplify energy, which is why today they’re used in clocks and computers. However, I’m not here to convince you of this truth. If you’re here reading this, you’re here to learn how to select and clean your crystals and what crystals to use and why :)
First things first, how do you select a crystal?
I find the most important thing when it comes to finding a crystal is finding it in-person. I know this can be kind of annoying with the convenience of the internet. Of course, this can be done at a distance, like all things, but in this case it is my personal preference to find a crystal in-person. This is a sacred ritual, because you are not so much choosing the stone, as the stone is choosing you.
In-person is also important in the way you feel the crystal.
I’ll share with you my process: after finding the local crystal shop, I find a shelf or area of crystals that I feel drawn to. This can be through my eyes (sight) or by how they feel inside my body/ heart (intention). I stand near this area, close my eyes, rub my hands together and ask “which one of you wants to come home with me,” (you can totally say something else, but this is what I say!)
After rubbing my hands together I scan over the shelf with my left hand, palm facing down. This is because the left hand is the receiving hand. As I slowly scan, I wait for what feels like a *ping!* on the palm of my left hand, open my eyes and I’m looking at my new crystalline friend.
If you’re only looking for one and you find there are several crystals under your palm at this point you can take them aside, separate them and do this process again.
Awesome, now I have my crystal, now what?
Great question! Now you need to clean it!
Once bringing my new friend home I smudge them using Palo Santo or sage (depending on how you’ve locally and ethically sourced that item) clean them off with the smoke.
You can also clean your crystal with soap and water OR salt water - important exceptions for water cleanses are: selenite, labradorite, tourmaline, kyanite, lapis and opal.
If you are an energy or sound healer you can use your modality - sound, vibration, tuning forks, crystal bowls, 528 frequency, your voice etc.
You can use your intention, meditation and the breath.
You can bury your crystals and allow the earth’s negative ions and the mineral kingdom to wash them clean.
If you have a large stone that has a geode formation and large opening you can clean your new crystals using your other crystals! I have a beautiful hollowed amethyst that cleanses my rings and other gemstone jewelry. Kyanite (listed below) is also the crystal-cleanser-of-crystals!
You can leave them in your windowsill and allow them to be cleansed by sunlight and moonlight.
Great, and then….?
Now, we ENERGIZE them!
So your new friends are almost ready to go! Oftentimes, the method you used to clean the crystal can also charge them - with the exception of cleansing them with soap/salt water. I like to energize my crystals with the light of the next full moon, now if I’m being fair, this may be my Sun in Cancer talking, but I feel like the moon has a special relationship with crystals and that is my initial energy boost!
I also energize my stones with the power of sound. Sound is Sacred.
Crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, digeridoos, Koshi Chimes, the music of thunder and rain, or the sound of monks chanting Om. Sound is incredibly powerful and gives rise to form. In the last few years we’ve been able to see the shape of sound visualized via the images of cymatics which is awe-inspiring.
Which ones are the best* and/or your favorite?
If you're just beginning your journey into crystals I recommend getting "The Crystal Bible" or a similar reference-style book. This will have a comprehensive list of all crystals. Here I will share my favorite ones.
I use crystals in my work to amplify the frequency of the intention I am sending or what specific tone I happen to be using. Metaphysically, all crystals have specific properties that can help accentuate a quality, help a problem and/or bring about a solution.
Most of these stones I take with me wherever I go, and have them in several different sizes or jewelry to make them easily portable.
It’s impossible for me to have one “favorite” stone: so listed below are [most] of my favorite stones.
*contains opinions :)
Amethyst - connects you to the outer realms of magic and mystery. It opens up your higher chakras and allows your psychic abilities to strengthen. It helps balance mind, body and soul and activates your spiritual awareness. Can promote serenity and calmness. Can assist in enlightenment. It can also help dissolve surrounding negative energies. I love using Amethyst, Citrine and Rose Quartz together.
Angel Phantom or Amphibole Quartz - is called this because the crystal can contain phantoms or tiny rainbows that are considered conscious / angels / spirit guides. Angel Phantom helps to connect you to the angelic realm and helps in meditation and channeling, and like amethyst, it helps with receiving divine guidance from above. Helps connect you with spirit guides, with lucid dreaming and astral travel. It helps amplify the power of other stones.
Citrine - just embodies the feeling of happiness. Citrine is generally used for the solar plexus although I use it on other chakras. It helps with creativity, strength, success, increasing energy, optimism and joy. It can increase confidence and help you reclaim your your personal power. Citrine reminds of the quote from Lord of the Rings: “I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.”
Labradorite - like amethyst, I often wear this stone, as well as using it in my healing spaces. Labradorite looks how the Aurora Borealis feels. Labradorite is a shaman’s stone in the way that it protects you, activates you and allows you to transform by unlocking your true power. It is said that it was born of cosmic energy and helps you transcend your blockages by letting things rest and becoming who we were meant to be. I love wearing Labradorite and Moonstone together.
Lemurian crystals - are different from normal quartz crystals. The Lemurian crystal will have striations on one or more sides - this is said to be similar technology to a barcode - if you hold it right and tap into it correctly - you can download the information that it holds. The reason I like to use them is because it holds all the information of all crystals in the world - so if you're traveling and want to use citrine, but all you have is your Lemurian crystal, you can tap in and summon the energy of citrine through your Lemurian crystal. For more fun, google the ancient land of Lemuria.
Kyanite - the stone that cleans all other stones because it does not absorb negative energies. I have tiny pieces of kyanite that act as my cleansers in between moon phases. Kyanite balances us, removes blockages in our body and from our path. Kyanite protects, shields, and unfucks your life.
Moldavite - is an extraterrestrial stone, that many believe have come to us at this time to help us transcend into the next vibration or phase or dimension. I touched Moldavite at a music festival once and my body wouldn’t stop vibrating for hours. It is extremely powerful and very grounding, yet expanding and because of its cosmic otherworldy nature can assist in connection to higher dimensions. It helps with spiritual awakening and transformation. I like using Moldavite in my clients’ Merkaba. Moldavite and Nuummite work well together.
Moonstone - is another stone I wear daily. I love using Moonstone with Labradorite as they are sister stones. As a Cancerian woman I am ruled by the moon, and I find Moonstone (and Labradorite) are the stones I am most consistently attracted too. Moonstone holds and stewards moonlight, it helps with clarity, connection to the moon and thus your phases and feminine, wild creative side. It helps soften and assist spiritual awakening and increases sensitivity to psychic abilities. Moonstone helps with dreaming and also is a stone of protection.
Nuummite - is very grounding and cleansing but also connects to higher realms. It is very ancient and carries with it deep earth wisdom. It helps with past lives, dreams, Akashic Records, and psychic abilities. It can connect you with your spirit guides. Nuummite is a powerful amulet that can shield from dark energies and also cleanse the field from dark energies, negative energies and thought forms.
Obsidian - is a classic cleansing stone! I use Obsidian and Selenite together - one white, one black resulting in total harmony. Obsidian cleanses the field from dark energies, and protects you by absorbing negative energies and it is very grounding. It can dissolve old ways of being, old thought forms and attachments. Obsidian keeps your (third) eye open and you aware of your surroundings. It can help you see truth.
Preseli bluestone - is the only stone I’ve ever owned that came with an actual warning. I got my Preseli bluestone from it’s native land - in the stone circles in Ashbury, England. It has a strong connection to the heart and it is advised to use it sparingly at first while you become acquainted with it’s strength. It is known as the Merlin Stone. It helps with past life regression and clearing the old versions of you in this life so that you may move on unencumbered.
Rose Quartz - the gentle and compassionate healer stone. Rose Quartz is very powerful healing stone but because it’s wisdom teaches gentleness it can be used with any very powerful stone to allow the receiver to receive without becoming overwhelmed. It heals emotional wounding and promotes love, and connecting to oneself and one’s heart. Enhances inner peace. Helps you align with yourself and your soul purpose.
Rutilated Quartz - helps enhance your intuition, it promotes self trust. It connects to higher angelic realms and dimensions. It is a conductor of energy, helps in channeling and amplifies energy. It resonates and balances all 7 chakras. It helps you see truth and increases spiritual healing and guidance. It can be used to magnify the power of other stones. Rutiliated Quartz is a Sorcerer’s stone.
Selenite - the classic cleansing stone. I always have one in my healing space. It absorbs, cleanses and dissolves negative energy. I like using Selenite with Obsidian. I have several sticks of Selenite including a Selenite dagger to remove attachments and thought forms. Selenite is a purifier, helps with rejuvenation and, like moonstone, contains divine feminine energy. It helps to connect to angelic realms and teaches us that there is power in softness.
Shunguite - literally has antioxidants in it. I keep my Shunguite Pyramid in my shower to access its water purification abilities. Because it has antioxidants in it, it is thought to have antinflammatory properties. It can activate all 7 chakras. It cleanses and guards against all negatives energies including EMF’s. It’s a stone of protection.
