Crystal Helpers: An Introduction

I love crystals more for their aesthetic value than any magical properties. That's not to say I don't appreciate them as totems because I obviously do. I simply prefer to acknowledge my reasons for being attracted to using them in the first place. Emotional healing can often be triggered by doing no more than directing your focus; because crystals are said to work on a vibratory or energetic level, this means they can help you to do just that. You can either wear it as jewellery, carry a stone in your pocket or sleep with a chunk under your pillow.

If you have a specific purpose in mind, by all means, do your research beforehand. Although I sometimes like to buy what I'm attracted to and then find out more about it afterwards. I often want to ignore parts of myself I would rather not acknowledge, so researching a crystal I've already bought can be a good way of learning what I'm trying to avoid. Obviously, a certain level of belief is required here, or a suspension of logic if you prefer.

Crystals are often grouped according to colour when deciding on meanings, and this usually corresponds to other energy methods such as chakras or colour therapy. For instance, red stones will be associated with the root chakra or sexual problems. Red also covers issues connected to action or the inability to assert oneself. Purple or violet will be indicated for use with the crown chakra and have strong correlations to so-called spiritual energy, which is just shorthand for being a better person and keeping the mind open enough to learn, grow, and understand.

Amber: Not a strong healing stone; works instead by drawing disease out of the body. An excellent choice if you need something to absorb negative energy. Helps you to be more grounded if you're spaced out. Cleanse it often in water or meditation if you are actively using it.

Amethyst: A soothing stone that can help to promote peaceful sleep and insightful dreams. Amethyst can help to eradicate anger and other intense emotions. Good for clairvoyance, intuition, and spiritual awakening.

Aquamarine: Strong association with water. It can help to eliminate excess body fluids. Decreases anxiety and negative thinking. It will bring peace and is said to protect those travelling by sea.

Calcite: Blue. Excellent for gaining mental distance from problems and helping to develop an objective viewpoint. Will calm heated emotions; this stone will help you regain control of yourself if you are going through challenging situations requiring detachment.

Calcite: Brown. If you have trouble grounding your thoughts or being realistic, this stone may help you understand when, where, or if you need to be more practical. Said to be beneficial if you need to think more solidly.

Calcite: Green. Another good stone for therapy as it helps with releasing old ways of thinking so that new positive thoughts can be assimilated. It can also be used if you need to work on trust issues.

Carnelian: Another good stone for absorbing negative energy; it offers protection from envy and brings happiness. It's an excellent stone to use if you are stuck in the past or wandering off into the future; the carnelian is a stone of living in the present moment.

Charoite: A brilliant stone for improving third eye awareness and releasing fears of the unknown. It connects the heart and crown chakra and is a stone for the soul. It's said to enable you to walk the highest roads.

Chrysocolla: I love this stone. It teaches kindness, patience, and humility and is brilliant for using your higher mind. It will teach you how to improve your ability to detach without shutting off your emotions.

Citrine: Good for aiding mental clarity and clear communication because it helps express creativity. Citrine can help reorganise your thoughts if they are jumbled and benefit any learning process.

Coral: Colours range from white through to brown. Coral can be beneficial for those in the caring profession. This stone can help those who worry about what others think of them.

Emerald: Cheap pieces are available. It can be an excellent stone to wear in the early stages of a relationship as it can ease feelings of vulnerability. It brings fertility and growth into your life.

Fluorite: A tri-coloured stone used to combine mind, body, and spirit. It works on the heart for those learning to love unconditionally and will help you move onto your next level of spiritual awareness.

Hematite: A stone that helps to purify the blood and release toxins from within the psyche. It repels negativity and can show you how to remove your negativity safely.

Jade: The Chinese regard Jade as an auspicious gem. There is a soothing quality to this stone, and it aids with balancing feelings in an earthly way. It will absorb negativity and criticism.

Jet: This is another stone that is said to help you connect with past lives and bygone civilisations. If you're not into the concept of rebirth, use it for the years gone by if you're processing old hurts. The dense black of the stone helps repel negativity and can be used in magic to draw energy from the earth whilst protecting the aura.

Kunzite: A very feminine stone and can help if you need to increase your sensitivity towards others or soften the more aggressive tendencies you may have. It will encourage you to love yourself and express your feelings.

Kyanite: Apparently, kyanite never needs to be cleaned. Works on the throat chakra enabling expression of inner truth. Kyanite also helps to broaden perspective and can be helpful during meditation. Some say it aligns all the chakras as soon as you hold it.

Lapis Lazuli: Used for many purposes by the Egyptians. This is a good stone for psychic ability. It has a penetrating quality and acts as the proverbial sword so use it with other specific healers for added power.

Larimar: Also known as the dolphin or Atlantis stone. It is a soothing stone that heals and increases feminine energy. Very useful in connecting to water energy and learning to go with the flow.

Malachite: This will act as a mirror to bring what needs to be healed into consciousness. Place over areas of dis-ease, and it will show you the emotional or psychological reasons for the illness. Because of its density, it will absorb energy and need to be cleaned if used.

Moonstone: Another feminine stone. It will give guidance dreams if placed under a pillow and can help you to develop clairvoyance. Suitable for a man that needs to balance his masculine and feminine.

Obsidian: Another personal favourite because of how it looks, but it is not for everyone. This stone is said to act as a psychological missile and will tune you into the deepest and darkest parts of yourself. It will show you the light of truth.

Opal: Attracts fire energy. Increases masculine energy and is said to draw people and much-needed resources closer. Brilliant for creative self-expression and speaking your truth.

Peridot: A good stone for the heart and detoxing the body from overindulgence. I did read somewhere that only very spiritual people should wear peridot, so maybe it draws out arrogance and mental superiority too ;-)

Petrified Wood: A good stone for grounding and increasing common sense and connecting with ancient civilisations and the ages before us.

Quartz: Clear. Available in clusters or single pieces, it has the power to amplify all other stones when used together. It can clarify thoughts and feelings and energise whatever it comes into contact with.

Quartz: Rose. A relatively inexpensive crystal that looks lovely even in its raw form. A strong heart healer. Good for self-esteem and is another feminine stone that can help to balance male-female polarity.

Quartz: Rutilated. The gold threads that run through are said to carry information and enable you to communicate more effectively. Helps to improve listening skills to assimilate what gets said to you.

Quartz: Smoky. Absorbs negative energy into itself and transforms it into positive. It will help you face your inner shadows to enable the rebirth of your soul qualities.

Rhodochrosite: This is a good stone for helping to combat anger. It increases bravery yet calms passions. It can help if you go through a rebirth and release past traumas.

Ruby: Cheap pieces are available. It is said that Rubies can help you attune to your past life records and strengthen your survival instincts. It would be good to use if you're overly passive or need to develop assertiveness.

Sapphire: Strong protective qualities and can increase psychic energy. A truth seeker stone that helps to clear away doubt and mental cobwebs.

Selenite: I've found this to be quite an interesting one for actually shifting perspective. A curious detachment from earthly concerns can occur when holding a decently sized piece. It is said to possess the ability to record information.

Septarian: The dragon stone is a good all-rounder for health and general well-being. I'm wondering if there's a connection to the number seven, although I haven't looked to see if anyone else has suggested it.

Seraphinite: Another beautiful stone and said to be one of the most powerful healing stones available to mankind. Most say it connects to angels, but personally, I feel it's more about connecting to life here on earth and the energy all around us.

Shiva Lingam: It is said that this stone can increase fertility, especially for a man. It's used to help connect the physical and spiritual levels; it will enhance masculine energy in both men and women.

Sodalite: A stone for activating the third eye. This stone will help increase spiritual ways of thinking and clear out old patterns of thought of the lower mind. It will help you think more rationally and is excellent for balancing the mind.

Stibnite: This is used for transformation and is said to bring great power and wealth. I can't help feeling there should be a connection to the future with this one and visions of things to come.

Sugilite: Another third eye stone that brings new ways of thinking. Not as good as others for clearing old patterns but more potent in its effects on spiritual awakening. It alters the aura quite strongly and may help if you need to reconcile vulnerability and power.

Tanzanite: A beautiful stone that assists in furthering spiritual development. It can help with self-expression and bring positive qualities such as wisdom to the surface. A powerful stone for now. It can be used to form a connection with the higher self.

Tektite: It is said that tektite can open psychic passages by working on the lower chakras, clearing them of blockages so the energy can move freely upwards towards the heart and crown.

Tigers Eye: A beautiful stone for grounding yourself. One that brings inner as well as outer happiness. Helps to focus on growth in the material world by directing you to your true path.

Topaz: I love Topaz, but it can be costly even for small amounts. Make sure it's not other stones that have been heat-treated to look like Topaz. Topaz brings life force and fire energy. Under the pillow, it will energise you whilst you sleep.

Tourmaline: Black. An excellent stone to help you remain positive even if surrounded by the dark. Also known as Schorl, it can act as a defence against negativity directed towards you and that which you feel towards yourself. Wards off psychic attack.

Tourmaline: Green. Also known as Verdelite. A multi-level healer that will strengthen the body so you can channel more spiritual energy. It is said it can adjust itself to the user's individual needs.

Tourmaline: Pink. Also known as Rubellite. Tourmaline does not absorb or hold any negativity. Carrying it will release sadness and fear, enabling you to have your heart open. It can be beneficial in the early stages of a relationship as you learn to trust your feelings again.

Tourmaline: Watermelon. One of the best stones for the heart chakra. It opens us up to show how we can achieve the state of unconditional love, brings healing to the heart and lightens the burdens on the emotional plane by helping energy to flow freely between mind, body, and spirit.

Turquoise: An excellent stone for the throat chakra as it aids self-expression and helps to release the blockages that stop you from talking about your deeper feelings. Suitable for the lungs and directs you to live your soul's purpose.

Vanadinite: I love the colour of this stone. It promotes vitality and strengthens the will to live by re-awakening the inner child and passion for life itself. A great stone to carry if you lack fire in your birth chart.