Ten Healing Crystals for StressExcerpt from: A Guide to Gem and Crystal Therapy

by Karen Ryan, Crystal Energy Therapist

Amethyst | Citrine | Clear Quartz | Fluorite | Garnet | Hematite | Malachite | Rose Quartz | Smokey Quartz | Turquoise | Crystal Healing

Crystals for Healing Stress

Stress is unavoidable in any society and is a symptom of our inability or ineffectiveness to accept change as fast as it seems thrust upon us. We must adapt quickly to disappointments, shock and traumas, physical pain, and other tremendous emotional and psychological imbalances in our environments. It isn't easy to keep up with the changes!

Crystals are particularly good at helping us adapt to changes in energy frequencies created through stressful situations. There seems to be a crystal for every form of stress including financial (Citrine), relationships (Rose Quartz) and burnout (Smokey Quartz). Having a large crystal in a room can also help reduce stress, by reducing negative energies and harmonizing imbalanced energy patterns.

By wearing the crystals through out the day, preferably as a full necklace, as a pendant, or in a small pouch at the Heart Chakra; the vibrations of the crystals will continue to affect areas of the imbalance, restoring a positive state where the imbalance has occurred. The effects of crystal healing at the emotional and psychological levels are subtle, yet are often noticed more by others than yourself! I have listed ten crystals and gemstones that are useful in healing stress.

Ten "Stress Stones"

Amethyst

Keep an Amethyst cluster at your desk or in your therapy room to transmute negative energy. Amethyst helps you think and act at your highest level. It's good for promotions (spiritual), and reduces tension headaches. Wear an Amethyst pendant continuously for migraine prevention and for alleviating arthritic pain.

Citrine

The "Success Stone" - Citrine encourages a bright outlook and happiness. It attracts wealth and joy. Keep a piece in your wallet to enrich your holdings. It can help stabilize emotions and soothe family problems. Citrine is also good for improving stress-related digestive problems.

Clear Quartz

Clear Quartz can be worn as a crystal pendant to deflect radiation from going to your body. Quatrz is an excellent general physical system fortifier and protector. It increases mental clarity. Hold a clear crystal at your solar plexus and breath evenly for several minutes to calm your emotions, to relax the body, to clear the mind, and to refresh your energy. Stare into the crystal to clear writer's block and to increase creativity.

Fluorite

Fluorite - a stone to unblock stuck energies. For digestive systems problems use the yellow/green colour combination. For pains in the skeletal and muscular system, use the blue/white colour combination. For head area complaints, use the purple/clear combination. For asthma, wear the green coloured Fluorite. To help congested mental thoughts, use a purple cluster in your work area, or position a cluster at your crown chakra while sleeping.

Garnet

Garnet - An energy revitalizer. Garnet is excellent for strengthening the base chakra. It promotes sexual energy (for your self and partner). It helps increase circulation to the legs and pelvic area. It reduces menstrual pain when held or taped over the ovaries and uterus. Garnet can increase sexual stimulation and fertility too!

Hematite

"The Anti-Stress Stone". Hematite reflects back negative energies to the sender (so you don't end up taking them on yourself). Hematite dissolves the issues when one meets with confrontation. Tape a small piece over the leg and back areas to reduce pain and to increase electromagnetic circulation. Hematite helps balance the meridians.

Malachite

Malachite is excellent for Type A personalities and for those prone to heart disease and stresses to internal organs. It helps to detoxify the liver and to increase blood circulation. Malachite is excellent for breaking up old energy patterns. Use it with Rose Quartz to soften the effects of a broken heart! Due to the possibly toxic copper content of this stone, keep Malachite away from pets and children, and do not wear it against the skin for long periods of time. This stone is for external use only.

Rose Quartz

"The Love Stone" - Rose Quartz is very protective and soothing for many issues. Place a large chunk of the stone at your Heart Centre for 15 minutes to relax after a stressful day. Rose Quartz helps to unblock anxiety and to promote healing of private emotional issues. It allows one to become more receptive and open to challenges.

Smokey Quartz

Smokey Quartz is an excellent stabilizer for mood swings. It helps ground feelings of depression, and both absorbs and transmutes negativity. This stone is best worn at the solar plexus, the seat of the emotions. Smokey Quartz is excellent for PMS and cranky persons; and good for persons imbalanced due to extreme stress and burn-out. It provides a protective field for recovery.

Turquoise

"A Stone of Protection" - Turquoise is an excellent toner for all systems of the body. It helps prevent organs from absorbing toxins and breaking down. Wear this stone at the throat to strengthen your will and to communicate effectively. It helps to sweeten the voice and speak your truth. Turquoise helps reduce premature aging.

Some Hints On Crystal Healing

Your commitment to the crystal is part of the healing process. Let the crystal do the work for you.

It is best not to wear more than two crystals at any one time if you are new to crystal healing, as many find the effects too distracting. The length of time to obtain the effects desired will depend on the quality of the crystal (size, colour, energy charge), location worn, duration worn, and the crystal's appropriateness to your healing issue. Some crystals are better suited to the overall underlying problem than to just treat superficial symptoms. Select your crystal with an honest outlook on the problem.

Ten Healing Crystals for MenExcerpt from: A Guide to Gem and Crystal Therapy

by Karen Ryan, Crystal Energy Therapist

Amethyst | Garnet | Jade | Rose Quartz | Smokey Quartz | Diamond | Hematite | Lapis Lazuli | Malachite | Moonstone |

Crystals and gemstones have often been worn by men as jewelry, or to decorate formal suits to signify their official or regal status in society. In ancient times polished crystals were embedded on shields for protection during battle. Carved crystal amulets offered protection from poisoned wine. Gem and crystal crafting today is still almost exclusively men's work. However, the use of precious metals and gem synthetics has slowly replaced the use of gemstones in popular men's jewelry. The use of crystals for healing was popularized in the tale of England's King Arthur with his wizard, Merlin, who lived in the Crystal Cave.

If you feel awkward about wearing crystals dangling down in front of your tie in public, and are not inclined to be an "urban shaman", here are some suggestions:

Wear your healing crystals in a medicine pouch (a pouch on a string) and tuck it down inside your shirt. Try to select crystals that are relatively flat, and your pouch will go unnoticed. Place your crystals inside a small pouch and drop it into your breast pocket to help heal your Heart.

For the office or workplace, leave your stones out as decorative objects. If anyone asks, you can say you are a collector, or you are buying it for your kids as part of their geology class.

Keep your crystals loose inside your front pants pockets, and hold them for a while several times during the day.

At night, leave the crystals next to your bed or under your pillow. Remember to cleanse and recharge your crystals at least once a month.

I asked a number of healers (both men and women) about what they felt were the healing issues for men. The responses are grouped as:

social isolation stress-related emotional health intuition communications health issues self-esteem and power communication

I have listed a selection of ten crystals and gemstones from a group of twenty-five which are useful in healing men and some of the men's issues listed above. The next crystals article will be on "Using Crystals for Healing Children", followed by "Using Crystals for Healing Pets and Animals". Please refer to my other articles on using crystals for Stress, Romance, and Women's Issues.

Amethyst

A "Master Healing Crystal". Also called "the Royal Stone". Amethyst's most noted healing quality is its ability to purify and transmute all forms of negativity. Get a large Amethyst cryystal cluster for your home or office to protect yourself from hostile energies around you. If anxiety causes shortness of breath, put the cluster on or near your chest and breath slowly for a few minutes to lessen the symptoms. Consider a large, well-set amethyst gemstone ring to enhance your personal magnetism and to provide mental clarity. Amethyst is also helpful for migraines, arthritic pains, and connecting to one's spirituality for guidance.

Garnet

The "Sex Stone" - Garnet strengthens and restores physical and emotional energy lost through constantly ensuring the protection and welfare of others. When you feel a bit lost or abandonned in the chaos of daily life, Garnet helps to provide the needed grounding and empowering to become more decisive and committed to a direction. Garnet is well-known for enhancing and regenerating one's sexuality (the physical aspects). For best effects, tape a small half-inch piece at the Hara centre - one and one-half inches below the navel - and wear it overnight.

Jade

A "Crystal of Tranquility". Also called "the Sport Stone", promoting agility and swiftness. Many men from the Far East know the benefits of wearing Jade. Some will tell you that it is for their health, and how the colour of the Jade gets darker with good health and lighter with declining health. Jade soothes the emotions, and provides emotional detachment and restoration after various traumas such as minor surgery, divorce, funerals, or loss of job. Some say it is for good luck. Jade is a stone which is easily obtained in most city centres and can be openly worn as a pendant.

Rose Quartz

"The Love Stone" - Rose Quartz is another Master Healing Crystal that specializes in transmuting emotional negativity at all levels. It enhances one's ability to give and receive love, by opening the Heart chakra and stimulating greater flexibility in communications. It mellows out a relunctant Heart, and provides peace in relationships through harmony. Rose Quartz is used for meditation, as it stills one's aggressive thoughts and provides mental tranquility. It can heal a broken heart very quickly too.

Smokey Quartz

The "Emotional Balancer Crystal" - Smokey Quartz is a very specialized crystal for negative emotional energy. This crystal is excellent for mood swings, aggressive actions, ill temper, and generally nasty thoughts. It grounds all kinds of negative energy. This stone is helpful for burnout, fear of failure, reluctance to take risks, or wanting revenge, as well as for tendancies to over-eat, smoke or drink due to stress. It helps you accept responsibility for yourself, and to broaden your capacity for effective communication by dissolving self-limiting perceptions.

Diamond

"The King of Crystals" - Diamond intensifies and activates one's internal energies through its purity of vibration. The better the quality of Diamond, the better one's own personal qualities and actions. When freely given, Diamond power becomes activated and can be used for manifesting abundance and increasing personal self-esteem. It is a token of one's love to another, and both enhances and radiates the beauty of the wearer. The Diamond is also known for invincibility, representing the life force (prana).

Hematite

"The Stress Stone" - Hematite is a versatile metallic-like crystal used for enhancing one's logic, mathematical abilities, rational thinking and depth of technical knowledge. It grounds creative energy to make one's thoughts more practical and focused. As a "Stress Stone", Hematite reflects negativity back to the sender, so you don't end up with someone else's stress. For backache or leg cramps, use surgical tape to fix a few pieces onto painful areas. The crystal's energy is like a magnet and effectively draws out pain related to muscular or joint alignment problems. Hematite is also used to reduce insomnia.

Lapis Lazuli

"The Stone of The Pharaohs" - Lapis Lazuli is well-known as a favorite stone used in the courts of the ancient Egyptian Kings. Lapis means "stone" and Lazuli means "blue". This deep blue stone is used for stimulating mental strength and intellectual precision. Lapis is a consciousness elevator, raising one's awareness to new heights and to greater expansion. It brings feelings of success and connectedness and protection. For intuitive people, Lapis intensifies psychic power.

Malachite

"A Man's Stone" - The deep forest green of Malachite is symbolic of the deep healing and cleansing this stone provides. It can aid in breaking down old patterns, whether emotional (stuck patterns of behavior) or physical (tumors, swollen joints, muscular). Malachite promotes business relationships and the increase of wealth by removing obstacles to one's growth. The most important aspect of this crystal's healing ability, however, is for the preventive health of the physical heart and liver. If you are attracted to

this crystal, chances are you have a family history of heart-related problems and probably need a heart check-up.

Moonstone (Adularia)

"The Feminine Balancing Crystal". To soften and balance dominant male

attributes with some feminine qualities, Moonstone provides for a depth of

perception and feelings, discernment, creativity and self-expression. Other properties of Moonstone - increases awareness and focus, releases one's

intuition, has rejuvenating qualities for the skin and hair (baldness?), reduces

water retention, and provides protection for travelers. Moonstones increase their powers before and during the full moon, so leave them out at night to soak uTen

Healing Crystals for Women

Excerpt from: A Guide to Gem and Crystal Therapy

by Karen Ryan, Crystal Energy Therapist

Amber | Amethyst | Apache Tears | Coral (Red) | Garnet | Jade | Jasper | Rose Quartz | Smokey Quartz | Sodalite | How to Use Crystals

Crystals can be used to assist women of all ages and in all stages of healing. The awakening of the Self to a spiritual journey is not an easy task. It can demand much time and resources to achieve self-development and growth. Some choose not to undertake the risks and perils of peeling off our defences to become fully human and alive, and to experience the full wealth of life.

"Isis Unveiled" is a term which refers to the Egyptian goddess whose face and form was covered with a red cloth, symbolic of the ignorance and emotionalism that stood forever between a person and Truth. To the wise, Isis lifts her veil, dispelling and revealing the mysteries of the Universe. The inner journey becomes sacred to those who can withstand the intensity of full consciousness.

Crystals have a healing role to play in this fantastic journey. Like the mysteries of a woman's consciousness, crystals help to contain the inner processes of "Isis Unveiled", and help to prepare the unveiling of female consciousness through healing all levels of her being. Crystals provide protection and give sanctuary for the deep healing a woman does within herself. I have listed a selection of ten crystals and gemstones from a group of forty-four that are useful in healing women and women's issues. The next crystals articles will be on healing men's issues, followed by "Using Crystals for Healing Children".

Amber

A "Gentle Stone". Amber is very soothing and calming to the nerves. It can uplift a negative disposition and encourage you to take life less seriously. It promotes fidelity in relationships. As a self-healing stone, amber guides the emotions into a clearer mental outlook and to take greater responsibility for one's choices in life. It is also excellent for soothing emotions during post-operative care. See also Jade.

Amethyst

A "Master Healing Crystal". Amethyst purifies and transmutes negativity. Amethyst provides protection and balance during transition periods. It reduces the feeling of being victimized, giving you a spiritual perspective on life's circumstances. The lavender-pink colour amethyst relates to the Heart chakra, to open and lighten up a betrayed heart and to heal the sense of loss of life and innocence. The blue-red colour amethyst promotes a deep spiritual connection between one's self and one's life challenges, supporting the challenge one has taken on, giving patience and calmness despite overwhelming odds. The Chevron Amethyst (banded white and purple) helps peel off old karmic patterns to

promote self-love and the ability to get along with others especially with one's Soul Mate or family members.

Apache Tears (transparent Obsidian)

The "Grief Stone". Apache Tears allow for tears to be shed, stimulating emotional spontaneity and the release of barriers that prevent you from experiencing deep sorrow. This stone is excellent for transmuting one's own negativity under stressful situations. The Apache Tear is a dark black stone of obsidian and when held up to the light appears transparent. However, it has been noted that the grief one feels goes into the stone and can turn it opaque.

Coral - Red Coral

A "Woman's Stone". Red Coral quiets the emotions and dispels feelings of despair and despondancy. It encourages a passionate energy, and stimulates and strengthens female reproductive organs through tissue regeneration. This stone relates well to the Spleen meridian for blood circulation, and to purification of the kidneys and bladder. Red Coral is considered to be "The Blood of Mother Earth" by Native Americans and is considered particularly precious by Tibetan women for menstration and fertility.

Garnet

The "Sex Stone". Garnet strengthens the life force and provides for the spontaneous availablity of energy when needed. This gemstone is especially good for the restoration of victimized and abused women, helping them reclaim lost power. It promotes regeneration of emotional energy and the acceptance of one's thoughts and emotions. Garnet stabilizes energy devoted to accomplishing one's purpose. It also empowers and strengthens the Root and Navel chakras. Garnet heightens sexuality (the physical aspects) and increases fertility.

Jade

A "Crystal of Tranquility". Jade soothes the emotions and helps keep the peace for community relations. It provides a sense of self-worth, self-sufficiency and capability in dealing with any situation. Jade promotes harmony, balance, and tranquility through emotional detachment. Jade is excellent for recovery after an unpleasant experience (minor surgery, divorce, funerals, loss of job). See also Amber.

Jasper

A "Nurturing Stone". Jasper makes it easier to use one's own power and to know that it cannot be taken away. It calms aggressive energy, and facilitates safety and protection during recovery periods (e.g., from stress, operations, and other life traumas). Red

Jasper provides lively fresh energy and reduces feelings of being vicimized. Yellow Jasper balances hormones and protects during travel. Green Jasper restores energy and focus during recovery from burnout.

Rose Quartz

"The Love Stone". Rose Quartz is a Master Healer and transmutes emotional negativity at all levels. It enhances meditation and healing by harmonizing and balancing energy fluctations. Rose Quartz embodies the expression "Love Conquers All". It is excellent for calming the Heart and Solar Plexus chakras after situations involving emotional upheaval, chaos, trauma, or crisis. Rose Quartz allows love to come to the wearers who have trouble finding love within themselves to give to either themselves or to others. This is also a great friendship stone to give to someone you care for.

Smokey Quartz

The "Emotional Balancer Crystal". Smokey Quartz clears and transmutes negative emotions. This crystal is an excellent stabilizer for mood swings and grounds all kinds of negative energy. Excellent for PMS sufferers and other cranky persons. It is an excellent crystal to use in times of stress, and to rebuild emotional burnout by offering protection during the healing period. Smokey Quartz reduces the fear of failure, unblocks self-limitations, and lets you risk trying some new experiences.

Sodalite

"A Stone of Peace". Sodalite helps alleviate insomnia caused by overactive mental chatter. It helps to dispel irrelevant thoughts, provides mental focus, and maintains logical reasoning with regard to emotional upsets. Sodalite promotes issues of trust, enhances companionship and the commonality of goals with others. It is excellent for busy women who find no time for peace, who need to relax and to restore one's mental energies. [Sodalite is actually a "rock" composed of several types of micro-crystals.]

A Note on How to Use Crystals for Healing

By wearing the crystals throughout the day for 21 days - preferably as a full necklace, as a pendant, or in a small pouch at the Heart Chakra -the vibrations of the crystals will continue to affect areas of the imbalance, restoring a positive state where the imbalance has occurred. The effects of crystal healing at the emotional and psychological levels are subtle, yet are often noticed more by others than yourself!

Also see Three Steps to Crystal Healing which will tell you more about what to expect from healing with crystals.

Some Hints On Crystal Healing

Your commitment to the crystal is part of the healing process. Let the crystal do the work for you.

It is best not to wear more than two crystals at any one time if you are new to crystal healing, as many find the effects too distracting. The length of time to obtain the effects desired will depend on the quality of the crystal (size, colour, energy charge), location of wear, duration, and the crystal's appropriateness to your healing issue. Some crystals are better suited to the overall underlying problem than to just treat superficial symptoms. Select your crystal with an honest outlook on the problem.

p the moon's rays.