Basics of Crystal Healing by Certified Crystal Healer Ashley Dalke

Crystal healing is a form of vibrational medicine in which subtle energy given off by a crystal is used to treat the body, the mind, and the spirit. Since crystals emit beneficial energetic vibrations, introducing them into one's energy field can actually help to repair energetic imbalances within the ethereal body. For this reason, crystal healing can be performed on anything that possesses an energy field, be it a person, a plant or animal, or the environment.

Although crystals have been used to treat the body, mind, and spirit, crystal healing is not meant to replace conventional medicine. Instead, it should be used along with allopathic treatments to compliment and enhance them. The most important thing to keep in mind when beginning to use crystals for healing purposes is that a crystal's power is relatively inert until one intentionally directs its energy. It is not the crystal that possesses healing energy; it is one's intent to heal, by way of the crystal, which manifests results.

The art of crystal healing has been present in many eras and cultures, some dating back for thousands of years. It was commonplace in ancient Hebrew and Mayan societies as well as in the Native American, Indian, and Tibetan cultures. Although not yet fully accepted by Western medicine, its methods are still often used and prescribed in many other parts of the world. Since each type of crystal carries with it a unique energetic vibration, certain types of crystals can be utilized in the treatment of specific physical, emotional, or spiritual ailments.

A crystal is a regularly-repeating atomic structure that is formed from building-block-like units of matter. It is also a tool one may use for healing the mind, body, and spirit. Crystals form inside of the earth through heat and pressure which cause its atoms and molecules to follow a blueprint (crystalline encoding). These molecules take on the most stable form possible by repeating until the crystal is fully formed.

The uses of crystals are incredibly varied. Crystals can be used for many types of divination (including ball & bowl scrying and pendulum dowsing). These powerful tools can also be successfully utilized in healing and cleansing of the mind, body, and spirit (of plants, animals, and humans alike). They are terrific aids in healing work done to clear and balance the chakras and subtle bodies. They are also beneficial for the development of the intuition and psychic abilities, astral travel, etc. Crystals also provide protection from all types of negative energies including psychic attack. Through people, crystals are able to promote personal and planetary ascension to raise the universal consciousness. They are some of the most inspiring tools of light known to man.

Crystals can be chosen in two different ways. Sometimes, one may have a specific reason for choosing a stone, in which case he or she can choose the stone based on its known properties. To use this method of selection, one should research the physical or emotional problem he or she is experiencing and then choose a corresponding stone. One may also, however, intuitively choose stones by selecting one or a few out of a bag at random (or by laying them out and selecting whichever he or she is most drawn to). Then, one should attempt to connect with the stone and feel its energy (to discover the primary uses of the stone. If one would like to check his or her intuitive insights against information included in publications of the stone's known properties, he or she can read about that stone's associated characteristics (which are typically useful for his or her situation) in books or on the internet.

AGATE, BLUE LACE: Use at the 5th Chakra (Throat Chakra) for encouraging peace and calming, to promote speaking one's truth, in the garden to enhance crop production and for general plant health, to encourage joy, to become grounded, to stay centered and balanced in mind, body, and spirit, to stimulate will power, to heal problems associated with the nervous system or circulation, & to block out negative energies associated with geopathic stress.

AMAZONITE: (Also known as Amazon Stone) Use at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) or at the 5th Chakra (Throat Chakra) for blocking electromagnetic energy, for balancing the mind, body, and spirit, for soothing and comfort after trauma, to manifest the love of the universe, to overcome fears, to stimulate positive communication, to benefit bone health, and to relax muscles.

AMETHYST: Use at the 6th Chakra (3rd Eye Chakra/Brow Chakra) or at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for protection against negative energies, blocking geopathic stresses, to relieve insomnia, to enhance memory, to increase motivation, to promote dreams and their interpretation, for emotional balance, to become open to one's intuition and psychic abilities, to strengthen the metabolism and immune system, to enhance meditation, to ease headaches, and to heal and cleanse the mind, body, and spirit.

AMETRINE: This stone is a combination of Amethyst and Citrine found in the same stone due to uneven heating during the crystal's formation. Therefore, it embodies the properties of both stones. AMETHYST: Use at the 6th Chakra (3rd Eye Chakra/Brow Chakra) or at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for protection against negative energies, blocking geopathic stresses, to relieve insomnia, to enhance memory, to increase motivation, to promote dreams and their interpretation, for emotional balance, to become open to one's intuition and psychic abilities, to strengthen the metabolism and immune system, to enhance meditation, to ease headaches, & to heal and cleanse the mind, body, and spirit. CITRINE: Use at the 3rd Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra) or at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for increasing creativity, for protection from negative energies, to activate the intuition, to manifest abundance, wealth, and prosperity, to encourage sharing, to promote joy, to increase self-esteem, to encourage a positive attitude, to enhance concentration, to overcome one's fears, to increase ease of communication, to balance the emotions, to diminish symptoms from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, to help eye problems, to help with blood circulation, to relieve menstrual or digestive problems, and to balance the thyroid.

ANGELITE: Use at the 5th Chakra (Throat Chakra) for manifesting peace and good will toward all beings, for communication with the Angelic realm, to stimulate telepathy, for grounding during meditation, to induce astral travel, and shamanic journeying, to increase awareness, for protection from negative energies, to aid in voicing one's inner truth, to bring compassion to one's life both toward and from other beings, to improve one's understanding and comprehension of astrology, for acceptance of one's life on the earth plane, to become inspired in spiritual matters, to initiate the channeling state, to balance the thyroid gland, to control body weight, and to remove the heat from sunburned skin.

AVENTURINE, GREEN: (Also known as Green Quartz) Use at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for healing the physical body, to increase wealth and prosperity, to protect gardens and homes from electromagnetic pollution, to turn negative energy into positive energy, to encourage compassion, to stimulate will power and confidence, for use during past life regressions and ascensions, for balance of the mind, body, and soul, to stimulate creativity in artistic endeavors, to promote peace and calming, for protection, to aid in problems related to the nervous system, to help prevent heart-related conditions such as heart attack, to relieve symptoms of allergies, to remove headache and migraine pain, and to diminish acne and other skin problems.

BISMUTH: Use at any chakra. Bismuth is a semi-metal. In nature, it is silverish and is not found in its crystallized form. Bismuth does not crystallize naturally, because there is usually not enough space for its crystals to form properly. With a little help from humans, it is melted and recrystallized into a beautiful iridescent rainbow form. Bismuth is excellent for improving concentration and visualization, especially for use during Shamanic journeying. It aids in the shape-shifting practices of the brujo/bruja. It has also been known for its ability to lift one's awareness to the celestial realm while maintaining grounding. Bismuth is a stone of transformation, moving things from chaos to order. In addition, Bismuth has been known to promote cooperation in group situations and also in relationships.

BLOODSTONE: (Also known as Heliotrope) Use at the 1st Chakra (Root/Base Chakra) or at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for cleansing the blood, for general healing of the physical body, to transform negative energy into positive energy, to aid in receiving guidance from the inner self, for grounding, for protection, to encourage dreaming, to increase vitality, to promote feelings of courage and confidence, to aid in trusting one's intuition and acting upon it, to stimulate the immune system, to detoxify the physical body, and to aid in the proper blood circulation.

CALCITE, CLEAR: (Also known as Optical Calcite, White Calcite, and Iceland Spar) Use at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for intensifying visual imagery during meditation, astral travel, dreaming, and shamanic journeying, to heal the eyes, to reveal the veiled meaning in a situation, to relieve headache tension, to cleanse the aura, to cleanse oneself and one's environment of negative energies, to increase vitality, to quicken one's spiritual development, to increase awareness, to facilitate intuitive visions and psychic powers, to aid in channeling, to encourage motivation and dispel laziness, to stimulate the memory, to heal damaged tissues in the body, to boost the immune system, and to remove warts and other skin blemishes such as acne. PLEASE NOTE: This stone is only known as Optical Calcite or Iceland Spar when it is held up to images and creates a double-refracted image.

CALCITE, ORANGE: Use at the 2nd Chakra (Sacral Chakra/Spleenic Chakra) to cleanse the aura, to boost one's energy, to cleanse and detoxify the physical body, to banish depression, to heal the reproductive system, to cleanse oneself and one's environment of negative energies, to increase vitality, to quicken one's spiritual development, to increase awareness, to facilitate intuitive visions and psychic powers, to aid in channeling, to encourage motivation and dispel laziness, to stimulate the memory, to heal damaged tissues in the body, to boost the immune system, and to remove warts & other skin blemishes such as acne.

CARNELIAN: (Also known as Carnelian Agate) Use at the 1st Chakra (Base Chakra/Root Chakra), 2nd Chakra (Sacral Chakra/Spleenic Chakra), or 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for grounding, to increase motivation, to increase vitality, to cleanse other stones, for protection of those who are crossing over, to stimulate success in business endeavors, to aid in overcoming negative thought patterns, to help improve concentration, for peace and calming, to banish negativity, to help heal lower back problems and remove pain, to quicken the healing of bones, and to increase blood circulation.

CHALCEDONY, BLUE: Use at the 5th Chakra (Throat Chakra) for enhancing group cooperation, to aid in telepathy, to transform negative energy into positive energy, to bring balance to the mind, body, and spirit, to enhance generosity by oneself or by others, to bring joy to any situation, to increase self confidence, to enhance enthusiasm, to stifle bad dreams, to cleanse wounds, to dispel dementia, and to regulate circulation.

CHRYSOPRASE: Use at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for encouraging hopeful attitudes, to assist in receiving truthfulness, to fuel creativity in artistic endeavors, to energize the physical body, to encourage one to become more outgoing and to take risks, to bring virtue into practice in daily life, to dispel judgmental attitudes from the self and from others, to aid in forgiveness and compassion, to help one to communicate in a positive and encouraging matter and to enable one to give constructive criticism, to prevent bad dreams and to encourage restful sleep, to encourage self reliance, to relieve symptoms of gout, to heal the eyes, to absorb and assimilate Vitamin C, and to relieve stress-related stomach discomfort.

CITRINE: Use at the 3rd Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra) or at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for increasing creativity, for protection from negative energies, to activate the intuition, to manifest abundance, wealth, and prosperity, to encourage sharing, to promote joy, to increase self-esteem, to encourage a positive attitude, to enhance concentration, to overcome one's fears, to increase ease of communication, to balance the emotions, to diminish symptoms from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, to help eye problems, to help with blood circulation, to relieve menstrual or digestive problems, and to balance the thyroid.

EMERALD: (Also known as Green Beryl) Use at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for bringing peace and calming, for inspiration, to bring loyalty to a relationship or to attract a loyal partner, to encourage friendship, to enhance love, to balance the mind, body, and spirit, to transform negative energy into positive energy, to enhance psychic powers, for protection, to enhance memory, to aid in positive expression of the self, to stimulate group cooperation, to treat infection, to heal the eyes, to lessen to symptoms of diabetes, and to aid in joint pain caused by arthritis.

FLUORITE, RAINBOW: (Also known as Rainbow Fluor Spar) Use at the 6th Chakra (3rd Eye Chakra/Brow Chakra) or at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for protection, to block electromagnetic pollution, to reduce stress, to transform negative energy into positive energy, for maintaining balance in the physical body, to strengthen the intuition, to improve concentration, to promote confidence in oneself, to improve coordination, to dispel mental illness, to show the truth in any situation, to aid in objectivity and fair judgment, to balance the emotional body, to relieve symptoms of infection, to protect against viruses, to stimulate stiff joints, to relieve arthritis pain, to help heal injuries of the spine, to diminish pain related to the nervous system, to heal blemishes and other skin problems, to encourage accurate psychic readings, and to treat unhealthy bone marrow.

GOLDSTONE: (Also known as Monk's Gold, Monkstone, Stelleria, Avventurina, and Aventurine Glass) Goldstone is a type of synthetic, or man-made, glass which is made with copper. The copper forms tiny crystalline clusters within the glass. The most common form of goldstone is reddish-brown, although, in fact, the color is produced by the copper crystals and the glass itself is actually colorless. Some goldstone varieties use colored glass, usually blue or violet, and more rarely green. Goldstone's alternate name, "Stellaria", is based on Goldstone's starry, night-sky-like appearance. The original Italian name for goldstone is "avventurina" indicating its accidental discovery. Hence, another alternate name for Goldstone is "aventurine glass." Although synthetic stones do not possess an energetic field, because of its copper content, Goldstone can be used at the 1st Chakra (Root Chakra/Base Chakra) or at the 2nd Chakra (Sacral Chakra/Spleenic Chakra). COPPER: Use at the 1st and 2nd Chakras for aiding in motivation, to increase self-love, to encourage an optimistic attitude, for an increase in confidence, to overcome negative thought patterns and conditioning, to create balance between the physical and ethereal bodies, to stimulate telepathy, for good luck, for grounding, to amplify energy and intention, to maintain proper circulation, to relieve infection, and to treat arthritis pain.

HEMATITE: Use at the 1st Chakra (Base Chakra/Root Chakra) for grounding, to balance the mind, body, and spirit, for astral travel and shamanic journeying, to transform negative energy into positive energy, to bring peace and calming, to encourage confidence, to aid in removing addictions, to aid in acceptance of one's life, to increase concentration, to stimulate memory, to encourage creativity, to aid in studying, to maintain proper blood circulation, to help the body assimilate iron, to relieve insomnia, and to reduce fever.

JADE: Use at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for gaining wisdom and insight through meditation, to bring love and compassion, for protection, to bring mind, body, and spirit into balance, to bring luck, to stimulate new friendships, to encourage independence, to stimulate creativity, to bring intuitive dreams, to bring peace and calming, to cleanse the physical body, to increase fertility, to aid in successful child birth, and to bring balance to the systems of the physical body.

JASPER, FANCY: (Also known as Rainbow Jasper) Use at the lower chakras; 1st Chakra (Root/Base Chakra), 2nd Chakra (Sacral/Spleenic Chakra), 3rd Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra); 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for encouraging peace and calming, promoting group cooperation, to aid in grounding, to assist with shamanic journeying and dreaming exercises, for balance in the mind, body, and spirit, to promote emotional strength, to activate creativity, to aid in circulation of the blood, and to increase positive thinking.

JASPER, LEOPARD SKIN: (Also known as Leopard Skin Rhyolite) Use at the 1st Chakra (Root Chakra/Base Chakra) or 2nd Chakra (Sacral Chakra/Spleenic Chakra) for manifesting healing energies, to increase energy in the etheric body, to maintain proper health in the systems of the body, to increase one's personal strengths, to bring balance to mind, body, and sprit, to banish negative energies, to aid in the assimilation of nutrients, to bring peace and calming, to encourage a helping hand both to and from others, to stimulate shamanic journeying and astral travel, for protection, to cleanse the etheric body, to banish electromagnetic pollution, to facilitate accurate pendulum dowsing sessions, to bring will power, to stimulate courage, to increase organization of one's environment, to bring support during times of illness, and to stimulate cognition.

JASPER, RED: Use at the 1st Chakra (Root Chakra/Base Chakra) for grounding, to encourage justice, to stimulate intuitive insight to one's problems and life challenges, to aid in remembering one's dreams, to aid in the process of reincarnation-providing a more favorable rebirth, to aid in asserting one's personal boundaries, to detoxify the blood, to regulate circulation, to bring peace and calming, to encourage a helping hand both to and from others, to stimulate shamanic journeying and astral travel, for protection, to cleanse the etheric body, to banish electromagnetic pollution, to facilitate accurate pendulum dowsing sessions, to bring will power, to stimulate courage, to increase organization of one's environment, to bring support during times of illness, and to stimulate cognition.

LABRADORITE: (Also known as Spectrolite) Use at the 6th Chakra (3rd Eye Chakra/Brow Chakra) or at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for protection, to dispel negative energies, to form personal boundaries, to facilitate past life ascension or regression, to facilitate astral travel, to aid in accessing the akashic records & other esoteric knowledge, for balancing the physical body with the etheric body, to increase conscious awareness, to facilitate intuition and psychic powers, to dispel fears, to increase faith, to strengthen trust, to stimulate the imagination and creativity, to remove illusion, to reveal the truth in any situation, to bring companionship, to remove stress, to treat symptoms of the common cold, to relieve arthritis pain, to regulate hormones, and to lower blood pressure.

LAPIS LAZULI: Use at the 5th Chakra (Throat Chakra) or at the 6th Chakra (3rd Eye Chakra/Brow Chakra) for facilitating spiritual enlightenment, aiding in dreaming practices, encouraging psychic power and intuition, to stimulate spiritual & shamanic journeying and astral travel, to remove stress, to bring peace and calming, for protection, to access one's spirit guides such as totem animals and guardian angels, to banish negative energy, to aid in speaking one's truth, to bring balance to the mind, body, and spirit, to dispel depression, to facilitate communication, to encourages virtuous behavior, to stimulate compassion, to increase creativity, to remove headache pain, to balance the thyroid gland, to relieve insomnia, and to boost the immune system.

MALACHITE: Use at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) for amplifying energy and intention, for grounding, for protection, to block electromagnetic pollution, for earth healing, to connect one with nature, for spiritual guidance, to aid in visualization practices, to activate psychic powers, to encourage unconditional love, for scrying divination practices, for facilitating astral travel, to access intuitive messages from the subconscious mind, to encourage positive changes in one's life, to reveal obstacles on one's spiritual path, to remove negative thought patterns and conditioning, to facilitate the expression of one's emotions, to increase confidence, to encourage compassion, to enhance concentration, to heal the emotional body, to aid in exploring the inner self, to help ensure successful child birth, to treat asthma, to relieve arthritis pain, to lower blood pressure, to relieve vertigo, to strengthen the immune system, and to remove toxins from the body.

MOONSTONE: Use at the 3rd Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra) or at the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) for increasing insight and intuition, to bring chaos in to order, for peace and calming, to encourage compassion, to facilitate lucid dreaming, for ceremonies and rituals pertaining to the full moon, to promote psychic powers, to increase feminine energy, to encourage one's nurturing qualities, to reduce stress, to balance the emotional body, to facilitate healing of the emotional body, to heal the female reproductive organs, to stimulate the pineal gland, to calm restless children, to aid in the assimilation of nutrients, for detoxification of the physical body, to aid in conception, to relieve insomnia, and to prevent walking in one's sleep.