Starter Sets
The Top Twenty Crystals
for the Beginning User
If you don’t have a crystal collection yet, start with the following “Top Twenty” recommended stones. They represent a broad cross-section of physical attributes and metaphysical properties, and they are all affordable and readily available.
1. Agates come in a wide variety of colors and appearances—striped, spotted, and variegated—but their distinctive bands of color hint at the layers and hidden depths inside us all. Each individual agate forms by filling a cavity in host rock. Agates were treasured during the Stone Age—they have been unearthed in archaeological digs of settlements in France that date back 22,000 years. The Egyptians used agate for jewelry and amulets 5,000 years ago. Persian magicians used agate to divert storms, and for a time, agates were believed to make their wearers invisible, quench thirst, and protect people from fevers. A hundred years before Christ, Mithridates, the king of Pontus (in what is now Turkey), owned thousands of agate bowls.1 Collecting agate bowls was also popular during the Byzantine Empire in the Middle Ages, as well as among European royalty during the Renaissance. The “Mystical Crystals” chapter has more information on specific types of agates.
2. Amethysts are regal, violet-colored stones. They are widely used by psychics, who find that amethysts’ soothing energy gives their intuitive senses a boost. The ancient Romans believed that amethysts were inadvertently created by Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. According to legend, an ordinary mortal insulted Bacchus, so he created a team of tigers to destroy the next hapless mortal who crossed his path. Sadly, that mortal turned out to be a beautiful maiden named Amethyst. Diana, the goddess of the moon, was watching, and she did what she could to protect Amethyst—she turned her into a statue of pure quartz crystal, impervious to the tigers’ claws. But when Bacchus saw how beautiful Amethyst had been, he regretted his foolish, poorly planned display of bad temper.
He wept bitter tears of dark red wine over the crystal and stained it purple.2
Since then, amethyst has been known as the “sobriety stone.” The ancients drank wine from amethyst goblets, believing the crystal would keep them from getting drunk. Even now, some people believe amethyst can help those who struggle with alcoholism, compulsive behaviors, and addictions of all kinds.
From the Egyptian pharaohs to the British royal family, amethysts have always been popular among royalty—in part because purple has always been thought of as a regal color. Leonardo da Vinci believed that amethyst could dispel evil thoughts and make people more intelligent. During the Middle Ages, Catholic church administrators believed that amethyst could not only help people stay sober, but that it could also help keep priests celibate. Amethysts eventually came to be regarded as the stone of bishops, and many bishops still wear amethyst rings to this day. In Tibet, Buddhists think of amethyst as a sacred stone and commonly craft rosaries from amethyst crystals.3
3. Aventurine is one of the loveliest crystals. Its soothing green color could almost be mistaken for jade, except for the fact that it contains small inclusions of several shiny minerals that give it a sparkling, glistening sheen. (The effect is known as aventurescence.) As its name implies, aventurine is a handy stone to have when you undertake any creative venture. It is also thought to be a particularly holistic, all-purpose healer, which helps with healing on spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical levels. Aventurine
derived its name from a type of Italian glass. During the eighteenth century, glass workers spilled copper filings into a batch of molten glass. The sparkling mixture, in Italian, was created a ventura—by chance.
4. Bloodstone, also known as heliotrope or warrior’s stone, has been associated with health and well-being for centuries—primarily because of its color, a mesmerizing blend of dark red spots on a jade-green background. In ancient times, soldiers carried small pieces of bloodstone onto the battlefield as talismans to avoid injury and to stop bleeding.4 Later, as Christianity swept the world, legend associated the stone with drops of Christ’s blood that fell when he died on the cross. According to folklore, the stone was continually replenished by the blood of saints. One story even reports that a fourteenth-century gypsy once stole a bloodstone from Rome in order to give it to Romanian vampires as a peace offering; he apparently believed the legend that vampires could find an unending source of blood in the stone, so they wouldn’t need to attack humans in order to survive.5
Not surprisingly, metaphysical healers have long used bloodstone to treat diseases of the blood and circulatory system, and to speed healing after surgery, ease menstrual cramps, and prevent miscarriage.
5. Carnelian, a red, orange, or brown form of chalcedony, was traditionally sacred to Isis, the Egyptian goddess who revived her dead husband Osiris. For that reason, carnelian has come to symbolize all faithful wives and companions. The ancient Egyptians also believed that carnelian could ensure the soul’s passage into the next world, and they filled their tombs with carnelian jewels. The prophet Mohammed was said to wear a carnelian ring on the little finger of his right hand.6 Carnelian is also associated with eloquence and self-confidence; shy and timid people can boost their courage by wearing the stone.7
6. Citrine gets its name from the French word for lemon, citron. Citrine is simply yellow or orange quartz, but it is somewhat rare. Most of the citrine on the market is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz, but its yellow color lends it the same properties as genuine citrine. Like all yellow crystals, citrine is associated with the radiance and optimism of the sun. And like all gold-colored stones, citrine is associated with wealth and financial success.
7. Fluorite is also known as the genius stone. Whether you find a small sample or a large display piece of crystal, it won’t be hard for you to imagine that you’re looking at the skyline of New York or Chicago as the sun sets and twilight casts a blue and violet shadow on the entire city. On the other hand, if you’re thinking on a smaller scale, fluorite’s violet color and evenly spaced, gridlike formation could almost be mistaken for a high-tech computer component. Not surprisingly, fluorite is often associated with advanced civilization and high technology, and it can be a good crystal to have on hand if you do a lot of work with computers, or if you need to program yourself to think in more logical and rational terms. It’s also no accident that “fluorite” sounds like “fluoride”—it is associated with dental health.
8. Hematite, a form of iron ore, is one of the best-known grounding stones. Its stabilizing energy can absorb and disburse negative thoughts and emotions. Hematite ranges in color from steel gray to deep, midnight black. Its reflective sheen makes it an ideal material for scrying, a form of divination in which people gaze into a reflective surface. Prehistoric men and women ground hematite to make red ochre pigment for their cave paintings. The ancient Egyptians used hematite for amulets, some of which were prescribed for madness and inflammation. Ancient Roman warriors associated hematite with Mars, the god of war, and they believed that if they rubbed hematite all over their bodies they would be invisible in battle. Pliny, the ancient Roman historian, also asserted that hematite would bring good luck to anyone who wore it while they petitioned the king or wanted a favorable judgment in a lawsuit. Even today, hematite is recommended for people facing tricky legal situations.
The word hematite comes from the Greek word haema, which means “blood.” It refers to the red color found on unpolished specimens.
9. Howlite is a silky, snowy white stone with marble-like veins of gray or black. It’s one of the most pleasing crystals to touch, because it feels like smooth, cool porcelain. Howlite is also one of the most intriguing stones to look at—most specimens are covered with a marbled web of black and grey streaks and veins. Its varied markings might encourage you to examine your own line of thought—especially regarding issues that seem to be black and white. While howlite was named after its discoverer, the Nova Scotia geologist Henry How, its spooky-sounding name also seems to connect it to the spirit world, and the stone may be one you’d like to use if you are trying to reach those who have crossed to the Other Side. (A side note: unscrupulous dealers sometimes dye howlite blue and try to pass it off as turquoise.)
10. Jasper comes in a rainbow of colors and designs, but it is commonly found in shades of red, brown, and orange. The various forms of jasper are usually named after their most distinctive characteristics. Landscape jasper, for example, seems to depict an entire landscape along its surface. Ribbon jasper seems to be wrapped in a ribbon. Poppy jasper seems to be covered with images of poppies. You can also choose from brecciated jasper, dalmatian jasper, king cobra jasper, leopard skin jasper, and more.
Jasper has been popular for centuries; there are records of jasper being used throughout the ancient world. In the fourth-century Greek poem “Lithica,” jasper was called the great rain-bringer.8
Jasper might be the original touchstone. For thousands of years, people would rub gold-silver alloys on black jasper to test their gold content. The streak’s color was a precise measure of gold content.
11. Lapis lazuli, the ancient alchemists’ stone of heaven, does seem to reflect the skies above us. A dark blue crystal with flecks of golden pyrite, lapis lazuli was a sacred stone in Egypt. Some say the Ten Commandments were inscribed on tablets of lapis lazuli.9 Egyptians used lapis for cosmetics and painting. Persians said that the heavens owed their blue color to a massive slab of lapis upon which the earth rested. And for centuries, painters have revered the blue pigment of crushed lapis lazuli.
12. Malachite, with its distinctive bands of light and dark green, is sometimes called the salesperson’s stone because it can help buyers get bargains and it can help a salesperson close a deal. In ancient Egypt, people ground malachite into eye shadow. The Romans called it peacock stone and dedicated it to the goddess Juno.10 During the Middle Ages, some used it as protection against black magic.
13. Moonstone embodies all of the magic and mystery we associate with the moon. The opalescent play of light that dances across the milky white surface of a moonstone is known as adularescence, and some people believe moonstones will grow brighter or dimmer along with the phases of the moon. Moonstone is also known as selenite, in honor of Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Moonstone was very popular with the Romans, who thought it was formed out of moonlight; it was used in Roman jewelry for centuries. In India, moonstone is still considered a sacred stone.
14. Obsidian is a rich, black volcanic glass, like a tinted window into the soul. Because it is so black and so heavy, many people believe obsidian is the most grounding stone available. Prehistoric people used obsidian to craft jewelry and tools; examples have been carbon dated to about 21000 BC. Today, obsidian is commonly used for scrying. You can choose from regular black obsidian, white-patterned snowflake obsidian, or legendary Apache tears.
15. Peridot, a gem born in fire, is found both in volcanic rocks and meteors. Because it is a form of olivine, peridot is always green. It is sometimes known as chrysolite, which means “golden stone” in Greek.
People have valued peridot for centuries. The Egyptians prized it and called it the gem of the sun. (Some of Cleopatra’s emeralds were actually peridots.) The ancient Romans wore it to protect themselves from enchantments. Pliny, the ancient historian, mentioned a deposit on Saint John’s Island in the Red Sea that still produces gems. During the Middle Ages, people wore peridot to gain foresight and
divine inspiration. Some people even believed that peridot could drive away evil and cast out demons.
16. Petrified wood has an inherent link to the past. It is a tangible reminder of ancient ways and ancient knowledge, as well as a physical connection to the ongoing world of nature. Obviously, petrified wood can help you connect to the world of trees and plants. It can also teach you about preservation and survival. Some people use petrified wood as a tool for past-life regression by holding it and studying it during meditation.
Petrified wood is one of those odd crystals that didn’t originate inside the earth—it was organic once. Petrified wood is a type of fossil in which the tissues of a dead plant are replaced with minerals. The petrification process occurs underground, after wood or woody materials suddenly become buried under sediment. Mineral-rich water flows through the sediment, depositing minerals in the plant’s cells. As the original plant decays, a detailed stone cast is left in its place.
If you like working with petrified wood, you might also consider looking for amber, which is petrified tree sap. In many cases, amber crystals include the fossilized remains of small insects that crawled and buzzed around the earth’s surface millions of years ago.
17. Quartz. As you start to work with crystals, you should have no trouble finding quartz for your collection—quartz is the second most common mineral in the earth’s crust, after feldspar.
In ancient times, people believed that rock crystal was actually a form of ice. The Greeks thought of quartz as the ice of eternity; the word crystallos means “frozen.” Mystics have called it the “philosopher’s stone.” Even modern scientists, who generally refer to quartz as silicon dioxide, are impressed with its physical and chemical properties: quartz can store, send, and receive energy, both physically and metaphysically.
Quartz comes in countless varieties. Even crystals known by other names, when it comes right down to it, are quartz. It would be entirely possible to put together an extensive collection of crystals consisting only of quartz.
Pure quartz, composed of silicon dioxide, is colorless and transparent—but when a tiny portion of the silicon atoms are replaced with iron, aluminum, manganese, or titanium, the crystal can take on beautiful colors. Amethyst is violet quartz. Jasper is quartz with red, yellow, brown, gray, or black coloring. Onyx and agate are quartz with bands of color. Bloodstone is green quartz with red spots.
If you are just beginning your work with crystals, start with clear quartz. It’s probably the most versatile crystal. You can use clear quartz for any metaphysical purpose, including meditation, divination, dream work, and healing. As soon as you can, add soothing rose quartz and cleansing smoky quartz to your collection, too.
More information on specific types of quartz can be found in the “Mystical Crystals” chapter.
18. Rhodonite gets its name from rhodon, the Greek word for rose. It is a stone of contrasts—it is both hot pink, which represents passion, and a grounded, deep, rich black. In eighteenth-century Russia, decorators used rhodonite throughout the royal court. Rhodonite is sometimes called the singer’s stone, and it is often associated with the throat chakra.
19. Sodalite, the student’s stone, is a dark blue stone with white bands. Its crisp, contrasting colors are clean and refreshing. Sodalite can help you focus, concentrate, remember, learn, and organize your knowledge. Some people keep sodalite near their computers and television sets to absorb electromagnetic emissions.
20. Tiger’s eye is a brown chalcedony with gold highlights. When tiger’s eye is cut and polished, it reveals chatoyancy—a narrow band of white light that looks like the eye of a tiger. Ancient Romans carried tiger’s eye into battle, believing that it would speed up their reaction time. You might also like to collect a specimen or two of hawk’s eye, which is a midnight blue version of tiger’s eye.
1. http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/agate.html
2. Alda Marian Jangl and James Francis Jangl, Ancient Legends of Gems and Jewels (Coeur d’Alene, ID: Primsa Press, 1985), 6.
3. http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/amethyst.html
4. Scott Cunningham, Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic (St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 2004), 91.
5. http://wire-sculpture.com/Bloodstone.htm
6. George Frederick Kunz, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1971), 64.
7. Cunningham, Encyclopedia, 94.