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If you’ve ever felt inundated by the sheer amount of information about crystals—how to use them, care for them, and pick the right ones—you’re not alone. It can feel overwhelming to figure out where to even begin. 

Crystals are a deeply intuitive tool, and while there’s a wealth of books and resources available, I truly believe the most impactful way to learn is through your own experience. Grounding yourself in the essentials and trusting your intuition will create a more meaningful and memorable connection to the practice.

In this post, I’ll guide you through the bare bones of working with crystals, cutting through the overwhelm and helping you tap into your intuition. Plus, if you’re a visual learner or want to go deeper, I’ve got an on-demand Crystal Crash Course packed with meditations, visuals, and practical guides on selecting, caring and connecting with your crystals. 

The Science (or Magic?) Behind Crystals

Everything in the universe—us, objects, and the space between—is made of particles vibrating at different frequencies. These vibrations interact, affecting and being affected by their environment. Think of how walking into a tense room after an argument feels heavy; that’s vibrations influencing one another. Crystals, too, have their own frequencies, and when brought into your space, their vibrations can interact with your body’s energy. 

When your cells vibrate slower, functions like digestion or mental clarity may slow down, leaving you feeling sluggish. Faster vibrations, however, can boost these processes, making you feel lighter and more focused. Crystals act as energetic stabilizers, aligning their steady vibrations with yours, potentially helping you feel more balanced, clear, and at ease. Incorporating crystals into your life can add intention to your wellness journey while supporting your body’s natural rhythms.

I’m not suggesting that working with crystals is a substitute for modern medicine or mental health care; however, crystals can complement these practices by supporting balance and well-being.

Choosing Your Crystals

Selecting your first crystal can be an exciting adventure. Consider these factors when making your choice:

• Intuition: Trust your gut feeling. If a crystal calls to you, it’s likely the right one. Try to ignore the cards they place in the crystal shops and tap into your guidance.
• Color: Different colors correspond to various energies. Green crystals, for instance, are often associated with healing and growth, while purple crystals are linked to spiritual awareness. So, depending on what goal you’re working towards, choosing a crystal based on the color magic will help.
• One crystal at a time: It can be tempting to pick up a whole bunch of crystals, but I’d really recommend you select your one crystal and sit with it for a few weeks, meditate with it, place it in your pocket, and reflect on how you’ve been feeling with that one crystal. This way you can develop a relationship with this crystal.

Cleansing Your Crystals

When you bring a new crystal into your life, it’s a great idea to begin with a cleanse. Cleansing is about creating a clean slate for you and your crystal, grounding its energy, and fostering a neutral, harmonious place to start your connection.

Why Cleanse Your Crystal?

Crystals, especially those purchased from shops, may have passed through many hands before landing in yours. Each touch brings new energy into contact with the crystal. Cleansing helps reset that energy, ensuring it aligns with your intentions. That said, if you love and trust the shop you bought your crystal from, there’s no need to stress. Often, the positive energy of a space you resonate with far outweighs any residual energy from other people.

Remember: Don’t stress about it. Crystals are tools for connection and intention, and forgetting to cleanse doesn’t mean anything negative will happen. Think of cleansing as a way to amplify the crystal’s potential, not a strict rule.

What Cleansing Does

Taking the time to cleanse your crystal is an intentional practice that allows you to slow down and deepen your connection. When I cleanse my crystals, it often feels like I’m also resetting my energy. A quick cleanse usually makes all the difference if I feel disconnected from a piece or find its energy dull. It’s like flipping a switch, and suddenly, the connection feels alive again.

Tips and Cautions

While there are many ways to cleanse a crystal (check out this post for a full breakdown of all the ways to cleanse), I recommend being cautious with water. Some crystals, like selenite or pyrite, can break down, rust, or dissolve when exposed to moisture. If unsure about a crystal’s composition, use other cleansing methods like smoke, sound, or Reiki. 

The Crystal Crash Course takes you step-by-step through each cleansing option with detailed video tutorials and essential precautions to ensure your crystals stay safe and powerful. You’ll learn the dos and don’ts for every method so you can confidently care for your crystals without worry. Perfect for beginners and seasoned crystal enthusiasts alike!

Charging Your Crystals

Once you’ve cleansed your crystal and taken the time to build a connection with it, whether that’s over a week, a month, or even a year, it’s time to charge it. Charging your crystal is a key step in preparing it to work optimally with your energy.

What Does Charging Mean?

Cleansing is bringing your crystal back to “ground zero”—a neutral state. Charging, on the other hand, is like giving it a power-up. Imagine it as filling an empty cup or turning the volume up on a speaker. By charging, you’re amplifying the crystal’s energy and preparing it to align more effectively with your intentions.

Popular Charging Methods

There are many ways to charge your crystals, and the method you choose can be as unique as your relationship with the stone. Here are some popular approaches:

1. Selenite:
   Selenite is a versatile crystal that can cleanse and charge at the same time. That’s why you’ll often see selenite bowls and plates in crystal shops—it’s like a one-stop shop for restoring your crystals to their optimal state. Simply place your crystals on or near selenite to recharge them.
2. Reiki Energy:
   Infusing your crystal with Reiki energy is another powerful way to cleanse and charge simultaneously. By setting a clear intention during the process, you can imbue your crystal with specific energy that resonates with your goals.

The Key to Charging: Intention

The difference between cleansing and charging often lies in the intention behind the act. Cleansing removes stagnant or transferred energy while charging fills the crystal with energy that supports your goals.

A Note on the Crystal Debate

In the crystal community, opinions on cleansing and charging vary. Some argue that crystals, formed over millions of years, don’t need human intervention to work. Others believe these practices help restore crystals to their energetic baseline and strengthen their connection with you. Ultimately, the goal of charging is to foster synergy between your energy and the crystals, making it a co-creative tool in your spiritual journey.

There’s no one-size-fits-all method of charging. Whether you prefer selenite, Reiki, or another approach, the best way to charge your crystal is the one that feels most natural and meaningful to you. Remember, it’s less about making the crystal “work” and more about helping it work best with you.

Programming Your Crystals

Programming your crystals is a practice of setting an intention for how you want to work with them. It involves holding the crystal and saying something like, “May this crystal support me with [specific purpose].” For a long time, I was a big advocate for programming. I believed that every time I worked with a crystal, I needed to set a clear intention to create that energetic connection.

Over the last year, my perspective on programming has shifted. Now, I feel more inclined to let the crystals guide me. I’ve come to trust that they are more energetically intelligent than my brain could ever be. Instead of assigning them a specific purpose, I’ve stepped back and allowed them to show me how they can support me.

That said, I still find programming useful in certain cases—like when I’m creating a crystal grid or working with a crystal for a very specific purpose. But for the most part, I follow the crystal’s lead and let its energy naturally align with mine. The best part about working with crystals is you can’t do it wrong, so feel free to experiment and find what resonates best with you!

Advice for Starting Your Crystal Journey

1. Don’t Take It So Seriously

When starting your crystal journey, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information out there. My number one piece of advice? Don’t take it so seriously. There’s no test, competition, or way to “get it wrong.”

When I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself of something that has been a game-changer: It’s a long life. I have all the time in the world to learn about crystals, and there’s no rush to know everything or collect hundreds of them.

Working with crystals should feel fun and enjoyable. These are beautiful, natural creations of the earth. Let your journey with them be as beautiful and organic as the stones themselves.

2. Catalog Your Crystals

For a more functional tip, start cataloging your crystals from day one. This was advice given to me when I bought my very first crystal, and I’m so grateful I followed it.

When you buy a crystal, take the slip of paper with its name (or write it down yourself) and snap a picture of the crystal alongside the name. Yes, I said don’t rely on this information when choosing your crystals, but snap that photo and save it in a special album on your phone.

This simple step will save you so much time and confusion down the road. A year later, when you have 50 crystals, you won’t have to wonder, What was this one called again? It’s also super helpful when you’re out shopping—just scroll through your album to check if you already own a certain stone.

Trust me, this small habit will make your crystal journey smoother!

Embarking on Your Crystal Journey

The world of crystals is huge and multifaceted. By exploring the different types of crystals, their properties, and various techniques for working with them, you can unlock the potential of these natural wonders and embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

Remember, the most effective way to work with crystals is to trust your intuition and experiment with different practices. The possibilities are endless!

Curious about crystals, but don’t get how they work? The Crystal Crash Course demystifies crystal work, from their energetic properties (and the science behind them) to practical rituals you can use every day. Join the course here.