CHAPTER 2

The Science of Crystals

Learning the differences between minerals, rocks, crystals, and gems is part and parcel of the discussion we’ll be having in this book because, although all these things come from the earth, they are not interchangeable—especially when it comes to their energetic properties. Understanding crystalline structures and their properties will prepare you for the greater discovery of crystal healing.

In this chapter, you’ll see how crystals relate to and, in many cases, enhance the world around us. For example, you will learn how the science of crystals is applied in computer technology. The same principles and characteristics of crystals that are used in technological applications are the same as those used in crystal healing. This might just lead you to ask the question: Is there nothing that crystal power can’t do?

Learn How to …

Gifts from the Earth

We use several words to describe that rock-hard stuff that comes from the earth—that which forms mountains, glitters in rings, and regulates the timing of our watches and the electrical pulses in our computers. We know these substances as minerals, rocks, crystals, and gems. Are they all the same, related to each other, or separate entities? Let’s get down to the details of what makes each group unique.

Minerals

When you were growing up, you were probably told to take your vitamins, but did you also learn to take your minerals? Did you know that minerals are crystals, too?

A mineral must be solid and must have a crystalline structure, which is a repeating pattern of atoms extending in three spatial directions. The process of forming a crystalline structure or a crystal is called crystallization.

Minerals are formed from various geologic processes, such as volcanic activity. They have a recognizable elemental structure or chemical composition. The study of the structure, chemistry, and properties of minerals is called mineralogy. Some examples of minerals are magnetite, barite, gypsum, and halite.

There are several important minerals that your body needs to function well, including copper, which is a trace mineral used in the formation of hemoglobin and keeps bones and nerves healthy. Your veggies absorb this nutrient from the earth!

Rocks

We seem to name anything that’s hard, found on the ground, and looks like a stone a rock. That’s often the case, as rocks are formed on the surface through a process called the rock cycle. A rock is an aggregate of minerals and does not necessarily have a specific chemical compound.

Rock has the ability to transform and crystallize into another form, which is how crystals are made. This ability to transform is a characteristic of the ongoing processes on our planet. Earth really does have the ability to renew its own resources—and does so on a regular basis by moving through the transformative rock cycle.

There are three rock classifications:

Quartz is crystal that can be formed from any of the three classifications of rock but is principally silica, the most common mineral on Earth. An important note about silica: all the beaches and lake and ocean bottoms where there’s sand—that’s all mostly silica! Minute silica particles are floating freely in the air throughout the world, and your body also makes use of silica when forming hair and nails and strengthening cells. Your body is already partly crystallized!

Crystals

A crystal is a structure composed of an orderly spatial arrangement of atoms. A geometric arrangement or network of points in which a crystal grows is called a lattice. The crystal lattice provides a definition of symmetry and geometric shape for each type of crystal based on a three-dimensional axis. This lattice structure also holds the energy within the crystal that is used for healing. In his book, The Seven Secrets of Crystal Talismans, Henry M. Mason details each of these crystal lattice systems for their power to attract, protect, and transform us.

The following seven Bravais lattice systems (named after Auguste Bravais) form the basic structure of all crystals:

As you can see in the following illustration, there is also an amorphous lattice, in which the crystal holds no particular shape or distinguishable form. An opal is an example of an amorphous lattice.

Crystal lattices chart. The internal structure of crystals to a specific pattern of atoms around an axis point is called a lattice, and it can be used to identify a crystal.

Note that for every lattice axis, there’s a positive (+) and a negative (-) pole. That’s because there are positive and negative ions holding the structure together. Remember, these lattices are three dimensional and give the crystal its crystalline structure as well as its ability to hold energy. For the science folks, did you know that a quartz crystal can be left- or right-handed? Their internal symmetry structure, called a helix, can turn either clockwise (right-handed) or counter-clockwise (left-handed).

As humans, we have natural curiosity and want to know how things are put together. We can’t really see the DNA that composes our human bodies or, for that matter, the crystalline formation of a crystal. Some of us don’t need this deeper knowledge to use a crystal’s power, but some of us simply have to know what makes a crystal a crystal and what makes it tick! That’s known as crystallography, or the study of crystals, including their internal structures and formation.

Gems

A gemstone is a cut and polished mineral, crystal, or other valuable material, such as amber or pearl. (Note: throughout this book when I talk about gemstones, I am referring to the crystal variety.)

At one time, there were two categories of gemstones: precious gemstones like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and topaz, and semiprecious gemstones like amethyst and tiger eye. Some confusion surrounds these terms because the jewelry industry follows fashion trends, and often a gemstone moves from semiprecious status to precious or vice versa. Really, no difference exists between them in the jewelry trade—there are no half-precious gemstones. However, when selecting a gemstone, clarity, color, and style are very important. A transparent gemstone, such as aquamarine, should be flawless with no particles or cloudiness. The color should appear strong, intense, and vibrant. An opaque crystal, such as turquoise, should have a consistently even color.

Scientific Properties of Crystals

There are a number of properties that all crystals have in common to varying degrees due to their unique compositions. The most important property is the crystal’s ability to produce a piezoelectric effect or the ability to generate energy in response to pressure.

When resting, the crystal lattice just sits inside the crystal maintaining its structure. The crystal’s positive and negative poles are evenly distributed, and any energy stored within is kept in a state of balance or equilibrium. That energy just radiates on its own, within its own circuitry. If you are sensitive to subtle energy, this radiance is what you feel when you are close to a crystal but are not touching it. Once a crystal is disturbed by pressure, the piezoelectric effect separates the energy from the lattice, generating an electrical charge. This release of crystal energy is what is used in crystal healing. Sometimes the release is very fast, like an electrical spark. Other times, the energy is slow to release. Like a battery, it depends on the polarity of what the crystal is in contact with and how much energy is stored inside.

If you apply electricity to a quartz crystal, it will bend, sending out an energy wave. It will vibrate at a precise frequency, much like a tuning fork. Each crystal vibrates at a specific frequency when an electrical current is passed through it. The oscillation of energy is very precise. A clear quartz crystal vibrates at 60 hertz (60 times per second) and can be used for different applications, such as in a watch for keeping time.

When you hold a crystal in your hand and squeeze, the electrical shock isn’t very strong. In fact, most people feel nothing. However, when pressure is applied with a mechanical device, 1 cubic centimeter of quartz can produce a whopping 12,000 volts! By comparison, a C-size battery is only 1.5 volts. The release of energy from a quartz crystal has enough spark in the energy charge to ignite gas. As a result, some appliances like gas stoves and barbecues use piezoelectric crystal igniters.

You can see this energy release for yourself by rubbing two quartz crystals together in a darkened room. Enough light energy will be released to see a flare, but little heat energy will be produced. A spark from flint, on the other hand, produces heat when struck. It’s commonly used in small lighters and other appliances with combustible fuel.

Piezoelectricity was first discovered in 1880 by Jacques and Pierre Curie, and it led to the use of quartz resonators in sonars during World War I. The Curies discovered a reverse effect to crystals releasing their energy. A transducer sends an electrical signal to a crystal. This pulse causes the crystal to become slightly deformed; the resulting reflected energy wave can be used for determining the distance from one object to another. This characteristic is used in the design of many devices including medical applications.

Freaky Frequency

Here’s something you might not know about crystals: their resonance can produce sound. Within the field of biomechanics, sonomicrometry is used for studies of the human heart and with other muscles to measure changes in their lengths. Here’s how sonomicrometry works: an electric signal is sent to a crystal planted in muscle tissue. The signal is then transformed into sound. This sound—in the form of an energy wave—passes through a special material that focuses the signal and is received by another crystal. The second crystal converts the sound into electricity, which is detected by a receiver. The distance between the two crystals can be calculated based on the speed at which the sound moves between the crystals. Pretty cool, huh?

I’ve only met a few people who have heard crystal tones subliminally, and I have heard these tones inside my head occasionally. It’s a bit like having earphones on. If you haven’t heard crystals sing yet, don’t worry, most people haven’t. The ring of crystal bowls is the closest you may come to hearing the natural tones of a crystal.

Here’s something else that might really get you thinking: each crystal has a specific resonance or vibration and, when suitably charged, it can also emit a color vibration! Some people can even see a colored glow or aura around crystals.

Properties of Healing Crystals

By now you know that a crystal can interact with your own bioelectrical energy fields and that a crystal in itself does nothing without a relationship to another energy source. Now let’s take another step toward understanding the properties of crystals used for healing.

The scientific properties of crystals are always there. The bridge to using these properties for healing is a combination of developing the consciousness to direct crystal energy for healing; the intent and compassion to heal; and the use of your breath as a carrier when charging, clearing, and programming crystals. (You’ll learn about all these processes in upcoming chapters.)

The following table offers more specifics about the properties of crystals and provides some additional information on techniques to use the properties listed.

10 Properties of Crystals Used for Healing
  Scientific Property Definition
1 Piezoelectric charge and discharge The ability of a crystal to convert pressure into an electrical charge. Using the breath to charge the crystal, energy loops from the crystal back to you until a maximum charge is reached. Then the energy can be discharged according to the programming in the crystal and as directed by the intent (thoughts) of the crystal holder.
2 Resonant oscillator/frequency regulator The ability to maintain a sound or a wave of energy at a precise frequency. The crystal can maintain a specific frequency or tone at a regular, consistent, and precise vibration. When placed close to an erratic energy signal, the crystal regulates the vibrational frequency.
3 Programmable memory The ability to store and retrieve information and to repeat a set of instructions. Using the breath, the intent or program is pulsed into the matrix of the crystal.
4 Polarity The ability to hold positive, negative, and neutral electrical frequencies. When a person is in contact with the crystal, these polar frequencies are activated.
5 Electrical battery The ability to store a positive or negative charge in the crystal’s precise internal structure. The crystal can discharge the electrical impulse according to the thought patterns of the crystal holder either coherently, with preprogrammed intent, or incoherently, without focus.
6 Amplify The ability to take a pattern of energy and increase its charge into a more intense and coherent energy. Crystals can amplify programming, as well as the energy from other energy sources, including other crystals.
7 Broadcast The ability to send out energy patterns or information to be received by others, including other crystals. The effect is similar to a radionic transmission and is useful in distant healing.
8 Penetrate The ability to transmit crystalline energy through any substance. When crystals are placed on the body, energy passes through layers of clothing, skin, and bone. This ability applies in distance healing, where energy can be sent and received at a considerable distance.
9 Duplicate energy The crystal can discharge an energy pattern that can be inherited as an exact duplicate by another similar energy source, such as water or another type of crystal.
10 Conductor The ability to receive energy through itself with or without altering the energy pattern or program. Used in radios and healing, the crystal is a carrier of energy. Its original matrix and mission is not altered.

Three additional properties which all crystals share are that they can …

Crystals Converted to Other Uses

It’s kind of nice to know that crystals are all around us. Some very smart scientists have discovered how to use crystals in some very surprising and yet incredibly practical and familiar ways. So if you think you’re brand-new to the crystal world, you probably aren’t. Chances are, you’ve been using them without even knowing it!

Cosmetics

One of the earliest uses of minerals and crystals was in cosmetics. In ancient Egypt, a recipe for eye paint included kohl, a refined soot often containing lead, powered lapis lazuli, honey, and ochre. To obtain green pigment for eye paint, malachite, copper ore, and silvery galena were used. (Galena is lead sulfide and poses as much a health risk today as it did then.) Water was mixed with the powders and extracted from tube-shaped containers using a moistened stick to apply the paste to the eyelids.

Recently, there’s been a resurgence of naturally sourced cosmetics using minerals such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mica. However, the lead found in kohl and some other cosmetics from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries has led to a prevalence of anemia in the population. The cosmetic market in North America is somewhat more strictly regulated under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), but there are still campaigns to alert consumers to potentially hazardous substances in imported cosmetics. Remember to read cosmetic labels and select brands you can trust.

The amazing growth of natural mineral cosmetics has brought increased awareness of the benefits of crystals to consumers. Even my Avon skin-care product has an amethyst infusion in it. (See Chapter 20 for some ideas on using crystals to enhance your own beauty routine.)

Computer Technology

The semiconductor industry uses a variety of silicon to create a material that has an electrical resistance. The lattice of a crystal can be easily modified by adding impurities while the crystal is being formulated in a lab environment for different uses.

If you apply electricity to quartz, it vibrates at a precise frequency, much like a tuning fork. The optimum shape to sustain the vibration was found to be a quartz bar. Thin sheets of quartz are used in delicate instruments requiring an accurate frequency, such as radio transmitters, radio receivers, and computers. In fact, you can use crystals to balance out the energy of appliances by placing one nearby. You’ll learn more about this in Chapter 15.

Ethical Crystal Mining

A word needs to be included here about the ethical mining of crystals as it’s an important topic. Conscientious miners are moving toward sustainable mining, contributing to social responsibility, planting trees to offset the carbon blueprint, and reclaiming chemicals and water used in processing. Does it make a difference if a crystal comes gently from the earth? Yes, it does. Ethically, your crystal will be pure, and purity helps your healing process. It’s a good thing.

CARVED IN STONE

Adding crystals to your environment is a great way to connect with nature. Did you know that connecting with nature leads to higher rates of productivity, intelligence, and creativity? The more high tech we become, the more contact we need with nature. If you haven’t already, have a look around you and notice the crystals that are already in your life. Keep some crystals nearby when you need to take a break and touch nature. Enjoy handling them at least once a day to center and balance your life.