Crystal healing is experiencing a moment in popular culture. Interest in the basics of crystal healing has exploded in recent years despite its dubious origins and its association with the New Age movement. While the scientific community remains skeptical, crystals hold a special place in the hearts of millions. They are a core spiritual practice for a growing number of people.
Research into various perspectives and worldviews is critical to one’s own spiritual journey. While healing crystals may not be for everyone, the beliefs and practices surrounding them can reveal deeper truths about the human experience. In order to understand crystal healing, it is helpful to explore its origins and the stones that are commonly used by practitioners.
The History of Crystal Healing
Crystal healing is the belief that stones like opal, quartz, and amethyst emit various healing energies. Practitioners believe that such stones have the power to counteract negative energies, thus improving mental health and alleviating pain and sickness.
This practice traces its roots back to a number of ancient societies. The earliest recordings of crystal healing can be found in ancient Sumerian writings dating back to 4500 BC. Additionally, similar accounts can be found in the ancient societies of Greece, Egypt, and India.
The Western practice of crystal healing combines British pagan traditions with the practices of ancient India and North America’s indigenous tribes. The New Age explosion of the 1970s synthesized these elements into the basis for crystal healing as it is understood today. In the years since, crystal healing has developed into an individual and personalized spiritual practice with millions of adherents.
Popular Healing Crystals
Healing crystals are generally semiprecious stones. Simply put, a semiprecious stone is any gem that is not a diamond, emerald, ruby, or sapphire. In one respect, crystal healing is a deeply personal practice. Still, among the crystal community, there are some accepted standards when it comes to various stones and their abilities.
Practitioners believe that crystals can offer healing by bringing balance to energy fields. Among the crystals that purport to promote physical health are clear quartz and bloodstone. Clear quartz is widely considered to be a general-purpose stone with a wide range of uses. Bloodstone is said to have properties that can improve the body’s circulatory system and improve blood-related issues.
Similarly, stones like obsidian, jasper, and amethyst are said to improve mental and spiritual well-being. Practitioners believe that obsidian aids in processing feelings and letting go and that jasper can be a stress reliever.
Practitioners and believers also argue that crystals can aid in finding love and prosperity. For example, rose quartz is often understood to be the preeminent stone for love and sensuality. Jade and tiger’s eye are both incredibly popular in Eastern spiritual traditions and are well known for their association with luck, prosperity, and confidence.
Does Crystal Healing Work?
The scientific community has yet to give its blessing to the effectiveness of crystal healing. But a growing number of people swear by its impact. In this sense, one must define the metric for effectiveness. It is true that the positive effects of healing crystals are difficult to measure in a laboratory or peer journal. However, this is also true for any other spiritual practice.
Whether their power is material or esoteric misses the point. All people need a source of belief and meaning in order to operate at their best. It is undeniable that the basics of crystal healing meets these needs for people across the world. Each stone corresponds with values and characteristics we desire more of in our daily lives. Thus, practitioners and believers alike have something to look to when life gets hard.