Crystals, also referred to as rocks, minerals, or gemstones, are products of the Earth's energies. Each type of crystal carries a different type of energy.
Crystals have been used as decorations and healing tools, as well as symbols of royalty and wealth, throughout the history of humankind. The energetic vibrations of crystals are said to resonate with similar energies in the astral bodies of living beings in order to promote stimulation of that particular energy. The energies of the Earth are all positive energies; the effectiveness of crystals in healing and ritual depends on using the proper crystal for the type of work desired
Crystals may also be used as tools of meditation and communication with Earth energies as well as healing tools. In Janic ritual, crystals may be charged as amulets or talismans, and used as meditation aids, guides in ritual, and offerings.
Crystal Sources
You don't have to find crystals to use in ritual or folk magic in any particular place. Any crystal that you find anywhere can be used to help you achieve your purpose.
| Source |
Types of Crystals Likely to be Available |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Find it in the Earth |
Types available determined by the geology of the land |
The crystal you find in the Earth yourself provides a wonderful connection between you and the Earth Mother. |
Areas in which you can dig may be limited. The types of crystals available will be limited |
| Gem and Mineral Shops |
Most carry the more common and inexpensive varieties, such as amethyst, citrine, and obsidian in tumbled form |
Depending on the shop, you may find some really unique and interesting specimens. Often a various of inexpensive stones is available |
There may not be a shop in your area. Not likely to carry fine jewelry or expensive stones |
| New Age Stores |
Most carry stones similar to gem and mineral shops, but New Age shops are likely to have more carvings, points, and jewelry |
Most specimens are likely to be relatively inexpensive |
There may not be a shop in your area. Not likely to carry fine jewelry |
| Department Stores |
Some fine jewelry, but of a "cookie cutter" type "Power" bead bracelets were very popular at one time, and some department stores may still have them |
Convenient. Carry a wide range of types |
Not likely to carry unusual stones |
| Jewelry Stores |
Most carry only fine jewelry. Some may be able to special order particular stones |
Some jewelry stores specialize in unusual gemstones and can make custom jewelry |
Tend to be expensive |
| TV Shopping Channels |
Both loose stones and gemstone jewelry. Some carry varieties not commonly found in jewelry stores |
May be less expensive than jewelry stores |
You can't "meet" the stone before you adopt it. Quality of stone may not be what you expect |
| Mail Order - Catalog and Internet |
A wide variety, depending on the vendor |
Shop from your house. A wide variety of stones and types available |
You can't "meet" the stone before you adopt it. Quality of stone may not be what you expect |
| Gem and Mineral Shows |
Many shows feature a wide variety of vendor types, some with less expensive, tumbled stones; others with fine jewelry |
Prices may be much less than in stores |
May not come to your area, or only come once or twice a year |
Finding Crystals
Some people just like to shop. I'm one of those. I love to look at crystals, wherever I happen to find them. I tend to adopt crystals as they speak to me, and often find out what their purpose is later.
Some of you may be more purposeful or deliberate in your search. If you have a specific purpose in mind, and want to adopt a crystal that will help you with it, there are several ways to do it.
Crystal Correspondences
There are particular energies associated with particular types of crystals. Many books and web sites provide this type of information. My web site is no exception; go to the Crystal Correspondences page for my list of the correspondences that I have experienced with the stones I use.
If you aren't sure where to start, the Birthstone, Astral Stone, Planetary Stone, or Anniversary Stone, pages may help.
I give you my list as a convenience to you if you want to check a reference quickly, but mainly to emphasize that correspondences are personal. The lists of correspondences you find may be a good start, but everyone's experiences are different. For instance, you will not find apatite in my list. I have owned a couple of pieces, but I have given them away. The energy of apatite, which many people recommend, grates on my nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard. The only correspondences that are valid for you are the ones that you experience yourself.
Serendipity
Sometimes what you find will just appear when you need it. You may find just what you need laying around your house. You may find a crystal on the ground while you're walking or in a store that you just happen to be browsing through. When you're looking for a crystal for a particular purpose, keep your eyes open and pay attention to your instincts and intuition. They may well lead you to just exactly what you need.
The Michael Gienger Methods
In Crystal Power, Crystal Healing[i], Michael Gienger specifies four intuitive methods for choosing a crystal. Together, they provide a complete set of crystals for your crystal healing needs at any given time.
To do these exercises, you'll need 15 to 20 crystals and a helper.
To find your Soul Stone, have your helper arrange the stones on a flat surface in front of you. Look over them, without touching any, and select the one that most appeals to you visually. This stone represents the current needs of your unconscious mind - your soul.
To find your Body Stone, have your helper arrange the stones on a flat surface in front of you. Close your eyes, and extend your left (receptive) hand over them. Move your hand over the stones until it feels drawn to a particular stone. This stone represents your body's current needs.
To find your Intellect Stone, close your eyes and look away from the stones. Have your helper call out a word that is associated with the healing qualities of each stone. Tell the helper which word most appeals to you. The stone associated with that word is the stone that currently meets your intellectual needs - the needs of your conscious mind.
To find your Spirit Stone, have your helper arrange the stones in a line where you cannot see them. Choose a number between one and the total number of stones. The stone associated with that number - the stones being numbered from left to right - represents the current growth needs of your Spirit.
The above is only a brief description of a thorough system described by Gienger in his book. I can't recommend it enough!
Cleaning Crystals
Before you use a crystal that you have adopted (or that has adopted you), it is important that you clean it. Everyone who has previouly touched your crystal has left a little bit of their energy on it. While not usually strong enough to prevent the crystal's own energies from getting to you, these energy deposits may reduce the ability of a crystal to "take a charge."
It is also important to clean a crystal after you have used it for a particular purpose. Crystals get tired just like the rest of us do, and they are as rejuvenated by cleaning as we are when we take a bath after a long day at work.
There are several ways to clean a crystal. When doing any of them, be sure to visualize all negative energies being taken away from the crystal and it being restored to its fullest strength and vitality. Keep in mind that crystals set in jewelry may do better with some techniques - like bathing, sunning, praying, or visualizing, than stronger techniques like grounding or smudging.
Bathing
You can clean a crystal by holding it under running water for about a minute, or until it tells you that it's "done." You can also set the crystal in a fountain, which will do the same thing. Some stones, such as selenite, may begin to dissolve in water, so an alternate technique should be used with these.
Sunning (and/or Mooning)
You can also clean a crystal by putting it on a window sill and allowing it to spend some time with the Sun and Moon energies. You might have a preference of Sun or Moon depending on the purpose for which you will use the crystal, but either or both with work for general cleansing and rejuvenation. Do keep in mind that some stones, like rose quartz, will fade if they are exposed to direct sunlight for very long. The length of time you leave them out is up to you, and, of course, the crystal in question.
I like to combine the two methods above by first holding the crystal under running water and then setting it on a windowsill for about 24 hours. That seems to make most of my crystals happy and energetic.
Grounding
There are several different ways to clean a crystal by grounding. The easiest way is to bury the crystal in the Earth, either outside, in the ground, or inside, in the soil around a potted plant. If you choose the former, make sure you remember where you put the crystal! If you choose the latter, please make sure the plant is healthy so the crystal doesn't spend its time trying to heal the plant when it is supposed to be resting and recharging. You can also ground a crystal by putting it on a bed of sea salt or on a clear quartz cluster. Any of these techniques provide the crystal with a media that will absorb the negative energies it may have absorbed, and restore it with new Earth energies.
Smudging
Smudging uses the elements of fire and water, with the energies of the herb burned, to cleanse and rejuvenate the crystal. Sage is the herb most commonly used. The sage is lit, and the crystal is passed through the smoke. The technique works well with "sturdy" stones, but should be avoided with clear, faceted stones or stones set in jewelry.
Visualizing
When you need to clean a crystal in a hurry, this is the way to do it. Ground and center yourself. Visualize Earth energy coming through your feet,and root chakra and Light energy coming down through your crown chakra. Have the two energies flow up and down your spine and then flow down your arms and into your hands. Hold the crystal in your hands and visualize the energies from your hands flowing into the crystal and transmuting all negative energies into positive ones. Do this until the crystal feels clean and "full," and the cleaning process is complete.
Praying
Since crystals come from the Earth, praying to the Goddess to cleanse and restore a crystal's energies is also an effective way of preparing the crystal for use. The Goddess is always happy to take care of one of her children.
Once your crystal is cleaned, it is ready to be charged.
Charging Crystals
Cleaning and rejuvenating a crystal restores it as much as possible to its original state. At this point, the crystal is most "receptive" to instruction. Charging a crystal empowers the crystal to aim its energies toward a particular goal or function. This is sometimes referred to as "programming."
Before actually endowing a crystal with its purpose, it is a good idea to simply spend a little time with it so the two of you can get to know each other. Once you become acclimated to the crystal's native energies, and it gets acclimated to your energy field, it will be able to function more compatibly with the processes in your body which will lead you to your goal.
Charging can be done by either ritual or non-ritual situations. Although the ritual charging may be more formal, the procedures are really the same.
Before beginning the charging process, make sure that the purpose you have in mind for the crystal will have no result that harms anyone. Then pray to the Lord, Lady, and/or Spirit to aid you in your work and assist you in communicating with the crystal.
While holding the crystal in your hands, clearly visualize the goal of your use for this crystal. You might even project your image of the goal into the crystal itself. Maintain contact with the crystal while visually it achieving its purpose for as long as you are able, or until the crystal reflects the goal back to you.
Once you feel the energy of your goal reflected back to you, you are ready to use the crystal to help you achieve your goal.
