Crystals: How To Choose And Use Them
Crystal energy can be therapeutic if used responsibly
Crystal Energy
Natural crystals grow (form) only when subject to correct, specific, geological conditions. Good quality natural crystal gemstones have an innate energy. Each crystal is unique— there will be variations in the type, size, shape and colour. These variations, and the visible colour spectrum band each particular crystal falls into, will dictate the level at which a crystal’s energy can vibrate. Crystals at the violet end of the spectrum will vibrate at a higher rate than crystals at the red end of the colour spectrum.
Crystals at the violet end of the spectrum, such as Amethyst, are said to be ‘expanding’ (spiritual). Crystals at the red end of the spectrum, such as Garnet, are said to be ‘grounding’ (physical).
When used as a therapeutic tool by a qualified practitioner, a natural crystal can act as a transformer or harmoniser of energy. The crystal may amplify, and focus, a healing or other appropriate energy, as channelled and directed by the practitioner.
Synthetic crystals such as lead crystal and Austrian crystal do not have the same healing properties as natural crystals.
What is meant by the term ‘crystal energy’ and how does it work?
When used as therapeutic aids, crystals may help to calm you emotionally. They may channel your thoughts and feelings in a positive way. They can stimulate your mental and creative processes; balance your chakra and aura, and aid in the healing of physical & mental ills.
Carrying certain crystals on your person, may help give you strength and courage; induce restorative sleep; aid visualisation, meditation, telepathy and lucid dreaming, and energise your system.
Used in the right way the electro-magnetic vibrations in crystals can balance and harmonise the body. It is possible that the minerals that comprise the crystal are absorbed through the skin thus healing through contact.
Three common ways therapeutic crystals are used:
1 — In rough form, i.e., a crystal point or cluster.
2 — Fashioned into a tumble-stone, palm-stone, wand, pyramid, talisman or other tool.
3 — In an elixir or essence.
The energy of the crystal can be enhanced using coloured lights or fabrics. They can also be teamed with complementary fragrances.
Natural crystal energy can also used as a tool when practising candle magyck should your intentions/spells require a boost.
Tumble-stones
Tumble-stones are created by placing rough rock into a barrel with coarse grit and water and tumbling the barrel for at least seven day. Not all crystals can be tumbled.
Tumble-stones are known as ‘massive’: this means they are not visibly crystalline. Tumbling crystal stones tends to soften and decrease the effect of a crystal’s energy. This can be a good thing as it enables the tumble-stones to be carried about your person or kept by your bed twenty-four hours a day with no fear of an ‘overdose’ of crystal energy.
Tumble-stones can be dedicated for a healing or other therapeutic purposes with an affirmation such as:
‘May these gemstones help in my search for truth and love, for the highest good and the greatest joy.’
Elixirs and essences
You can make your own elixirs and essences. These can be made from most crystals. Only use the resultant liquid; the crystals themselves should never be consumed.
Some crystals are toxic. Many contain arsenic, asbestos, copper, aluminium, zinc and other poisonous substances. Some can also be radioactive. It is essential that you check to ensure the crystals you are planning to use are not poisonous before using them in elixirs and essences.
There are lots of sites on the Internet with recipes and instructions to help you make elixirs and essences from crystals.
Can anybody use crystals
Anyone can use crystals at home, there are many, and varied, informative books available on the subject. You should never use crystals on another person without under-going training.
If you are thinking of using your crystals as a therapeutic tool for treating patients, then you should undertake a formal course of training — even if you are only intending to use them on friends and family. You will need to understand the principles of healing thoroughly.
If you work as a Crystal Healing Practitioner, you should cover yourself with some form of insurance.
Selecting your crystals
There are three methods for choosing a crystal to work with:
- Consult a good crystal guidebook such as “Love is in the Earth” by Melody. Read the descriptions of each stone to see which one appeals to you, or is suitable for the particular purpose you have in mind.
- The most valuable tool you possess is yourself. Use your instinct to help you select your crystals. Trust you will be drawn to the crystal that is right for you and the intention you have in mind. The size and shape of the crystal chosen comes down to convenience and practicality. You should choose a crystal suitable for the job in hand.
- Ideally, if you can, visit a specialist shop where you can handle the crystals one at a time. Handle several crystals and sense their vibrational energy. Once you know them, lay them all down, close your eyes and pass your hand over an assortment of crystals and allow yourself to be drawn to one of the stones.
I suggest that once you have chosen a crystal that you hold it in the palm of your left hand for a few moments (in your right hand if you are normally left-handed). There is a minor chakra point in the palm of each hand and if you can feel the vibrational energy of the stone energising this chakrum you know you have a connection to it and will be able to work with it.
If it is not obvious to you which crystal to use then choose a clear quartz. The six main variations of clear quartz are: — Clear Quartz, Tourmalinated Quartz, Aurora Crystal, Herkimer Diamond, Chlorinated Crystal and Aqua Aura Crystal.
Caring for your crystals
You should cleanse your crystals and tumble-stones before and after each use. Burn white sage and waft the smoke over them. You can also waft the smoke over yourself to cleanse your aura. While doing this thank the spirits of the crystals (Devas), for the work that they and their crystals have done on your behalf.
Crystals and tumble-stones may also be cleansed in water but should not be left to soak too long as some of them are salt-based and are soluble in water. If you use water to cleanse your crystals leave them out to dry in the sunlight if possible.
Use distilled water (boiled in a kettle or pan, covered and allowed to cool completely), spring water from a bottle or fresh water from a running stream (stagnant water must never be used). You can also make solarised (water energised by sunlight) or lunarised (water energised by moonlight) or use water fresh from the sea (in this case thee is no need to add extra sea salt).
To cleanse your crystals with water use a glass bowl (for best results I like to use one made of lead crystal glass). If you are using water from the tap or spring water place a few grains of sea salt in the bowl and add enough water to cover the crystals. Before submerging your crystals stir the water with your power hand — the hand you use to write — until the sea salt has dissolved. As you are doing this say an affirmation. Mine is:
‘I call on the spirits of the element of water to cleanse and empower these crystals that I might use them for the greater good’.
Leave the newly cleansed and empowered crystals on a circle of gold paper or silver foil in the sunlight for at least nine hours before using them again.
Connecting with your crystals
Once you have chosen your crystals you have to programme them. You should prepare yourself carefully before asking for what you want from the crystals. Remember to ‘be careful what you ask for, as you might get it’. You should be as specific in your requests and intentions as possible otherwise, you may be misinterpreted.
Crystals have a memory, or property, imprinted as the crystal formed. You can change the memories the crystal holds by programming it for a specific purpose or intention. When programming crystals you could ask that the particular programming is only removable by yourself — this will prevent anyone else changing it by accident. To complete the bond, you should now cleanse and magyckally charge, or empower, your crystals and tumble-stones so that you can begin to work with it. There are several methods of doing this so try them all and see which one you feel the most comfortable with.
Crystals do not have limitless energy. When crystals are used away from their natural environment, they lose their usual energy source. It is important to recharge your crystals yourself because they cannot do it. The best results will be gained when you use the energy that best matches to the crystal. This will be discovered by trial and error as you use your crystals.
Crystals can be charged with earth, solar or lunar energy. I like to charge my crystals and tumble-stones with the energies of other crystals. To do this I place them inside a circle of amethyst quartz points, clear quartz points or rough-cut rose quartz and leave them there overnight.
When charging a crystal with earth energy you should first place the crystal into a glass or plastic jar and then place the container into the earth. This gesture indicates that you are not giving them back to the earth; it also means that you do not have to clean them once the charging is complete.
