What’s Up with Crystals?

A basic guide to vibing with crystals

Can a rock affect your energy? Looking back on my childhood, I realize I’ve always had an affinity for “rocks”. I collected rocks, crystals and tumbled stones when I was little (Throwback: Does anyone remember the rock section at Books-A-Million? Is BAM even around anymore? I was obsessed!) I kept all of my treasures in a mini caboodle that was packed with amethysts and pyrite and even interesting looking stones from my backyard. Another “crystal” memory I have is visiting the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in middle school. My favorite exhibition was the gem and mineral exhibit. I loved how old the stones were and marveled over how something so beautiful could come from the darkest parts of the earth. My dad also majored in Anthropology and he had gone on archeological digs so I’m thinking he inadvertently passed his interests onto me.

Update: As I was writing this, I texted my dad to reminisce and my parents STILL HAVE my rock collection! I am pumped to see what lost treasures are in there!

Anyway… I started making jewelry after college and while I didn’t know much about gemstones and crystals, I was so drawn to them and included raw, natural varieties in almost everything I designed. It wasn’t until much more recently that I started looking into the metaphysical properties of crystals. It seemed like more and more people were touting their “powers” and I was naturally curious.  As much as I am a spiritual person, I was still skeptical. Could a little rock actually affect my energy and the energy around me?

Here’s what people claim / my thoughts:

Spoiler alert that there are no current proven scientific facts (that I have found...) that crystals are effective in healing. If you are a logical, earthy, fact-minded person, it’s difficult to delve into exactly what the benefits of crystals are. But I think in many ways, Eastern and Western methodologies are beginning to merge and sometimes science and technology can catch up to intuition later. There are some incredible uses for crystals that science has already caught up to. Crystals are used to store information to power our cell-phones, watches and satellites, so why couldn’t they hold on to ancient energies from the very core of the earth from which they came? And if everything around us is made of energy, who is to say that these gorgeous little rocks—the most orderly structures in nature— that formed for millions of years aren’t carrying some good vibes? I like how this article from conscious lifestyle magazine described it, “Just like magnets use energy to attract or repel, crystals use energy in the same way. When you place certain crystals over certain parts of your body, your energy transforms, vibrates, pulses, moves and shifts in accordance with the properties and energetic signature of the crystal.” No, we can’t see this with our eyes and you’ve got to get a little “woo” to wrap your mind around that, but if you’re still reading this, maybe you could use a little woo in your life. :)

With that being said, here’s what I know about crystals. I’ve looked into their properties and meanings and I’ve put a little guide together of my favorites. This is by no means encompassing. For more info, I like to consult energy muse for a pretty comprehensive list. And that conscious lifestyle magazine I mentioned did a pretty deep dive into healing properties if you want to read up some more.

How to choose + use your crystal:

When choosing a crystal, I think the best thing to do is to get out of your head and into your heart. What calls to you? Are you attracted to a certain stone based on its physical properties? That’s probably the one you need! We tried this the other day at a crystal store in the French Quarter. Some friends and I each picked a stone based on appearance or what we felt drawn to, without looking at their names or properties. Afterward, we looked them up and did a little research and each crystal seemed to reflect exactly what we were trying to call in or needed help with. Such a fun game!

Once you’ve picked your crystal, set an intention with it. Keep it on your nightstand, wear it on your body or carry it in your pocket! Bottom line, whether you believe in their healing powers or just like the way they look, crystals are a great addition to your spiritual toolbox.

Let me know if you have any favorite crystals, are looking to include more crystals in your life or have more questions you want answered!