Do you want to know how to start your crystal collection? Do you feel like the world of crystals is a little intimidating and are unsure where to begin? Well, have no fear! This blog post will help guide you on your way.
Here are 2 tips for beginners that I hope will be helpful in starting your collection.
- Figure out what type of crystals or healing stones you would like to start collecting. You can do this by looking at pictures online, reading articles about different types, or checking out books from the library about them.
- Find a reputable dealer near you or online who has an assortment of crystals so that they can point out which ones may be best for whatever problem it is that you need help with.
What Are Healing Crystals and How Do They Work?
A traditional tool for healers and spiritual seekers, crystals have been used to bring about physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing for thousands of years. Many believe crystals carry vibrational energy, which can be harnessed by those who wish to promote healing within the self or others.
They come from many different sources, including mountains, deserts, oceans, and even meteorites! Each variety has its own unique properties that help restore balance, whether it's on an energetic or physical level.
The variety among these stones offers something special depending on your need—whether it's restoring balance emotionally through energetic properties like clarity & protection against negative energies or grounding one's consciousness during stressful periods.
Crystals are not only beneficial for the physical body, but also psychologically. Each stone can be used to balance different chakras and energy systems in your energetic field, which is where you'll find a lot of blockages that lead to emotional distress.
Crystals also allow us to release these negative emotions while bringing about positive change within our self-esteem & outlook on life's challenges! Lastly, crystals have been known to help people tap into their subconscious mind so they can harness this power at will through meditation and prayer.
What Crystals Are Recommended for Beginners?
Crystals are a great way to introduce yourself to the world of energy, spirituality, and healing. They can be used for a variety of tasks in many different situations. Crystals can be found online, at gemstone shops, rockhounding areas, and some crafts stores.
Most beginners in the crystal community start with quartz, like Rose Quartz, since it is one of the most abundant and versatile crystals. Quartz is found in nature, for example, in sandstone and granite. Quartz has a range of colors, from clear to smoky gray or brown to deep purple.
There are many different types of quartz, including Pink Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Citrine, lavender quartz, smoky quartz, crackle quartz, Rainbow Quartz, and more. They are all different and have different properties that can help heal physical or emotional wounds.
Also, crystals are often labeled based on what part of the world they come from; for example, they may be called Brazilian Black Tourmaline, African Garnet, Brazilian Amethyst, Canadian Emerald, or Namibia Aquamarine.
There are many crystals out there for new collectors like Rose Quartz, Black Tourmaline, and some others we have listed here:
• Amethyst: This crystal is perfect for people who want to find inner peace. It promotes intuition and encourages emotional balance, which can help with feeling more grounded in oneself. Amethyst also has the power to remove negative energy from a space by releasing it as well as clear away mental fog and promote ideas and creativity.• Clear Quartz: One of the most versatile crystals out there, Clear Quartz is very effective in spiritual healing and meditation practices, where it can stimulate mind-body connection. It also enhances mental clarity.
• Rose Quartz: Rose quartz is also often used by people looking to reduce their stress levels and promote relaxation in their lives. It also helps with self-acceptance and forgiveness for oneself or others, which can be beneficial if someone struggles with these issues daily.
How to Cleanse Your Crystals
You may not know this, but cleansing is important when working with crystals. Cleansing helps remove any negative energy from the stone before use so that only positive vibes come through. It also ensures that each crystal is attuned specifically with its owner rather than anyone else who has handled it along the way (which could have been many people).
You don't want someone else's bad vibes interfering with yours! So make sure you cleanse your stones before using them. Here are a few methods for cleansing and charging your crystals:
Salt: This is probably the most popular way to cleanse and charge your crystals and minerals if you're looking for something simple with healing properties. Simply place your crystal on a plate, submerge it in regular sea salt. It is best to research the best length of time as it can vary.Now that you have some of the basics on how to cleanse your crystals, we recommend doing more research in this area as there are many different ways to cleanse your crystals, some ways being more suited for specific uses than others.
What to Look for When Buying Crystals
You should consider what you intend to do with the crystals before deciding which one to buy. For instance, if you are thinking about using crystal healing to ward off negative energy, then there are several you could choose; it depends on your personal situation. Whether it is for healing or just collecting, there are different ways that crystals can help you in your journey.
The 3 most important factors in identifying crystals are clarity, color, and shape.
Clarity: The clearer the crystal, the better quality in certain circumstances. Depending on the crystal, seeing the internal striations or small imperfections may reduce the value, however, some crystals such as rutile quartz are favored for the imperfections (inclusions) and cause the price to go up substantially.
For instance, if you are looking for a quartz tower, then clear quartz may be something you are interested in.However, you may also be interested in quartz towers that include beautiful inclusions such as chlorite, carbon, or other types of inclusions. Each may have its own properties, but it sometimes comes down to personal preference.
Color: The color of the crystal tells us about its chemical composition and inclusions. Most valuable crystals are clear without any impurities, but there are specific colors that indicate certain chemical compositions or other inclusions within the stone that make them unique and highly sought after by collectors.
Some minerals will also naturally form into clusters with a single dominant color, making them more valuable than individual stones in many cases.
Shape: Crystals come in many shapes, some are natural, and some are man-made. Natural shapes include: cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal, trigonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic. Man-made shapes include skull carvings, towers, spheres, pyramids, or a natural pointed crystal with a damaged point reshaped into a realistic-looking point.
Tips on Properly Storing Your Crystals
Crystals are beautiful and have so many benefits besides being hundreds to millions of years old. They can help us heal, feel better, and even improve our lives in other ways. But if you don’t take care of them properly, they won’t be able to do their job!
That’s why we want to make sure that everyone knows the best way to store crystals so they last as long as possible.
You should always keep your crystals away from direct sunlight or heat sources like fireplaces or radiators. If you put them near these things, it can cause damage over time which means your crystals won't work as well anymore! We also recommend wrapping them in a soft fabric when storing them because this helps protect against scratches. And finally, try not to handle your stones with dirty hands because this can leave dirt on the surface, which is hard for any cleaner to remove later on - especially salt water!
Some people might have heard that you could store your crystals in water - but don’t do it! Some crystals can be damaged or dissolved when in constant contact with water. Storing them with sea salt is also a big no-no because over time, corrosion and mineral build-up could be a problem, thanks to all those minerals present in saltwater. People often say things like “my grandma used to keep her stones in oil”, but do not do that. Although oils like vegetable and mineral oil will make your crystal appear rich in color, will eventually fade into a sticky, dirty mess.
So, what should you do instead? It’s really simple; we recommend storing your crystals in a clean and dry place like a box full of cotton wool or velvet. Another option is to display your collection on a shelf (just high enough so our furry friends can't get to them) or anywhere else where they can be protected from falling. Just make sure to keep the stones separate from each other because this reduces the risk of any damage.
So remember these tips next time you're thinking about where to store those precious gems of yours... and let's hope they stay safe forever!
How to Clean Your Crystals Without Damaging Them
The best way to clean your crystals is by first researching what type of crystal you have and the best cleaning agent to use with it. You must be really careful on this part because some crystals are best cleaned with dish soap and warm water or just warm water alone. Other types of crystals can be water-soluble, which means that water should not be used because your crystal can dissolve in water.
Other types of cleaning methods involve vinegar, which may work for some crystals but should not be used on crystals that contain calcite. Vinegar being an acid, can dissolve certain crystals such as the previously mentioned calcite, but not react at all to other crystals such as quartz and Lapis Lazuli.
You may even come across recipes for mixing different types of liquids like this popular amethyst cleaning solution that involves mixing 1/2 cup of water with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or grape juice and soaking amethyst for up to 8 hours. Although there are many ways to clean your crystals, it's best to do your research or reach out to someone knowledgeable in that area.
Remember the golden rule when attempting to do any cleaning the first time. Always start with a test in a small inconspicuous spot of your crystal. Once you have determined that your chosen method won’t damage your crystal, you can continue with the cleaning.
Where to Find Deals When Looking to Buy Crystals
The crystal marketplace has been thriving for a long time. On the one hand, some people have relied on crystals as an alternative medicine or therapy to treat their physical and mental ailments. On the other hand, some consumers buy them as a decorative item or jewelry to show off their wealth.
There are a few avenues you can explore for buying crystals at wholesale prices. You can find these items on sale often at stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Home Goods. However, you will have to act fast because they usually do not stay on shelves for long periods of time. You can also get discounts by joining wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam's Club where all members receive discounted prices on certain items- including jewelry that may be made of quartz, turquoise, aquamarine, topaz, rubies and other gem-quality crystals.
There are many online stores that sell crystals, minerals, crystal grids, and fossils at low prices. Online stores have the benefit of being able to sell their products without having to pay rent and not needing the overhead that physical stores require. Often these stores import large quantities of crystals which cuts down on the total cost and allows the merchant to sell to the public at discount prices.
Another way to save money on your next crystal purchase is by joining Facebook groups or other social media channels dedicated to crystals. There you can often find great deals or the occasional coupon for a percentage off your purchase. Coupon sites are great for finding ways to save money on every purchase.
Whether you are collecting crystals for healing power or just want your own crystal collection, you're starting a journey that will bring you happiness for years to come.
*The views expressed in this article should not be substituted for medical advice. We recommend doing additional research in order to evaluate your available options before making decision to follow any tips or advice in this article.