Choosing a Crystal

There are thousands and thousands of varieties of crystals. Really, the earth is just one big crystal. So if you're just starting out, choosing one crystal, or even two or three, can be daunting, but it doesn't need to be! Here are a couple of tips that help me choose a new crystal or choose which one of my collection to focus on:

1. It can't be said enough: Intuition. INTUITION. If you walk into a crystal store, and you're drawn to something, don't discount that feeling. Yes crystals are pretty and sparkly and oooooh-aaaaah, but there's often a reason one in particular catches your eye. Pick it up. How does it feel in your hand? Do you immediately want to set it down? OR does your hand make a hot fist and hold on tight? Or maybe you raise your palm up to your eye level to stare at my precious. These feelings are there for a reason. Trust them. You don't have to know Why you're drawn to a crystal, it's enough that you are.

2. Got a problem? (Yo! I'll solve it.) Something on your mind? Maybe you've been thinking about Abundance or Romance, or an abundance of romance. Maybe you're feeling a bit out of control and a lack of center. Guess what, there's a crystal for that! A simple google search can tell you what area to look in, or grab an encyclopedia of crystals/gems/etc from Amazon or your local store. For example if you wanted to focus on Love, from/for a partner or yourself, a great crystal would be Rose Quartz. You can put a piece in your bedroom, carry a polished stone in your pocket, or wear Rose Quartz jewelry. Or all three!

3.Start small. Pick a crystal, maybe two, three max. Get to know them. Pet them, talk to them, feel their energy, whatever works for you. Move them around the house and notice how you feel when they're around. The more  you exist with crystals the more your natural connection to them will grow and flourish and the easier and more instinctive it will be to choose your next crystal.

That's it, three easy tips! Got a crystal you want to learn more about? Or curious what crystal fits a certain situation best? Drop a comment and let me know! I'm looking for new topics of discussion! 

Clearing Crystals

Crystals are a great way to focus your intentions, ground yourself, and clear negativity away. They're like little spiritual scrub brushes! But just like scrub brushes, they need a good cleaning once and a while. A lot of crystals work like sponges or air filters, they absorb the negativity in a space, or in a person, and return positive vibrations. Think of them as sucking in all that black negative goop, Yuck! That's why it's good to clear them periodically.

There are a couple of different ways to clear crystals, let you intuition guide you to what's best for you and your stones. You don't have to stick with one method either, I usually use water, but sometimes I just have a feeling that sunlight or moonlight would be best. Follow those gut feelings. The most important thing to remember, there's no wrong way. This is all about intention after all. 

 Intention: The most basic way to clear a crystal is to hold it in your hands and set the intention of clearing it. I often say a short phrase out loud, something like 'I clear this crystal of any negative or toxic energy and ask that it continue to bring positive vibrations and work for my highest good'. I often feel like making waving motions over it with one hand while I do that, like brushing away smoke or fumes. This is a good time to charge your crystal as well. 

 Sun / Moon Light: Since crystals are come from / are nature, what better way to clear them than with nature! Don't you feel refreshed after spending a little while soaking up the sun or moonlight? It's the same with crystals, the light is a natural cleanser for any crystal. Some people feel that the light of a full moon is more powerful than at another time, but really anytime is fine. To clear your crystals with Sun or Moonlight, simply place them outside or on a well lit windowsill and let them soak up the natural energy. A word of caution, some crystals, especially those with light pigment like Rose Quartz or Amethyst, can fade in the sun with prolonged exposure, so leaving them out overnight or for a day is no problem, but if they consistently sit on a window sill, you may see the color lighten with time.

Water: You bathe right? Of course you do. Why not give your crystals the same treatment? Cleansing with water is my favorite way to refresh my crystals, it's just so darn refreshing. You can do this in just about any manner, but remember that it's in the intention, not the actual water that the cleaning happens. I typically use a bowl that I have a special attachment to (it was my grandmother's) and fill it up about a third of the way. Depending on my mood, I either submerge the crystals or use my fingers to sprinkle water on them. Either way works. Then I let them dry and return them to their places around my home.

How do you clean your crystals? Do you have any questions about crystals? Let me know in the comments!