How to Use Crystals for the Home

Crystals work in two ways - they can give out energy, altering the energy of a room for beneficial purposes, and they can absorb energy, removing negativity and unwanted energy from the home.

Large clusters, geodes and spheres have a beautiful energy and look beautiful, too. Crystal points, meanwhile, can be used to charge, or to draw out, and can be used in grids to energise a room or to heal it.

If you practice the art of Feng Shui, then you might like to know which crystals are associated with each of the eight directions, and the centre of the home.

NORTH - azurite, black tourmaline, clear quartz, hematite, iron, jet, obsidian and snowflake obsidian, smoky quartz, sodalite
NORTH-EAST - cream or beige stones
EAST - amazonite, amethyst, apophyllite, aventurine, calcite, celestite, copper, fluorite, rose quartz
SOUTH-EAST - green stones
SOUTH - carnelian, citrine, clear and rutilated quartz, fire agate, garnet, gold, Herkimer diamond, ruby, sunstone
SOUTH-WEST - rose quartz
WEST - aquamarine, blue chalcedony, blue lace agate, jade, labradorite, moonstone, opal, silver
NORTH-WEST - gold, rutilated quartz, white quartz

CENTRE - Use a quartz cluster or crystal sphere, such as rainbow quartz for energy or rose quartz for calm and serenity

MORE FENG SHUI POSITIONING TIPS:

* Place a citrine geode in your Wealth area to increase abundance
* Place rose quartz in the Love area to attract romance

* Place a piece of rose quartz beside your bed to attract romance

* Place amethyst under your pillow to bring good dreams and keep nightmares at bay

* Selenite attracts angelic energy into the home and can connect your soul to its higher purpose. It can be placed under the pillow, but it is such a beautiful crystal that a pillar of it on a shelf, chest or bedside cabinet will bring beauty to the bedroom also

* Orange crystals associated with the sacral chakra can help boost intimacy and libido if placed around the bed

* If you are experiencing strain or lack-lustre romance in your relationship, place a large piece of chrysocolla in the room to revitalise it

A geode is a rock with a hollow centre. Crystals grow into the hollow and can result in beautiful structures. The most commonly formed are quartz, amethyst, citrine and calcite.

Geodes protect the home and can change, clear or cleanse the energy of a room. They also aid communication, decisions, spiritual growth and communities.

Geodes can also heal anything that is placed inside them, so could be used to cleanse the energy of an object, piece of jewellery, magical tool or any number of other items.

* Use clear or smoky quartz clusters and points to clear away background radiation from kitchen appliances

* Have rose quartz nearby when preparing food as it helps inspire extra creativity and brings special blessing to the preparation

* Use citrine in the dining area, perhaps a cluster as a table centerpiece, to aid digestion

* Place rose quartz or amethyst in the dining room to bring harmony at family meals

* Use zeolite to reduce unwanted cooking odors

Chemicals in everyday products and the radiation emitted from appliances such as televisions, computers, mobile phones, along with wireless technology, all take their invisible toll on our health.

Earth has a natural electromagnetic energy called the geomagnetic field, Having evolved in this field, if removed from it, living beings can suffer physiological problems. Man-made materials such as concrete, electric wiring and plastic reduce ambient earth energy by either shielding it or setting up stronger electromagnetic fields around themselves, interfering with natural ones.

In turn, every electrical item in a house creates an electromagnetic field around itself. If someone is particularly susceptible to energy, or is run down physically, the natural frequencies of the body can become disturbed by the unnatural frequencies of the objects around it.

In addition to electrical items, artificial lighting, air conditioning, nylon carpets and metal furniture can also wreak havoc on our energy fields.

Placing crystals on or around problematic objects helps because they absorb the negative energy and electromagnetic "smog". Crystals that have the ability to do this are:

* Clear quartz
* Amethyst
* Smoky quartz
* Black tourmaline
* Fluorite

To determine whether your body is being affected by electromagnetic stress, hold a magnetite or lodestone pendulum in front of you or a specific part of the body that is causing you problems. The pendulum, when held steady, is said to rotate clearly if the area is under any electromagnetic stress.

Use crystal grids when you wish to use something more powerful than a single crystal in a room. A crystal grid focuses the energy into the room, and consists of a particular number of crystals of equal size, placed in a geometric pattern. A grid creates a clear, balanced energy field and can create a pristine space, as well as transforming any disturbance or imbalance.

A common crystal grid for the home is the cross-quarter grid, where four equally sized crystals are used, usually quartz points. One is placed in each corner of the room, pointing inwards, to focus the energy. If it is a clearing grid, with the intention of removing energy, then the points should face outwards.

A grid can be used in a whole room, or it can be used around a particular object, area, piece of furniture and so on.

* A labradorite sphere can ease transitions and add clarity to a chosen path. Placing it in the transitional places of your home can help symbolise this

* Hang a clear, faceted crystal from the hall ceiling to aid the flow of chi (positive and auspicious energy) in your home

* If you are trying to sell your home, a large citrine cluster or geode displayed in the hallway to increase interest in your property

* Use a bright, light-reflecting quartz crystal to energise the bathroom, as rooms with sinks and toilets tend to drain energy away

* Amber helps to clean your space, so is a useful crystal to have near the bath or wash basin.

* The bathroom can also be a place of healing - there is nothing like the restorative feeling of a salt bath, and scrapes and bruises invariably find their way into the bathroom for plasters and antiseptic. Have a crystal in the room that is closely associated with general healing, such as smithsonite or clear quartz

* Zeolite crystals can help reduce unpleasant odors. Make a grid around the source of regular odors, such as the loo!

* Quartz can help soften water in hard-water areas. Place crystals in the water tank or attach them to pipes

* Protect your quiet study or work space with a four square grid of quartz

* Place geodes, clusters or tumblestones on your desk of crystals that help focus the mind, aid concentration and boost creativity, such as amethyst, aquamarine, aventurine, celestite, citrine, moonstone, rose quartz, sodalite, tiger's eye or tourmaline

* Place a smoky quartz cluster or point, or an amethyst geode, on your desk or between you and a source of electromagnetic stress, such as a computer or photocopier

* If computers or their screens have a tiring effect on you, place a fluorite cluster or piece of lepidolite beside it - you will feel better and your computer will work in greater harmony with you!

* Common opal creates a better working environment

Crystals placed in water features or indoor water fountains create a beautiful energy. The flowing water energises the crystals, ensuring they stay cleansed and maintain a high vibration

* Combine quartz clusters with a glass bowl
* Place rose quartz in a slate or pewter basin
* Combine moss agate with water plants in a lined wood fountain
* Put a rainbow myriad of tumblestones in a bubble fountain

Other ways of combining crystals with home decor include:

* Crystal bookends
* Crystal tea light candle holders
* Tumblestones in a wood, glass or stone bowl
* Small crystals crafted into a photo or picture frame
* Crystals placed on a sacred altar or family shrine
* Crystal incense holders