Thursday, June 2, 2016

WHERE TO START: CRYSTALS FOR THE BEGINNNER


Hello and welcome! The moon is waning through lovely Taurus today, which means it’s all about comfort! This is a good day to take a bubble bath and eat a pint of ben & jerry’s right out of the carton just because you can. Spoil yourself and please your senses, and don’t try to push yourself out of your comfort zone today – you likely won’t be in the mood.

 Today, I thought I would backtrack a little bit and write a blog post especially for those who are just starting to dabble with the world of crystals and crystal energy – I’m no stranger to the fact that most of my blogposts are more directed toward those who already have a basic awareness of crystal work, as there is SO MUCH out there on crystal beginner information, whereas new information for the intermediate or even advanced crystal practitioner is less readily available. However, I am going to temporarily suspend my dedication to fixing this and instead focus on crystal beginners and the crystals that everyone SHOULD have if they’re just starting out. Luckily, Mama Earth works deliberately to ensure that the most user-friendly and necessary crystals also tend to be the most abundant, affordable, and easy to find. So, without further adue, let’s talk about the major crystals that every beginner should have in their collection (to the intermediate and advanced crystal workers reading, read along and feel free to comment below any that you feel I missed.)

1.)    AMETHYST.

Key Words: Psychic Protection, Restful Sleep, Psychic Abilities, Meditation, Calming, Physical and Emotional Healing

Why You Need It: The very first blog post I ever did discussed Amethyst, and rightfully so – this is a beautiful and soft, yet powerful crystal that tends to be the first to attract novices (feel free to check that blog post for a more detailed description on amethyst – I’m just going to summarize here.) Amethyst offers psychic protection, meaning that it protects against any negative thoughts or wishes sent your way. Any harm or problems this may cause you is often unintentional, but non-deliberate psychic attack is no less destructive. In addition to its protective function, Amethyst is extremely soothing and calming, making it ideal for situations of stress, anxiety, trauma, and dis-ease. One of the best crystals to bring with you for bedtime, Amethyst brings restful sleep, protects against nightmares, and is the traditional crystal remedy to defeat insomnia. Most importantly, Amethyst is an EXCELLENT crystal for those who are interested in enhancing their psychic abilities and intensifying their meditation practice. It helps to open the third eye and crown chakras, heighten your metaphysical abilities, and intensify your meditation sessions, but at the same time is extremely gentle and user-friendly unlike some crystals who have such intense energy, you are recommended to only use them after years of experience and still paired with a grounding crystal. Amethyst is a powerful healer physically as well, relieving pain and stress on all levels, easing headaches, supporting the lungs, and is used to treat skin conditions as an elixir (among other things.)

Other Crystals You Can Use: Lapis Lazuli is another great crystal for a beginner who is interested in opening their third eye and honing their inherent psychic abilities, but wishes to do so slowly and safely. Vera Cruz Amethyst (sometimes called “Lavender Amethyst” in some popular crystal books) is somewhat more rare and expensive, but is even more efficient in inducing a meditative state for those who struggle with meditation. Rose Quartz works similarly to Amethyst in its calming ability, but I would still recommend obtaining both as they differ beyond this one similarity.

2.)    CARNELIAN.

Key Words: Warming, Energizing, Revitalizing, Creativity, Vitality, Fertility, Grounding

Why You Need It: Carnelian is one of the most important stones of the orange ray. It is extremely grounding, so can be used on the root chakra to help with floatiness, spaciness, or confusion. Most importantly, the energy of Carnelian is warming, so you can use it when you’re feeling a little sluggish and need a boost of energy and vitality. Carnelian also works with the second chakra to stimulate creativity, so is of great use to artists, writers, and those who depend on their creativity. Physically, Carnelian is a stone you want to have on you when battling a cold or flu, as it helps to combat the fatigue that often accompanies these illnesses.  This is one of the finest crystals for increasing fertility and treating the female reproductive organs, frigidity, and impotence. According to Feng Shui, Carnelian by the front door brings protection and abundance.

Other Crystals You Can Use: Amber, while not technically a crystal, has a very similar energy to Carnelian in that it is extremely warming and revitalizing. Sunstone, while somewhat more rare than Carnelian or Amber, also contains a very warming energy that bestows vitality and grounding.

3.)    CITRINE.

Key Words: Manifestation, Abundance, Warming, Energizing, Confidence, Assertiveness

Why You Need It: Citrine is a very powerful crystal. Much of what is sold on the market right now is not actually Citrine, but rather heat-treated Amethyst – it can be difficult to tell the difference visually, but if you ask the shopkeeper they will likely be able to let you know whether or not the specimen you are looking at is heat-treated amethyst or real Citrine found in nature. I can tell you that most of what you find WILL be the heat-treated stuff, as actual Citrine is quite rare. The heat-treated stuff has been, for the most part, accepted by crystal healers as being largely similar energetically to natural Citrine, with the general agreeance that it is simply not QUITE as strong and pure Citrine energy, but still somewhat capturing the basic idea. This is an excellent stone for manifestation. What does that mean, exactly? Manifestation involves having whatever you want. You simply ask the universe and be open to receive. Citrine acts as a catalyst for this process. It is typically associated in particular with attracting abundance and money, and for this reason small specimens do well when tucked into wallets or cash registers, and larger specimens can be placed in the left corner of a home from the front door – according to feng shui, this is your wealth corner, and there are many crystals you can decorate it with. Citrine is one such crystal. However, in addition to attracting wealth and abundance, you can use Citrine to attract and manifest whatever you want. Citrine also has a kind of warming, sunny, masculine energy, and promotes confidence and assertiveness.

Other Crystals You Can Use: If you are interested in attracting money and abundance, Budd Stone (also known as African Jade) is excellent for attracting and protecting wealth and prosperity, as is Pyrite, Tiger’s Eye, and Prasiolite (green Amethyst.) For developing the masculine side of one’s character and enhancing assertiveness, confidence, and initiative, working with Heliodor (Golden Beryl) or Chrysoberyl are excellent, though these crystals are rarer than heat-treated Citrine. For manifestation, work with the rarer Cuprite, Heliodor, or common Hematite.

4.)    FLUORITE

Key Words: Memory, Brain Function, Learning, Concentration, Practicality

Why You Need It: Fluorite is your mental stimulator. It enhances memory, concentration, learning, and brain function. I like to recommend Fluorite to people who are overly-sensitive and tend to be governed by their emotions, as Fluorite offers a little bit of healthy emotional detachment and helps one to turn more to their mind and mental faculties to operate and make decisions. Therefore, Fluorite is a must-have for students. This is also a great crystal for protecting against EMS, which is the negative and harmful energy emitted by technology. Place or tape the fluorite over the source of EMS (I have one taped to the computer I am typing on at this very moment.)

Other Crystals You Can Use: Amazonite, Black Tourmaline, Malachite and Sodalite are just a few of the many other crystals that can be used to protect against EMS. If you are looking for crystals to enhance brain function, concentration and learning, the Apatite family is excellent, particularly Yellow Apatite, as is Hematite.

5.)    SMOKY QUARTZ.

Key Words: Grounding, Protection

Why You Need It: This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Grounding crystals are definitely a must-have in your collection, particularly after an intense meditation session or a trip to the grocery store that leaves your introverted self feeling drained. The importance of a crystal for protection is obvious.

Other Crystals You Can Use: Black Tourmaline and Hematite are nearly identical to Smoky Quartz in their grounding and protective abilities, and the three are practically interchangeable. Black onyx and obsidian are also good substitutions. Garnet is another excellent crystal for grounding, as is the Agate family, particularly Fire Agate and earthy-colored banded Agates.

6.)    ROSE QUARTZ.

Key Words: Calming, Emotional Healing, Love, Forgiveness, Compassion

Why You Need It: Rose Quartz has a light, calming, motherly energy that makes it stand out in the mineral kingdom. The beautiful light pink color comes from Manganese impurities. Rose Quartz is extremely comforting in times of distress or a crisis, and is a very powerful emotional healer, whether you’re undergoing a break-up or enduring the grief of losing a loved one. Leaving a Rose Quartz by the bed also helps with restful sleep, and this stone is typically used to treat the physical heart, the lungs, and the skin as an elixir. This is perhaps the most efficient crystal in the entire mineral kingdom for quickly attracting love, and can be worn as jewelry or placed in your love corner (the farthest right corner from the front door.)

Other Crystals You Can Use: If you are wanting to attract love, I have an entire blog post on this subject that you can check out for a list of recommendations, but Rhodocrosite is my favorite, second only to Rose Quartz, with Garnet as a close third. Rhodonite, and the rarer Bustamite, are excellent for the emotional healing offered by Rose Quartz, and Amethyst and Sodalite are similar to Rose Quartz in their calming and soothing abilities. For forgiveness and compassion, work with Mangano Calcite, Morganite or Kunzite.

 7.)    CLEAR QUARTZ.

Why You Need It: Clear Quartz is awesome because it’s programmable. Clear Quartz is a little empty powerhouse, a blank slate that makes a perfect receptacle for your intention. Need a dose of protection? Ask your clear quartz. Want to attract some love into your life? Ask your clear quartz. Got a lazy chakra? Clear Quartz. If you could only have one crystal from this list, Clear Quartz would be the one.

Other Crystals You Can Use: Azeztulite is a variety of clear Quartz that has recently become trademarked. Supposedly, it is even more powerful, but I have a blog post discussing this further you might want to read before running off to purchase one. If the man-made “crystals” interest you (which I have also discussed previously in my blog), Andara Glass is credited by some who use it to be an excellent receptacle for manifestation work. I would definitely recommend Clear Quartz over both of these alternatives, however.

 8.)    MOONSTONE.

Key Words: Femininity, Intuition, Emotional Stability

Why You Need It: Moonstone is a wonderful crystal to use for enhancing your psychic abilities, clairvoyance, and intuition. It is a very feminine stone used to balance PMS and problems associated with fertility, childbirth, pregnancy, and breast-feeding, and can be used to develop the feminine side of your character (regardless of your actual gender.) Moonstone can be used for emotional stability, particularly calming overreactions and emotional triggers.

Other Crystals You Can Use: Aquamarine rivals Moonstone in its femininity and ability to help one tap into their intuition and clairvoyant abilities; Cat’s Eye and Gem Silica, while far more rare, are also good. If you are interested in feminine crystals, Gem Silica, Chrysocolla, Ajoite, Gaia Stone, and the trademarked Gel Lithium Silica are a few. For Emotional Stability, Alabaster and Albite, minerals associated with moonstone, work very well. Moss Agate and Biotite are wonderful for promoting healthy and smooth childbirth.

 9.)    GREEN AVENTURINE

Key Words: Health, Wellness, Healing, Good Luck, Prosperity

 Why You Need It: Green Aventurine is a great crystal for general health, well-being, and healing, and can be used in virtually all healing spells and sessions for an extra boost of this energy. What also makes Green Aventurine stand out among other crystals is it is the absolute luckiest, so you will want to tuck this guy into your left pocket when trying your luck at the Casino or buying a lottery ticket.

Other Crystals to use: Amazonite is also a good luck crystal. For health and wellness, Greenlandite is an extremely rare crystal which is very similar to Green Aventurine in its ability to bestow general health, wellness, and long life, and works even more intensely.

Phew! This may be my longest blog post yet. There are definitely more I could have added, but I think these are pretty much the top 9. For those just starting out, I hope you find this list helpful and run off to collect all of these affordable and available must-haves. For my intermediate and advanced readers, let me know what you think, and maybe try working with some of my rarer recommendations. Blessings to you.

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