Healing With Crystals

If you are new to crystals and haven't purchased your very first crystal yet, you'll probably want to visit a rock shop close to your area. Some rock shops might be geared more towards mineral specimen collectors, but you might find some nice quartz crystals here.
Check out a metaphysical shop too! They usually carry a wide selection of stones...or check online.

I've linked some crystal sites at the end of this article.

Start by making a list of some of the crystals and stones you might like to purchase. Read about the stones in this article, or research other articles from books or online.
You could use your birthday or Astrological sign, or certain issues or challenges, you can muscle test, use a pendulum, and/or your intuition. For me, a stone either 'feels' right....or not.

I personally like to hold them so I can feel their energy; for me going to the rock shop is a given.

Once you bring your crystals home, they'll need to be cleansed. These stones have been collected, boxed, and shipped, and are now sitting in a store. They've been handled by many different people, and have absorbed energy. We want our crystals to be clean and clear of all negativity and stray energy.

Wash your crystals in cool spring water without soap or any detergents. Soak them in Sea Salt water overnight, or gently wash them directly in the ocean. Use only your hand or a soft cloth on them, and then set them outside in the sunlight for a few hours to dry and charge. I sometimes leave my stones in sea salt when not in use.

Another way of cleansing crystals is to 'smudge' them with burning cedar, sage, or incense, compatible with your purpose, using the smoke to enhance your intent.

Hold your crystal over the smoke while clearly focusing your 'intent' for their purpose. Try to feel and sense its energy. Ask quietly to be connected to the life-giving force that created the stone or crystal. Ask the Creator/God to instill your will into the stone. State in your mind or with your voice.
Focus on your intent for awhile, then end your meditation.

Now your crystals are cleansed and programmed for your personal use.

In first week or so, the crystal is making tremendous adjustments within your energy field, integrating your energy to a larger outer universal energy field which will be used in your healing.

It's important to keep the crystal on you or near you all the time for at least the first 3 weeks for this cleansing process to take place. While you are wearing your crystals as jewelry or in a pouch at your heart center, or on your bedside table while you sleep, the crystal vibrations work continuously on your imbalances.
You can also lay the stones on your face and the rest of your body. Use just a few stones at first, starting with the root and heart chakras. Use stones that correspond with the color for each chakra. (See Lens on Healing With Color).

During this time, blockages of energy that are causing the imbalance are removed, and you might feel more emotional or sensitive.

Sometimes a healing crisis occurs at this point, during the early days of wearing the crystal. Remember, resolving the inner conflict may take time and that crystals accelerate the change process.

Allow these processes to occur without interruption, by continuously wearing the stones.
It is a good idea to cleanse your crystal and to recharge it in the sunlight for a few hours weekly through out the healing process.

Stay positive and don't worry if you don't 'feel' anything right away. We don't often feel anything at all, but the crystal still does its work.

You may notice physical and emotional changes in either of the first or second week as your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies come into alignment. Some of these changes are caused by throwing off toxins and negative energies from the cleansing process which continues throughout the cycle of healing.

In about the fourth week of wearing or using the stones or crystals, you may notice that your face looks more relaxed as the harmonizing connection is made within yourself.
Your mental outlook, thoughts, feelings and even opinions may change significantly. All aspects of your energy will be activated and the result is a very positive feeling.

Continue cleansing and wearing your stones. Let the crystals do the work for you.

It is best not to wear more than two stones at any one time if you are new to crystal healing, as many people find the effects too distracting.

Hold the crystal or stone in either hand and concentrate on feeling the energy flow into your hand. After a moment if you are quiet and still, you should feel energy around the crystal moving into your hand. Try switching hands if you like. Visualize this energy moving up your arm and filling your body with crystal energy.

Try several rocks and crystals the same way. After awhile you will find the ones that seem to have more energy than others. Some energy will be denser, some will be lighter.

Put the crystal down and notice the way your hand feels. Can you still feel the crystal? The energy of the crystal is still there. You may feel this for quite awhile. If you now place your hand in someone else's hand, they may feel the energy as well. Some Reiki healers will use crystals this way during their sessions.

Organize the crystals into groups; lighter, softer, denser, more grounding, etc. Quartz will have a higher, sharper energy than rocks like jasper, agates, black tourmaline, or any of the conglomerates.

Crystals are beneficial to have all around your home; for your pets and your plants will love them.
Use Fluorite around your computer, Amethyst by the bedside table or in the tub, quartz on every window ledge in the house. Move them around to different areas often to keep the energy moving!

Use some for stone layouts, some for meditation, and some for divination. Place them in the gardens and flower beds, around the land and around trees.
Even broken crystals or chips can be used.

You can also charge the water that you drink, for your pets, and to water your plants. Place a crystal into a bowl of water and place in the sunlight, and/or moonlight.

Try putting them in your bathwater to soak in. Amethyst helps you to relax and is good for insomnia or the mental chatter in our minds when we 'think' too much.

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Astrology offers mainly insight, but the real work is up to us.
When I found out that I can ask crystals for help, and that I can use them in combination with astrology...well, for an astrology geek like me, anything not connected to astrology doesn't exist... So finding out about this connection between each zodiac sign and a particular gemstone really got me excited...so I needed to find out more!
So I've added a little about each Zodiac sign below...

Most of us know about Amethyst, a Master Healer, excellent for stress, insomnia, pain, disorientation, and sobriety. For January Aquarians Aquamarine or Garnet. Garnets are grounding, especially if we have more air in our charts. Fluorite is great for the higher mind and working around computers. Most Aquarians love electronics.
Try meditating with Sugilite, Carnelian, or holding a pair of Boji stones. Carry Aventurine for luck, wear Rhodochrosite to attract love. For business and attracting money Malachite will be best for Aquarians.

Aquamarine will protect and lift your energy level. Sodalite will keep your third eye open. A Lingam, temple stone, will be powerful in your meditations and prayers. Keep one close. Protect yourself with Kyanite, Citrine, or Black Tourmaline. With all the energy coming, sensitive Pisces people will need to protect themselves. You will feel so much, and it's okay; for everything is in divine order, even when things seems out of order. You will feel lucky wearing a Malachite or Green Tourmaline pendent or ring, or just carry one in your pocket.

Fiery Aries, you will draw love with a Rose Quartz and Garnet combination. And so will the other fiery signs (Leo and Sagittarius). It will be good to carry or wear Tiger Eye to attract money. Nobody can stop an Aries when your mind is made up. Stay calm with Moonstone.

I have never met a Taurus that didn't love Amethyst. Creative people just love purple. Wear, carry, bathe with, and even sleep with Amethyst. Green Jade will attract love; and for success and attracting money wear a Green Tourmaline.

Wear Pink Tourmaline for love. Just 'feel' a Pink Tourmaline - you'll love it! For grounding and focus, carry or wear Agate.
Place Carnelians in the four corners of your bed for incredible spiritual insights and powerful dreams. For luck, try a Green Jasper.

Cancers and Pisces need protective stones. Sapphire or Citrine would work fine. Cancer's love stones are Rose Quartz, Ruby, and Kunzite. Wear a Lapis Lazuli close to your throat, it will open your third eye or keep it open. Kunzite will bring harmony as well as love.

Dramatic Leo, Oh how bright you are. A power pendant will help you shine. Enhance your energy with Moldavite and Herkimer Diamond. These powerful stones will work well with you. Find a crystal ball for gazing and relaxation. Attract love with a Rose Quartz and Clear Quartz. A Quartz cluster will bring harmony into your home.

Drink a lot of water and wear a Clear Quartz or Rutilated Quartz for clarity. If your stomach feels uncomfortable, wear a Yellow Citrine on a long cord or chain. It will release fear or anger. Use intuition to pick your stone for love.

Libra, yes, you are beautiful when you are in balance. Get rid of those frown lines with a Malachite. Love comes to you, but a Green Tourmaline or Kunzite is helpful. Sit quietly with Rose Quartz in one hand and Malachite in the other. Find your balance, Libra. You and your loved ones will be happy you did.
For luck, carry Aventurine or Citrine. A Garnet will be grounding, and Clear Quartz will keep your mind clear. Having trouble making up your mind? Place a Purple Fluorite next to your bed. Most of all, Libra, keep smiling!

Scorpio, you don't need help with opening your third eye, but it never hurts to stay open and in balance with Azurite-Malachite. For protection use Citrine. It will help you not to push emotions down to your Solar plexus. Try wearing Sodalite to help express those deep emotions. For attracting love, wear or carry Rhodochrosite or Kunzite.

Sagittarius, if you feel like traveling, carry Moonstone with you. I never knew a Sag that didn't like to travel! Your love stone is Ruby. Wear it over your heart chakra, and keep plenty of Clear Quartz around for clear thinking and energy. Turquoise is also a great Sagittarius stone. Your lucky stone is Citrine, and Orange Calcite will give you very spiritual meditations

Capricorns enjoy success with a Blood Stone pendant. It will give you the courage to take a few risks. For health, your birthstone, Garnet will be effective.
Hold a Clear Quartz in your left hand and visualize what you want - love, money, whatever your heart's desire. Write if you feel the need, and have a Sodalite near by, or wear one while you're writing.