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What are healing crystals?
Do they really work?

Live and let live...please. Before I go on, let me state for the record that I believe that the use of crystals, aromatherapy, herbs, vitamins, sound, light, or any other form of alternative treatment is a matter of personal choice. I am not attempting, nor do I recommend, the conversion of those who choose not to participate in these other gifts from the universal spirit. I pick no fight with those of various religious doctrines who oppose these ideas, and ask only for the same courtesy in return.

TWO RULES OF CRYSTAL WORK

RULE NO. 1 - There are no rules for use of crystals or minerals in healing.
RULE NO. 2 - For all other rules refer to RULE NO. 1 !

Introduction 

My name is Michael McKnight and I am co-owner of The Crystal Ball Jewelry & Crystal Gallery in Shorewood, Wisconsin. I am also a goldsmith, a merchant, a father, a sweetie of my partner Diane - but not a professional journalist. This is my first attempt at writing any type of article, so please forgive my journalistic ineptness in advance. The following article is a statement of my personal opinion regarding the use of crystals for healing. These thoughts are the result of observations over the last nine years during which I have been involved with these beautiful gifts from God through the abundant earth.

The Healing Crystal...????

To begin, let's explore The Healing Crystals. Many folks come through our door and want to know, Where are the Healing Crystals ? People of all walks of life come to us almost every day and ask about The Healing Crystal.

Perhaps they had seen a TV talk show or read an article in a magazine that referred to someone using crystals to do physical or emotional healing, and want to find out more about these crystalline miracle makers.

First of all, you should be aware that there isn't just ONE crystal that is the all-powerful Healer. There are many many different crystals and minerals that can be of benefit to us. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors, and compositions.

By the time many folks find us, or shops similar to ours, they may have been through some scary or at least challenging times in their lives and looking some relief, quickly if possible.   It would be convenient if we could simply pull out The Healing Crystal, but I'm afraid that it's not that simple.   A bit more education is in order before the best crystal or mineral can be selected for the kind of help that is being sought.

What I suspect that what most people are referring to would be the clear quartz crystal that almost everyone has seen at one time in their lives.   To be sure, the quartz crystal has a lot going for it in terms of public recognition. Many practitioners that use crystals and minerals for healing work would agree that the quartz crystal, in various shapes and sizes, is truly one of the most versatile and useful crystals the earth has to offer.

Metaphysically, the quartz crystal can be easily programmed to help provide a positive outcome. It can clear away negative energy from the aura and re-align the chakra (energy) centers of the body. It can be useful in long distance healing through imaging and meditation. It is beyond the scope of this article to give a full discourse on quartz crystals. You can find many books written about crystal healing and you will see that the discussion of quartz crystals in these books usually takes a lion's share of the space, and rightfully so.

There are Other Healing Crystals ?

There are many different approaches towards the use of crystals and minerals in regard to healing.   The one we use at our shop for recommendations is to simply associate the various crystals and minerals with their healing colour.

Why use Colour ?

Because it is relatively easy to learn the colour healing system, and once it is learned you can use it to quickly identify what crystal or mineral to use for specific healing.  The use of colour to create or alter certain emotions or moods has long been an accepted practice by many traditional professional mental health doctors and care givers.

We also borrow from ancient Eastern culture to further associate these colours with the various chakra centers in the body. A chakra is an energy center, and there are seven major centers starting with the root chakra, located at the base of the spine, and ending at the crown of the head.

Each chakra has an associated color (or colors) and each of these colors can easily be associated with the colors of the crystals or minerals which affect that area of the body.  Here is a list of the seven major chakras and their associated colors:

7th chakra - The Root
Primary color is red; other colors associated with the Root Chakra are black brown, and gray.

1st chakra - The Crown
Primary color is purple; the secondary colors are shades of purple and colorless(clear) or pure white.

2nd chakra - The Third Eye (or Brow)
Primary color is dark indigo blue, or various shades of dark blue.

3rd chakra - The Throat
Primary color is light blue like aqua or turquoise; secondary colors are various shades of lighter blues.

4th chakra - The Heart
Primary color is green and shades of green; the secondary color is pink.

5th chakra - The Solar Plexus
Primary color is yellow; others are various shades of yellow.

6th chakra - The Navel
Primary color is orange; others are all various shades of orange.

If you can memorize (or print out) these colors associated with their chakra centers, you can then go anywhere and pick out a crystal or mineral that will help with the affected area.  Now, having said all that, you must remember that each kind of crystal and mineral can and does have other transformational properties that are specific to that crystal or mineral.

When you want to acquire more in depth knowledge about these properties, buy or check out one or more of the many books that cover this subject.   But in the meantime, you now have enough information to make a reasonably good selection by using the associated color method.

What about the necessary size and quality of crystals and minerals ?

It has been shown through Kirilian photography that the aura or energy fields surrounding an object extends a considerable distance from its core.  Remember that I am, among other things, a merchant, and as such have a vested interest in selling things.  The bigger things usually cost more and create more profits; however, the truth of the matter is that even small, lesser quality crystals and minerals have, in essence, the same energy fields as bigger, more expensive ones.  It becomes a matter of personal taste and pocket-book, after the right kind of crystal is chosen.

Do I need to wear a crystal / mineral, or can I just carry one to get the benefits ?

As a goldsmith, I should advise in favor of wearing a piece; but the truth is that either method is good, again a matter of taste and pocket-book.

OK, OK, but how do they actually work ??

Fact is, I don't really know, but it must have something to do with faith, believing, imaging, and the greater God consciousness that is beyond words or speech.  I know that there are nice folks out there in the world that would never believe that a rock or such could ever help them in any way.

If it is true that we actually live many many lives and that reincarnation is a fact, then these people are simply in a particular incarnation that precludes them from having such beliefs (this time around).  Unfortunately, pain is one of our great motivators and equalizers.  This could be either physical or emotional pain, but it does have a way of getting our attention, and opening our minds to things which may give us some relief from this pain.

But it's not always pain that gives us incentive to search beyond our past experience for new solutions or answers.  Sometimes it's just a need to break away from old habits, maybe to find a new career that can be fulfilling, or to find a new mate with whom we will be proud to share our lives.

Personally I believe that crystals can be effective if we empower them to help us.  They work on the subtle energy level at our core and out in our auras.  I'm very much of a pragmatist in these matters: if you have a screaming headache, I say take a few ADVIL.

Some folks will hold the crystal and/or slowly move it over a painful area of the body: for example, a bad knee, or sore shoulder. Sometimes a steady lessening of pain can be experienced from this practice. It can be used in conjunction with conventional treatments, and can be seen as a pro-active step between doctor visits. There are many ways that we can help ourselves to heal and to participate in our own recovery; using crystals is surely one of them.

 Clearing, Cleaning and Programming our Crystals

Crystals are a tool, and can be like a storage battery of thought energy. Many years ago Dr. Norman Vincent Peal made quite a name for himself after his book The Power of Positive Thinking was released.  There are now many followers of his teachings, who have received countless blessings as a result of thinking positive thoughts.

Crystals can be programmed with our thought energy and then act behind the scenes to work on our subtle energy fields.  They also to help to create situations in our lives that will lead us in the directions that allow positive growth and healing.  In a way, it is like using the ideas taught by Dr. Norman Vincent Peal and taking it a step farther.

Clearing your new crystal or mineral

Clearing a crystal or mineral is a simple enough task, and it is a way to ensure that there are no leftover negative energies of the party from whom you obtained the crystal.  It is also not a slight at those who had the crystal before you; rather a way to personalize it and create a new energy bond between you and your new partner.

There are many ways to accomplish this. Here is one way:
Make sure you are not going to be disturbed (maybe like in the bathroom).  Hold your new crystal under running water at room temperature, and as the water cascades over the piece, close your eyes and imagine that all negative energies are being washed away down the drain and out to the ocean to be purified.

We use a prayer, channeled by Dael Walker years ago, before we do the clearing and the prayer alone seems strong enough to clear any negativity from a crystal or a whole building. This is the prayer known as the Light Invocation:

I invoke the light of the Christ within
I am a clear and perfect channel
Light is my guide

We were told to repeat this prayer aloud three times in a row, then to say what we wish to accomplish as clearly as possible; so that our subconscious will not be confused with the message or request.

This works to clear crystals, but I still prefer to use the running water as part of the personalization ceremony. REMEMBER RULE NO. 1 above, however, and learn to trust your own instincts.

Programming your crystal or mineral

Simply hold your crystal in your hand(s) and close your eyes. Then in your mind's eye create an image of what you want to occur. That's it.

Cleaning your Crystals

I recommend lukewarm water, a new tooth brush, and Joy liquid dish soap.   Please be aware that there are a few crystals that may be sensitive to water, and you should be made aware of them at the time of purchase.

The crystals like to be cleaned, and just sparkle their little hearts out each time you do this.    Be sure to rinse well, and either blow them off with your own air or pat them dry with a soft towel.

A few words about Gold or Silver settings.

Gold is ruled by the Sun, a masculine planet, and therefore imparts a more assertive energy to crystals & minerals that are mounted in it.   Silver is ruled by the Moon, a feminine planet, and therefore imparts a softened less assertive emotional energy to crystals and minerals that are mounted in it.

You know what you need so choose accordingly.

Conclusion

It is my hope that this article has helped to shed some light on the subject of choosing and using crystals. - Michael McKnight

Disclaimer... Please be advised, this article is meant for educational and entertainment use only, and not as a replacement for traditional medical treatment. (This disclaimer is necessary as advised by our legal department.)

(c) Mountain Soul 2004 - 2008 - refer to copyright notice for more information