A Crash Course on Crystals

Crystals have become very popular nowadays, for far more than just being pretty. They are common manifestation tools and are used frequently for the healing energies they carry. Practitioners of crystal healing believe they can boost low energy, prevent bad energy, release blocked energy, and even transform a body’s aura!

Though crystal healing can seem confusing and even a bit “hippy-dippy”, it’s very easy to begin and really not all that weird. For centuries, civilizations all over the world have incorporated crystals into daily life, using them in rituals, medicine, and even beauty routines.

The origins of crystal healing can be tied to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, India, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. Writings dating back as far as 400 BC make observations about the powers different crystals were believed to emit. Even in Plato’s account of Atlantis, crystal healing is also mentioned. It, like most other modern practices in witchcraft, has a deep-rooted history across the globe.

Crystal healing today is often used side by side with yoga, meditation, or mindfulness to aid in spiritual healing. There are crystals for just about every spiritual ailment under the sun, so no matter your issue or desire, there’s a crystal for that.

I won’t give you very single crystal and their individual meanings in this post, but I will be explaining a lot about crystals as well as giving some handy tips and tricks for charging and caring for your crystals.

First thing you’ll need is some crystals (duh). Picking out which crystals you need means figuring out what you’re looking for it to do. A good starter crystal would be clear quartz, as it is an amplifier for any and all energies. But, if you have a specific need in mind, do your research as to what types of crystals will assist.

All crystals correspond with so many different aspects of life. They can be energy specific, having to do with love, or money, even stones that correlate to each chakra (which I will discuss in other posts). Each stone has its own energy which can be used to better your spiritual health.  

Crystal healers often say that you don’t choose the crystal, the crystal chooses you. So, remember, you can do all the research in the world, but if you don’t follow your intuition, it’s all for naught. I suggest actually going to a metaphysical shop rather than shopping online. This way you can look around and ask questions when a crystal grabs your attention. Allow your intuition to guide you in the right direction!

Now, once you have your crystals, it’s time to put them to work. When using crystals, they will go through what I call the “Enchantment Cycle”. There are three stages to this cycle: charging, enchanting, and cleansing.

You start by charging the crystal. Afterward, you can activate your crystal by programming it with your specific purpose that correlates to the stone’s energy and meaning. This will bring the crystal into the enchanting phase.

You’ll feel the effects as the enchantment does its work while you use the crystal. You can attach it to a chain and make a necklace, carry it in your pocket or purse, or simply place it somewhere in your bedroom, like under your pillow or on your nightstand. I even know some people who store crystals in their bras! The important thing is to keep them close to you so that they have an effect on the energy around you.

Over time, the effect will wear off the more you absorb that energy. Eventually, the crystal will start to absorb the surrounding energies and will need cleansing. You can use my tips on cleansing and protection on the stones to get rid of any unnecessary and/or unwanted energies that they may have picked up.

As soon as it’s cleansed, the crystal is empty of energy, so it’s time to charge those stones, thus starting the cycle all over again!

When you first get a crystal, something to remember is that you aren’t starting with a blank slate. The energies that were around the crystal before your purchase have been absorbed by it. Cleansing crystals after you have bought them is what makes them truly yours! My favorite has always been running them through incense smoke, specifically sage. But, of course, with your crystals, do whatever is best for you.  

I’ve talked about how to cleanse items before, so I won’t bore you with a repeat. With that said, charging is a whole other beast. There are many ways to charge your crystals, so you have plenty of options to pick from. You can use salt, water, sunlight, and/or moonlight, or even sound, just to name a few. That said, some crystals react badly to certain charging methods, so be very careful! Make sure to do your research on the stone before using any methods of charging.

I typically use salt to charge most of my crystals in little crystal charging stations, or crystal hotels, that I learned about courtesy of the witchy side of TikTok! All you need is salt, a terrarium, and some crystals in need of a recharge. I typically use pink Himalayan salt to charge my crystals, but sea salt or black salt work as well.

All you gotta do is cleanse the terrarium, line the bottom of it with salt, and place your crystals inside! Ta-da! Your crystals now have a place to recharge their energies and you have a cute little piece for your space. Typically, I leave a crystal in there for at least 24 hours before I use it again, but the more you tend to use it, the longer you should let it recharge.

Overall, crystals are tools, able to amplify manifestation energies and supply their own as well. So, as always, the thing that holds the most power is you! Your unique energy is what will drive your crystals to better assist and heal. So, take care of that energy, and your crystals, and you’ll be manifesting greatness.