Crystals 101 — The Wheel

How to use, where to find, and my favorites

By Lauren Trowbridge

In the past three years, the discussion of crystals and their spiritual benefits has skyrocketed. As someone who has quite a collection of crystals, I've compiled a list of my favorites, their benefits and some popular uses for your life. Interested? Don't know where to start? I've got you covered.

A Quick History

The Ancient Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to believe in the metaphysical properties of crystals. They mined and wore them as jewelry, as well as working with them in religious practices. For eons, crystals have been thought to promote good energy flow and help get rid of negative energy for physical and mental benefits. Historically, they've been thought of as forms of medicine, with practices borrowed from Hinduism and Buddhism. (Source: Healthline.com)

Popular Uses

Crystals can easily be worked into your day-to-day life. Many are aligned with zodiac signs and birthdays, so finding the crystal for you might take some research, but once you identify the properties you're looking for, the crystals will aid you in your journey to peace.

It's important that your crystals work at the highest energy frequency, so charging them with intent or even moonlight is recommended.

For use, crystals can be incorporated onto your person by being worn as jewelry, put into pockets, or carried in your car or backpack. You can also incorporate them into yoga or meditation practices. You can put them on chakra points or on the edge of a bathtub after a long day. The options are endless and so are the benefits.

My Personal Favorites

Amethyst: Amethyst sits high as my favorite crystal of all time. Recognized by its purple hue and white rivulets, amethyst is one of the most common crystals. The spiritual benefits of amethyst are never-ending. From awakening spiritual awareness to opening your intuition, the main properties are healing and cleansing. Many believe amethyst aids in breaking addictions and preventing intoxication.

Rose Quartz is a powerful stone for all things love!

Rose Quartz: Rose quartz's main property is love. From self love to the love of a partner, this stone's a powerful aid. It's easily recognized by its pretty pink hue. Along with working to better the love of yourself and others, it's great for restoration. Rose quartz can restore trust and purify the heart after a tough breakup, and heal the inner self while bringing harmony to your relationships.

Obsidian: A good rule of thumb when identifying crystals is that the darker the crystal, the more powerful it can be in banishing negativity. This is definitely the case for obsidian. Usually coming in a more natural form, obsidian draws stress and tension out of the body. It enhances truth while protecting your aura, and is a great one to keep in your car for protection while traveling.

Howlite: Recognized by its white marbled appearance, howlite is the stone of calming. Always ready to slow a heartbeat, it is best paired with amethyst. Howlite has countless positive attributes. From increased awareness to releasing old emotional ties, this stone is ready to regulate and prepare you for new wisdom while clearing your vision of what doesn't serve you.

Jade: Jade is most commonly recognized as the birthstone of March, but with its dark green coloring, brings protection and nourishment into your life once welcomed in. Jade is commonly used as a protective stone and increases stability and harmony in one's life. It attracts good luck, friendship and soothing energy, and releases any negative thoughts built up in the body.

Malachite: Similar to Jade in hue, malachite is its more intense sister. Commonly found with green rivulets running through, malachite is transformative. Where jade brings harmony, malachite brings about positive change. Known for its joyful essence, it heals emotional pain and transforms the mindset from negativity to positivity.

Selenite (the moons) and malachite (the green) are excellent energetic partners.

Selenite: Selenite, in its essence, is a cleansing stone. Found in slabs, towers (as pictured), and free forms, it can even charge and cleanse other crystals. Known also as Satin Spar, selenite is the only crystal that's energy never depletes. It is an effective space cleanser, clears away negative blockages in energy, and grants increased access to intuition. Selenite also provides clarity and calm when upset.

Blue Apatite: A great stone for students, blue apatite is a stone of goals. It can aid in setting them, achieving them and keeping them at the front of your mind. Blue apatite's most potent property is expanding your mind. It helps you gain knowledge, understand important truths, and aids in personal growth. I've found it to be a great stone to have in your backpack, as it also aids in increased confidence.

Where to Find

Your local or online metaphysical shop will have many options to choose from. Here are a few of my favorite places to browse: