What's the deal with Crystals?

Ok, ya had me at 'Crystals'. I have been drawn to shiny things as long as I can remember. Jewelry. Glitter. The smooth luster of glass or enamel. I'm also intrigued by Geology, which goes hand in hand with the minerals and gems we can get right out of the dirt! Even with my ongoing curiosity about crystals, I haven't always known how to use them. How does one 'use' a crystal. You don't throw them at anyone. You shouldn't beat it against a surface for any reason. They aren't what most of us would consider 'tools'. The colors and textures of different stones mesmerize me. The cool feeling of Hematite in my hand. Or the soapy, warm way pink opal feels. But as far as energies and using them in healing are concerned, I was in the dark until about a year and a half ago.

When I found Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, I was looking for a place to get crystals and I ended up buying a few candles and a couple of crystals to take with me on a trip to Estes Park. I was literally going to the mountains, by myself, for a weekend, to reset and release the icky crap I felt in my gut (sadness, confusion and anxiety) and refocus for the new year of 2022. This was a healing weekend that I didn't think of as such! When I was in the store, I was told about all the classes taught there so I grabbed a calendar and planned to attend something at some point. Two months later, I attended my first Crystal Alchemy class and later that month I was hired to work on DYSG's management team.

The Crystal Alchemy series has been a game changer for me! Each class, we learned about a group of crystals for a single, common purpose, like Healing, or Self Love, or Confidence. Along with learning about the crystals, we got recipes for crystal grids, herbal teas and essential oil blends to support the energy for that month. AND, a workbook to take home! ANNNND an online class as well! The value is incredible. But again, I digress. This is about me lol.

Learning about the energies of crystals helped me to be able to 'use' crystals when I needed different shifts in my energy. I had the very basic notion that you're usually drawn to what you need at the time. But it's way deeper than that! I would reference my Crystal Alchemy books when I needed support to relax or when I needed a boost of confidence. Or when I needed to focus on different tasks. Usually after a class, I'd buy a few crystals from the store anyway, so Ihave a pretty nice collection at this point! I learned how to make crystal grids to amplify the energies of each of the crystals in the grid. I learned which crystals are ok to put into water and which should be kept dry. Which ones will fade in the sun and which ones can bring us joy. Now, I have a big chunk of Black Tourmaline at the front door of my house, to protect us from negative energy coming through the door. I have Selenite scattered everywhere, to help clear our space and bring in the light. I keep Amethyst next to my bed to promote relaxation and rest. And I FEEL the difference! I even tuck a crystal in my bra sometimes, because I think they are more effective, directly against the skin. I travel with them, to keep us safe and protected. Crystals are a MAJOR part of my life! Hell, I even put crystals in my potted plants!

I know there is a lot of confusion over 'energies' and some people tend to think the worst of ideas they don't understand. In my humble opinion, fear springs from misunderstanding and it can often be traced back to a simple difference in vocabulary. Some use the terms Manifesting and Meditation and are labelled as 'woo woo' or some other stupid term. Those two words could be interchanged with Devotion or Prayer. Sacred is another word for Holy. But using the term 'Sacred' in a class title or as a descriptor inspires good ole fashioned fear in the hearts of many, simply because they associate it incorrectly with something dark or evil. And energy could be equated to wavelengths or vibrations. Every physical object emits wavelengths that help us see its color and texture. That, my friend, is energy! Crystals, colors and sounds all have different energies as well and none of that is evil.

My point here is to encourage folks not to immediately assign a nasty label to someone using terminology they just don't understand. Fear can close a door in our minds that, if left open, could lead to beautiful thoughts, understanding and acceptance. Closed minds miss out on so much in life. Please don't let fear hold you back from growing! Explore! Do your research and listen openly when you ask for an explanation of something that scares you. Crystals are all the good things!

Shine on, my friends! Spread your sparkle far and wide :)

xoxo, Carrie