5 Must-Have Crystals

As a kid, I grew up attending church pretty regularly. I remember going to Sunday school before service, BEGGING to go to Vacation Bible School so I could kick it with the cool kids LOL, and attending all the church picnics every summer. As a teenager, I would even read the “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul” books (y'all remember those!?!) along with the “Left Behind” series, so it’s safe to say that as a kid, I definitely and most confidently considered myself a proud Christian.

Once I went to college, however, things started to shift and certainly by my mid-to-late 20’s, things had shifted pretty dramatically with regard to my spirituality. As I interacted with more and more people from around the world, I learned about a variety of different religions & spiritual practices, a lot of which I actually really identified with.

At a time when I needed it most, I began to learn more about meditation, intention setting, the Lunar Calendar and how the elements played a role in physical and mental health. I became mesmerized by the wealth of knowledge I was obtaining, so I could no longer subscribe to only one religion; rather, I'd become someone who came to believe in the power of energy & vibrations 😏, the cosmic powers of the elements, crystals, cleansing herbs and the existence of different vibrational patterns. In search of a "label" or some type of classification for my belief system, I found out about animism and became a self-proclaimed animist.

plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork and perhaps even words—as animated and alive.

Along my spiritual journey, I kept encountering more and more information about crystals. I'd known a bit about them and had seen them in people's homes as what I thought were simply decorative pieces until I learned that they each have a unique and distinct power. I began collecting them and then a few years ago, I started wearing crystal bracelets with to be able to carry their energy with me wherever I went!

There are so many powerful crystals out there that can aid and assist in healing a variety of different needs but for the intention of this post, I’ll only focus on the top 5 crystals that (in my humble opinion) everyone MUST have.

Let’s get started!

Amethyst

• Often referred to as “nature’s tranquilizer”, Amethyst is used to calm the mind and enhance a meditative state.

• It is known for being a stone of spirituality with high vibrational frequencies known to purify energy and create a protective shield around the body.

• It's common to see large geode chunks at the entrance of people's homes as a protective force from negative energy that may enter.

• It enhances one’s creativity, strengthens the imagination and aids in transitioning ideas into action.

• Commonly known to be the stone of focus and success.

• It can also be used to cure insomnia and invoke pleasant dreams if placed under the pillow at night.

Tiger Eye

• Tiger Eye is the stone most commonly used to strengthen will and intention in order to manifest at the highest level.

• Definitely have this stone present while setting intentions!

• Like Amethyst, it inspires creativity and the invokes the use of one’s talents and abilities.

• Since Tiger’s Eye is considered a stone of luck & good fortune, it is ideal for entrepreneurs or for those building up skills and a knowledge base for major career changes in the future [Eason, 107].

• It is a stone that encourages non-conforming thoughts & ideas, making room for one’s artistic and creative talents to come to fruition.

• It’s encouraged to use it as a support stone for determination and overcoming fear of competitions, public performances, presentations, etc.

• It should also be carried for protection in unfamiliar places and for protection from the negative intentions of others [Hall, 290][Eason, 107][Lembo, 334-335] [Megemont, 177].

Black Tourmaline

• I carry this stone with me in my purse EVERYWHERE I go.

• This stone is highly revered as "the protection stone". You wear/carry this stone for protection from ALL negative energies, particularly those that reside in people around you (friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, etc.)

• If you are an empath (self-declared or not) or simply someone who has a tendency to absorb others’ negative energy when they unload on you, this is the stone that protects you from taking on their negativity (while still lending an ear or a shoulder, of course 😉).

• It guards against radiation and environmental pollutants, and is highly useful in purifying and neutralizing one’s own negative thoughts and internal conflicts, and turning them into positive, usable energy [Eason, 204][Raphaell, 132][Ahsian, 407].

Clear Quartz

• It is said that quartz crystals, the most powerful healing stones, are the most common and most abundant in the world.

• This is THE best stone to set intentions with because it is programmed by whatever energy or intention it is used with.

• It too protects from negativity, allowing you to get in touch with your higher self and allows for the fulfillment of prayers and intentions.

• It enhances healing or spiritual growth when used during meditation or setting intentions and can hold energy for long periods of time.
  

Rose Quartz

• This stone carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort.

• It speaks directly to the Heart Chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears and resentments, and circulates a Divine loving energy throughout the entire aura.

• It can be used at night as it invokes peaceful dreams and prevents nightmares/night terrors.

• Rose Quartz is a calming crystal, excellent for use in trauma or crisis.

• It strengthens empathy, sensitivity, and aids in the acceptance of necessary change.

• It is also an excellent stone for comforting grief [Hall, 236].

Fun facts about crystals in general:

• They can be “charged” under the sun/moonlight. Lay them out during a Full/New Moon and carry them with you daily to take advantage of their healing powers!

• They should be cleansed upon purchasing or receiving a new one. (Warm water + a light soap will do just fine).

• Some stones are known to open specific chakras.

• “Birthstones” are also naturally occurring crystals, so everyone has at least one that’s assigned to their birth month. Hayyyy November babies!

• It is said that when you lose a crystal, it is because it has served its purpose and is no longer of any use to you.

• Crystals are also known to literally vibrate and/or become more opaque in color depending on the energy it’s around.

Purchase Options

Want to buy your own crystals or crystal jewelry?

Check out these Black-owned companies to get yours!

- SoulfulVibesCo (for crystals)

- Divine Intentions (for bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry items)

- NellzJewlz (for bracelets!!!)

References

Books:

[Ahsian, pp.] Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian, The Book of Stones (Berkley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2007).

[Eason, pp. ]Cassandra Eason, The New Crystal Bible (London: Carlton Books Ltd., 2010).

[Hall, pp.] Judy Hall, The Crystal Bible (Cincinnati, OH: Walking Stick Press, 2003).

[Megemont, pp.] Florence Megemont, The Metaphysical Book of Gems and Crystals (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2008).

[Raphaell, pp.] Katrina Raphaell, Crystal Enlightenment (Santa Fe, NM: Aurora Press, 1985)

Sites:

• "Healing Crystals" www.healingcrystals.com

• "Crystal Vaults" www.crystalvaults.com