Today, the moon is waxing through the sign LIBRA, so this is a really good time to cuddle up to your sweetie or a good friend - more than anything right now, we really want to spend time relating to others - just be careful not to get so caught up in showing friends and fam how much you love them that you forget about yourself. Heliodor is my favorite independence crystal, and Chrysoprase helps one to maintain their independence within a romantic relationship. You can benefit from the energies of these two crystals now.
For a while now, I have wanted to do a blog post dedicated to revealing to you the contents of my crystal library. For those just starting out with crystals, you can benefit from this list because my descriptions and reviews of the books will help you to decide which book best satisfies your current needs. For the intermediate and advanced crystal workers, reading my list should be even more fun; I always love to know what my fellow crystal lovers are reading.
Not to suggest that the below books are the ONLY ones on the subject - in fact, quite the opposite. There are many others. These are just the books that have made their way to me along my crystal journey. If your favorite book is missing from my list, it doesn't mean I dislike it - it simply means I have not read it. As always, feel free to comment below with any recommendations you have for me or the other readers of this blog - I would love to hear what you're reading.
So, without further adue, below is a complete list of the books in my crystal library and a little bit about them. They are not in any specific order. For each book, I will recommend a stage on your crystal journey in which to read the book, what I consider to be the books strengths and weaknesses (that is, what you can use it for, and what you may want to consult another source to find out), and whether or not it makes an effective reference book for at-a-glance searching. Let's get started.
1.) THE BOOK OF STONES: WHO THEY ARE & WHAT THEY TEACH by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian.
Recommended For: Intermediates
Reference Book: Yes, but a little more detailed than a typical reference book.
Strengths: Goes into great detail of the stone's overall energy signature. Touches on practical as well as spiritual uses for the crystal. Unique in that his information comes from channeling and personal experience with the crystals rather than the same information other crystal books are based on.
Weaknesses: Includes the trademarked crystals. Physical healing tips for crystals are slightly underdeveloped. Sometimes uses New Age jargon and touches more on the big picture, so more recommended for intermediate practitioners that have the basics down.
This book is easily a favorite among Crystal Workers, and a lot of you probably own - or have at least heard of - this work. For each crystal, Robert Simmons picks a few key words, an elemental association, and a chakra association, and then provides useful information regarding the stone's minerology before diving deeper into its energetic signature. What I like about this book is that it makes a convenient reference book if you're wanting a straightforward, alphabetized list of crystals and their properties. However, that being said, he goes into detail that some other books on this list do not, really explaining the overall energetic signature of the crystal and why it works the way it works, while still providing straightforward information easily understandable at a glance. This book is important to add to your collection because a lot of crystal books tend to be repetitive in the information they deliver, as many are based off of the same information and what has already been said about crystals. Robert Simmons, however, bases his book on personal experiences and meditations with the crystals. My only beef with Robert Simmons is that he promotes the use of the trademarked crystals, and is in fact in association with the company that trademarks them. As I extensively discuss in my blogpost on the subject, I am very much against trademarking crystals because it is confusing, misleading, and unnecessary - the trademarked stones are merely already discovered minerals assigned new names and deemed somehow more powerful by their trademarkers. So, while I skip the chapters on the trademarked crystals when I use this book, it remains one of my favorites - it is informative, reflective, while still straightforward enough to be used as a reference book.
2.) THE COMPLETE CRYSTAL HANDBOOK by Cassandra Eason.
Recommended For: Beginners
Reference Book: Yes
Strengths: Delivers quick, easy, practical tips. Covers a great deal of information and over 500 crystals.
Weaknesses: While she quickly covers a great deal of information (mental, emotional, spiritual, magickal, practical, and physical uses for the crystal), inherently, not one of these sects is fully developed or described; in this sense, this book merely scratches the surface, which is why it is perfect for beginners and as a reference guide.
For crystal enthusiasts that are uninterested in New Age jargon and energy signatures, this is your book. I think this book is vastly underrated; I have never really heard of any other crystal workers using it, but it was one of the first to find me and remains one of my favorites. Cassandra Eason provides extremely practical, specific tips for each crystal. The selection of crystals she covers is more extensive than any other crystal book I own. I will say, however, that I tend not to reach for this book when I'm looking for a crystal recommendation for a physical dis-ease, as Cassandra Eason is a little more interested in magickal and practical uses for crystals than their physical healing properties. But, for witches and those interested in integrating crystals into their everyday life in practical ways with minimal confusion, Cassandra Eason provides straightforward and specific tips that you will find useful.
3.) CRYSTAL ENERGY: 150 WAYS TO BRING SUCCES, LOVE, HEALTH, AND HARMONY INTO YOUR LIFE by Mary Lambert.
Recommended For: Intermediate; not complicated, but requires a developed crystal collection to be relevant.
Reference Book: Yes, but for crystals for various properties, not properties of various crystals.
Strengths: Everything - I love this book.
Weaknesses: None - get it.
This is not a reference book, nor is it a book you will want to pick up for an in-depth description on a specific crystal. Rather, this is a nice complement to your reference books like the previous two I mentioned, as it contains Mary Lambert's crystal recommendations for various purposes, from studying to soothing a sore throat. Therefore, I would recommend obtaining this book only after you have a fairly developed crystal collection - I open a random page every day and always love her informative and interesting tips on new ways I can use the crystals in my collection. She is solid, respectable, and unique among the other voices in the crystal healing community. If you are more interested in learning about crystals for specific purposes than uses for specific crystals, this is the book you want. I also appreciate that, like Cassandra Eason, Mary Lambert refrains from using New-Agey lingo that can be confusing to the average Joe Schmo who wants to incorporate crystals into his life in practical ways.
4.) HEALING CRYSTALS: THE A-Z GUIDE TO 43O GEMSTONES and CRYSTAL POWER, CRYSTAL HEALING:THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK, both by Michael Gienger.
Recommended For: Beginners
Reference Book: Yes.
Strengths: Very straightforward and perfect for a beginner who does not want to drown in too much information. The former of the two books I mentioned is very small, and is therefore portable, so makes a perfect on-the-go reference book for when you're crystal shopping.
Weaknesses: The former of the two books is less appropriate for intermediate or advanced crystal workers, as they will likely find it overly simple. The latter of the two books can be repetitive, often intersecting with the information of other crystal books, and does not cover a diverse range of crystals, discussing only the more common ones.
The former of the two is a very small reference book which delivers a few tidbits of information on each crystal along with its rarity and minerology. The cool thing about this book is that it covers 430 gemstones (which is quite a lot for one book) and is portable. The latter of the two books is a little more appropriate for intermediate crystal practitioners. It is divided into three parts: the first part discusses the pure science of crystals, the second part discusses the theory of crystal healing itself, and the final part dives into a selected list of crystals and their properties. My only critique of this list is that a.) it only covers the more common crystals, again making it more appropriate for a beginner, and b.) it tends to be repetitive in its information, often intersecting with the work of Judy Hall and other writers - therefore, I don't know that you need both works. Of course, it's always good to read as many different perspectives on crystal healing as you possibly can, and the first two parts of this book are what make it unique among the others on the shelves. I am very much a fan of Michael Gienger and might even recommend this book over those which contain similar information.
5.) HEALING CRYSTALS AND GEMSTONES FROM AMETHYST TO ZIRCON by Dr. Flora Peschek-Bohmer and Gisela Schreiber.
Recommended For: Beginners
Reference Book: Yes
Strengths: Includes detailed zodiac sign recommendations and suggestions on a cleansing method.
Weaknesses: The information sometimes seems to be a little bit off.
This book is definitely cool, listing several magickal and healing properties and even including detailed zodiac sign recommendations, chakra classifications, and recommended cleansing methods for each stone it explores. However, I will say that this is the only book on this list whose information I straight-up don't always agree with. It also seems to conflict sometimes with the information I'm getting in other crystal books - this might be a good thing, but it also makes me wonder - if every other book is in agreeance, and this one book seems to be alone out in left field, it is clear who is likely the more questionable source. Therefore, I don't know that the information in this book is always spot-on, but it is nevertheless helpful and fun for a crystal beginner who wants practical recommendations and tips delivered in a clear, straightforward manner.
6.) ANYTHING BY JUDY HALL.
Recommended For: The Crystal Bible is for beginners, The Crystal Bible 2 is for intermediates, and The Crystal Bible 3 is for advanced.
Reference Book: Yes
Strengths: Between the three editions, a vast amount of crystals are covered, and a great deal of useful information is given on each crystal; this information is also well-organized.
Weaknesses: Merely scratches the surface and does not always offer needed further explanation; often hides behind New Age jargon that can be confusing to the beginner.
I have many of her books, but lets stick to THE CRYSTAL BIBLE and the following two editions. The three Crystal Bibles target different audiences; the first bible is a reference book for the more common crystals, and the crystals explored become increasingly rare with each edition; The Crystal Bible 3 only discusses rather rare crystals and is therefore only relevant to a more advanced crystal practitioner/collector. My favorite thing about Judy Hall is that her information is solid and well organized. My only complaint is that she sometimes uses too much New Age jargon and, unlike Robert Simmons, does not clarify or further explain herself, making her books a little confusing to the crystal beginner. Also, because this is a reference book, it merely scratches the surface. It is, however, definitely a handy little guide for when you want to read all about a crystal you have just purchased. The Encylopedia of Crystals is basically a condensed version of the 3 Crystal Bibles, but perhaps misses some of the rarer crystals covered in The Crystal Bible 3.
7.) GEMS OF THE 7 COLOR RAYS by Willim C. Stuber.
Recommended For: Intermediate and Advanced.
Reference Book: No
Strengths: Everything - get it.
Weaknesses: None.
This is the book you want if you are more interested in holistic healing as a whole and want to do far more than just scratch the surface. William C. Stuber goes in depth in discussing color therapy and how this relates to crystal healing, and discusses (in GREAT detail unmatched by any other book on this list) a few crystals that most strongly contain a certain color ray, and how this can then be used to heal. While certainly not appropriate for the beginner who just wants to know the properties of the three crystals in their collection, this is the ideal companion for the serious holistic healer that wants to change their life with crystals and understand how/why all of this works.
8.) THE HEALING POWER OF GEMSTONES IN TANTRA, AYURVEDA, AND ASTROLOGY by Haris Johari.
Recommended For: Advanced
Reference Book: No
Strengths: Everything
Weaknesses: None
This book is too intense to briefly summarize; in fact, I have started reading it several times before realizing I'm not quite ready for it, and setting it aside. It explores the magickal properties and associations of several gemstones, with an Eastern flare. Johari's perspective is a unique one unlike that of any other writer on this list, so I highly recommend adding this book to your library, especially if Eastern myth appeals to you.
So hopefully you find this list to be helpful. These are the crystal books that got me where I am today with my crystal knowledge (along with a dose of personal experience, online researching, and speaking with other crystal lovers.) As I said, if you have any recommendations, feel free to comment below and help out any beginner that may be frequenting the blog (and me - I wanna know what you're reading!). Go grab yourself a cup of tea and give one of these books a read and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping. ~
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