A Beginners Guide To Using Crystals

Crystals can be used to heal, support, find inner peace, spark creativity and much more and as more people are becoming in tune with more holistic and natural remedies for their health and well-being, it’s no surprise that crystals are coming to the rescue! Here you’ll find a beginners guide to using crystals, if you’re interested in introducing them into your life.

There wasn’t a particular point in time when I started collecting crystals but even as a child, I was always interested in precious stones – having not long found one of my old collections, gathering dust in our loft before we moved!

Over the last 5 or 6 years or so, actually USING crystals as part of my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being is something I’ve learned more about and started practicing regularly.

I have a humble collection of crystals but I love each and every one of them. And I don’t believe you need a huge collection in order to reap the benefits of them either.

Knowing where to start with using crystals can be overwhelming. When there are SO MANY to choose from, all of which have different properties and benefits. I’ve created this – relatively short – beginners guide to using crystals to hopefully give you a hand!

A Beginners Guide To Using Crystals:

What are crystals?

So, Wikipedia describes crystals as, “a crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions”, which, if you know nothing about science – like me – will mean nothing to you.

That is the scientific explanation of what a crystal is but I think a more appropriate definition is that from master crystal healer Sonali Saujani, who says:

“Crystals are made up of different elements or compounds, which our bodies react to in different ways. Crystals are minerals that hold energy, and as we as humans are made up of energy, we can exchange energy with the crystal when we work with it”

The important thing to remember when it comes to wanting to work with crystals is the part about “energy”. Yes, crystals also look very pretty and can make gorgeous home décor pieces but that’s not what we’re talking about today.

How do I choose my crystals?

For me personally, there are two ways I choose crystals, either to work with or to buy:

Need-based decision:

If I’m choosing in this way, then I’m thinking about what I actually need at that time and I choose my crystal accordingly. Am I looking for extra relaxation? Am I seeking a spark of energy or inspiration? Is it inner peace or self love I’m after?

Once I know what I want or need, either physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually, I’ll then consult my collection of crystals to see which one/s fit the bill. Or, if I’m lacking a crystal in that area, then I’ll do my research into which crystal can provide that for me and purchase it that way.

Intuitive-based decision:

Sometimes, certain crystals just speak to you. Tuning into your intuition or inner voice – and practicing how to do that – is a great way to become more spiritually aware and this can definitely extend to your use of crystals.

If you’ve walked into a crystal shop and you want to purchase crystals in this way, simply open your mind and see where your intuition is guiding you. There will be certain crystals that stand out to you. That draw you in and capture your energy. These are the ones for you.

And usually, once you’ve done your research into what those crystals can be used for, you’ll find that they are what you need as well!

How do I use my crystals?

There are so many different ways to use crystals and this is by no means and exhaustive list. There are many more ways I’ve never tried or probably ever heard of but as this is a beginners guide to using crystals, we will keep this beginner friendly:

• Meditate with them: This is a popular way to use your crystals. If you enjoy meditation, try adding crystals into the mix but placing them on the corresponding chakras, holding them in your lap or just placing them around you whilst you meditate.
• Place them under your pillow: Letting them work their magic whilst you’re sleeping is a great way to use crystals. Pick the ones you want, set an intention for them and place them under your pillow whilst you sleep.
• Leave them on your bedside table: If you don’t want to keep them under your pillow then placing them on your bedside table whilst you sleep is another great alternative.
• Wear them: Wearing your crystals is a powerful way to connect with them as the energy is so close to your body.
• Keep them on your person: Don’t want to wear them (or maybe can’t for work purposes), then keeping them on your person, in your pocket or in your purse is another great alternative.

I think any way you feel is right for you to use a crystal is valid. You don’t have to follow guidelines when it comes to using crystals in your life – use your intuition too.

Cleansing your crystals

As crystals are minerals that hold energy – as mentioned above in our description – then it’s super important to maintain your crystals and give them a bit of TLC every now and again.

We do this by cleansing crystals to wash away the metaphorical dirt and any negative energy that might have built up in them over time.

I’d highly recommend doing your own research into how to cleanse a specific crystal. Due to the compounds of some crystals, it might not be suitable to cleanse them in water. You’ll want to check the Mohs Hardness Scale of crystals to ensure safeness.

But the most popular ways to cleanse crystals are:

• Moonlight: A full moon is an incredibly powerful time of the month to cleanse your crystals
• Sunlight: Direct sunlight is an easy and effective way to cleanse crystals, particularly those crystals that were created with heat
• Water: A beautiful and purifying way to cleanse crystals, either by running them under tepid water or leaving them submerse for a few hours but again, please check whether your crystal is safe to leave in water
• Selenite: Selenite is a self-cleansing crystal – and a powerful one at that! Placing your other crystals around Selenite will allow it to work its magic and cleanse them for you
• Earth: Return your crystals to Earth by burying them in soil over night and allowing Mother Nature to do her work

How do I keep track of my crystals?

You don’t necessarily have to keep track of your crystals, especially if you have a small collection. But I like to do so because it helps me quickly identify which crystals I want to work with.

I took an empty notebook and made a note of all my crystals, along with their colour, properties and how to cleanse them safely. So if, for example, I’m looking for crystals for confidence, then I can easily pin point which ones I want.

You could also create a spreadsheet for this or purchase a crystal organizer to keep them safe and clean.

That concludes my short beginners guide to using crystals. If you’re interested in introducing crystals into your life but perhaps didn’t know where to start, I hope you found this helpful!

I’d be keen to create some additional content on crystals, such as a crystal starter kit, with a set of crystals that are perfect for beginners to play with.

And before I sign out, I think it’s important to mention that we all use different methods for our health and well-being and things like crystals aren’t for everyone and that’s okay.

Do you work with crystals? Which crystals are your favourites?

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