Crystals or gemstones have been around and in use for healing purposes for thousands of years, dating back to the Ancient Egyptians and the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, who wore turquoise and lapis lazuli to ward off illness and negative energies. Sacred Indian texts were also found to explain specific healing properties of various crystals and how to use them to treat illnesses. The general perspective is that these stones act as conduits to allow healing energy to flow into the body as stagnant energy flows out. This alternative method of healing has seen a recent upsurge in the recent years and remains popular in the New Age community, even being incorporated into other holistic treatments such as Reiki.
The modern day philosophy of crystal healing borrows concepts from the Hindu chakra system as well as the Chinese concept of ‘chi’ or ‘qi.’ Crystals make excellent healing tools because they have the ability to receive, store, amplify, and transmit energy. Different crystal shapes and colors have an impact in different ways. For example, purple crystals such as amethyst correspond with the third eye chakra, which is appropriate given that it is thought to enhance intuition and spiritual awareness. Color has been scientifically proven to affect our mind, mood, and well-being, so often we are drawn to certain crystals because of their color without knowing their properties, and then later we find out that we resonate with so much more than just the color of the crystal. Crystals can also be cut, tumbled, or polished into different shapes, which alters the way the energy is transmitted from the crystal (though not the energetic qualities or properties of the stone itself.) For example, a tumbled stone is going to have a softer and more subtle energy than an untouched stone, while crystals with a point tend to send the energy in the direction of the point. In a typical crystal healing session, the crystals are selected by the practitioner and placed on or around the body. Crystals can be selected based upon a multitude of different variables. If the practitioner senses that certain chakras may need more attention than others, this can be a contributing factor. They may also choose stones based upon the symptoms the client is experiencing, the various properties of the crystal the client is wanting to call in (for example, blue kyanite for courage and communication, if a client has an upcoming public speaking gig), or even simply based off the practitioner’s experience or intuition. Crystal properties can hold different resonances based upon the person, meaning that just because your friend had a specific experience with a crystal doesn’t mean that you will. We are all unique individuals with our own energetic frequencies and patterns, and crystals each hold their own unique frequency that will interact with you differently based on what is going on in your energy field, so as always with this type of work, it’s important not to attach yourself to a specific result and go with what feels best to you.
Because there is no ‘official’ scientific research to back up the healing effects of crystals, many people like to make the argument that a person feeling the results of a crystal healing session is simply experiencing a placebo effect. Be that as it may, the benefits received from a placebo effect are very real and strongly supported by research (please reference the study linked at the bottom of this post.) The power of positive thinking has been shown to have a positive impact on the human brain over and over, and the concept of “it feels real even if it’s not tangible” can be applied in many other areas of our lives, for example religion or love.
While crystals (or other forms of holistic healing, like Reiki) are not meant to be a replacement for your doctor’s orders, Eastern medicine is becoming more widely recognized as a complement and enhancement to Western medicine. Incorporate crystals into your daily life the way you would a yoga routine or a green smoothie, by meditating with them for short periods of time or placing them at strategic points around the home; for example, rose quartz in the bedroom can enhance self-love, or black tourmaline placed by the entrances in your home for protection. You may also wear crystals as jewelry, for example selecting a necklace with blue lace agate in it to experience a sense of calm and ease feelings of depression. Be sure to cleanse the energy of your crystals frequently, and store them away from sunlight as certain crystals can fade over time. To book a crystal healing session with me, send me an e-mail at natasha@brightsoulhealing.com! If you have further questions, drop a comment on this post or head on over to my Facebook group where you can invite discussion with other Bright Souls! Love and light to you all ✨