For years, cultures around the world have used crystals and stones for ancient meditation practices and healing rituals, with practices that root back to Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and India.
The powerful healing energy of crystals is often combined with intention setting or used to balance one’s energy.
These gemstones have recently become very popular in mainstream culture, whether it’s pairing crystals with Zodiac signs or incorporating crystals into holistic health and meditation.
Every crystal and gemstone has a deep connection to spirituality, mental and physical health, beauty and even prosperity. When those elements are combined with mindfulness, centeredness and the reflection of meditation, there are seemingly endless possibilities for growth and empowerment.
Meditation helps to clear our minds of idle chatter so we can reach a state of inner calm and hear our higher voices. There are a variety of crystals that can aid in this process and free us to maximize our results.
Getting Started With Meditation
Before selecting your crystal or crystals, it’s important to be in the right mindset. When it comes to any form of meditation, if your headspace isn’t open to the process, it may be less beneficial.
Meditation should never feel strict or domineering. The practice is supposed to be relaxing and cathartic. Try not to view it as a chore.
Ease into a meditation routine if you’re a beginner. This can be as simple as heading over to YouTube or downloading an app.
Once you’re comfortable with your meditation routine and have felt the benefits, you’re in a place to begin incorporating crystals.
According to Healthline’s crystal healer and meditation expert Carol Boote, “The key issue to meditation is to practice as regularly as possible and make it part of your self-care routine. Often if you feel if you don’t have time, feel tired or ill, you need it more than ever.”
Many people create an ideal environment for their meditations. You’ll want to select an indoor or outdoor space that you feel comfortable in that’s quiet.
It’s also recommended to add candles, incense, sage, spiritual and religious figures, family heirlooms and other soulful objects that offer you energy and solace.
Choosing Your Crystals
Crystal expert, Renee Watt shared that “when it comes to crystal meditation, I think the most important thing to do is determine what sort of benefits you’re looking for and the outcome you’re seeking.”
Everyone is different and has unique needs. Whether it’s pain from a chronic illness, mourning a family loss or managing daily stress, there are specific crystals that help with certain concerns.
For those just getting started, it may be best to start with clear quartz, which is the best all around crystal with a range of perks. Clear quartz inspires a clear mind, which is key for meditation. You might also try amethyst for calm, black tourmaline for soothing, pyrite for stability and so many more. People even select them according to color.
In addition to their historical and cultural origins, each crystal color and shape gives off its own vibes. When we see a color, shape and texture that makes us feel good, there is an increase of positive energy.
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The symbolism of crystal color connects to meditation via the seven chakras. Each of these ancient energy centers of the body are associated with a different color, as well as a different region of the body, various emotions and even temperatures.
For example, the Root chakra is red and begins at the base of the spine. It represents the foundation of life built on energy, confidence and change. Red crystals, including red jasper, pair perfectly with the Root chakra’s symbolism, as it promotes grounding and balancing energy as well as stability to help with concentration.
Meditating with crystals is all about being aware of your needs and what is both spiritually and aesthetically pleasing for the best results.
How to Meditate with Crystals
It’s important to keep in mind that while crystals work well for some, they may not work well for others. It’s all about analyzing how you feel and monitoring your energy levels to see what feels comfortable.
To get things started, simply hold your crystal or crystals in your hands. Only hold as many as two to get started.
For many, this is the best way to meditate with crystals, as it gives them the chance to get a feel for the texture, energy and connection to the crystals.
Another option is to place color coordinated crystals on each of your seven chakras. It’s vital to find balance within the energy centers of the body that can be stronger when incorporating crystals.
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For example, if you comfortably lay down on your stomach (preferably on a mat) and place your red jasper onto your Root chakra, you can focus your intentions to that region.
If you are looking to stay grounded during a time of change, remember to practice mindful breathing as you allow all thoughts and emotions to flow through you. Without judgement or repression, it’s best to allow each thought to pass through your mind with acknowledgment.
Allow the pressure of the crystal to keep you balanced, and remember the base of your spine as a strong foundation.
There are a variety of other forms of crystal meditation to try, such as crystal energy fields, Reiki healing crystals, wearing your crystal as jewelry, making a crystal meditation garden and more.
The Research Behind Meditating with Crystals
There continues to be an ongoing debate on whether crystals are merely placebos or if they have been scientifically proven to promote holistic wellness. The answer seems to be, they’re kind of both.
One thing to note is cultural medicines and remedies have been historically known for operating outside of modern Western science. Which means, people in non-Western cultures have different ways of measuring the effectiveness of crystals and gemstones.
For many people, alternative medicine is a great supplement to Western healthcare. Neuroscientists and psychologists have confirmed that while there’s no scientific evidence of crystals being effective treatments for a diagnosis, they do elicit a psychological effect in which the mind feels a sense of control.
They brighten our moods by sending dopamine and endorphins. It’s a bodily process that truly takes place in our minds, but it requires more study.
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While it may take time until anyone knows the particular scientific evidence, it takes no time for millions of people to begin reaping the benefits of crystals, especially combined with meditation.
Meditation helps us manage stress, sharpen our concentration, and enables us to problem solve. It can even bolster our overall happiness and wellness.
This unique marriage between crystals and meditation seems to be a match made in heaven. It may be time to start your own collections and begin your soulful crystal meditation journey. Crystals are available in stores, and on Etsy, Amazon and other online retailers.