Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by all things magical and otherworldly. It’s a side of myself that I’ve always kept close, from pretending to make potions in my backyard to attempting to summon spirits with a makeshift Ouija board as I got older. I found astrology particularly interesting, and learning about it beyond the basics in high school was a formative experience – I considered myself the resident expert on everything astrological, and I would ask to do the natal chart of anyone who showed the slightest interest. 

I approached learning about crystals with a similar fervor, but later in life – my first encounter was on vacation with my fiancé when we stumbled upon a small shop in an indoor mall. Every crystal had an identification card detailing its properties, and I was just as interested in each one’s purported healing qualities as its physical appearance. I spent quite a bit of time deliberating before walking out with a clear quartz crystal in a star-like shape called a Merkaba, a small piece of howlite carved into an angel, and a larger piece of polished green opal that fit into the palm of my hand.

I forgot about the experience until about two years later when I stumbled across my miniature collection while cleaning my closet, bringing back my curiosity. I set out to expand my knowledge, but it took a bit of piecing things together from various sources until I felt confident enough to dive into the hobby. After a few years and an admittedly excessive amount of money, I have an ever-growing collection in which I take great pride. I love sharing my knowledge with others, and I’m often surprised by how many people ask questions about my crystals. Reflecting on my experience and how overwhelmed I was trying to take in all of this new information inspired me to create my version of a “beginner’s guide” based on everything I wished I had known at the start of my journey.

So, where do I start?

If you haven’t started your collection yet, you’re probably wondering where to buy your crystals – I prefer shopping in person, but digital shops also have their perks. If you’re a bit more particular about the pieces you want, you’ll probably want to select each of your crystals in-store, while you may prefer online shopping if you’re excited by the idea of not knowing what they look like until they arrive. Some crystals vary significantly in color and pattern, while others are more uniform. For example, mookaite (a personal favorite of mine) can be burgundy, pink, yellow, purple, cream, or any combination of the above. However, if you’re buying rose quartz, it will always be solid pink despite the shade varying slightly. Many online shops also offer mystery boxes, a fun way to expand your collection and get your hands on pieces you may not have thought to pick out for yourself. Instagram and Etsy are full of small, online-based businesses, and anything with a solid following and positive reviews is likely a safe place to start.  

On the other hand, an additional benefit of shopping in person is getting a feel for the community – my experience in crystal shops has been overwhelmingly positive, as sales staff and even other shoppers are generally happy to share their knowledge and make recommendations. The accessibility of in-person shopping depends on where you live, so I suggest a quick search of crystal shops/metaphysical shops in your area if you want to go this route. If there’s not much near you, try to squeeze in some crystal shopping when you’re on the road – I search for nearby shops whenever I visit somewhere new, and I love how my collection evokes so many positive memories of my travels.

Which crystals should I buy first?

Of course, one acceptable answer is whatever you’re drawn to! That being said, some crystals are widely regarded as staples that every collector should have under their belt. The following crystals are all affordable, easy to find, and popular among collectors, making them excellent choices for beginners.

Clear Quartz: Dubbed The “Master Healer,” an all-purpose stone that promotes overall well-being and amplifies the effects of other crystals.

Amethyst: Fosters calm and tranquility, popular for assisting with anxiety and sleep – it’s also said to help you remember your dreams.

Rose Quartz: Relates to love in all forms, used to encourage harmony in your relationships with others and foster self-love.

Citrine: Attracts joy, promotes high self-esteem, and encourages creativity – it is one of the only crystals said to cleanse its own negative energy.

Smoky Quartz: Transforms negative energy into positive energy, helpful for channeling feelings of self-doubt or jealousy into motivation and self-assurance.

Black Tourmaline: A highly protective and grounding stone, it creates a spiritual “barrier” to ward off negative energy.

Green Aventurine: Associated with luck and good fortune, it opens the wearer up to new opportunities by encouraging a more positive and receptive mindset.

Tiger’s Eye: Aids in overcoming fear by strengthening your resolve and promoting self-confidence.

Carnelian: Boosts your energy and allows you to tap into your passion, motivation, and overall zest for life.

Selenite: The ultimate cleansing stone – can be used to cleanse your energy and the energy of other crystals, most often found as a small “wand.”

Sodalite: Brings calmness and order to the mind, allowing the wearer to think objectively and verbalize their feelings.

Pyrite: A powerful stone for attracting wealth and abundance, also known as “fool’s gold” due to its visual similarity to the precious metal.

Labradorite: Enhances your intuitive abilities and allows you to tap into your potential by overcoming limiting beliefs.

Malachite: A transformative stone that encourages change by helping address and overcome blockages in your spiritual growth.

Fluorite: Promotes mental clarity, aids decision-making, and heightens focus; it is a helpful stone for students.

Most crystal shops have large areas dedicated to small, polished stones, often called tumbles – these are an ideal starting point for collectors as they are affordable and don’t take up much space. Many shops sell their tumbles with identification cards, which are helpful for learning about and keeping track of your collection! 

For storage, decorative bowls, trays, and wall-mounted shelves are great if you want to show your pieces off – they’re easy to find on Etsy, Amazon, or in person at crystal shops, and you can use ones made of selenite for the added benefit of charging your crystals. I opt for acrylic storage containers to keep everything safe from my cats, which I highly recommend for pet owners. Despite not being as aesthetically appealing as other options, they hold a lot and still display my collection clearly while keeping everything covered.

How do I keep track of their properties?

If mentally cataloging dozens of these associations feels overwhelming, there is an easy way to help streamline the learning process. The color of each crystal generally corresponds to its area of influence, as detailed below:

• Red, brown, black: Grounding, protection, stability
• Orange: Creativity, sexuality, pleasure
• Yellow: Self-esteem, confidence, willpower
• Green, pink: Love, compassion, forgiveness
• Light blue: Communication, self-expression, truth
• Dark blue, indigo: Intuition, imagination, discernment
• Purple, white, clear: Spirituality, enlightenment, connection

Note: These color associations come from a Western adaptation of the seven chakra system – the concept of chakras originated from Hindu and Buddhist traditions and meditation practices, but the idea of chakras having associated colors and crystal correspondences is part of the New Age movement. It’s crucial to remain mindful of this and not conflate crystal healing with Hinduism or Buddhism, as it is not part of either religion’s practices.

How do we know they can influence our lives at all?

We don’t – there is no way to test the validity of crystal healing reliably, so all metaphysical claims should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, there is no evident harm in keeping a crystal on hand if you feel it gives you an extra boost. It’s always healthy and often necessary to have a moderate level of skepticism about any idea without a solid scientific basis, but I believe there’s also value in keeping your mind open to the possibility of forces we cannot understand. 

I find the idea of crystal healing empowering – the theory that we can draw upon the energy of our natural world to exercise greater autonomy over our lives is remarkably hopeful, especially for those who feel powerless to affect their futures due to environmental or psychological factors. When I carry a crystal with me, it becomes a physical representation of what I wish to attract – even if there is nothing inherent in a tiger’s eye crystal that inspires confidence, associating the two aids me in tapping into that part of myself. As long as you aren’t relying on a crystal to solve all of your problems without dedicating any of your own energy to doing so, it can function as an effective motivator regardless of its properties.

Now that I have a collection, what can I do with them?

Before working with your crystals, it’s common practice to cleanse them and charge them with your intentions. You can place your crystals on top of selenite or light sage to surround them in smoke, but you can also cleanse them without any other tools. The simplest method is to hold your crystals in your palms, close your eyes, and picture a bright white light emerging from your hands to clear away negative energy. Exposing crystals to running water is another easy way to cleanse them, but you should look up any crystals you intend to work with beforehand to see if they are water-safe. Charging crystals, however, is very straightforward: hold a crystal in your palms, close your eyes, and focus on what you want the crystal to assist you with. You can speak your intention aloud or think it to yourself, whatever feels more natural.

Crystals can be used in many ways, with some methods requiring more active participation than others. One of the more passive ways to channel a crystal’s energy is to carry it with you or keep it close to you – if you’re on the go looking to keep your energy positive, pop a piece of black tourmaline in your bag or your pocket. If you’re studying for an exam or doing deadline-driven work, keep a piece of fluorite on your desk to help focus. Crystal jewelry is another easy way to keep your stone close to you and keep your intentions for it at the forefront of your mind.

To engage more actively with your crystals, you can meditate with them. After assuming a comfortable position, hold your crystal of choice in the palm of your hand, place it on your body while lying down, or even just have it nearby. You can meditate in silence, with music playing softly in the background, or participate in a guided meditation. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths to feel present and grounded, and keep your mind open to whatever comes to you. Remember that there is no wrong way to meditate – as someone with a very active and anxious mind, I often worry that my head isn’t “clear enough,” so I try to remind myself that my intention matters above all else. If you sit down with a crystal and a purpose in mind, you’ve already connected to it!

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I felt compelled to write about crystals before any of my other interests, partially due to the criticism the topic generates. Many theories that fall under the umbrella of pseudoscience are actively harmful in their rejection of scientific facts, but I find the use of crystals to be an exception with far more upside than downside. Using crystals as a replacement for traditional medicine is incredibly ill-advised, but collecting and working with them can provide comfort, inspiration, and a feeling of connection to our natural world. My journey with crystals prompted me to question what I prioritize and want to attract. They serve as a physical reminder to align my actions with my goals and allow me to step into a mindset where I believe in my power to impact my life positively. In sharing this, I hope to reach those already open to this topic and encourage others, regardless of their interest level, to approach unfamiliar interests with less judgment. There is value in anything that pushes you to contemplate new ideas, and the subject of crystals poses a wealth of questions and possibilities worth exploring.