Crystals

Crystals and gemstones have been used throughout history in a whole host of different ways. The oldest legend of crystal use goes back to the ancient time of Atlantis. This well known legend says that the people of Atlantis were highly evolved and used crystals to channel and release energy into the cosmos. Before Atlantis was destroyed the people of Atlantis planted crystals in the earth, programming the crystals to re-surface when the people with the ability to attune the crystals and their minds to receive the information stored with them would return. It is not known if these people are earth people or aliens. 

Apart from legends, there are many known civilizations that used crystals and gemstones for emotional, physical and spiritual balance. Ancient Egyptians buried their dead with quartz on their forehead. Roman’s wore crystal amulets around there neck to protect them in battle. Ancient Japan would often use crystal balls to scry like some psychic do today. Ancient Chinese used crystal tipped needles in acupuncture and Pranic healing sessions. Ancient Greeks crushed hematite and rubbed it on soldier’s bodies believing they would gain strength and be undefeated. Indian culture has used crystals for thousands of years to heal emotional and physical issues.  Mayan and American Indians used crystals to diagnose and treat illnesses.

When crystals are used in healings the crystals will be open to picking up energy from the person being healed and the healer therefore it is important to cleanse each crystal after they have been used. 

Crystal healing can work on both physical and spiritual aspects of a person. It can be very effective for cleansing the aura, letting go of suppressed traumas and releasing a multitude of suppressed issues that cause blocks or sabotage in a person’s life.  

WHAT ARE YOU BUYING

As technology advances it becomes harder and harder to recognize with an untrained eye what crystals and gemstones have been manmade and which are natural. Some stones are also chemically treated or dyed and some sellers may not even know this has occurred with their stones. 

Stones like Clear Quartz, Citrine, Smokey Quartz and Pyrite may be heat treated to intensify their colour to give them a more attractive appearance. Aura quartz is quartz that has been coated with titanium. Opalite can be either natural or man-made and is a difficult one to discern whether it is natural or treated.  

When buying crystal jewellery its worth remembering that there are a lot of fake stones being sold. Some manufacturers have mastered making synthetic stones. For example the cheaper stone Howlite is often dyed to resemble Turquoise. Fake stones have been around since the 18thcentury so it is important to note that just because jewellery is old it doesn’t mean the stone is real. 

The best thing to do when buying a stone is to ask the vendor questions like: 

Where does the stone come from?

How was it treated?

What is the stone?

If it is an expensive stone like a diamond ask.  Does it come with a valuation?  

From an energetic point of view it is also important to consider how a stone is mined. Many countries use child labour in mining practices and the conditions these children and sometimes adults work in are horrible. It is estimated that globally 1 in 10 children are involved in child labour.

Most crystals and stones that are on the market today have somehow included child labour or poor working conditions in their mining.  Companies that produce diamonds which are commonly sold throughout the world are well known for poor mining practices. As stones are constantly absorbing the energy of those who handle them it is worth noting that the energy of a diamond can be dark and dense by the time you buy it. 

MEDITATING WITH CRYSTALS

The first part of meditating with crystals is to choose the crystal you would like to use in your meditation. Once you have decided on a crystal hold the crystal or place it just in front of you where it is easy to focus on during the meditation. You can keep a crystal with you or on you while meditating regardless of the meditation you choose to do or you can meditate with crystals around you.  

Choose the crystals which help to bring in the energy that you would like to feel. For example use Rose quartz for love, Prehnite for detoxing, blue kyanite for deep meditation and tourmaline for protection. You can also combine crystals and use more than one type. Placing points clockwise will amplify and lift the energy and anticlockwise will diminish and ground the crystal energy. Anti-clockwise is good to use when you need to calm down or feel overwhelmed. Experiment and try different methods to find what best suits you. 

Selecting the right crystal can sometimes take a few attempts as each crystal has unique life force energy.  You need to find the one appropriate for your intentions. Once you have the right crystal sit comfortably and relax. Take a few deep breaths and begin. 

For information on how to meditate click on the meditation section in our learning resources.

CRYSTAL TOOLS

Jewellery

Jewellery such as earrings, pendants and rings all have significance when talking about crystal healing. Placing stones in the triangle formation on the neck area for example can help the wearer focus, store and transfer energy. A set of the same stone worn on a pendant and in earrings will create a pyramid of protection on the heart and throat chakra. Wearing jewellery on the hands as rings will also amplify the healing benefits of crystals to the wearer including, reducing psychic attacks and increasing spiritual awareness. Think about where the crystal jewellery feels comfortable for you when wearing it and trust your intuition to guide you to the right piece. Sometimes it may not be the prettiest stone that you are attracted to but it may hold the energy that you need in this point of your life.  

Clusters 

Clusters consist of a group of small crystals that have naturally joined together. Crystal Clusters radiate energy into the surrounding room or space and are used to absorb negative energy. Clusters can be excellent for enriching a living environment or workplace. Depending upon what formation the cluster is they can cleanse, invigorate or calm an atmosphere. In the past I have successfully used clusters to cleanse a room.  I have also cleansed other stones by leaving these overnight on a cluster. Crystal jewellery made from clusters can be quite powerful and they tend to hold strong healing abilities.

Cut crystals 

Cut crystals are crystals that have been cut and polished into other forms like ovals, pyramids, wands or spheres, and skulls. If they are well-cut the energy of the stone can be maintained and sometimes amplified depending on who performed the cutting and what the final piece looks like. Crystal jewellery made from cut stones can sometimes absorb the energy of the person who worked on the stone.  Therefore it is important to know where your stones have come from in order to ensure the person working on the stone was not subjected to poor labour conditions which would create stress and anguish for them and pass on through the stones.  

Rough crystals

These mine-rough gemstones are excellent for healing and chakra balancing. They are also easier to clear energy off than polished or cut stones and can be amazing for healing as they tend to maintain the natural vibration of the stone.

Chunks 

Chunks are crystals without notable facets. They can be good to enrich the atmosphere in a room or for holding onto during meditation. They can create a calm energy and allow your own energy to mold with the stone to create a symbiotic relationship with the jewellery piece which will make you want to wear the piece daily. 

TOXICITY OF CRYSTALS

Can certain crystals do you harm? The answer to this is yes. 

There are some crystals that are toxic and contain substances like Sulphur, mercury, lead and arsenic. It is important that before you hold a crystal in your hands or breathe in the crystals surrounding vapors that you know what the crystal structure is. Crystals that contain dangerous heavy metals and substances should never be used to make crystal water. These are highly toxic and will make people very ill.  Crystals that are quartz based and are described so in their name are generally safe. 

If you do not know the makeup of a crystal or are questioning the makeup of the crystal be very careful how you use it. Use caution and do not handle with bare hands. Buy crystals from a reputable supplier who can give you information on the crystals make up if you do not know it. 

There are multiple reasons why Purethica does not sell any toxic crystals. These crystals are not minded ethically. Often huge machines which use chemicals in the extraction process are used to mine these crystals. There is damage that happens to the surrounding natural environment and wildlife when substances like Sulphur, mercury and lead seep into waterways and land. It is also common to see children and adults working in mines that are laden with toxic crystals developing diseases from over exposure to toxic compounds.

FINDING THE RIGHT CRYSTALS

Knowing a little about crystal healing uses can be helpful when choosing a crystal.  Regardless if you see the stone in person or not trust your intuition. If it feels right, then most likely the crystal is calling to you as each knows exactly where and who it needs to be with. If it feels right than it is the stone for you. Trust that the right crystal you need will appear for you. If you don’t feel anything than don’t panic. Pick out a couple of crystals that you love for different reasons shape colour etc. Deciding which crystal is right for you without seeing it in real life can be difficult.  A good way to test this is by using the kinesiology method to determine which crystal is right to you. This can be found in the kinesiology section in our learning resources.

CLEANING CRYSTALS AND GEMS

Clearing crystals and gemstones from the energy they have previously absorbed from foreign sources can be difficult if you do not know how.  There are many signs that tell you a crystal needs cleaning. For example, there may be times that you don’t like how a crystal feels or don’t want to even pick it up when previously you were very attracted to the crystal. This is a sign that it may need a clean. 

Crystals and healing gemstones need to be cleaned when they are purchased if they are purchased from a non-reputable supplier that does not do this for you. A crystal that has been cleaned feels shiny and bright and may even be buzzing and cold to touch. Crystals that need a clean may feel heavy and dense. There are many ways to clean crystals and gemstones but it is important you use the right method for each crystal type. 

1. Moonlight

Moonlight is often used to clean crystals and gemstones. Place the crystals outside to absorb the energy from the moon. Any time will do but for extra strength it is good to use the waning moon.  Moon phases are constantly changing from month to month but these can be checked online or on some weather aps. The amount of time needed in the moonlight can vary depending on the stone being cleaned and what energy it has absorbed. 

2. Smudging (Sage and Incense)

Smudging is an excellent way to cleanse your crystals. Simply burn sage, sandalwood, myrrh, cedarwood or frankincense while passing your crystal through the smoke. Pass the crystal through the smoke three times and ensure a window is open nearby to allow for the smoke to carry the excess energy away. 

At the same time you are cleaning the rooms energy as well. Also consider using a cup of dried sage, frankincense or cedarwood and placing the crystals inside this. This works just as well as smudging. This method does take longer than placing the crystals on salt but is safer as some crystals don't like salt. 

3. Burying in earth dirt or sand

By burying crystals in the earth they will naturally cleanse through the vibrational energy mother earth creates and sends to anything it touches. This method is great for a deep cleanse like a re-boot. Be careful when you bury them as you may lose them. Place the crystals point down and cover with soil. Using a pot or marking the area where they are buried can help. 

Crystals that can be cleansed in the earth must have a hardness of 5 or more otherwise they may become affected by moisture and damage. Also consider that the dirt can become trapped in the nocks and crannies of the crystals and they may be difficult to clean.  Only clean crystals that you know are not porous or will discolour in the soil.  

4. Water

Water is another great way to cleanse some crystals. Placing them under a running tap is easy and quick. Some crystals do not like water so a good rule of thumb is anything with a hardness less than 5 will damage in water. It is also important to consider that some crystals like hematite contain iron and the water will cause them to oxidize and tarnish. 

A salt water bath can be also used to cleanse crystals. This is not a method commonly used as the salt can corrode the crystals and damage them. Generally silica crystals like clear quartz are ok to cleanse this way but if in doubt don’t do it. Avoid water if the crystal has a hardness of less than 5 and note that some crystals like desert rose, Himalayan salt, malachite and selenite to name a few will disintegrate in water.

5. Sunlight

There are many crystals that like to sunbath especially the yellow and orange coloured crystals. Placing them in the sun for a couple of hours will recharge and deeply cleanse the crystals. Some crystals may fade in the sun such as amethyst and fluorite so be careful to not use to much sun with them. If they require a deep cleanse use another method. 

Examples of crystals that should not be cleansed using sunlight are: Amethyst, Ametrine, Celestite, Citrine, Fluorite, Kunzite, Rose Quartz, Smokey quartz, spirit quartz, topaz and turquoise as they will fade in colour.  

6. Sound

The vibration of sound can be cleaning and is also a quick method used to get great results. Crystal or Tibetan singing bowls, tune forks, drums and Tibetan chimbals can be used to cleanse crystals and bring them back to their original state. Have your crystal near or over the bowl as you play it letting it absorb the vibration of the sound.

7. Healing Energy

You can cleanse using different healing modalities. This is not a preferred method as it is very difficult to get the crystal back to its original form using these methods as crystals will always tend to reciprocate with healing energy to the sender.

8. Salt

Placing salt in a bowl and burying the crystal in the bowl is an easy method to cleanse crystals. When you have finished the cleanse throw out the salt. You need to be careful using salt as it can damage the outside of some crystals so check first if your crystal likes to be cleansed with salt. 

9. Crystals that never need cleansing

There are very few crystals that don’t need cleansing. Kyanite, Selenite and black tourmaline are three examples of crystals that self-clean but again this depends on the amount of energy they have absorbed. If they are working hard they may need a break to re-energise. Some crystals will self-clean by chipping or breaking. This is a way the crystal naturally releases excess energy. 

Most crystals are fragile and therefore tender love and care is needed to ensure they stay looking good and feeling good. Some crystals may fade with prolonged wear or use, and some may feed of the vibration of the owner and become brighter and deeper in colour. Jade is an example of a gemstone that can do this. If you are not using crystals place them in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.