Chatting to Kerrilynn at CAP Beauty about different healing modalities once, she mentioned that flower essences—tinctures formulated with the energetic imprint of different flowers—required the biggest leap of faith for her. And, well, for me that honor had always gone to crystals.
The flowers I could get my head around—mainly, I think, since they’re ingestible. And even if it was the placebo effect at work, I’d also experienced tangible results firsthand from using them. Then with Reiki, for example, there was a laying on of “healing hands.” With acupuncture, I could feel the energy zinging through my body, and it was the all-over body chills that told me a healing gong bath was having a physical effect.
Even something as seemingly abstract as astrology made sense to me through the lens of psychoanalysis, plus, as I mentioned, the way the tides (not to mention women’s menstrual cycles) move with the Moon seemed like “proof” enough that life on Earth is linked to the movements of the celestial bodies. But crystals? How could being in close proximity to an inanimate object that just happened to look pretty have any kind of healing effect?
As I wandered further down my numinous path, however, it became evident that crystals played a very special role in the healing arsenal of most modern mystics. On the Material Girl side of the coin, meanwhile, a hip new breed of crystal enthusiasts was also creating some seriously badass jewelry collections using these ancient, mysterious rocks. And so I decided to investigate further.
CRYSTALS: A STARTER KIT
QUARTZ. The most diverse stone in the crystal kingdom, quartz appears in many variations and is known to be a potent conductor of energy. For this reason it is known as the “master healer,” and clear quartz can be used to amplify any healing intention it’s programmed with.
ROSE QUARTZ. The “love” stone—amplifies compassion, peace, tenderness, nurturing, and comfort. Can be used for attracting new love and repairing existing relationships.
SMOKY QUARTZ. The “survival” stone—facilitates connection to the energies of the natural world, cultivating stability and grounding.
BLACK TOURMALINE. A.k.a. “the protection stone,” black tourmaline is said to offer a psychic shield against negative energy, while also guarding against environmental pollutants. It also aids in transmuting negative thoughts to positive intentions, an essential for modern city dwellers.
CITRINE. A stone of manifestation and success, citrine amplifies creativity and imagination, while helping cultivate the personal will it takes to make our hopes and dreams a physical reality.
AMETHYST. Once classified a “precious” stone, along with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, amethyst is known for its calming properties, helping soothe the mind and the emotions. For this reason, it’s also known as the “sobriety” stone—since it helps quell addictive compulsions (e.g., for booze, food, shopping, boys).
Cut to the afternoon I spent at “crystal school,” an in-depth intro to the healing stones led by Luke Simon, healer and cofounder of Maha Rose Center for the Healing Arts (not to mention, without doubt, a direct descendant of the pixie kingdom). Class would cover how crystals were formed, theories about their healing properties, an introduction to the different stones, and how to use and care for them. Time permitting, we’d also have the opportunity to practice mini crystal healing sessions on one another.
Luke kicked off the session by telling us: “I started working with crystals when I first moved to New York and realized I needed some serious juju to wear ON my body.” As in, being plunged into the swirling energetic soup that is New York City, he felt in need of some talismans to keep about his person—symbolic items that were the physical embodiment of his connection to his intentions, to his inner strength, and to his higher Self (spirit, God, the Universe, etc.). It was this moment, when Luke explained the origin of his journey with crystals, that their role in our modern mystical lives really clicked for me.
Perhaps the reason his story resonated so strongly was because I’d had a similar experience myself. Like him, my own move to New York had felt like the emotional and energetic equivalent to being shot out of the ejector seat in the Batmobile. But as chance would have it, that first vermin-infested apartment in Manhattan’s West Village was right up the street from Stick, Stone and Bone, one of the city’s most beloved esoteric supplies stores.
Investigating my new ’hood and with my idea for The Numinous beginning to take shape in my mind, I’d often find myself there, perusing the incense and smudge sticks and oracle decks. And then there were the crystals, arranged on shelves and piled in little dishes, with handwritten cards listing their “magical” healing properties. I still didn’t really see the point in just having loose stones rolling around my desk or in my bag, but I was drawn to the rings made of tiger’s eye and black tourmaline that sat on the counter by the register—both of which promised grounding, protection, and relief from anxiety.
Well, I ended up wearing those rings all summer, the same summer I was doing the crazy commute between New York and Ibiza, and in need of some serious . . . grounding, protection, and relief from anxiety. Who knew if they’d “work,” I thought, but what did I have to lose? Just seeing them every day became a visual reminder that on some level I was willing to believe the Universe had got my back. They had become my talismans.
But weirdly, the rings kept breaking. Like suddenly, they’d just snap in half and fall off my finger for no apparent reason. I freaked out a little bit every time this happened, and one time when I was in Stick, Stone and Bone buying yet another replacement, I finally asked the girl behind the register what was up. She told me: “Oh, they must be working too hard. You need to remember to charge them.”
Whoa . . . what? Charge them like . . . my phone? Well, yes, actually, which we’ll get into a little later on. But since I’d definitely been navigating one of the least grounded, most vulnerable, and most anxiety-inducing periods of my life, her theory made total sense to me. Those babies had undoubtedly been working overtime.
It’s safe to say that I was going from crystal curious to becoming a bona fide convert. That fall I bought a few actual stones I just felt drawn to, which I lined up on the windowsills of my funny little apartment and which seemed to bring a sense of calm and lightness to the space. And then there were the new designers I kept discovering, who were producing some seriously covetable crystal creations. My protection rings were one thing: simple bands of polished stone. Now I found myself lusting over chic, sophisticated pieces that ran into the thousands of dollars. When it came to how the crystals actually “worked,” however, I still didn’t have a clue.
FORM AND FUNCTION
Because I want to get into the fun stuff about how to choose, use, and care for your crystals, I’ll keep the science part fairly brief, but I am going to include it, since (a) I felt like I needed it so I’m assuming you will too, and (b) it’s actually kind of fascinating. (N.B. And I should probably preface this section by adding that the following information is based on conversations with the Numinati, and not the result of extensive scientific research on my part.)
Essentially, crystals grow from molten rock, or magma, and are formed over millions of years as the magma cools and solidifies. Different chemical compounds in the magma are what create different types of crystals. But what makes all crystals so special (including what we know as the “precious” stones)—and what is also the key to their healing properties—is that unlike other rocks, the atomic particles in crystals form intricate and perfectly symmetrical shapes. And, like plants, they only stop growing once they’ve been cut out of the earth. Not such inanimate objects after all.
Let me hand over the reins here to my friend Victoria Keen, my favorite witchy science geek. VK makes her own line of high-vibrational yoga clothing and also practices a form of sound healing known as “biofield tuning,” which is based on the theory that our physical body is surrounded by a biomagnetic field of energy (which you may also have heard described as the “aura”). Victoria believes that perfect “health” is the unencumbered flow of this energy, which in turn helps the particles of our aura or “energetic blueprint” retain their own perfectly symmetrical pattern, similar to the patterns found in the structures of crystals. Disease, on the other hand, is the result of blockages in our energetic flow leading to these particle structures becoming compromised and scattered.
In her medicine practice, Victoria manipulates sound waves (also uniquely and perfectly structured at an atomic level) in order to adjust the biofield and return the energetic blueprint to a state of symmetry and coherence. This is because: “According to what’s called the law of entrainment in physics, the structure with the more overall coherent pattern—and thus a higher vibration—will bring what is of a lower and less coherent vibration into its pattern,” she explains. And she believes that crystals work in a similar way, the theory being that when we’re in close proximity to crystals, any kinks (due to past emotional traumas, say) in our biofield will entrain to the perfect symmetry of the stones.
Which is right about where my brain begins to ache. But it’s actually the same theory behind all “vibrational” healing, which includes homeopathy and flower essences—and if you’re interested in diving deeper into the subject, Victoria can never rave enough about a book called The Holographic Universe, which she says breaks it all down beautifully.
CHOOSING THE STONES FOR YOU
For now, though, let’s talk about how to shop for some beautiful rocks! As well as how to use and wear them to maximize their healing potential.
The general rule of thumb is to allow your crystals to find you. “FEEL it out,” says Victoria. “What you are immediately drawn to is most likely what you need in your life at that moment. Then close your eyes and hold the crystal, (using) your nondominant hand to feel the subtle vibrations of the stone more clearly. Is it warm, cool, tingly? Does it bring you an ‘up’ or ‘down’ sensation?” she asks.
Here’s an example of how this might also work “in reverse.” Say you go shopping for a piece of rose quartz, widely recognized as “the love stone,” since you’re having a hard time attracting the kind of relationship you want. But there you are in the store, and all you can do is gaze longingly at the rainbow hues of a hunk of chalcopyrite (a.k.a. peacock ore).
Well, the peacock stone is said to release stagnant energy and soothe the pain of old wounds, so perhaps the real reason you’re still single is that you’ve got some more work to do getting over an ex—and the chalcopyrite is letting you know it’s here to help with that.
Likewise, as Luke pointed out at crystal school, “if you feel repelled by a certain stone, it could be an invitation to look at anything you might be deliberately avoiding in your life.” For example, I used to think amethyst was really “boring” and be put off by the woo-woo purple color. Um, think this might have had something to do with it being known as “the sobriety stone”? As my feelings about drinking less alcohol have shifted (i.e., that far from boring, this is actually key to a fully intentional, connected, and creative life), so have my feelings about the stone—and who knows if it’s a coincidence, but since investing in a gorgeous amethyst cluster for my nightstand I’ve found myself more and more appreciative of what I have even come to term “high sobriety!”
Meanwhile, being repeatedly drawn to the same stones is an indication you may have worked with them in a past life.
In my experience, another reason to just go with your gut is that it can be really hard to remember the properties of all the different stones—the lists are often extensive, and there can be lots of overlap. It’s also way more fun to select your stone first and then look up the meanings, since there’ll likely be an element of serendipity in your choice.
Like what happened to Jill Urwin, a London-based designer who makes some of my favorite crystal pieces. When she left her job as a fashion buyer to start her own line, the first stone she was drawn to was a smoky quartz: “I was going purely for aesthetics, but I discovered later on that it’s a root chakra stone and activates your survival instincts—perfect for starting and running your own business!” she told me.
She wears smoky quartz to this day, along with regular clear quartz and an especially rare form of quartz called a “Herkimer diamond”—named for the place they’re mined in upstate New York, and which grow already perfectly faceted by nature with a symmetry that can’t be replicated by man (“which makes them more precious than diamonds in my mind,” says Jill). And as luck / the Universe would have it, Jill’s favorite stones also suit her personal style to a tee.
As for me? I’ve always been a bit of a “magpie,” and I tend to go for anything gold and shiny. Pyrite (for action, vitality, and will), gold stone (the stone of ambition), and citrine (the “success” stone) are some of my favorites—a lineup that’s also befitting all the Aries and Sagittarius fire in my astrology chart. And then, of course, there’s ruby . . . my namesake stone. Strangely, I never felt drawn to it until very recently, but when the Pisces offered to buy me a piece of jewelry this past Christmas, the delicate ring with the tiny, rich pink ruby from Brooklyn’s Dirty Hands Jewelry was really the only choice.
And looking up the properties of my ruby, it makes sense that it’s come into my life now. Ruby is POWERFUL. Ruby is a regal, root chakra rock, the stone of kings and queens. Crystalvaults.com (a great resource for stones and their meanings) describes its properties and powers as promoting “a clear mind, increased concentration and motivation” and bringing “a sense of power to the wearer, a self-confidence and determination that overcomes timidity and propels one toward prosperity and achievement.” Wow!
Exactly the energy I needed to write this book. Also, my namesake stone carries the kind of leadership vibes I’ve shied away from my whole life—but which creating The Numinous, and the sense of coming into my own wholeness that I’ve experienced as a result, has helped me acknowledge and step into as part of my dharma. In fact, I can hardly believe I even just wrote that! My ruby must be working hard today.
WHY EVERYONE NEEDS A TALISMAN
In short, my ruby is my current favorite talisman—what Kirstie Gibbs, a former jewelry buyer for Harrods department store in London and founder of high-vibe crystal line The Alkemistry, describes as “worn treasures used for a higher purpose and energetic attraction.”
In a piece for The Numinous, she wrote: “In our world of over-stimulation I believe it’s even more important that we stay tuned in to our own purpose and carry a personal, sacred object of our choosing,” going on to add that “when a woman wears her own talisman she charges herself with the energy of what she wants to attract and/or harness, be that protection, a successful date, or a flow of creative ideas in her work life.” To which I could only respond with a resounding (virtual) high five.
Thinking about it, for many of us our smartphones seem to have taken the place of traditional talismans—shiny objects we keep on or about our person at all times, which we often decorate to make more beautiful. Our phones are where we keep apps to track our projects, our pilgrimages, our social life, even our periods. They’re how we access social media, and are a tool to record our ideas, hopes, and desires. As for offering us protection? I’m surely not the only one who feels less “safe” if I accidentally leave the house for an appointment and forget to bring my phone. And with the advent of wearable tech, we’re only being encouraged to merge our lives more intimately with our machines.
So how about investing in some wearable healing in the form of crystals instead—talismans to charge up your connection to your higher Self (spirit, God, the Universe, etc.), and to the planet that birthed these mystical rocks?
Jill Urwin told me that when she created her line, “having worked as a buyer in fast fashion, where everything felt so disposable, I felt compelled to create pieces with meaning.” And for me this speaks to what Luke Simon describes as crystals embodying “the Tinker Bell effect”: the fact that using crystals is also an invitation to believe, in ourselves, in our journey, and in the all-loving oneness of our Universe. The same way Peter Pan only believed he could fly once he’d been doused in fairy (a.k.a. crystal) dust—or “star stuff,” as J. M. Barrie called it in his original story (which, by the way, was published in 1904, seventy years before cosmologist Carl Sagan’s famous quote: “We are all made of star stuff”).
As Victoria Keen puts it, “intention is everything” when working with crystals, since our thoughts carry their own vibration too. In this respect, it also becomes possible to “program” our crystal talismans with our own sense of meaning and purpose—which we’re naturally inclined to do with our most special pieces of jewelry anyway, a traditional diamond engagement ring being a classic case in point.
WHERE TO WEAR YOUR CRYSTALS
So having said all that about not liking having loose stones just rolling around . . . I have loose stones rolling around everywhere. My desk, my different bags, my altar, my nightstand . . . which I am actually seeking to address by investing in a special shelf for them in my home office. It’s time I started treating them with a little more respect!
But the more I’m delving into my crystal studies—and the more my numinous path sensitizes me to their subtle healing energies—the more I feel called to wear them on my person. Not to mention the fact that, as I mentioned, crystal jewelry has become a whole different beast in recent years.
Some of my favorite designers totally rocking it right now, and which you might wanna check out, are Jill Urwin; Unearthern; The Alkemistry; Rock & Raw; Vega Jewelry; Communion by Joy; Jacquie Aiche; Pound Jewelry; and it-girl Audrey Kitching’s line Crystal Cactus.
Chatting to Jill, I got to thinking about how different types of jewelry are also designed to place your crystals near the different chakras—worth taking into account when picking your piece. Like a pendant necklace will totally line your stone up with your heart chakra, a choker the throat, and a belly chain or stud your solar plexus. Which led me to consider the origins, say, of the classical “diamond tiara,” beloved of fairy princesses, Victoria’s Secret stylists, and royalty throughout history. Any coincidence, d’you think, that the diamond is said to be a symbol of perfection and illumination—activating the crown and etheric (third eye) chakras when worn this way?
Speaking of being a bit of a magpie, not to mention princesses, I became kind of obsessed with the crown jewels—a collection of high-bling ceremonial pieces belonging to the British royal family—after we went on a school trip to visit them as a kid. And having looked up the pieces again while writing this, almost every crown boasts a GIGANTIC (like 300+ carats) diamond right in the center of the forehead—or above the third eye. It seems like one of the most powerful families in the history of modern civilization was very well aware of the diamond’s ability to enhance the powers of perception—and how to use this to their advantage. Um, hello #illuminati conspiracy theories. But seriously—google “British crown jewels” and tell me these are not ancient pieces of technology designed for accessing higher planes of consciousness/communication with life on other planets!
And when it comes to activating your chakras, you can also choose stones based on their color correspondence with particular chakras: for example, ruby for the root, citrine for the sacral, gold stone for the solar plexus, emerald for the heart, turquoise for the throat, sapphire for the third eye, and amethyst for the crown.
In Vedic astrology, meanwhile, different fingers relate to the different planets and elements—useful when choosing which finger to wear a ring. Although, again, your crystal will likely have its own ideas about this.
Many of the jewelers I mentioned above also make custom pieces, so you can always have your favorite stone set into your talisman of choice. Victoria Keen even sewed subtle pieces of citrine into a beautiful custom scarf she made me once, but you can also go way more low-fi with it. I love the little leather pouches you can buy for carrying crystals around your neck, and a quick straw poll of my Instagram tribe revealed the bra as a particularly popular place to stash stones! Totally up to you how you explain this to your next Tinder date.
MORE WAYS TO WORK WITH YOUR STONES
Beyond wearing or simply keeping your stones in close proximity, there are all kinds of other ways to tap their healing energies.
In a Tincture
Like flower essences, gem essences are formulated as a way of ingesting the vibrational properties of different stones, and it’s actually pretty simple to make your own. Look for “recipes” online and use them as spritzes and add a few drops to your bathwater. You can also buy a special water bottle designed to safely charge your drinking water with your crystal tinctures. (Beware: not all crystals are ingestible).
In a Healing Session
Laying crystals directly on the skin—called a “layout”—is the best way to maximize their healing potential, and they can be placed on the body during treatments such as Reiki or sound healing. Consult with your therapist first, but you could bring to your session a stone you feel particularly connected to. Or maybe your massage therapist can even incorporate the stones into your next treatment? Don’t be shy about experimenting with this technique at home too—as always, be mindful with your intentions and allow yourself to be guided by your intuition. And it’s worth adding that smooth stones are most comfortable for using directly on the skin!
In a Crystal Grid
Luke Simon describes crystal “grids”—where you place several stones in a geometric pattern, on an altar, for example—as “like a recipe for merging the properties of different stones to heal on a more potent level.” For example, placing quartz in a grid with black tourmaline, the quartz will amplify the protective properties of the tourmaline. Again, use your intuition about what stones to use in your grid. Victoria sometimes creates grids to place under the treatment table during a sound healing session and creates her own grids for her altar at home. “They’re a way to really focus my intention and energy around a particular issue or desire,” she says, adding, “I also like to light a new candle with each grid, as when it’s burned down, which could be over a period of weeks, I will disassemble the grid and work with a new intention.”
During Meditation
Any stones can be used during meditation (just hold them loosely in your hand while you meditate), but blue, purple, and clear crystals, relating to the third eye and crown chakras, are said to be most effective in helping clear the mind and access higher states of consciousness. You can select a stone that relates to a particular concern and program it with a specific intention before you sit. “I’ve experimented with meditating with many different stones, and it’s interesting to feel how different each one feels when you’re in the zone,” says Victoria Keen. “I’ve had them pulsate in my hand, get tingly and warm, and felt a flow of energy come from them.”
In a Ritual Bath
My friend Deborah Hanekamp is the queen of the “ritual bath,” and her “recipes” for these baths (like this one) always include a crystal or two, along with different herbs, salts, and mantras. Since water entrains (remember?) very quickly to the perfect symmetry of crystals, it acts as a conductor for their energy. Again, you can use your intuition to experiment with this technique yourself, remembering as always to set a clear intention first. And also keep in mind that some crystals don’t do so well in water. If in doubt, you can put them in a clear glass jar and take that into the bath with you instead.
Keep a Crystal Journal
I love this suggestion from Luke Simon—the idea of charting your progress over a period of time when working with a specific stone. Useful, since this is some subtle healing, people, and the “results” may not be immediately obvious. But guess what, since written words have their own vibration too, the more you can crystallize (so to speak) your intention for your healing journey with the stones, the better.
CARING FOR YOUR CRYSTALS
So now you’ve selected your stones and begun incorporating them into your wardrobe and your life; please remember that since these are not such inanimate objects, their vibrational nature means they’re constantly interacting with the energy around them. As such, you’ll obviously want to cleanse them of any low-vibe nastiness they may have sucked up along the way.
There are various different ways to do this, such as:
• Smudging them with the smoke from burning sage or other cleansing herbs, such as palo santo, cedar leaves, sweetgrass, or lavender (try imagining the smoke as water).
• Submerging them in natural spring water (unless they’re a kind that dissolves in water—check online), anywhere from one to twenty-four hours.
• Burying them in salt (for more intense cleansing), for several hours, overnight, or up to a few days.
• Burying them in earth, either outdoors (remembering to place a marker in the ground!) or in a plant pot, for three days to one week.
Because of the programmable nature of both water and crystals, Jill Urwin says it’s also safe to cleanse them under the tap—so long as you do so with a superstrong intention.
As I discovered with my tourmaline and tiger’s eye crystal rings, it’s also important to charge any crystals that have been working overtime—or any time your stones begin to look or feel “dull” to you. You can do this by placing them in direct sun or moonlight, for anything from a couple of hours to overnight.
And as your collection develops, Luke has one final thing to add: “never have more crystals than you have time to love.” So how, as he puts it, to “close the chapter” with a particular stone, if and when you feel like your work together is done?
One way is to return them to nature. “When crystals break, when what they were programmed for has come to manifestation, or when you are called to let them go, returning them to the wild is a charged ritual in itself. It feels like putting stars back into the sky,” he says. He suggests leaving them in the nook of a tree, or burying them, but adds, “It also feels beautiful for them to just be in silence, at the base of a river or ocean.”
The other option is to simply give them away, he says. “If you intuitively feel you are meant to gift them to others, listen! Receiving crystals in this way is so fun too, when a friend says, ‘This called to me and wants to be with you.’”
And so I rest my case. Crystal healing might win my “most numinous, verging on the totally woo-woo” award, but as time goes by I’m becoming more convinced the stones have a consciousness of their own. Or perhaps I’m just more willing to believe. Are you feeling the Tinker Bell effect yet?