Finding what works
Trusting your gut in finding the "right" crystal for you
Getting started with collecting or working with crystals can be overwhelming. Whether you are a mineral collector, an admirer of crystals, or working with crystals in a healing or spiritual practice, the overwhelm of options is real. There are so many choices, so many possibilities. Where and how do you start?
I find that this overwhelm influences people to immediately turn to guidebooks, websites, crystal experts, and memes for answers. But where did this information come from to begin with? There’s nothing more frustrating than following expert guidance only to find that it just doesn’t quite work for you. And with the endless information on the internet, what are reliable sources?
There are two things I highly recommend doing:
First and primary is TRUST YOUR GUT. If you are drawn to a stone, follow that instinct. Each of us is like a big battery, running on electrical impulses. Different rocks and crystals vibrate at different rates of energy. If you are personally pulled toward a particular stone, don’t question why - get curious! Sit with the stone. See what pops into your mind. Don’t try to judge, analyze or “figure it out” - open a journal and write without preconception. Ask for a dream. Doodle a mind map of associations. The main thing is not to overthink and overuse that left brain hemisphere. Tap into your intuition, your imagination and listen to your innate wisdom.
The second step is science. Look up the crystal in a mineral database. I personally like Mindat for my rock research. A mineral database will tell you all about the scientific properties of the stone, where it is from, how old it is, its crystalline formation, how it is related to other minerals, the different varieties, and so on. This information can help you understand the particulars of a mineral and may also give you clues as to why you were drawn to it.
After these two steps, and only then if you want to, consider guidebooks and expert opinions. Most crystal healing guides are written based on the personal experiences of the author and are built on a general consensus about a stone’s healing properties. Try viewing guidebooks as living documents - they give general overviews on crystals, but are always open to interpretation and change based on the unique energy signatures of each person working with a particular crystal. Nothing is written in stone :)
Remember, you are your own best resource for what works for you. Trust yourself. Trust your instincts. Keep an open mind and heart. And, most of all, enjoy the gifts the Earth has offered us. Every stone tells a story. Just listen.
