SIX CRYSTALS FOR ATTRACTING LOVE

With Valentine’s day approaching, it seems only fitting to do a blog post about crystals for attracting LOVE. Before I reveal my list of go – to crystal suggestions for this, you first might be wondering: how do you go about using crystals for something like this? There are several ways – the first way is to obviously carry the crystal on your person, preferably close to the skin and for long periods of time – particularly if you add the crystal to a mojo bag with several OTHER crystals, some dried rose petals, and a few drops of rose or jasmine oil; wearing them as jewelry is powerful, too. Another way to use crystals for attracting love is to set them in the love corner of your residence – this would be the corner farthest to the right from your front entrance, according to feng shui. Lastly, crystals for attracting love seem to work really well when placed beside the bed, particularly when you are looking for the sexual aspect. For maximum potency, you could combine these application methods, and don’t necessarily have to choose just one.

Another thing to mention is that when using a crystal for something like attracting love, it might be in your best interest to PROGRAM the crystal, even if this is not something you typically do. The ritual of programming and charging the crystal with love energy will cause you to focus on your intention of attracting love, thus helping you to manifest it. Some great ways to program crystals for love are setting them down on a plate on top of rose petals (or dried rose petals, which are sometimes easier to come by) and lighting a pink candle which has been anointed with rose oil; the stone can be passed over the flame of the candle, and something verbal should ideally be recited as well, such as “I am a magnet for attracting love,” or, “I open my heart to let new love into my love,” or something similar (whatever feels right.)

So, I recommend giving the crystals below a good program, and then using them in one of the ways I described above. So without further adue, here is my list of top six crystals for attracting love, romance, and/or soulmate relationships.

 1.)    ROSE QUARTZ. Those who already work a lot with crystals are probably rolling their eyes with boredom at this point; its pretty much crystal 101 that rose quartz = love. It’s also not quite as much fun to write about commonly known crystals either– I much prefer to spend time on the rarer and lesser known crystal beauties. That being said, any list of crystals for attracting love that doesn’t include rose quartz is simply inaccurate, as this is the best stone in the entire mineral kingdom for all things love and romance. Rose Quartz is VERY efficient at attracting love into your life, and should be placed in the relationship corner of your home, or by the bed, for optimum effect. When shopping for a rose quartz that you know you want to use to attract love, keep in mind that rose quartz hearts are hot on the market right now, and this might be a good form to work with. Even if you find yourself more interested in one of the crystals below for love work, I would still suggest pairing them with a rose quartz– these babies are SO common and inexpensive, and their energy is pretty much top - notch for attracting love, giving any other crystals you might use a little boost of love energy. 

2.)    EMERALD. Emerald is another stone very much associated with attracting successful love, and also helping you to maintain it once you’ve received it. It also enhances natural beauty, so can be worn or carried with you to events in which you hope to potentially meet your new lover. Sometimes, emerald is particularly recommended for older people who are seeking love. The emerald should be carried with you, somewhere close to the heart, ideally in a mojo bag with rose quartz, dried rose petals, and a few drops of rose essential oil.

3.)    GARNET. If you’ve read either of my last two blog posts, you know I’m on a total garnet kick lately. This is an EXCELLENT stone for attracting love into your life, and also encouraging a healthy and active sex life. Actually, this is one thing that ALL garnets share – from common almandine, to beautiful emerald green Tsavorite. The garnet should be placed in the love corner of your residence. It is not recommended to place this stone by the bed, as it stimulates fertility – so unless you're trying to have children, avoid this placement (stick to the love corner.) Spessartine garnet, the beautiful orange variety, is also great for attracting love and increasing your personal and sexual magnetism; if it is the spessartine variety you’re working with, carry it right on your person.

4.) CHRYSOPRASE. A fairly common form of chalcedony, Chrysoprase receives its watery green hue from the presence of nickel. Chrysoprase works on the emotional level to act as a powerful love attractor, opening the heart chakra to prepare you to excitedly receive new love. Sometimes when you feel like you're ready for love, but it's just not happening, this is because on some level, you're NOT ready. Chrysoprase works on blockages, bitterness, and discomforts related to past unsuccessful relationships that you might be holding onto in your heart center, preventing you from being truly READY. I would recommend meditating with a cleared Chrysoprase on your heart chakra (the center of the chest), and a second one on your solar plexus for an extra boost (when your will is combined with your heart's desires, amazing things can happen - this stone is a double threat, opening both.) This stone helps you to approach love with the excitement that it SHOULD be treated with, and also serves to benefit existing relationships, too (but that's for a future blog post.)

5.)    RHODOCROSITE. Rhodocrosite is a fairly common, beautiful pink manganese carbonate. Wearing Rhodocrosite as jewelry works wonderfully to attract love – especially a soulmate relationship. Of course, one should be advised that soulmate relationships don’t necessarily indicate “the one,” but can also refer to a person with whom you share a karmic bond, and who serves as a learning experience for you in this lifetime. But, if it’s an intense, meaningful soul – mate relationship you’re looking for, this is your stone. As I said, wearing Rhodocrosite jewelry – especially a necklace, so it’s close to the heart – is a great way to receive its love – attracting properties, but you could also place it in your love corner or use it in a mojo bag.

6.)    BLUE ARAGONITE. Blue Aragonite gets is gorgeous light blue color from the presence of copper, making it a very feminine, goddess-y stone. The copper content links this stone strongly to the goddess Venus, which is perhaps why it is so effective in attracting love. Blue aragonite attracts not just any love, but a twin flame relationship. Your twin flame, to decode this new age vocabulary word, is what most people coin your “soulmate.” In fact, while your twin flame is a soul mate, a soul mate is not necessarily your twin flame. Your twin flame, basically, is “the one.” So if you’re ready for an intense, lasting spiritual connection, Blue Aragonite is more the stone you will want to work with. Of course, expect such a request to take some time. Carry this stone with you and meditate with it, visualizing your reunion with your twin flame.

So, these are pretty much the top six of the crystal kingdom for attracting love. For maximum potency, I would recommend using a few of these stones at once – beef up your love corner with one of each, make a mojo bag and carry it with you, wear your rhodocrosite necklace everywhere you go…the more crystals you use and the more ways you use them, the more effective they will be – and the beauty is, most of these crystals are common and inexpensive (none of them are extraordinarily rare, but blue aragonite and rhodocrosite may be a tad more difficult to come by. ) So, stock up – good luck, and have fun!

GARNET: Your stone for Love, Protection, Energy, & More!

There are SO many different types of Garnet that some mineralogists argue that the various types should just be viewed as different stones altogether. However, despite how different garnets can look from each other physically - ranging from purpley red, to emerald green, to brownish black - their commonalities lay beneath the surface. They all form through the same metamorphic process, share a chemical structure, and all garnets are Island Silicates. But anyway, because there are so many different types of garnet (Andradite, Melanite, Tsavorite, African Green, Grossular, Spessartine, Rainbow, Rhodonite, Pyrope, Hessonite, Demantoid, and Uvavorite) I would be here all night if I lumped them all under one inaccurate category and tried to describe their personalities to you in depth one at a time. So, while blog posts about specific garnets are in the near future, today I really want to discuss ALMANDINE GARNET – this is the wine – red variety, the most common type that is usually simply sold as a tumbled stone under the name “Garnet” (sometimes, Almandine and Pyrope garnets are mixed together – they look incredibly similar, and also work similarly at the energetic level). But first, let me just give you a run – through of how garnet energy works.

The word “garnet” was derived from the Latin “granatum” which means pomegranate seed – which make sense when you look at a little tumbled Almandine specimen, as it closely resembles a pomegranate seed in both form and color. As I mentioned in my last blog post about crystals for the root chakra (for which garnet is excellent), garnet is the second strongest emitter of the red ray of the entire crystal kingdom, second only to ruby. This makes it a wonderful red – ray stone for those to work with who find ruby’s energy a bit too intense. If you stumbled across a garnet on a hike (as I have before) you wouldn’t know it – these little beauties are actually quite modest – looking when plucked straight from nature. It is only after cutting that the true beauty of these gems is revealed. For this reason, garnet has come to be associated with knights and others who need to undergo a series of tests before proving their worth – or their inner fire.

 Garnet was a favorite of the Ancients with the exception of Tsavorite, which was discovered a mere few decades ago – recent, of course, for a crystal discovery. Knights and warriors would decorate their equipment with garnets, presumably to benefit from their protective powers, and this firey stone was a particular favorite of German Emperor Otto, whose crown was adorned with garnets. This stone also makes an appearance in the bible – supposedly, the only guiding light of Noah’s Ark was provided by a large garnet specimen.

Garnets are wonderful love tokens, being probably the single most effective gem for inspiring FIDELITY, COMMITMENT, and PASSION – during the Victorian Age, these stones were worn by widows to denote their continued devotion to their deceased husbands. Garnet can also be used to ATTRACT LOVE – for this, pair it with a rose quartz or another love – attracting stone (like blue aragonite or rhodocrosite). Very sexual crystals, Garnets are used to treat various sexual dysfunctions, including impotency, and energize/regulate one’s sex life and sex drive. Despite its GROUNDING abilities, garnet is also efficient in working with the pituitary gland to induce ASTRAL TRAVEL and, most importantly, is a wonderful companion for attempting PAST – LIFE RECALL (pair with galena, which, while toxic, is the ideal past – life regression stone.) Garnets are highly PROTECTIVE, even said to warn of impending danger. Opening the root chakra, they fortify SURIVIVAL INSTINCTS, bring SELF  - CONFIDENCE, and can be used to work on DEPRESSION.

So this is generally what garnet energy is like, and tends to be applicable to pretty much ALL of the garnets (though some stray a bit.)

 The garnet that you are most likely to come across is Almandine – and thank the goddess! Typically, the red tumbled stones simply labeled “garnet” are the Almandine variety. As I mentioned in my last blog post, Almandine Garnet is AMAZING for the root chakra – it promotes strength, security, endurance, vitality, energy, and stamina. This is a wonderfully grounding stone if you are generally a little flighty and ungrounded, and also if you are usually tired and lack energy. This is also a good stone for dreamers, helping their plans become reality and manifest on the physical plane, increasing their drive and ability to take the necessary steps to achieve their goal. Almandine Garnet closely connects the physical body to the energy bodies, making it very difficult for entities or energies to attach. This is a great stone for restoring passion and attracting LOVE. Emotionally, there are few stones better than Almandine Garnet for calming ANGER. One of the most important attributes of this stone is that it helps to relieve anxieties regarding finances – so if you have an unhealthy relationship with money that causes regular stress in your life, carrying around an almandine garnet may help. Almandine Garnets are physically used to treat the liver, pancreas and eyes, and help with iron absorption. PYROPE GARNET  works very similarly, but is especially firey, and is often connected to the energies of the planet Mars (for those who work at all with astrology.) This is a great stone for bringing courage and physical vitality, energy, and zest for life, so it is wonderful for uplifting those who have lost interest in daily life. This is also a powerful stone for CHARISMA. I love to recommend Pyrope Garnet for CHILDREN, as it makes a wonderful protective guardian during lonely nights. Physically, Pyrope Garnet is used to treat digestion and heartburn, and stimulate circulation.

 So, that’s the basic gist of Garnet, though as I said, future posts are to come about some of the other, more interesting (and sadly, rare) varieties. But a simple tumbled almandine is definitely a must – have for any crystal collection!

FIVE CRYSTALS FOR THE ROOT CHAKRA

The root chakra is arguably your most important one; being the first, if it isn't functioning properly, this immediate disturbance in energy flow will throw off your entire chakra system. Located at the base of the spine, the root chakra spins in a beautiful bright red color when healthy. It deals with all things in the physical domain - your ability to provide for yourself, meet your needs, and function in the everyday world. The root chakra also governs your attitude toward your body, physical strength, energy level, capability, masculine sexuality, courage, and grounding. So, what are some ways you might know that this chakra is a little out of balance?

Well, SEVERE indications of a root chakra imbalance can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food - eating disorders, including obesity, self - harm, homelessness, depression, a complete lack of energy, and addiction (often, people who pick up smoking or other bad habits do so in a desperate attempt to ground.) People in these situations have pretty deep - rooted chakra imbalances that obviously need some attention OUTSIDE of the realm of crystal healing  - but certainly, crystals can still be a supportive element in these cases as well. However, a lot of people have minor root chakra imbalances that are a little more common and easily fixable. An unhealthy relationship with money is strongly indicative of a root chakra problem - an obsession with obtaining it, a constant fear of losing it, or an inability to maintain it. If you are having a hard time meeting your needs and struggle with finances, this can also usually be traced to the root chakra. Extremely spaced - out, ungrounded people who have a hard time paying attention and getting things done also usually have something going on in their first chakra that needs addressing. You may also have really low energy levels and feel tired most of the time, lack self - confidence and self - assurance, feel scared, anxious, or threatened easily, and have a hard time making decisions, constantly seeking the approval of others.

There are a lot of ways to correct a chakra imbalance - diet (red meat, protein, root vegetables, and red foods are beneficial to the root chakra), yoga, meditation and visualization are just a few simple and effective ways to go about it. However, a really fun and common way to address a chakra imbalance is by working with crystals. So, here's a few of my favorites for the root chakra.

1.) RUBY: Uncut ruby is readily available and is the single most powerful emitter of the red ray, rivaled by no crystal. This makes it WONDERFUL for the root chakra! My favorite thing about ruby is that it brings COURAGE and LEADERSHIP, helping you speak out and stand up, making you an all - around stronger person. This is a great stone for removing FEAR and ANXIETY, and makes a great little companion to accompany you when facing your fear, whether it's public speaking or skydiving (if it's the former, pair with a throat chakra crystal, like blue apatite, for an additional boost.)  Ruby is grounding and helps with spaciness, eases fear of mortality, and encourages zest for life, confidence, passion, and enthusiasm. This is a strongly stabilizing stone to have during a confrontation. Ruby replenishes energy levels and heals lethargy or fatigue, and imbues the body with vitality. Physically, ruby cultivates a healthy and loving connection to the body, helping with those dealing with addiction or self - harm. It heals sexual dysfunctions and stimulates circulation. Interestingly, ruby is a great stone for calming hyperactivity in addition to being an energy amplifier. It is important to note that, because ruby is such a strong emitter of the red ray, it can be a little bit TOO intense for people who are really sensitive to crystal energy. It is also not recommended for people who are irritable and therefore, probably already have an over - abundance of red - energy. Such people may wish to consider working instead with...

2.) GARNET: This is the SECOND most powerful red - ray stone of the mineral kingdom, rivaled only by ruby, and is ideal for those who find ruby's energy a bit too intense. There are MANY types of garnet - in fact, garnets are practically a mineral group in and of themselves, and not all of them are keyed to the root chakra. PYROPE GARNET helps with courage, vitality, and stimulating the will to live (so is beneficial in the more extreme situations I mentioned above.) Physically, Pyrope garnet supports the digestive system and stimulates circulation, both issues of the root chakra. However, Pyrope Garnet can sometimes be hard to acquire. ALMANDINE GARNET, however, is the VERY BEST GARNET for root chakra health (and one of the best root chakra stones EVER) and is a little more common. It helps with strength, security, stamina, grounding, vitality, and endurance. It is a stone for DREAMERS to help actualize their goals, and is also powerfully protective -  by cultivating a close connection to one's body, it makes it difficult for negative energies or entities to attach, putting you more in control of the vibes you let in. Almandine Garnet cultivates a healthy relationship with money, removing fear and anxiety centered around finances. This stone also stimulates passion in your life anywhere this is most needed - relationships, jobs, etc.

3.) CUPRITE emits pure first chakra energy. You may have never heard of this crystal beauty, but it's actually relatively common, ranging from a dull brownish/red to pure crimson. A copper oxide, cuprite often forms in association with other copper derivatives like malachite, azurite, and chryosocolla. But anyway, I'm getting off track. A must - have for crystal healers, this is your stone for healing anything root - chakra - but its especially effective in working through anxiety, and fears regarding mortality. Carrying one of these little beauties around with you throughout the day is a great way to speed up a sluggish root chakra. A stone of feminine power, meditating with Cuprite helps one to connect with Earth Goddess energy. While fertility and creativity are typically matters attributed to the second chakra, the initial stirrings of creative energy actually begin within the first chakra - if there is a blockage here, creative energy will not flow properly. Cuprite is a wonderful stone for boosting creativity and fertility, and should be left in the bedroom for help with CONCEPTION. This stone also helps one to "birth" their projects and dreams, acting as a little magician to help manifest your goals here in the physical realm. Physically, Cuprite is used to treat problems of the sexual organs, prostate and lower - bowels, and stimulates circulation.

4.) FIRE AGATE is my personal favorite root chakra stone, and its usually available at most crystal shops. It has a base hue of brownish red, but is multi - colored from layers of limonite and iron, and goethite inclusions. They're GORGEOUS, especially when polished. Often times, people are drawn to spiritualty and metaphysics because a part of them wants to detach from the physical world, which is- let's face it - not always a pretty place to be. Sometimes, this immersion into the spiritual realm combined with an unhealthy detachment from the physical realm creates a person who is spiritually aware, but suffers from low energy levels, and is too spaced out to actually get practical things done in the everyday world. For this syndrome, fire agate is your stone! It boosts vitality, stamina, energy, and brings a zest for life, and, like Cuprite, removes creative blocks of all kinds, making it a must - have for artists. Grounding fire agate removes fear, and brings a feeling of safety and security to those who suffer from anxiety. This is a great root chakra crystal for alleviating destructive desires, making it ideal for those overcoming addictions or trying to quit smoking (for the latter, combine in a mojo bag with Bostwana Agate.) Physically, Fire Agate energizes lethargy and fatigue, stimulates circulation, is used to treat depression, sexual imbalances, and frigidity, bringing in sexual energy.

5.) BLOOD AGATE, also known as Pigeon's blood, is simply the red variety of agate. Agate is already very grounding, stabilizing, and centering, so the red variety does all this AND helps to restore the will to live, and passion for life. Its a wonderful stone for those who have given up on life and on themselves, turning to destructive and self - harming behaviors (again, additional help is obviously required for such severe conditions.)

So, these are my top five. But, there are MANY other crystals that are beneficial to the root chakra. A good rule of thumb is that RED CRYSTALS are typically going to be keyed to the base - red beryl (bixbite), red jasper, and red calcite are a few that immediately come to mind. Also, black and grey crystals are very grounding and beneficial to the root as well (black tourmaline, hematite, smoky quartz, etc.) But, I would still say the above five are pretty much the best. So enjoy, play around with 'em, and see which ones work best for you. Good luck! :)

CRYSTAL ELIXIRS: How to Make Them & Why You Might Want To

So, a lot of people who don't work a lot with crystals and are somewhat intimidated by this realm might ask - how exactly does one go about working with them? What are you supposed to do with them? This is actually a very GOOD question, and one that has several answers. Depending on what you hope to accomplish, you can pick a crystal to carry around with you in your pocket (or otherwise on your person), add to a mojo bag along with herbs, oils, and other crystals, sleep or meditate with, place them in a key area of the home, place them strategically on the body, in grids or layouts...

But, a really fun and interesting way to work with the energies of crystals is by making them into elixirs, which means basically infusing water with their energies. Luckily, making a crystal elixir is WAY less complicated than it might sound. Here's how you do it.

Place the crystal into a container of water or a water bottle. Spring or filtered water is preferable. An average - sized tumbled stone is sufficient to infuse the average glass or bottle - but, if you want to make a large quantity of an elixir, you could add as many tumbled stones as you would like to your larger vessel. Cover the glass and leave it in the fridge for, ideally, a full twenty - four hours. Twenty - four hours later, you have your crystal elixir - remove the stone and enjoy! Typically, crystal elixirs are thought to only hold their power for about twenty four hours, or three days if kept refrigerated.

As usual, there are a few words of caution. Make sure you give your tumbled stone a rinse before submerging it into water. Also, make sure that the crystal you are using is not damaged by water contact - if this is the case, you can indirectly make an elixir by putting the stone in a smaller sealed container, and putting this container inside of the glass of water rather than just the stone itself - this way, the stone makes no contact with the water, but its energies will still slowly infuse it. However, when making elixirs via the indirect method, you will want to leave your crystal in the water for a full forty - eight hours, as it takes a little longer without the direct contact.

Most importantly, you are going to want to FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF with an accurate list of TOXIC CRYSTALS - generally, you want to avoid crystals that contain aluminum, copper, lead and mercury. Before ever using a crystal to make an elixir, do a little research and make SURE the stone you are using is not toxic. I'm going to do an upcoming blog post about toxic crystals, because I think this - while not a particularly fun or romantic topic - is nevertheless an important one. Off the top of my head, a few big ones are cinnabar, malachite, turquoise, azurite, chrysocolla, arsenopyrite, galena...to name a few. But, AWAYS err on the side of caution and don't use a crystal in an elixir if you are unsure of its toxicity. I typically recommend avoiding smoky quartz in elixirs as well, even by the indirect method - it is never a good thing to ingest radiation, even at the symbolic level. If you are unsure or nervous about a crystal elixir, then just don't go there - but a good rule of thumb is that typically, calcites and quartzes are safe.

So, why might one want to make a crystal elixir? Well, the first big reason would be to DRINK. If you have a sore throat, making a crystal elixir with a soothing stone, such as gentle, anti - inflammatory blue lace agate, and then using the crystal elixir to make a warming tea is a GREAT way to benefit from its throat - soothing properties. Additionally, if you want to use, say, banded agate to stimulate digestion (for which it works wonderfully) you could make it into an elixir to drink. One of my first moves when I feel a cold coming on is to drop a carnelian into my water bottle - this a great measure to take when you're sick, as carnelian's energy is revitalizing, uplifting, and energizing. Moss agate and amber are also both wonderful for colds and general healing (and elixir safe.) Fluorite is, too, but needs to be made into an elixir by the indirect method.

Another important use for a crystal elixir is on the SKIN. A rose quartz elixir is wonderful for not only treating existing skin conditions, but maintaining skin health; fluorite is also good for healing skin conditions, wrinkles, and blemishes. Snakeskin agate keeps the skin looking young and heals wrinkles when made into an elixir and applied to the skin.

Crystal elixirs can also be sprayed into an environment to CLEANSE it. A wonderful stone to use for this is smoky quartz. You could also add a few drops of essential oil (something cleansing, like sage) to this elixir to make a really powerful, cleansing spray to neutralize the energy of a room or space.

The last major purpose is a practical one; some crystals are actually natural pesticides. Cerussite, for example, has insecticidal properties, and elixirs can be sprayed on houseplants to protect them from pests. Cryolite, additionally, is an officially sanctioned pesticide in the U.S., leaving a toxic fluoride residue wherever it is sprayed; however, this toxic stone contains aluminum, so make elixirs using the indirect method, wash your hands after use, and NEVER consume internally.

So, hopefully that clears up any  confusion about how to make and use crystal elixirs (and, of course, how to do so SAFELY.) As always, if you have further questions I am happy to address them. Thanks!

PROGRAMMING YOUR CRYSTALS: How & Why?

Programming crystals is another great topic, as it has recently come under some fire. But, before I talk a little bit about this recent controversy and reveal my stand, let's first discuss what programming is and does.

First of all, programming your crystals is NOT the same as cleansing. Cleansing (or re - tuning) is about ridding the crystal of all former vibes it has come into contact with and wiping its slate clean, setting its energy to neutral (check out my last blog post on cleansing if you would like to know more about this.) PROGRAMMING, however, is a little bit different, and less widely practiced. After cleansing your crystals and setting their energy to neutral, you can choose to "program" your crystal to help you accomplish something specific, and energetically prepare it to do so. So for example, say I just bought a new fluorite (sorry, I'm on a fluorite kick lately) specifically because a new college semester just started and I'm nervous about getting good grades, so I really want a stone that will help me with my studies. After cleansing my hypothetical new fluorite, I might "program" the stone, basically asking it to work with me to specifically help me focus, concentrate, and absorb/remember new information more easily, ultimately helping me maintain good grades throughout the semester.

A lot of the more practical crystal workers raise their eyebrows at this point and ask the same question that may very well be going through your head right now -  is this really necessary? It might even be egotistical in a way - the suggestion that we have to "tell" the crystals to do something that is supposedly already ingrained within them. And, while I am a proud crystal programmer, I very much see this point, and encourage you NOT to practice this if you feel comfortable with a quick cleanse and leaving the rest to Mama Earth and the stone itself. Certainly, I don't belief that the crystal is LESS powerful if not programmed. Programming is especially unnecessary if you didn't have a specific agenda in mind when purchasing a crystal, but rather simply felt intuitively drawn to it, or drawn to its energies in general without any specific intention. I also believe that these properties are inherent within the crystal already, and that they do not need to be reminded of their energetic signature. So, if this just sounds way too new - agey or confusing to you, then by all means - just don't bother with programming at this point on your crystal path. One thing I firmly believe is that your crystals WILL NOT suffer in any way, or decrease in power, if you choose not to program them.

But as usual, I have more to say on the matter. TO ME, programming is not about "telling" the crystal anything - as I said, I fully trust that these babies know exactly what they're doing, and that their energy operates in a certain way independent of any instruction from us.  For me, if I have a specific agenda in working with a crystal (which I don't always) then I like to program them not because I think they need to be instructed, but because for me, it is a CONVERSATION with my crystal; I am telling the guardian of the stone what I am hoping they will help me accomplish, and I am formally asking for their help. BUT, this is the witch in me emerging. Because it is part of my Pagan beliefs that crystals are, on some level, sentient beings, I feel it is important to ask for the guardian of the stone to work with me to help me achieve my specific goal. It is not at all an act of egotism, but in fact one of humility. But again, this is my love of crystals intermingling with the fact that I am a witch - just because you work with and enjoy crystals does not mean you necessarily believe in their sentience. But because I do, I find programming an important part of getting to know my crystals. Plus, they aren't necessarily mind readers - informing your little helper of HOW exactly you wish them to help you becomes a no - brainer if you believe they're listening.

I find programming to be especially important for making mojo bags. Just yesterday I made a mojo bag for a friend with a cold - I chose three of the best crystals for healing colds, which are carnelian, emerald, and fluorite (moss agates are great too, but I didn't have any extras handy.) However, because in this case there was something very SPECIFIC that I hoped the crystals would work together to help my friend accomplish, programming seemed necessary.

So now that you have probably decided whether or not you like the idea of programming, I suppose I should tell you how it's done (assuming you have jumped on board - if not, no judgment.) There are MANY books that tell you how to do this - in fact, pretty much every crystal book has a little note on programming somewhere in the beginning, with a little step - by - step ritual of how exactly to do it. However, in my opinion? IGNORE IT. I don't like to make my crystal programming too ritualistic - in fact, I feel it is most powerful when kept rather informal.

So, I'll stay with the example of the mojo bag I made yesterday for my friend's cold. I first place the three crystals (cleansed, of course) on a glass plate that I always use specifically for this purpose. In the center, I place a GREEN CHIME CANDLE - green, of course, is the color of healing - and anointed it with some PEPPERMINT OIL - an oil that is wonderful for general health and also specifically for healing colds. I sprinkled some dried lavender around the crystals as well, lavender being another nice herb for bringing general health. I lit the candle and sat for a moment, watching the crystals become empowered by each other, by the candle, by the oils and herbs, all helping to bring out the ONE THING I want these stones to really focus on for my friend. At this point, I pick up each crystal individually and rub it for a moment. I have no formula for HOW I talk to my crystals - typically, I say something like, "I ask the guardian of this carnelian stone to use its warming energy to restore complete health and vitality to _____ for her highest good. Thank you." See? Nothing too fancy.

Programming differs from cleansing in that it is a lot more versatile - the rules pretty much go out the window, and if you're more comfortable following a step - by - step ritual, as I said, there are MANY books that will offer you that. I, however, am a proponent for keeping things informal and specific to the crystal, the situation, and your preference. But now you have an idea of how I generally like to do it, so hopefully that helps!

One last thing. Since I earlier acknowledged that I don't feel crystals decrease in power when not programmed, you're probably wondering WHY I program mine. The answer is, while I don't think it takes anything away from them if you don't, I very much think it ADDS to their power if you do - again, particularly in a situation such as preparing them to go into a mojo bag, in which case there is a very specific way in which you hope they will work with you. Crystals respond really well to being treated with respect, and programming should never be thought of as telling the crystal how to do something it already knows how to do - it is simply asking them nicely to do it, and combining your personal magic with that of the crystal.

I know programming is a little bit of an abstract topic, and my particular dislike for ritualistic programming sessions make it even more so, so if you have any lingering confusion please feel free to bring this to my attention, and I'll try to clarify. Happy programming!

CLEANSING YOUR CRYSTALS: How & Why?

I think cleansing crystals is important to talk about due to both its importance as a process, and its involvement in a recent controversy among the experts. First, let's talk a little bit about cleansing, or "re - tuning" as the more scientifically - focused crystal healers like to call it, and why it's important to do.

It is likely that upon purchasing a crystal at any authentic New Age or Metaphysical shop, the person behind the register will offer a kind smile and remind you to cleanse your new little buddies, usually even suggesting salt water. It is important to cleanse your crystals because, while some crystals have more of a tendency to absorb energy than others, you want to rid these little babes of any energy - potentially negative - that they may have come across before reaching you. Once they have been energetically "set to neutral", they are ready to work with you for your highest good, the way Mama Earth intended. Periodic cleansings are necessary to give the crystals a little rest and recharge, as they are always coming into contact with more energy. I once heard a rumor that cleansing is especially important for those who work with tarot, do psychic readings, or practice any form of magic because, like people, crystals can act as little "hosts" for spirits to take refuge in if they want to hang out here on the physical plane. This is more true of some crystals than others, as some - fluorite, for example, and typically all black crystals - are psychic vacuums that absorb EVERYTHING. So yes, these babies need to be cleansed even more frequently, and I would agree that this is especially important for those who actively work with spirits in the same room where they keep their crystals.

Some popular crystal books (Judy Hall's, for instance) say that certain crystals - such as citrine - do not actually need to be cleansed. Crystal workers who operate more according to science than metaphysics pose this question: if citrine is nothing but heat - treated amethyst, and there is nothing scientifically different about its makeup that would indicate an ability to self - cleanse, how does this make sense? My response to this is first of all that citrine, energetically speaking, is ENTIRELY different from amethyst. Amethyst is a gentle, calming, lunar crystal, whereas citrine carries a very energizing, solar energy - so in this way, they are literally opposite in their energetic signatures. How does it make sense that two crystals that are quite physically similar differ so extensively at the energetic level, the only difference between them being a little natural heating? The best way I can answer this is that heating is energy, and whenever you add heat energy to anything, the result typically is quite transformational - for example, cooking. It seems to make sense that when a crystal is heated, its energy WOULD be drastically altered. My second reply to this question would be that, from my understanding, part of citrine's unique energetic signature is that it simply does not accept negative energy (whereas amethyst is a powerful absorber of it.) However, all of this being said, if you don't buy this idea that citrine has the ability to self - cleanse whereas other crystals don't, then by all means, cleanse away! Personally, my stand is safely somewhere in the middle. I think that every crystal is unique in the way that it energetically operates, and it makes sense to me that citrine, because it does not rapidly or effectively absorb large amounts of negative energy, may not necessarily need frequent cleansing. However, I love to cleanse my crystals, and I consider it a VERY important process. While I definitely buy that citrine probably needs LESS cleansing than a lot of crystals do, I still cleanse mine every now and then - these little babies LOVE solar energy, so leaving them out in the sun for the day will make them VERY happy, whether they "need" it  or not. Basically, don't stress as much about cleansing your citrine as your fluorite or your amethyst, but if I were you, I would still cleanse mine every now and again. I side with both the person behind the register and Judy Hall on this one.

So now that you know WHY you're doing this, it's time to pick a method. There are many ways to cleanse your crystals. The most traditional way to do this is in SALT WATER; Himalayan pink salt, which can be easily acquired in a number of stores due to its importance in cooking, is the best to use. However, cleansing crystals in salt water is my LEAST FAVORITE WAY TO CLEANSE THEM. While many experienced witches and shamans would be shaking their heads with disapproval at that comment, let me first explain why.

First of all, salt is very abrasive to a lot of crystals, especially the softer ones. So before submerging your new crystal into a bowl of salt water, you should at least do a little bit of research to get the hardness of your crystal on the Moh's scale and be sure it will not become damaged by the salt (as many will.) Additionally, some crystals don't like to get wet - celestite, selenite, and lapis, for example, do not appreciate water. So not only do you have to research and make sure your crystal is okay with salt, but that it won't be damaged by the water. If you are willing to do the research and be sure you won't inflict any physical damage to the crystal, then by all means, I agree that this is a very effective means to cleanse. Just do your homework first.

Another very common way, especially among witches, is to leave the crystals out under the light of the SUN or MOON. However, sometimes this is not practical for those who live in apartments (as I do) or areas where they aren't comfortable leaving out their stones or stone jewelry, which can be potentially expensive and rare (and therefore, heartbreaking to lose or have stolen.) This is also cumbersome when you get to the point where you have a very large crystal collection, and cannot transport all of them quite so easily. Another inconvenience is waiting around each month for the full moon, which does not always time appropriately with when your crystals need cleansing. However, if your living situation permits and this cleansing method strongly appeals to you, a little bit of research is once again required. First of all, many pigmented crystals will FADE IN SUNLIGHT - amethyst and rose quartz, for example, will both fade if subjected to prolonged contact with the sun. Additionally, clear quartz actually runs the risk of starting a FIRE if left in direct sunlight, so this is not a safe means to cleanse this crystal. In addition, some crystals energetically don't really vibe with the sun - amethyst, moonstone, rose quartz, lapis, and selenite are all examples of stones that should really NOT be cleansed in the sun. However, this is definitely the preferred method of cleansing for some stones - pyrite, citrine, carnelian and sunstone LOVE sunlight and cleanse VERY well by this method. Even placing them in a sunny window would be sufficient. With other crystals, just make sure you do a little research before leaving them out under the sun to make sure they will physically and energetically be able to handle the intensity.

Another way you can cleanse crystals is by burying them in uncooked RICE or DIRT - earthier crystals enjoy this method the most, like smoky quartz, green aventurine, amazonite, onyx, black tourmaline, garnet, hematite, and other black/dark stones that carry an earthy vibration.

 Lastly are my personal go - to methods: the smoke of INCENSE/SMUDGE STICKS and SOUND. Usually, just for maximum potency, I combine both. These methods are my favorite for the practical reason that they DO NO PHYSICAL OR ENERGETIC HARM TO ANY CRYSTAL. They are both energetically and physically safe and do not compromise the crystals in any way. I either use a sage smudge stick or light a stick of incense - incense is fun to use because you can choose a scent that vibes especially well with the crystal you are trying to cleanse, if you work at all with aromatherapy. For example, if I'm cleansing my fluorite, I might use something energetically similar, such as lemongrass or lemon, which is very airy and mentally stimulating. If I'm cleansing my rose quartz to attract love, I might use jasmine or lavender - you get the point. Don't stress about this, but if you have the knowledge or the time to do the research, this is a fun thing to do (of course, something generic like Nag Champa is always great, too!) Watching the crystals in the smoke is really powerful for me, and really makes me feel that they are getting the cleansing they need - and you can pass the stone through as many time as you like, often feeling it become lighter. Then, I place the crystal on a plate and ring my altar bell over the specimen three times (though you can do it as many times as you like/feel is necessary.) Sound therapy works well on crystals because it quickly evicts any negative energy within the crystal and sets its vibration to neutral, which is what you want. Singing bowls and tingsha work wonderfully for cleansing crystals by sound, though as I said, any bell (which is what I use!) would work just as well. An added bonus to these methods of cleansing is that they take just a few short minutes and are no less effective than leaving a crystal outside all day or night.

So, now you have the tools that you need to pick your go - to method, and decide what is best for the specific crystal that you are trying to cleanse. If you have any questions on cleansing a specific crystal or a method that I haven't mentioned, please feel free to bring it up. Otherwise, happy cleansing :)

NOTE: Cleansing crystals is NOT the same thing as "programming" them. I have a post coming up in the near future about this topic, however.

Your Guide to Working with FLUORITE

Fluorite is a beautiful member of the spar family, and is very popular due to its many colors and shapes, often forming cool - looking octahedrons and crystallizing in green, purple, pink, blue, clear, multi - colored, yellow, or black. Aside from this stone's physical beauty and uniqueness, it also has a very distinct energetic signature, making it a must - have for those who collect stones. So let's talk about some of the ways you can use this crystal.

For those who work with tarot, Robert Simmons makes a comparison that I think is spot - on - this stone is energetically identical to the suit of SWORDS in the standard tarot deck. That is, this is your stone for everything MENTAL. This is your talisman for slicing through illusion, mental fog, and overwhelming emotion, and imbuing one with mental alertness, capability, and objectivity. For this reason, this is a wonderful crystal to help with clear decision - making. Fluorite is a great companion for STUDENTS, as it helps the LEARNING process, and should be held and rubbed during class, or kept somewhere close to you where it touches the skin. Not only does it help with the absorption and assimilation of incoming information, but it keeps one focused and concentrated, and also boosts memory (fluorite also pairs really well with lapis for boosting mental faculties if you happen to have one of those handy.) Fluorite also dissipates narrow - mindedness, fixed thoughts, and small thinking. This stone has the ability to bring out something of an inner rebel, stimulating free thinking, and stimulates CREATIVITY and INVENTIVENESS, making it useful for brainstorming. Because this stone has a very practical, somewhat unemotional vibe, it is wonderful for those who are OVERWHELMED BY THEIR EMOTIONS and cannot set these aside when necessary. It also boosts the higher mind and intuition.

In addition to being the single most important crystal for mental faculties, fluorite is also known for its ability to BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS. Not only does it bring organized thought, but this is the stone that you want to work with and carry with you if you need a little ORGANIZATION and STABILITY brought to your life in general. This is ideal for  SCATTERED and DISORGANIZED temperaments. Rightfully so, fluorite has been deemed the FORCE OF ORDER in the crystal kingdom by many experts on the subject.

Additionally, fluorite is highly PROTECTIVE, drawing off negative energy and not allowing mental influences from others to creep in - so if you are the type of person who is easily swayed by charismatic types, this can be a good stone to combat this tendency. This is also an important crystal for protecting against EMS, which is the negative energy emitted by technology. A fluorite grid surrounding your TV, microwave, toaster, or any other source of EMS is ideal (and honestly, tumbled fluorites are inexpensive and readily available) but if you only have one specimen, placing it between you and the source of EMS will effectively shield you from this harmful energy. Taping a fluorite to your phone or computer is also a great way protect you (I am going to do a blog post shortly about EMS and some other crystals for protecting you against it, but amazonite is my other favorite to use for this, or ajoite if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one.) Fluorite works as something of a psychic vacuum cleaner, clearing all forms of negativity and even astral hitchikers that may be hanging around and causing disruption.

Energetically, fluorite balances all the chakras, though some colors are keyed to specific ones (which I will address shortly.) Physically, fluorite is great for physical balance, coordination, dizziness and vertigo, and treats the bones and teeth. It is a wonderful pain reliever, particularly of nerve - related pain, and should be stroked over the site of pain toward the heart. Fluorite is a wonderful crystal for conditions such as rheumatism or arthritis because in addition to relieving pain and acting as an anti - inflammatory, fluorite has an energizing, mobilizing effect on the joints, and also helps with all muscle/joint pain unrelated to arthritis.  It is used to treat such conditions as shingles, ulcers, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and suppurating wounds. This a great stone for cold and flu season, as it heals both of these conditions and should be placed over the thymus for maximum potency (the upper chest.) Fluorite makes a wonderful elixir for the skin, removing blemishes and wrinkles. It is an anti - viral, anti - inflammatory, and immune stimulator, and its natural tendency to restore order out of chaos is true at the physical level, particularly with the lungs and bones, with which fluorite strongly resonates. This stone should be placed under the pillow at night to prevent night terrors and sleep paralysis, as well as unwanted out - of - body trips.

The only thing worth mentioning regarding how to care for your fluorite is that it needs to be cleansed A LOT - after every use is ideal - because it absorbs all kinds of negative energy quickly and easily. So, even if you do not typically subscribe to the idea of cleansing crystals, it is HIGHLY recommended that you do so with this one (not that anything catastrophic would happen should you not, but you would find it would not be very effective when saturated with negative energy.)

Below are EXTREMELY SIMPLIFIED, CONDENSED descriptions of specific colors of fluorite. My posts are often so lengthy because crystals and their properties are not simplistic enough to say in one word or even one sentence...this is why I become uncomfortable upon being asked "What does this stone do?" This is a common question intended to demand a one - word answer that I cannot accurately give without failing to explain HOW the crystal works and in what way it should be used, which are crucial pieces of information. Crystal work is a complex subject and deserves to be treated as such. On that note, I do plan to make a long post about each of these specific fluorites in the future, giving them the amount of detail they deserve and require. While these descriptions are extremely simplified and somewhat shallow, they nevertheless present an accurate and basic idea of fluorite's slightly different energies.

Blue Fluorite - Combines the organizational ability of fluorite with throat chakra energy, stimulating CLEAR COMMUNICATION of one's ideas, and also one of the best fluorites for creativity and inventiveness. Opens the THIRD EYE and brings PSYCHIC CLARITY, so excellent for those who do readings and other psychic work (rare - ish.) Chakra: Throat, third eye

Black Fluorite - The ULTIMATE CLEANSER AND VACUUM CLEANER (rare.)

Green Fluorite - Combines heart chakra energy with otherwise unemotional fluorite energy to create a stone that balances the HEART and MIND. Works very well to clear emotional trauma and remove excess energy from the aura and chrakas. A common fluorite to use on the lungs and for asthma (common.) Chakra: Heart

Purple Fluorite - VERY CALMING, an ideal stone for TEST TAKING because it carries the mental energy of fluorite, and adds a strong ability to calm the nerves. This stone can also be used for other assessments or JOB INTERVIEWS, and reduces WORKAHOLIC tendencies (common.) Chakra: Crown

Pink Fluorite - Bring suppressed emotions to the surface to be released and dealt with. Also helps to align the heart and mind. Used to treat osteoporosis. Chakra: Higher Heart

Multi - Colored Fluorite - Organizes energy on all levels; one of the best fluorites for INVENTIVENESS (common.)

Yellow Fluorite - Aligns the WILL with the MIND, ensuring the ACCOMPLISHMENT OF GOALS. AN EXCELLENT STONE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE JUST OUT OF COLLEGE, who are trying to build a career from nothing (common - ish.) Chakra: Solar plexus

Yttrian Fluorite - This fluorite is also sometimes known simply as Lavender Fluorite (the lavender color comes from the presence of Yttrium), and differs greatly from the other fluorites in that it is not as much of an organizer and in fact should NOT be used for this. It is actually used to attract WEALTH and ABUNDANCE (rare.)

Clear Fluorite - Pure fluorite energy (no impurities.) Chakra: Crown