Crystals have been used over the centuries for a multitude of purposes - from healing to protection to decoration to technology. Quartz crystals are commonly used in watches, communication systems, medical electronics as well as computers and many other applications.

Crystal healing is a New Age belief that crystals have energies and properties that are able to heal physical and emotional problems by placing semi-precious stones on specific points of the body, being swept over the body or placing them near the patient to bring relief of the condition.

Available in many shapes, the more common forms of crystals include:

Single Terminated
Six natural facets join sharply together to form a single point at one end and a rough or rounded edge at the other.

Chunks
Chunks are crystals without any prominent facets and points

Clusters
Clusters consist of a small of crystals joined in a rock matrix and sharing a common base. Clusters

Cut crystals
Cut crystals are crystals that have been cut and polished into shapes such as wands, eggs, skulls or crystal balls.

Tumble stones

Tumble stones are natural small semi stones, rocks or crystals that placed in a drum and have been tumbled over each other many times with increasingly finer abrasive until the sides become smooth and shiny, much like a pebble washed for many years by the sea and sand.

Each type of crystal has according to its colour, shape and mineral content specific energies and properties that are able to aid a specific condition or part of the body. One of these properties is the unique vibration that each individual crystal has. Popular crystals and metaphysical properties include:

• Amethyst - Good all round crystal, Used for meditation, prosperity and abundance and protection
• Aventurine - Creativity , calm and balance
• Blue Lace Agate - Calming, tranquillity, stimulating creative flow and communication
• Carnelian - Soothing, energising and courage
• Cat's Eye - Balance, creativity and kindness
• Clear Quartz - Harmony, balance and healing
• Hematite - Grounds and centres, mental organisation and focus
• Lapis Lazuli - Communication and creative thinking
• Orange Calcite - Aids detachment but uplifting
• Red Jasper - grounding, energising, Stress Relieving
• Rose Quartz - Unconditional love
• Sodalite - Relieves insomnia, stone of truth,
• Tigers Eye - Strengthens willpower and self confidence
• Turquoise - Grounding and protection, known as a master healer stone
• Yellow Jasper - Protective and balance

Crystals are often used in Chakra healing, were coloured crystals are used to match the Chakra being balanced. Chakra's are energy centres in the body. There are 7 main ones and are associated with the endocrine glands in the body. Each chakra is thought to relate to specific body and mind openings for life energy to in and out of the aura. The crystals associated with the main chakras are:

• Base - Red Jasper, Bloodstone, Smokey Quartz
• Sacral - Carnelian, Orange Calcite
• Solar Plexus - Citrine, Yellow Tigers Eye, Yellow Jasper
• Heart - Jade, Aventurine, Rose Quartz
• Throat -, Blue Lace Agate, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli
• Brow - Sodalite ,Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli
• Crown - Amethyst, Clear Quartz, Purple Fluorite

Crystals should be cleansed regularly as they can collect and store negative energy. Cleansing also helps to recharge it. There are many ways to cleanse crystals including:

• Place on a window ledge in Sunlight
• Place on a window ledge in Moonlight
• Bury in soil
• Placed in a bowl with Sea Salt or Rock salt
• Rinsing under cool tap water
• Smudging with Sage, incense or smudge sticks

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