Crystal Rx

Rock It! Crystals in Every Area of Your Life

For the great doesn’t happen through impulse alone and is a succession of little things that are brought together.

—VINCENT VAN GOGH

SPIRITUAL HYGIENE: CLEANSING YOUR CRYSTALS

We care for our bodies with exercise, healthy diet, skincare, and plenty of sleep. Why wouldn’t we care for the energy surrounding our bodies in a similar way? This is where spiritual hygiene comes in. As we’ve discussed, crystals receive, store, and transmit energy. By the time you bring your stone home, it will have picked up energy from each person and place it has been in contact with. This accumulated energy may be described as dense, stale, negative or simply just not “yours”—and if you’ve been working with a stone for a while, these collected vibes may have actually come from you! So it’s important to regularly “cleanse” and energetically recharge your crystals. It’s like washing your face daily to remove dirt and debris!

There are many ways to cleanse your crystals, in order to allow them to reset, rebalance, and function at their optimum frequency. All methods involve working with the healing powers of Mother Nature and the Five Elements: aether (the element that encompasses the cosmos, all celestial bodies—it is known as the subtlest element, and essentially means space), air, earth, fire, and water. Some crystal cleansing methods are better for high-vibration stones. Some methods aren’t right for crystals that are soft or porous, or that contain metals. And some crystals are actually self-cleaning. So be informed before you begin!

Pre-Cleanse Tips

SET AN INTENTION: Like all rituals, crystal cleansing is ultimately about intention. Make sure you are in a positive mood while cleaning your crystals, and if you have a specific purpose in mind for a stone, mentally share that intent with the stone as you clean it. In your mind’s eye, visualize the unwanted energy being released from the crystal and sent back to the earth to be mulched for positivity. Send the universe a mental thank-you note when done to close your cleansing ritual.
CLEANSE ON THE FULL MOON: I like to cleanse my stones monthly on the full moon, when its energy is the strongest, in order to embrace the moon’s energy to enhance my intentions.
DON’T SHARE YOUR CRYSTALS! I know, it sounds stingy, but don’t let others touch your crystals once they are attuned to you. Would you share your lipstick, mascara, or toothbrush? It’s the same thing!

DRESS FOR THE OCCASION: Wear black. Why? Traditionally, shamans wear black when performing cleansing rites and rituals like house clearings and exorcisms. They believe that black deflects bad vibes and makes them “invisible” to the spirits present. And practically speaking, if you are burning lit herbs to clear your crystals (which we’ll get into later), you don’t want to ruin your outfit.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR STONES

There are many differing approaches to cleansing stones, but I am introducing you to the top methods I’ve learned from my mentors, stemming from various esoteric traditions. Borrow the practices here that resonate most strongly with you and that are the most practical for your lifestyle.

Start digging: Bury your crystals in dirt or sand in your backyard. Returning them to the earth cleanses them and allows them to recharge with the vibration of the earth. I leave them buried for anywhere between 48 hours and an entire moon cycle (about a month). Make sure to mark where your crystals are buried so that you can retrieve them later. If you are a city-dweller, bury your stones in a potted houseplant.
H₂O, go!: Place your crystals in a clean, glass container and let them soak overnight in water. I recommend using mineral water, spring water, or purified water over tap water. You can also submerge your crystal in a bowl of fresh rainwater, or hold it in a lake or stream for five to ten minutes while visualizing any negativity being washed away by the water.
Get salty: Washing crystals in salt water is also great because salt absorbs and purifies unwanted energies. You can visit the beach or make salt water at home. Use a clean glass container, and be sure not to use too much salt, as undissolved salt can scratch some stones. A general rule of thumb is to use 1 to 2 tablespoons salt for every 8 ounces water. Let your stones soak for at least 24 hours, and after removing them from the salt water, rinse them in fresh water to remove any salt residue.
Hold the H₂O!: Some crystals disintegrate when wet or don’t react well to being immersed in salt water. You should only cleanse with water/salt water when stones measure 7 or above (Quartz or harder) on the Mohs’ scale of mineral hardness. Google the Mohs’ scale and read up on whether this method is safe for your stones. If not, you can let them sit in a bowl of coarse sea salt, or even table salt, for 24 to 48 hours.
I’ll take a side of rice, please: Place your crystal in a container (preferably glass) of brown rice, cover completely, and leave overnight. The rice will absorb unwanted bad vibes from the stones. Make sure to dispose of the rice after this method.
Bathe in moonlight: Lunar energy helps cleanse and charge stones. The moon’s light is brightest and energetically strongest during the full moon, but if your schedule is jam-packed on the actual full moon, you can also work with the energy 24 hours prior to and 24 hours after the actual full moon. If you are dealing with a crystal that fades or that doesn’t like light (see the list here), be sure to bring it back inside before the sun comes up. Put this crystal on a glass or ceramic plate and leave it to sit out overnight on your deck, fire escape, in your backyard, etc. Let the cosmos do the rest.
Burn, baby, burn: Burn sage and run your crystal through the smoke. In addition to the ritual cleansing of a space, scientists have observed that sage can also clear up to 94 percent of airborne bacteria in a space—it’s powerful stuff. Other qualities believed to be associated with the burning of sage are increased wisdom, clarity, and spiritual awareness. Here are the basics for cleansing, or “smudging,” with sage:
- You are lighting something on fire, so the right container is key. Traditionally, abalone shells have been used to hold burning sage, but a glass or ceramic bowl will work, too.
- Once finished, the best way to extinguish your smudge stick is by pressing the burning surface firmly against a fireproof bowl or stone, or in dirt or sand, until smoke no longer rises. Don’t use water to extinguish the hot embers—it will ruin the tip of the stick and makes it harder to light the next time.
- Once you are done, make triple sure that every bit of fire and smoke has been extinguished and rest the remaining sage in the shell or nonflammable container until you are ready to use it again.
- Have an exit strategy. Before you light up, remember to open a door or a window so the unwanted energy you are trying to clear out will have a path of escape. For escorting out unwanted energy, I like to employ the mantra, “Any energy that is not mine or of my highest and greatest good, get the f*** out, with love.”
- If you don’t like the smell of sage, you can also employ other sacred materials in smudging, like copal (a type of tree resin) or palo santo wood.
Firedancer: Scientifically and spiritually speaking, fire is the most transformative of all the elements. Traditionally, shamans use fire to cleanse their crystals before and after performing an “extraction” (a process similar to an exorcism that releases extremely heavy, stuck, or unwanted energy from a person’s physical body). Since extraction is a very intense type of energy work, shamans need to pull out the big guns and run their crystals though an open flame before and after to make sure they are energetically spotless. I advise people to use this technique if they feel like they just can’t get a crystal clean through one of the other techniques mentioned. You don’t need access to a fireplace or
camp-style bonfire—you can do this at home on your deck or in your backyard. And remember to pull your hair back before trying this super-shaman-y maneuver! You will need:
- A disposable foil baking dish or heat-safe glass bowl
- Epsom salts
- Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
- A long-reach lighter or long-stemmed matches
- Something to quickly extinguish the fire
  
  Place 1/4 cup of Epsom salts into your heat-safe container. (If you’re using a bowl, make sure the surface beneath the bowl will not be damaged by heat.) Pour rubbing alcohol onto the Epsom salts in a ratio of about 2:1 Epsom salts to alcohol. You want the salts to be damp, but not soaked. If you try to light the salts and the flame burns weakly, you’ve added too little alcohol.
  
  When you’re ready to begin, touch the flame to the salt. It will instantly ignite. You want a mostly blue flame with a hint of yellow. If your flame is mostly yellow, you have put too much alcohol into the mix. Add a little more salt to correct. This type of burning doesn’t create smoke or smells, so you can do it indoors, with a door or window open to allow negative energy to leave the space.
  
  Run your crystal back and forth through the flame in a figure-eight motion. In your mind’s eye, envision the blue flame eating up all the unwanted energy, and recite any mantra or invocation you feel called to. Once finished, smother the flames with a pot lid, and after the salts cool down, please discard them responsibly, either in the toilet or by burying them deeply in the earth, as Epsom salts can give animals diarrhea and other health problems if ingested.
  
  If you are not feeling this brave, but want to try to work with the element of fire, use a candle flame to start.
Sun bathing: Leave your crystals out in direct sunlight for a duration that feels right to you—normally one day does the trick. Remember, some crystals do not like light, and will fade or become brittle after exposure to direct UV rays. If you live in an extremely hot place with strong sunlight, put crystals out only early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun’s rays aren’t as strong, to ensure the crystals don’t crack or explode in the intense heat.
Hot hands: If you or someone you know is Reiki attuned, you can clear your crystals with Reiki. Hold your crystal in your hands, or hover your cupped hands over the crystal, and breathe deeply. While focusing on your breath, try to feel the positive energies of the stone. Visualize universal, healing light filling the stone until all negativity has been dissolved. Set an intention that all negative energies be removed from the stone. When you intuitively feel that the stone has been cleared, you can stop the visualization.
Breathwork it!: If you have ever experienced a shamanic healing, you may have seen the shaman forcefully breathe over the crystals after the work is done. This is a quick and easily accessible way to remove unwanted energy.
Crystal on crystal: To draw out impurities, place your crystal on top of a larger crystal cluster like Clear Quartz, Citrine, or Amethyst. You can also use a large, flat piece of self-cleansing Selenite and place your crystals like ants on a log on top of it. Let the crystals sit for 24 hours to draw out impurities.
Good vibrations: You can use tingsha bells, tuning forks, Peruvian brass bells, gongs, chimes, or a crystal or metal singing bowl to send cleansing sound vibrations into your crystal for 2 to 5 minutes. Be careful about placing your crystals within an actual singing bowl, as the intense vibration of the bowl may chip fragile stones.
Essences and sprays: Use cleansing essential oils like juniper, pine, or sage. Heat them in a burner or vaporizer and then pass your crystals through the vapor that’s given off. You can also place a few drops of an essence in a bowl of water and then soak your crystals, or you can spray them with a solution of water mixed with 5 to 7 drops of the essence in a small spray bottle or plant mister. I use Paper Crane Apothecary sprays as my go-tos when traveling! (You’ll hear more from the founder later in the book.)

Self-Cleansing Crystals: Amethyst, Azeztulite, Black Tourmaline, Citrine, Kyanite, Smoky Quartz, Selenite

Personally, I still clean all my crystals, self-cleansing or not, because I believe they benefit from the care and maintenance.

HOT TIP: Clear Quartz and Carnelian can cleanse other stones as well but will likely need to be cleansed when done.

Crystals That Cannot Get Wet: Amber, Angelite, Azurite, Celestite, Calcite, Fire Opal, Fluorite, Kyanite, Kunzite, Moonstone, Turquoise, Rhodochrosite, and Selenite

HOT TIP: Many stones that end in “–ite” are not water-friendly.

Crystals That Fade or Crack in the Sun: Aventurine, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Beryl, Citrine, Chrysocolla, Fluorite, Kunzite, Rose Quartz, Sapphire, Smoky Quartz. Amber and Opal can become brittle from the sun, causing them to crack, chip, or split. Fluorite is the only crystal on the planet to have two internal lattice structures (every other crystal has only one). Sunlight breaks down one of those structures, causing Fluorite to shatter easily.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD CRYSTALS BE CLEANSED?

Altar: Crystals that live on altars should be cleaned on average once a month. I make it a ritual to completely dismantle my altar every new and full moon. I physically clean the surface with earth-friendly cleaning products and then rearrange all my crystals, tarot cards, talismans etc.

Spatial: If you’ve had your space gridded by a shaman or fêng shui practitioner, please consult them on this. I like to recharge the crystals that sit in the corners of my home about once a year around an event like spring cleaning.

Wearable: This includes jewelry, and the crystals you squirrel away in your bra. If you wear a crystal or meditate with it daily, it should be cleaned once a week. If someone touches your crystal, take it off and stick it in a cotton or velvet pouch until you can clean it.

RE-UPPING YOUR CRYSTAL MOJO: HOW TO CHARGE YOUR CRYSTALS

Cleansing your stones is the first step. Your next order of business is to “charge” or energize your crystals in order to reinforce your connection with them, whether you are working with newly acquired stones or stones you have had for a long time. A crystal is a bit like a battery: It vibrates at a certain frequency, and when you use it, it discharges positive energy into your body. This is why people report feeling tingles, zaps, jolts, or heat in their body when wearing or handling a crystal; the energy of our body is merging with that of the crystal. But it will eventually run out of juice and need to be recharged. Here are the methods I rely on for recharging crystals:

SLEEPING WITH, MEDITATING WITH, AND HANDLING YOUR CRYSTALS: Another great place to start when energizing your crystals is to simply spend time “getting to know each other” by sleeping with them at your bedside, meditating with them, or just handling them.

CRYSTAL DEDICATION RITUAL: In a quiet setting, hold your crystal. Start by taking a few deep breaths with your eyes closed to relax your breathing. Notice how you are feeling, what the stone feels like in your hand, and what your energy feels like together. Then either think or say aloud a dedication to connect your personal energy with your crystal. Here are examples of what your dedication might be:

“I intend for our work together to be . . .”

“I accept this gift from the Universe, and I ask my crystal to . . .”

“With love, gratitude, and purest intentions, I call in . . .”
BATHING IN MOONLIGHT: I recommend energizing your crystals monthly under the light of the full moon. Leave your crystal out in the moonlight under the same conditions mentioned in the crystal clearing section.
BATHING IN SUNLIGHT: Leave your crystal out in direct sunlight under the same conditions mentioned in the crystal clearing section.
SOUND BATHING: This one is extra credit. Stick a crystal inside a crystal or metal singing bowl, or, if the crystal is fragile, place it 2 to 4 inches away from the singing bowl. Hold the singing bowl in the palm of your left hand, grasp the mallet in your right hand, and gently tap it against the side of the bowl to “warm” it. Keeping even pressure, rub the mallet clockwise around the outside edge of the bowl. Keep the mallet facing up and down (north and south) while moving your arm (not your wrist) like you are stirring a pot of soup. Apply pressure evenly, as the friction from the mallet against the rim of the bowl is what produces vibrations and creates sound.

HOW LONG WILL A CRYSTAL BE IN MY LIFE?

My personal practice is to keep working with a crystal until I get a sign that our time together is over, meaning that the crystal cracks, chips, breaks in half, shatters, or explodes, or I just feel that our work together is done. Some believe that if a crystal cracks into two perfect halves, it’s a sign that your crystal needs to move on to someone else, and you should either keep one half and give the other to someone in your life who needs it, or give both halves to two people who need them more than you do.

Sometimes your crystal will let you know loud and clear that it has served its energetic purpose. I was once standing on a street corner in New York City and looked down to find that the bottom half of the Black Agate I always wore around my neck was lying on the pavement. Back then I had no idea what I was doing, and I loved this piece so much that I decided to superglue it back together (can you imagine?). The next day I found myself standing on the same street corner, and when I reached down to clutch my Agate, I discovered it had cracked again, below the glue line. This crystal had sent me a clear message that it was time to part ways—twice!

I have heard of people who choose to keep working with cracked stones, but this is not my personal practice. If you do decide to keep a cracked stone, bear in mind that the energy that caused it to crack was intense, and this may have temporarily altered the crystal’s normal vibrational frequency. It takes a crystal some time to heal from this trauma, just like a broken bone takes time to heal. If you choose to keep a broken crystal, give it a little vacay before you start using it again, and be sure to cleanse it before use.

ASPIRING HEALERS, PLEASE NOTE: If a crystal breaks during any healing application, it should never be used again for a healing treatment or anything else. The crystal broke because it absorbed unwanted energy that came out of someone’s body, and it is time to put it to rest.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Wondering what to do with a broken crystal? Since the earth absorbs and recycles both energy and matter, I return a cracked crystal to the elements by burying it in the woods or releasing it into a body of water. Before I do this, I always “deprogram” my crystal by thanking it for working with me and asking for my energy to be removed from it.

ALTAR’D STATES

Altar building is a practice in many spiritual traditions, spanning all ancient faiths from Buddhism to Christianity to Judaism to Paganism. An altar is any structure upon which offerings are made for a specific occasion/reason, and altars can be dedicated to many purposes, from honoring ancestors and universal unseen forces we believe are protecting and guiding us to manifesting situations and showing gratitude to something. For thousands of years, altars have been built in churches and temples, on sacred grounds and shrines, and in other places of worship. I view altars as a kind of common meeting point for all faiths and traditions.

A personal crystal altar does not have to be elaborate or fancy. I like to look at altars as an extension of who we are, and think of them as an endlessly evolving, living, breathing organism. It should simply be a special place to call your own, a quiet place for reflection, focus, and prayer, for thinking positive thoughts, manifesting your desires, and honoring who and what is important to you. And you can turn just about any place in your home or garden into your own sacred space for a crystal altar.

Altar Building, Step by Step

Location, location, location: Find a spot that suits your lifestyle, budget, and space. You don’t need to dedicate an entire room in your house to your altar—all you need is a cozy corner where you already tend to feel comfortable, happy, and inspired. An altar can be located on a bookshelf, in a walk-in closet, on a fire escape, on your makeup vanity table, among your houseplants, on a desk or credenza, or in your backyard garden. Just follow your heart and intuition and find a place that feels right to you. You may want to have one altar in a central location in your home, or several smaller altars around your space, each dedicated to a different endeavor.

P.S.: Make sure to choose a place for your altar that is out of reach for children or animals who might get curious about its contents or knock things over.

EXTRA CREDIT: Work with a fêng shui practitioner to map out the energy of your space on a bagua chart, for advice on the best place for your altar.
Clear the decks: Once you have your location, clear away any items that don’t make sense from around the chosen space. Your altar is the gateway for new ideas, desires, and intentions to emerge and manifest, and it’s important to honor the space you have chosen by making it clean and beautiful. Go Kondo on your space, move furniture, and don’t forget the Mrs. Meyer’s and the Dyson before you set up your crystals.
Set an intention: Decide on an intention for your altar, depending on what you want to devote your time and energy to. Common intentions for altars include: Love, Money, Manifestation, Meditation, Family Matters/Honoring Ancestors, Career Issues, Inspiration/Creativity, Expressing Gratitude, and Friendship.

Building a Love Altar

I like to get creative with my clients when it comes to altar building. Recently I was working with a client who wanted to call new love and sexual experiences into her life. First we located the Relationships direction on her fêng shui bagua chart, and found the corresponding location in her home. Then we placed a shiny, red lacquer tray in this spot and placed the following items on her altar:

Rose Quartz, the stone of self-love and love of others
Clear Quartz, an amplifier stone
Agent Provocateur lingerie
Sex toys
Chocolate
Red and pink roses
Red and pink candles
A list of the qualities that she would like in a partner
A rose oil–burning diffuser
A picture of a couple on a beach in Bali
Other miscellaneous personal items that symbolized love, sex, intimacy, and a healthy relationship to her

Building a Money Altar

I was working with a client who wanted to call monetary abundance into her life, so we first located her Success direction on her fêng shui bagua chart, then moved her desk to that area. Next we cleared an area for the altar on her desk and placed the following items on it:

A crisp stack of one hundred $1 bills, with a piece of Citrine (the “Merchant’s Stone” of abundance and personal power) on top
A small crystal grid made with Citrine, Jade, Green Aventurine, Iron Pyrite, and Clear Quartz, for manifesting wealth (see the section on Crystal Gridding later in this chapter)
My client was having trouble speaking her truth when it came to money, so I had her make a written list of everything she wanted to manifest with regards to money and her personal power. We put a piece of Lapis Lazuli with streaks of Iron Pyrite in it on top of the written list (since Lapis Lazuli is the “Stone of Communication” and Iron Pyrite is the “High Manifester”).
From a tarot reading, we also determined that my client had money trauma circulating from a past life, so we took the tarot card that represented this from our reading, and placed Hypersthene and Apache Tears on top of the card. (Apache Tears deals with grief, and Hypersthene encourages one to be less judgmental, promotes positive thinking, and works within the realm of past-life traumas.)
A fêng shui money tree, also known as Pachira aquatica. Chinese legend states that the money tree can bring money and fortune to those who care for it, and that it’s a symbol of affluence.
A picture of what she envisioned her new office space to look like
Other gold and green items

Building a Manifestation Altar

One of the most common questions I get asked is “How do I manifest _________?” My answer is that I believe in the law of attraction: You create your reality with your thoughts, words, and actions. Energy attracts energy, and you attract people, places, things, and experiences that are in vibrational harmony with your current and dominant frequency. Every aspect of your life, from the Benjamins in your bank account to your physical health to the quality of your relationships, is a reflection of the energy you are putting out there, positive or negative. And you can learn to work with energy! An intention altar is a great place to start learning how to move energy, and you don’t have to be a quantum physicist or shaman to do it.

Items for building your manifestation altar:

Iron Pyrite (high manifester) + Clear Quartz (amplifier) + a crystal that embodies what you are trying to call into your life (refer to the Top 20 Stones list and Encyclopedia of Crystals)
Manifestation list
Vision board or chosen photo of what your end game looks like
Items that represent what you are trying to call into your life. For example, if you are planning to go back to school, or simply want to call wisdom into your life, place books by people you admire or on the subjects you are interested in on your altar.

Find your altar style: This is the fun part, just like putting together an outfit. Remember, there are no “right” or “wrong” items for your altar. Trust in your intuition and choose what resonates with you by asking yourself the following questions:
- ARE YOU CLASSIC? Choose a few key items that will never go out of style to anchor your altar, with a few interchangeable accessories.
- ARE YOU TRENDY? If your mood changes like the weather, it’s probably best to use items that have an expiration date like fresh-cut flowers, chocolate, and fruit.
- ARE YOU A PEACOCK? Your altar may reflect this with lots of sparkly, over-the-top statement pieces all partying together.
- ARE YOU A MINIMALIST? Keep your altar clean, simple, and basic with a few choice crystals and other items that inspire you.
- ARE YOU EXOTIC OR BOHEMIAN? Every item on your altar will likely have a story from your world travels.
- ARE YOU TRADITIONAL? Perhaps you’re open to this whole altar/moon circle/crystal stuff, but grew up in a traditionally religious household. Incorporate some traditional items that you’re comfortable with, like candles, rosary beads, or a Bible.
Once you’ve determined your “altar style,” accessorize with some of the following items in addition to your crystals:
- Candles, lamps, Christmas lights
- Jewelry, mala beads, trinkets, and talismans
- Tarot cards
- Bowl of water or metal cubes and pyramids, as these are conductors for communicating with the spirit world
- The written word: spiritual or inspirational books; poems and song lyrics; greeting cards; thank-you notes; “I AM” statements; manifestation lists
- Photos of deities, family, friends, people you admire, and spiritual leaders
- Elements from nature: incense, flowers, fruit, potted plants, salt, sacred herbs, seashells, feathers
- Bells, chimes, sound bowls, tuning forks
Charge your altar with good vibes: When you feel that your altar is complete, set aside a few minutes to bless the space, invite good energy in, and ask for protection and inspiration from your Spirit Guides. Light a candle, burn some sage, pray, or just say, “Spirit Guides, life is a total sh*tstorm right now. I’m feeling lost and could really use your guidance—like, right f***ing now.” Been there, done that. And it works!
Visitation rites: Your altar is much more than a decorative feature in your space. It’s important to develop a daily, weekly, or monthly ritual for interacting with your altar. Develop a practice that works with your lifestyle, and make sure it’s enjoyable and inviting, a ceremony full of rituals that send a message to the universe that you are committed to your intentions.
Ritual reset: On every new and full moon, I like to “reset” my altar to bring in new energy. So every fifteen days or so, I take everything off my altar, clean the items with cleaning products, and burn sacred herbs (with the windows open). All tarot cards, crystals, pictures, manifestation lists, etc., get completely rearranged (and I burn any tarot cards that represent old messages I have worked through). You can choose to reset your altar daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally.

The Jungalow: Justina Blakeney

JUSTINA IS A DESIGNER, ARTIST, AND AUTHOR who believes creativity is the key to an amazing home, and you can see it oozing out of the pores of her LA headquarters. Upon entering “The Jungalow,” I was greeted by furniture, rugs, pillows, plants, wallpaper, bedding, stationery, patterns, colors, and of course a collection of crystals. This New York Times–bestselling author has written six books on the subject, so I knew I had come to the right place to talk crystals with the High Priestess of bohemian environments.

How did you get into crystals?

I’ve loved them my whole life. A great-uncle who was an artist, for whom I am named, died right before I was born, and he bequeathed my sister and me his rock collection. He foraged for Turquoise and Coral and used it in his jewelry designs. I liked the feeling of holding crystals in my hands, as I remember feeling there was something very magical about them. My big love is indoor plants; they are an organic way to grow energies within the home. While researching for my most recent book, The New Bohemians Handbook, I learned more about the magic of crystals, and it became clear to me that the energies they can bring into the home are similar to plants, so that was the connection for me. I intuitively feel the health benefits of crystals. I know when I am around them that they instill a sense of wonder and adventure in me.

How do you use crystals in your signature design formula?

Placement and function of crystals are key when I am decorating. I make suggestions on how to use them within the space in my book Décor Magic. I am a spiritual yet rational person. I am a mind-over-matter person, and if you believe it works, then it will work. Having a repeated energetic experience with certain crystals over and over provides rational meaning to me. I find that infusing fêng shui and plants with crystals is a spiritual way to interact with your home. I like the idea of them being magic and meaning different things to different people. When I am decorating for myself, I like to experiment with placement of crystals with my plants to create a narrative, a story—I’m a storyteller. I create a sense of place and history, a contrast and conversation between objects, to ignite other people’s imaginations. After knowing and writing that story, I want to ask people, “What does that do for you, and what is the subconscious effect on your day from that?” Setting up different areas in my home does that for me automatically. I feel their effects on me, and they ignite my creativity and sense of place.

Your work is so colorful—do you have a favorite hue on the color wheel?

The turquoise/blue-green family. To cool me down. It makes me feel peaceful.

I love the way colors interact with one another. Being biracial (half Jewish and half African American), I rely on pieces that rely on contrast to be what they want to be. Being half and half is like being yin and yang. Part of why I am successful is that I have a duality inside me from two different cultures. I love the beauty of that contrast and what it brings. I try to explore that in my design work, create wild contrasts that people normally wouldn’t put together and see all the beauty that it creates.

If you were a crystal, which crystal would you be?

Iron Pyrite, because its multifaceted nature speaks to me. I love how it stands out. It has a powerful feeling about it in the way it interacts with the other crystals because it is so highly reflective. I relate to that because I have a lot of different authentic faces that I show to people.

SACRED GEOMETRY: THE POWER OF CRYSTAL GRIDDING

Every crystal possesses a unique energy that affects everything in its surroundings. By creating a crystal grid, you can increase that sphere of influence by combining the energies of various types of crystals so that they work together. It’s like a whole team of healers focusing on one specialized area. Strength in numbers, right?

WHAT IS A CRYSTAL GRID, EXACTLY?

Crystal grids are made by placing stones in a geometric pattern with the specific purpose of directing energy toward a goal. The stones or crystals are then charged by your intention and energy. Crystal grids can be used for goals that are large or small, vague or specific, like calling new energy into your life, or getting a raise within the next two months at work. By combining your intentions with the power of crystals, and the power of Sacred Geometry (which we’ll get into a bit later), you can create a visual narrative and a tool for manifesting your thoughts so that they become reality. The crystals on your grid should always be placed with intention, never randomly. Crystal grids are designed with many components, and each part has a specific purpose.

CRYSTAL GRIDDING HOW-TO

What You’ll Need

A sheet of paper with your intentions, goals, and manifestations written on it
Master Stone or Focus Stone—your center crystal
Way Stones
Desire Stones
Barrier and Dispeller Stones
A Clear Quartz crystal point for activation
A cloth or a photo to be used as a backdrop
Accent items like candles or talismans

Instructions

Find a peaceful spot: This should be a safe location for your grid where it won’t be disturbed.
Cleanse your space: Burn sage, palo santo, or other sacred herbs, just as you would when cleansing a room of unwanted energy or when building an altar (see here). Add candles, incense, flowers, or music to set the scene, if you like.
Set an intention for your grid: Your intention is what juices up the crystals. Take a few deep breaths, then write your intention on a sheet of paper. Fold this sheet of paper and place it in the center of your crystal grid.
Choose a pattern: This is where Sacred Geometry, a system that assigns sacred meanings to certain geometric shapes, comes in. The Sacred Geometry pattern you choose for your grid should align with your grid’s intention. Pattern options include: Ashok Chakra, Borromean Rings, Circles, Eye of Horus, Hexagons, Five Platonic Solids, Flower of Life, Mandelas, Metatron’s Cube, Pentagons, Pyramids, Seeds of Life, Squares, Spirals, Toroids, Triangles, and Vesica Pisces. Google these patterns, along with “Sacred Geometry,” to learn more about their particular shapes and their meanings. You can find Sacred Geometry patterns online to print out, buy crystal gridding cloths with shapes printed on them, or just go freehand.

Add sparkle: Choose crystals and stones that are aligned with your intention and that will visually and energetically enhance your grid. For example, if you are looking to create an abundance grid, choose stones associated with wealth like Green Aventurine, Citrine, Jade, and Iron Pyrite. If you are creating a wellness grid, use blue and purple healing stones like Amethyst, Aquamarine, Fluorite, and Turquoise.
Place your Focus/Master Stone: Located in the center of your crystal grid, the Master Stone’s primary purpose is to collect energy, amplify it, and channel it through the rest of the grid. There are two schools of thought on when to place the Master Stone: It should be either the very first or the very last crystal added on the grid. I like to place the Master Stone first, and I think of it as starting on the inside and working outward, energetically and physically speaking.
Choose your path: The path on your crystal grid is the line of energy that flows through the grid from the Master Stone at the center to the Way Stones (which further amplify your grid’s energy) to the Desire Stones (which represent the ultimate outcome of your grid). Your path (determined by the grid design you choose) draws on Sacred Geometry teachings and principles to align, transmit, and guide our energy to achieve our goals. The path is vital because it establishes which way energy flows through the grid. Once you’ve established your path, you are ready to place your crystals onto your chosen Sacred Geometry layout.
Place your Way Stones: Your Master Stone sends energy to your Way Stones, which further amplify your grid’s energy. Way Stones are “stepping stones” that represent the various points on your journey toward the intention you have set for your grid. Way Stones help you take things one step at a time, while focusing on the bigger picture.
Place your Desire Stones: Your Desire Stones represent the ultimate outcome of your grid. Energy flows through the Way Stones into the Desire Stones, dispersing energy that will allow you to achieve that outcome.
Add a Protection Circle: Creating a Protection Circle around the perimeter of your grid keeps away any unwanted energy, and provides a designated space for focusing and amplifying your intentions. Adding a Protection Circle is like carrying an umbrella when the forecast is looking unpredictable: You may not need it, but why risk outside influences interfering with your work and energy? Barrier and Dispeller Stones are used here in equal numbers and are alternated for even coverage.
Activate your grid: Once you have arranged all your stones, say a prayer and visualize the intention for your grid having been achieved. Next take your Clear Quartz crystal point and, starting from the perimeter of your grid, trace a path from one stone to the next to connect them all energetically (like “connecting the dots” when you were a kid). Congratulations! Your crystal grid is officially activated and finished. You can now add candles, talismans, and other energy-healing tools around the outskirts of your grid.
Grid life: It’s important that you engage with the energy of your grid regularly, just as you would with an altar. Gaze at the stones, read the written intention you’ve placed on your grid, and visualize the outcome on a daily basis.
Post-grid: Once assembled, I like to leave a crystal grid intact for at least an entire moon cycle. Since we call new energy in on the new moon, I’ll create a grid on a new moon, then dismantle it on a full moon, when we traditionally release energy into the universe. However, you can start and finish on any day of the month that resonates with you. Dismantle your grid by taking it apart in the order in which it was put together. Be sure to cleanse the stones before using them again, and finish by burning sage or palo santo to clear the energy of your space.

Common Crystals to Use in Gridding:

WHEN YOUR INTENTION IS ABUNDANCE: Citrine, Green Aventurine, Amber, Jade, Iron Pyrite
WHEN YOUR INTENTION IS LOVE: Rose Quartz, Emerald, Ruby Fuchsite, Morganite, Rhodonite
WHEN YOUR INTENTION IS SERENITY: Amethyst, Howlite, Moonstone, Ocean Jasper
WHEN YOUR INTENTION IS TRUTH/COMMUNICATION: Blue Kyanite, Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, Blue Onyx

DIY: THE SUNBURST GRID

The Sunburst Grid is one of the most common and popular crystal grid formations, and it’s a great one to start with. Here are basic instructions for assembling one:

Begin by finding a peaceful spot and cleansing your space before you begin, as described here.
Set your intention: Let’s imagine we want to radiate success in business out into the world. We want to call in “being-seen” and making more money.
Place your Focus/Master Stone (Center Position): Use Citrine here, as it is the “Stone of Business” and helps call in monetary abundance. Yellow is also a color that relates to our 3rd/Solar Plexus Chakra, which is our personal power center.
Place your Way Stones (Middle Position): Use single-terminated Green Aventurine points for luck and money.
Place your Desire Stones (Outer Position): Use single-terminated Clear Quartz points here for clarity, vision, and amplification. Notice in the illustration how the energy of these stones is radiating outward into the universe.

Place your Perimeter Stones (your Protection Circle): These outer stones should support your desired outcome and protect the perimeter of the grid. I chose Iron Pyrite, Black Obsidian, and Herkimer Diamonds. Iron Pyrite carries a strong manifesting vibration; it represents the earth and grounding, and carries masculine energy. (When we want to put something out into the world, we need to engage with the Divine Masculine side that lives within each of us. This energy helps us get it done by moving from point A to point B, gives us the drive to plan and execute work projects, encourages goal-driven thoughts and actions, etc.) Black Obsidian is grounding and protecting. Herkimer Diamond is added for additional radiance.
Follow steps 11 to 13 here for crystal grid magic!

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO WITH CRYSTALS?

This is one of the most common questions I get from my clients. And the answer is, everything and anything! There are so many fascinating modern uses for crystals. In this section I want to share them with you, and I’m going to introduce you to some of the creatives out there who are doing game-changing work with crystals in their respective fields.

GEM ELIXIRS

Did you know you can drink your crystals, too? A gem elixir, also known as “crystal essence” or “crystal water,” is drinking water infused with the positive energy of crystals. Gems have been used to energetically charge water since the times of ancient Greece. When water is infused with gems, the energy of the gemstones purifies the water and can “program” it to do certain things, like boost concentration and energy, increase self-confidence, alleviate pain, temper allergies, and even improve conditions in your love life. When you drink a gem elixir, your body absorbs the energy of the crystal or crystals used to make it. Gem elixirs are an easy and convenient way to work with the vibrational energies of crystals. They’re very easy to make, even if you’re a beginner, and they can be stored for later use.

There are two ways to make gem elixirs: the “direct” method and the “indirect” method. The direct method involves soaking your crystals directly in water, but this can be potentially dangerous if your stones contain toxic elements. I do not recommend the direct method unless you are 100 percent sure that your crystals are nontoxic and nonporous, and you have consulted a professional first. Instead, I strongly recommend the indirect method, which is safest for beginners and for all crystal types, because the elixir waters don’t come into direct contact with your crystals. When I create gem elixirs, I also like to use multiple types of stones and crystals to create a synergy blend, which is useful for bringing together the vibrations of several stones.

DIY GEM WATER

Gem water is easy to make at home, but keep in mind that it should be prepared for immediate use, unless you add a preservative to it. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, but not for longer than 2 to 3 days.

Tools

The crystals you plan to use, including Clear Quartz as an energy amplifier
Two clean glass containers, one large and one smaller (The exact size of the containers doesn’t matter, but the smaller container must be able to fit inside the larger one with some wiggle room between them.)
Two clean, dark-colored glass bottles, one large and one small with a dropper top
Springwater, rainwater, or distilled water
80-proof or higher vodka (If you are alcohol-free, you can substitute any variety of vinegar. The vodka or vinegar acts as a preservative for your gem water.)

Directions

Cleanse and charge the crystals you plan to use, then lay out your tools in a clean, dry space. Approach this process with a calm, positive, refreshed state of mind. Don’t mix elixirs after a challenging day at work, or when you are feeling sick.
Get centered and grounded, and take some deep breaths. State an intention for your elixir, silently or out loud. As an example, you can make a “Love” elixir using Rose Quartz and Clear Quartz, and your intention for this elixir could be, “I ask to call healthy and loving relationships into my life.” Or if you are making an elixir that will help you quit smoking using Amethyst, your intention could be something like, “I do not allow my addictions to rule my life.”
Place your crystals in the smaller glass container, and place that container inside the larger glass container. Carefully fill the larger container with water, being mindful not to get any water into the smaller container.
Cover or seal the containers. Set them in a place, either in sunlight, moonlight, or in a sacred space, where they won’t be disturbed for at least 6 hours.
Remove the inner container of crystals and carefully pour the “charged” water from the larger outer container (this charged water is also referred to as the “mother elixir” or “essence”) into the larger of the two glass bottles. Fill the bottle halfway with your essence, and fill the rest of the bottle with vodka or vinegar. Seal the bottle tightly.
Fill the smaller glass bottle with the remaining essence. You can use springwater or distilled water to dilute the essence, or you may want to leave it at its full concentration. Seal the bottle. Keep the larger bottle in the fridge; since it contains a preservative, you can store it for a longer period of time. The smaller bottle is for immediate use and is easier to use because it has a dropper lid for easy use, is easy to travel with, etc. Either apply 4–8 drops directly to the tongue with dropper or 4–8 drops to an 8oz. glass of water and stir.
Clean your tools and store them for future use. You can simply pour any unused essence into the sink, or you can ceremoniously pour it out onto the earth while expressing your gratitude for the process.

KITCHEN MAGIC!

There are hundreds of gem water recipes out there, so I turned to one of my top experts, LA-based Chinese medicine doctor Mona Dinari, for a great DIY recipe you can easily make at home. This recipe is ideal for treating jet lag and EMF exposure. Thanks, Dr. Mona!

You will need the following tumbled crystals (meaning they have been smoothed and polished in a crystal tumbler):

Green Tourmaline
Rhodonite
Amethyst

Directions

Cleanse your stones by soaking them overnight, but not more than eight hours, in a glass container using sparkling mineral water. Cover the container top with a napkin or cloth.
Pour out the soaking water and replace with 8 ounces of still spring water overnight or longer, keeping the container out of the sun.
Now the elixir us ready. Drink 2 ounces of it twice a day.
At the end of the day, add 4 ounces of water to the original glass with the stones and leave it overnight. This way, you always maintain the original concentration.

Preferred types of mineral water to wash the stones are naturally sparkling waters such as Gerolsteiner and Apollinaris, any type of springwater, or filtered water.

Types of springwater to make the elixir (please purchase in a glass bottle)

Mountain valley spring water
Oregon water
Eternal
Glacier water

Interview with Anjanette Sinesio, Founder of Gem-Water

ANJANETTE IS THE OWNER OF GEM-WATER, a company that sells beautifully designed water bottles that you can use to infuse your drinking water with the healing power of stones. We originally met at a press event in New York City, and we’ve since become close friends, bonding over the fact that my past life was in fashion, and hers began in the high-end-jewelry industry.

When did you first get into crystals?

My fascination with crystals began was when I was about eight years old, visiting my dad in San Francisco. My parents were divorced, and most of the year I lived with my mom in New Jersey. I wanted to bring a gift back for my mom, and we went shopping and I saw this gorgeous Amethyst geode. I knew that was what I had to get her, and it’s my earliest memory of being really drawn to the energy and beauty of crystals.

How did Gem-Water start?

I started Gem-Water after coming across a German company, VitaJuwel, that was making gem water. I contacted VitaJuwel founder Ewald Eisen, and Gem-Water was born in 2016. As a jewelry designer and gem lover, I had this realization that for twenty-plus years, I’d been helping women adorn themselves on the outside with jewelry and gems. Now I had this opportunity to help them harness the power of gems to create beauty on the inside. This insight was incredibly powerful to me, and I knew that this was now part of my calling.

What’s up with the little pod of crystals in the center of the water bottle?

So many people ask this question—“How does the pod work if the stones aren’t ‘touching’ the water?” Many people put their stones right into the water, but this “direct” method is only right for certain stones. Others can release toxins into your water. The pod encases the stones, which is the safest method, and their vibration still affects the water—the glass doesn’t prevent the transfer of energy. All you have to do is wait 7 to 10 minutes for the crystals to work their magic!

What is Gem-Water’s number one seller?

Our Wellness Gem-Water Bottle, which contains Amethyst, Rose Quartz, and Clear Quartz, is our top-selling product, I think because the colors of the stones are so beautiful, and because women’s wellness is such a hot topic right now. People are really beginning to understand the role gemstones can play in their well-being.

What other Gem-Water products are there, in addition to the water bottles?

In addition to our Gem-Water bottles that you can take on the go, our product line includes gem vials/wands that you can put into our Era Decanter to serve gem water from the table at home. We also have our little Gemstone Droplet, which is a single-serving gemstone vial that you can put in a glass of water, or in a glass of red wine! We also have a Vino Vial and Vino Decanter for infusing a full bottle of wine with Amethyst. Believe it or not, the practice of enhancing wine with Amethyst goes back to the ancient Greeks!

DO NOT DRINK THESE!

It’s important to do your research before you make gem water at home. As I’ve mentioned, certain crystals can release toxins when immersed in water, and shouldn’t be used for direct-method gem water at all. Crystals that you never, ever want to drink include those containing asbestos, copper, lead, mercury, or sulfur; shiny, metallic stones that can rust when placed in water for prolonged periods; salt-based crystals, like Selenite, because they dissolve; and blue and green stones, especially brightly colored ones, as they contain copper and/or arsenic. Here is a list of the stones that should NOT be used for gem water:

Amazonite (contains copper)
Aquamarine (contains aluminum)
Azurite (contains copper)
Black Tourmaline (contains aluminum)
Cavansite (contains copper)
Celestite (contains strontium)
Peacock Ore (contains copper and sulfur and can rust)
Charoite
Chrysocolla (contains copper)
Cinnabar (contains mercury)
Emerald (contains aluminum)
Fluorite (contains fluorine)
Garnet (contains aluminum)
Galena (contains lead)
Hematite (will rust, but not toxic)
Iolite (contains aluminum)
Kunzite (contains aluminum)
Labradorite (contains aluminum)
Lapis Lazuli (contains pyrite)
Lepidolite (contains aluminum and mica)
Magnetite (will rust, but not toxic)
Malachite (contains copper)
Moldavite (contains aluminum oxide)
Moonstone (contains aluminum)
Morganite (contains aluminum)
Prehnite (contains aluminum)
Pyrite (contains sulfur)
Realgar (contains arsenic)
Ruby (contains aluminum)
Sapphire (contains aluminum)
Selenite (friable, meaning tiny shards may break off in water, but not toxic)
Serpentine (may contain asbestos)
Shaman Quartz (contains sulfur, pyrite, and marcasite)
Sodalite (contains aluminum)
Spinel (contains aluminum)
Stilbite (contains aluminum)
Sugilite (contains aluminum)
Sulfur Quartz (contains sulfur)
Sunstone (contains aluminum)
Tanzanite (contains aluminum)
Tiger’s Eye (contains asbestos)
Topaz (contains aluminum)
Tourmaline (contains aluminum)
Turquoise (contains copper and aluminum)

ANOTHER WAY TO DRINK YOUR CRYSTALS: THE AMETHYST-DUSTED GEODE LATTE

My friend and fellow Virgo Madeleine Murphy is the creator of the purple Amethyst-Dusted Geode Latte, a beautiful and delicious way to get your daily crystal fix. Madi co-owns The End Brooklyn café in Williamsburg, home of the Geode Latte, as well as Montauk Juice Factory out east. Her Williamsburg shop sells delicious hot plant-based drinks and juices, along with jewelry, skincare products, and other crystal trinkets any magical mer-babe may need in her daily life. In case you can’t make it out to Williamsburg anytime soon, Madi has been kind enough to share the recipe for her signature sparkly brew, so that you can be the beverage “it” girl at your next Moon Circle!

The purple Amethyst-Dusted Geode Latte is an excellent way to bring the healing powers of amethyst into your life. The latte, infused with an Amethyst elixir, stimulates the Third Eye and Crown Chakras and enhances cognitive perception, while heightening your imagination and intuition, and strengthening your emotional field. And the luscious purple-hued superfoods it contains, maqui berry and hibiscus, have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and healing effects.

Madi, if you were a crystal, which one would you be?

A mix of Aqua Aura Quartz—because I am like a blue, shiny, iridescent mermaid—and Smoky Quartz, to match my brooding, internal, thinking, witchy side.

The End Brooklyn’s Amethyst-Dusted Geode Latte

Makes 2

1 or 2 medium-size tumbled Amethyst stones, cleansed

2 cups hibiscus or mulberry tea

1 cup oat milk (or nondairy milk of your choice)

1 tablespoon maqui berry powder, plus more for garnish

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon maca powder

1 tablespoon liquid crystal silica

2 teaspoons tocos rice bran powder

1 teaspoon locally harvested honey (Manuka, if you feel like splurging)

3 drops of colloidal silver

Dried lavender buds, for garnish

At least 72 hours in advance, follow the instructions here using the Amethysts to make an Amethyst gem elixir.* (You’ll need at least 2 cups elixir for this recipe.)
Put the hibiscus or mulberry tea in a large glass measuring cup or heat-safe pitcher. Bring 2 cups of the Amethyst gem elixir to a boil in a small saucepan and pour it over the tea. Steep the tea until it has a rich, jewel-tone hue to get all the crystal-y goodness in there. Discard hibiscus or mulberry tea leaves when done.
Add the oat milk to the tea and stir to combine. Add the maqui, coconut oil, maca, silica, tocos, honey, and colloidal silver.
To mix the ingredients and simultaneously add a nice froth, use a handheld milk frother. Place the frother right in the glass for 15 to 30 seconds, or more, as desired, to up the cozy vibes. Alternatively, pour the tea mixture into a saucepan and whisk vigorously over low heat for 60 to 90 seconds.
Garnish with some maqui berry powder and dried lavender buds.

As amazing as it looks, this latte is also one of the healthiest, most loving things you can do for your body. Enjoy!

*For extra crystalline magic, you can also infuse your Amethyst elixir with polished Rose Quartz or Citrine.

CRYSTALS IN RITUAL BATHING

Ritual bathing has long been practiced for hygiene, health, relaxation and for spiritual purposes. Bathing emporiums started popping up as early as the third century, and they became the fashionable places to be seen and get clean. Patrons would socialize, conduct business deals, eat, and rejuvenate while bathing. What’s the modern-day recipe for purity, hygiene, and ritual purification? I recommend incorporating crystals into your bathing routine! Saltwater baths are an easy way to get your aura squeaky clean and free of unwanted energy.

HOW DOES SALT WATER HELP?

Saltwater baths can help to relieve muscle aches and pains, and increase circulation.
Your body needs the essential trace minerals found in bath salts.
The skin is an organ of elimination, and saltwater soaking will draw toxins and heavy metals from the tissues.
Salt water draws bacteria from the skin, so it can help with skin ailments, in addition to increasing your overall dewy glow.

P.S. Take a saltwater bath no more than once a week. Since this is an energy exchange between you, the water, and the crystals, once or twice a month is ideal.

BATH TIME! SYNC IT UP WITH THE MOON

What You’ll Need

Bath salts (unrefined sea salt, pink Himalayan salt, or Epsom salts)
Your favorite energizing and purifying crystals
Candles, incense, herbs, flowers, scented oils

Instructions

First and foremost, remember that this is YOU time. Place the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your bathroom door, and put your phone on airplane mode. Create an experience that appeals to all your senses: Light candles or incense; add herbs, flowers, and oils to the water; and don’t forget a relaxing playlist.
Make crystal bathing a regular self-care ritual by deciding on a lunar phase to work with: New moons are best for manifesting and calling in new things, while full moons are best for releasing unwanted energy and releasing what is no longer serving you.
Make sure that your tub is clean, and take a quick shower before indulging in your ritual bath.
Fill your bathtub with warm to hot water. Temperature is a personal preference.
Crystalize your bathwater by adding several generous handfuls of salt. Use unrefined sea salt, pink Himalayan salt, or Epsom salts. DO NOT use regular table salt, as this has added anticaking agents and has been put through a refinement process that removes the minerals that cleanse, purify, and rejuvenate our bodies.
Drop your favorite (nonporous) crystals into the water. The same crystals that should not be used in gem water should also be avoided for crystal bathing. As a beginner, the best bath stones to start with are Rose Quartz, Amethyst, or Clear Quartz. If you want to call in love, place a few pieces of cleansed and tumbled Rose Quartz in the bath with you. If you want increased stamina and focus, work with polished or tumbled Clear Quartz. Refer to the go-to crystal lists in chapters 2 and 4 for other intentions that you are trying to achieve with your ritual bathing. You can hold your crystals while bathing, place them on your body, or submerge them in the water.
Soak for 30 minutes or so. While in the tub, set an intention to call in or release energies.
Try to air-dry when you get out of the bath. If possible, don’t take another shower or bath for 24 hours.
Time to drain the tub. Offer a little thank you to the universe for the much-needed “me time” and pull the plug with respect, gratitude, and intention.
Extra credit! Before draining the tub, collect some of your bathwater in a drinking glass or other glass container. Energetically and physically, this water now carries your energy and literally your DNA. As an offering of thanks to the earth for the water, pour the water at the base of a tree, in a garden, or in a grassy area.

CRYSTALS FOR YOUR CLOSET!

Let’s explore one of the most sacred spaces in the home: your closet. Your wardrobe says so much about who you are and the energy you put out into the world. So it’s important that the good vibes begin in your closet itself. The Style Rituals Closet Cleanse, where I add crystals to my clients’ closets, is one of my signature services. Here are my favorite Closet Cleanse tips and tricks:

Incorporate fêng shui principles and directionally grid the four corners of your closet with crystals, just like you would the individual rooms in your home.

Set up a crystal grid within the closet (see the section on crystal gridding).
Selenite, the “cosmic cleaning lady,” is a must-have in your closet. Selenite keeps everything in your closet energetically fresh—it’s like energetic moth balls (without the smell)! Selenite can go in the four corners of your closet where dense energy tends to accumulate like dust bunnies. It’s also great in closed places like drawers and shoe boxes.
Match crystals with the energy you want to infuse into certain types of clothing. Place Citrine near work ensembles, Bloodstone near fitness gear, and Rose Quartz near lingerie.

Interview with Adina Mills, Crystal Jeweler to the Stars

I FIRST MET ADINA while adventuring in Joshua Tree, where she was having a sample sale at her studio. I’m not the only one who hearts Adina’s larger-than-life “wearable altar” statement pieces: You can find her designs around the necks and fingers of celebs like Erykah Badu, Lena Dunham, Pink, and Bjork, and in an Anthropologie near you.

When did you get into crystals?

When I was a child. I was always hiking with family to tide pools and collecting beautiful rocks, shells, crystals, and anything nature-related!

When did you start your jewelry business?

Fifteen years ago, I began making jewelry. I made pieces for myself, and then for my sister, who has a massive crystals collection, and for my friends. I was just doing it as a creative outlet and hadn’t thought about starting a business, but then I started seeing people’s reactions to my pieces, and things just sort of snowballed from there. I began selling my jewelry at art fairs and festivals around LA, and I eventually road tripped in a motorhome across the country to New York City, which is where my business really took off. I met the buyer for Shopbop, who decided to carry my line, and that opened a lot of doors. Today I sell in boutiques globally, and I don’t follow seasons. Each piece I create is one of a kind, since I am working with Mother Nature.

If you were a crystal, which crystal would you be?

Clear Quartz. I LOVE quartz, because it amplifies every possible emotion.

Interview with Andi Scarbrough, the Crystal Hair Revivalist

MY DEAR FRIEND AND TRUSTED HAIRDRESSER ANDI is the creator of CrownWorks Crystal Combs and hair treatments, which are celebrated by her private clients as well as celebrities, beauty experts, and beauty editors. Andi, a former L’Oréal teaching facilitator, has been doing cut and color for fifteen years. She’s the owner of Framed Salon in LA, a Reiki practitioner, and a healer with a degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

When did your love of crystals begin?

When I was a little girl in Texas, I would wander along the lake edge and pick up stones. I got my first rock tumbler at age nine, and I still have many of the stones I collected back them. Now that I live in California, I’m surrounded by boulders and mountains, and they are a constant source of inspiration for me.

How did you start CrownWorks hair treatments?

Early on in my career as a hairdresser, I was already deep into crystals, searching for stones that would aid with issues I was struggling with, like restless sleep, nightmares, clarity of thought, and patience. The first crystals I gravitated toward were Rose Quartz, Fluorite, Selenite, and Watermelon Tourmaline. By the time I started CrownWorks, my hairstyling station at work already looked like a rock shop, as did the stations of all the other stylists in my salon! So I started using the stones as a point of resonance in my beauty work. Clients would sit down in my chair, and I would give them a stone to hold while I cut and colored their hair, and I could see their energy shift.

Can you talk a bit about CrownWorks Crystal Combs?

A year and a half ago I had a dream about running a comb made of crystals through a client’s hair, so I decided to make it reality and started searching for a source. My combs are hand-cut and German-engineered, and I sell them in Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Snow Quartz, Black Obsidian, Labradorite, and Carnelian. When you run a crystal comb through your hair, you are using the power of gemstone energy to influence your entire energetic system, including improving your circulation and stimulating blood flow to the scalp.

CRYSTALS IN THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY WORLD

Wash, comb, spray, nip, prick, tuck, poke, roll, rinse, and lather up! Words every girl is used to hearing when reading a glossy, but did you know all these terms apply to working with gems, too? Crystals can strengthen skin’s elasticity, fight free radicals, and combat wrinkles, plus give new life to your hair, pump up your chi, and keep your “down there” in shape.

Interview with Rachel Lang and Heidi Frederick, Cofounders of FaceLove

I MET RACHEL AND HEIDI at the inaugural #InGoopHealth event in Los Angeles in 2017. I was beckoned to come sit in a striped deck chair turned facial throne covered with sheepskins and given a sidecar of Pamplemousse LaCroix. Team FaceLove’s modern beauty wellness ritual consists of ancient massage techniques, acupressure, hands-on healing, and a chilled Jade Crystal roller to complete the self-proclaimed “facial choreography” session. The dynamic duo claims their techniques boost circulation and will make you feel more centered (and personally, my client feedback after our session together was that I felt like I had just had sex. Yeah, it was that good!). If that isn’t an endorsement to book a session immediately, then I don’t know what is!

How did you two meet?

RACHEL: Heidi and I met on the playground in New York City as new moms. We instantly became best friends, and then we became business partners in a hot New York minute because we shared so many of the same practices and principles within our respective crafts. Heidi was a massage therapist, working with ballet dancers and musicians, inspired to go into her craft by her Japanese stepmother, and I was working as a facialist and global educator with the Aveda Institute.

When did you start FaceLove?

RACHEL: Three years ago I wrote the idea on a bar napkin. I was born with a cleft lip and have had several facial surgeries, and I’ve been doing facials for twenty-five years. When I was working as a facialist and global educator at Aveda, I invented the “Non-Product Facial,” also called a “Water Facial,” for clients who didn’t want products on their face or messing up their hair. I started studying massage techniques from around the world and developed what I call “FaceLove choreography,” which is based on the idea that the muscles in your face are all connected to your emotions. Holding an expression like “resting bitch face” can actually create muscle atrophy, sagging, and face posture changes. But my techniques tone the facial muscles and create metabolic transformation within the skin and tissue. It’s preventative medicine.

When did you start using the Jade roller in your treatments?

RACHEL: My mom inspired this treatment. She used to do ice cube massages to tighten her face, so I began wondering what an iced jade roller would do. I really loved using a paintbrush and Black Tourmaline gems to create an energetic massage. Then one day I walked into the well-known SoHo store Pearl River Mart and I discovered the Jade roller, which blends gems and painting! I decided then and there that I had to understand this ancient tool and incorporate it into our treatments. We start our Jade roller treatment with warm heat from a sauna, and then we use the roller to increase blood flow. We use Jade because it’s not only a coveted and celebrated stone in Asia, but also because it’s soothing and cooling, and has infrared healing properties and helps to promote homeostasis.

Interview with Brook Harvey-Taylor, Founder of Pacifica Beauty

BROOK HARVEY-TAYLOR IS THE FOUNDER and creative director of Pacifica Beauty, a 100 percent vegan natural makeup, skincare, and fragrance company. After meeting Brook, I officially designated her “High Priestess of the Olfactory.” The cherry on top? Many of her thoughtfully curated, beautifully designed products are made with gemstones!

When did you get into crystals?

I have been into stones, rocks, and crystals since I was little. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana, and I would ride my horse around our land, pick herbs, find stones, and play “medicine woman.” My mom was a hippie, earth mother–type. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and became really conscious of what she put on her skin or ingested. She was an early adopter and proponent of natural products. During college, I worked at a health food store, where I got to know a healer who used aromatherapy and crystals. I trained with her in essential oils and began making my own perfumes, which I would sell at festivals. This was the beginning of my life as a creative entrepreneur.

What can you tell us about Pacifica?

Perfumes have always been the core of our line; fragrance is in our DNA. Fragrance and perfume connect us to past experiences and possibly even other realms that we can’t even comprehend. I can pick up this jasmine scent that smells the same today as it would have in ninth-century Arabia. Fragrance is a powerful vehicle that can take you places. Bringing crystals into our formula was a natural next step. Crystals can change the vibration of water, so I explored how that concept can be applied to oils, scents, and topical products. We don’t follow the beauty industry standard of picking skincare according to a person’s skin type. I believe in “situational skincare.” I want my customers to ask, “Where is my skin today?” Your body is ever-evolving, so why wouldn’t your skin’s needs change constantly as well?

How do you pick crystals?

I am driven by smell, and everything in my life is grounded by scent. Tuning to the olfactory components of crystals was only natural. When I get into my intuitive space, I decide what type of stone “smells” right with what oil. We launched Pacifica Aromapower roll-on perfumes a year ago; each perfume has an aromatherapeutic benefit and a crystal benefit. This is a space where we integrate stone therapy into perfumes and skin care. More crystal-y products to come!

What stones do you like the smell of best?

All stones have intense and specific odors. One of my favorites is Rose Quartz, as it smells “cold.” I also like earth stones—the little pebbles you find while out and about on hikes or in riverbeds.

If you were a crystal, which crystal would you be?

100% an Opal!

Interview with Zoë Taylor-Crane of Paper Crane Apothecary

A WHILE AGO, as I was preparing to do a house clearing and needed a smokeless sage spray alternative as requested by my client, I discovered Zoë’s company and her Clean Slate Smoke-Free Smudge Mist. After learning some of the other product names for her gem-infused mists and elixirs, like P.ossible M.urder S.uspect (P.M.S.) and Psychic Vampire Repellant, I knew we would be fast friends and crystal comrades. It turns out I’m not the only one who loves her products—GOOP, Vogue, Lea Michele, Alessandra Ambrosio, Debra Messing, and the Hiltons are also big fans.

When did you start Paper Crane Apothecary?

When my son was a year old, I started dabbling with gem elixirs. My son was having a hard time sleeping (which meant we were all having a hard time sleeping), and I created my first gem-infused spray, naming it Dreamcatcher. My libido had also taken a nose dive after having my baby, like many women’s, so my first elixir, called Knocking Boots, was meant to remedy that. I shared it with a few friends who immediately said, “Wow, you need to start a business!” I launched my Etsy shop in 2014.

What are your bestsellers, and what’s the next product you are releasing?

Our bestselling products are our Clean Slate Smoke-Free Smudge Mist, our Lucky Stars Abundance Mist, and our Psychic Vampire Repellant Protection Mist. We are currently formulating a mist called Mercury Retro Fade Celestial Survival Mist, which will help to ease the dreaded effects of Mercury in retrograde. This blend will be infused with crystals that help with communication (Sodalite and Blue Lace Agate), boost motivation (Carnelian and Tiger’s Eye), ease anxiety (Amethyst and Lepidolite), ground and protect the spirit (Black Tourmaline and Smoky Quartz), and help to absorb and reduce the effects of EMFs (Fluorite and Amazonite).

If you were a crystal, which crystal would you be?

Labradorite, because it’s mysterious and beautiful when looked at in the right angle, but also has corners of darkness.

CRYSTALS IN HEALTHCARE

East, meet West! Traditional Eastern healing modalities have long used tools like crystals, along with meditation and essential oils, to achieve physical and psychological wellness, and these methods are finally being embraced as complementary and alternative treatments in the West. I’m thrilled to see these traditionally “mystical” remedies reaching a broader audience. Crystals, essential oils, and meditation are being used as healthier, natural substitutes for anxiety meds like Xanax to ease nerves, or to replace pain meds like Lidocaine in certain medical situations. I think that the embracing of these alternative treatments is a sign of our evolution as a culture, and it’s an opportunity to open the door to a larger conversation about how these ancient remedies actually work and how we can find more widespread uses for them in the modern world. Spiritual teachings and tools have been kept behind closed doors for too long. They can’t help people if we don’t have access to them and understand how they work.

Interview with Consuelo Casarotto, Crystal Acupuncturist

CONSUELO IS MY DEAR FRIEND who also happens to be my go-to New York acupuncturist. We met through a fellow healer who suggested I get to know Consuelo since she incorporated crystals into her acupuncture treatments. Consuelo’s bright Manhattan studio is peppered with healing tools from all over the world, including an arsenal of crystal needles.

How did you become an acupuncturist and crystal healer?

I started out as a political science and public policy major, eventually working for the United Nations. After 9/11 I went through a divorce and decided to take a sabbatical year. I spent nine months backpacking through Mexico and Guatemala, where I met shamans and healers, and made my first connection with crystals, finding myself drawn to Jade amulets hand-carved with Mayan mythological figures, Rainbow Obsidian, and Amber. Then I traveled to Italy to be with my aunt who was fighting cancer. I spent day and night by her hospital bed, and I would put crystals all over her room and massage her body with them. She eventually recovered and told me that she’d felt a strong spiritual presence when I was there with her. When I returned to New York, I knew that I needed a new path, and I enrolled in acupuncture school with Master Jeffrey Yuen. That’s when my journey as a healer took flight.

How would you describe your practice today?

I am a Licensed Acupuncturist, but “energy healer” would better describe what I do, since I integrate various healing modalities in my work. I run my own practice in Tribeca where I integrate classical and esoteric acupuncture with crystal healing, essential oils therapy, and Sat Nam Rasayan, an ancient healing system introduced by Yogi Bhajan, which uses the contemplative mind to affect change.

What are your favorite crystals to work with in your acupuncture treatments?

I believe that healing is a journey into the deepest reaches of one’s heart, and that in order to heal, we must connect with the radiant flame of love, but also with our dark side. This intention is present in all my acupuncture treatments, where I use a combination of crystals that invite connection to both dark and light. My favorite crystals are:

MOLDAVITE—It invites shifts in consciousness, enabling you to see reality from a renewed perspective.
TEKTITE—I often place it on the Third Eye or the Throat Chakra to invite communication with higher dimensions.
AQUAMARINE—I usually place it on the higher Heart Chakra to clarify one’s perception, to increase sensitivity and connection to the energy and wisdom of the heart.
MALACHITE—This is a bridge stone I place between the lower and higher chakras to invite transformation and deep emotional healing.
OBSIDIAN—A grounding stone, which empowers you to look deep within your darkest shadow, releasing negative conditioning and patterns.
GREEN TOURMALINE—A mental filter that helps you to see with clarity where you are stuck.
CLEAR QUARTZ—I always include clear quartz in my healing, as it is the master healer.

If you were a crystal, which one would you be and why?

I would like to be a Black Obsidian. Though my innate nature has me constantly looking up at the stars, I feel drawn to the earthly and grounding powers of Black Obsidian. This stone is like a mirror into the soul, with the power to illuminate that which we are afraid to look at. It invites deep soul healing, and sheds light on one’s soul purpose.

Interview with Shiva Rose, Founder of The Local Rose

MY FRIEND SHIVA ROSE is founder of The Local Rose, an LA-based lifestyle brand that celebrates healthy, holistic living. In her breadth of experiences within the health and wellness realm, Shiva became an expert and the modern-day mother of the crystal Yoni Egg. In case you missed it, the Yoni Egg is a stone (Jade, Black Tourmaline, or Rose Quartz) carved into an egg shape and polished to be worn where the sun don’t shine. (Yoni is another word for “vagina,” and you can figure out the rest.)

How long have you been working with crystals?

They have been calling to me since I was a little kid. When I was eight I had a cherished set of geodes from a state park that my grandparents gave to me. I’m an Aquarius, so I always wear amethyst. My favorite stones come from the well-known energetic hotspot Mount Shasta, California.

Can you talk to us about the Yoni Egg?

I started using Yoni Eggs five years ago, after learning that Chinese concubines created them thousands of years ago to increase sexual pleasure, awaken sensuality, and promote menstrual health. The Yoni Egg can also be used to strengthen and tone your pelvic floor with special exercises. I tell my clients that this part of the body is like a sacred room that you need to fill with positive energy! The Yoni Egg helps with that.

Can the Yoni Egg be dangerous or toxic?

Yoni Eggs are perfectly safe if used properly, with the aid of a practitioner, and cleaned properly. In the thousands of years women have been using them, no one has ever gotten sick from using one.

What other crystals do you use regularly?

I keep Black Tourmaline near the computer to cleanse any EMFs in my space, and I use this stone for grounding as well as during new moon and full moon rituals. I also use Rose Quartz in bathing rituals.

Now that you’ve met my friends and colleagues who are changing the game when it comes to all things crystal, let’s move on to which crystals to pick when consulting the sun, moon, and stars based on your personal astrology. And oh yeah, why it energetically matters which finger you choose when you put a ring on it.