But is that really true? Is anything truly inanimate? Sure, a rock may sit there and not dance or sing, but as I have continued to work with crystals, I find that they are indeed endowed with life and/or spirit. Do they have a consciousness? Maybe not in the sense of the word as we know it, but I do feel that they have been infused with energies throughout their life, be it from their development into being (time, minerals, energy, water) or by those who imprinted their consciousness into the crystals themselves.

So let’s break this down a bit.

How Crystals are formed-A Brief History

The Geological/Scientific explanation is that crystals are the most stable form of matter in the Universe. This is due to their formation (birth) within the planet. The crystal’s journey begins deep below the planet’s surface where extremely hot fluids circulate (Hydrothermal veins) or where lava (molten rock ejected to the surface) is present.

Crystallization occurs when layers of the planet’s mantle, fractures, allowing heated gases and liquids, forced by extreme pressure, to rise towards the surface.

This extremely hot “soup” also contains other elements such as water, oxygen, sodium, aluminum, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron that have dissolved and merged with the other materials being pushed to the surface.

As this mixture rises and passes through cooler, less active layers of rock, crystals begin to grow in crevices and cavities. The crystals will form depending on specific environmental conditions and mixture of these elements.

Other conditions include temperature, pressure, time and space. Exposure to the planetary elements such as wind, water, ice and light, also play their part in dictating formation, growth, shape, color, hardness and size.

The Metaphysical/Spiritual/Energetic explanation is quite a bit simpler – Each action of formation has energy. Each mineral element has energy. Each planetary element contains energy. The location where the crystal is formed also contains energy and contributes an important piece of the puzzle. Different areas of the planet hold different and unique energies, which will affect the crystal in its growth as well.

From “harvest” to your hands

A crystal has matured in its location and inevitably someone will find it and “harvest” it. There could be hundreds of crystals located in a mine or found buried in the Earth. The way it is harvested also imprints the crystal with energy. It may be blasted out, dug out, handled hundreds of times, washed with acid to clean it, packed and shipped, cut, tumbled or polished…the energies it comes in contact with are many. To those who feel crystals are inanimate objects, this is the normal procedure for processing rocks. To one who uses crystals in a more spiritual/energy type capacity, this creates energy that may be jagged and unbalanced.

And this is why we of the living crystal energy mind-set tend to cleanse our crystals when they arrive. To remove and smooth out any energies from before the crystal came to us.

How does Crystal Energy work?

How does crystal energy work? Very simply, the energy signature held within a crystal carries a vibration. It may be a low, grounding, Earthy vibration or a higher spiritual one (and everything in between as well).

Color also carries an energy signature, which adds to the crystals vibration.

We choose crystals for their energy based on where OUR energy is at that moment. If you are feeling blue (sad, depressed, down) almost inevitably, you are drawn to a crystal from the blue color family. Why? Because blue crystals are known to be of a higher energy vibration. When you pick up that blue crystal, your own vibration is immediately raised to match the vibration of the crystal, making you feel better.

The energy vibration of the crystal merges with our own energy vibration.

We use crystals to help with specific issues, be it physical, emotional, spiritual. We choose these crystals for the energy vibration that they carry. We, in effect, absorb the energy of the crystal into our own energy field.

Just like we ingest food, which in turn is absorbed into our body. Crystal energy is absorbed into our energy vibration.

Imprinting

Crystals freely give of their energies. No judgments, no conditions. The energy is pure, loving, and unconditional.

They will also absorb the energy around them, again with no judgments.

There was a time that I would become irked when someone mentioned that his or her crystal was sad or hurt if it was not utilized for a time. Or that it was jealous when a new crystal was purchased and brought home. “A crystal does not have feelings!” I would remark. “Feelings denote consciousness which denotes ego and a crystal most definitely does not have ego.” I would continue.

While this may be a sound judgment (or not–It was then that I felt the need to go pick up a crystal to help me with my judgment issues), what I came to realize is that the crystal could be exhibiting ego energy that was imprinted into it by the caretaker; therefore it was a mirror to the caretaker’s energy. The crystal is a vessel of energy storage. So if the caretaker was hurt by someone who was ignoring them in their life, this energy would be infused into the crystal as well and a comparison between the two would be formed.

Through the interaction with the crystal, a caretaker will learn about his or her own energy vibration. And in the learning will come those amazing ah’ha moments that will inevitably assist in growth and learning. Vibration to vibration.

Created by Source for Source

In this “human” experience, Crystals can be our teachers. They are amazing tools that will assist us in learning, healing, and growing within our own energy vibrations. They are presented to us exactly when we need them and for the purpose we need them for (whether we consciously understand it or not). Energy to energy, one to the other.

It has been said that Source (the Divine, God, Goddess, higher self, whatever you choose to call higher consciousness) created so that it could know itself.

For me, crystals are a reminder of Source and what we, in this human form, aspire to remember. It is a way to touch Source, to remember what we truly are. A way to connect with the Higher Self and commune with loving, divine energy of Source. And for me, that is how crystal energy works.”

Copyright MoonCave Crystals 11/2010

As I grew into my crystal path, I noticed a very specific pattern with beginners, including myself. I simply took what was written as fact and used the information to aid me in choosing crystals for a variety of issues. I also noticed something else. While a specific crystal may have worked for one person one way, it did not necessarily work for me in the same way and vice versa. This led me to ask questions and search for the answers.

I came to a very simple, yet deeply resonating conclusion. Crystal books are wonderful. They are a guideline. They offer suggestions on your journey. They are not, however, written in stone.

Crystal books are very general and for good reason. Everyone has their own, unique energy signature/vibration/frequency. Since the author does not know you or your energy vibration personally, they cannot be specific to you.

Think of it like this–your birth sign is Leo. You read the Sunday paper horoscope for Leo each week. But that horoscope is very general . It has to be, as it is not specifically written for you. It may resonate, but in a rather loose association. You cannot really get a proper horoscope reading unless you offer a professional with specific information. They can then offer a reading/chart that uses this specific information to give you a clearer picture of who you are, where you are, or suggestions on where you need to be.

Books are the same. They simply cannot address you and your unique energy specifically.

I am not saying that you should not use these books, not at all! What I am saying is this. If you feel very drawn to a specific crystal or stone, yet the book does not support your choice, do not be so quick to put the crystal back down. Being drawn to a specific piece is your intuition at work. It is your unique energy vibration connecting with that crystal. Once you get the hang of this, you will learn to trust yourself to choose what is best for you.

This is why I specifically offer several suggestions when anyone asks me what crystal is good for an issue. You will notice my book, The Gemstone Healing Guide, A Healing Apothecary, does the same. It gives you the opportunity to look through the suggestions, find pictures of these pieces and make the choice that is right for you. I will never say, “You need/must have THIS”. I believe no one else should do it either. Guidance is sharing of knowledge, not insisting that you listen to me and not your own intuition.

So, if you are guided, please feel free to contact me and ask any crystal question you like. I will be more than happy to share, offer suggestions or discuss how that particular crystal works for me.

The main focus here is that you find your own voice and learn to become self empowered, so that you may choose the crystals that are uniquely right for you. I fully and totally support you on your crystal journey.

All for the Love of Crystals,
Mira