Throughout history, many civilizations have used crystals, whether as symbols of power, evidence of status and wealth, symbols of love and affection, amulets for protection, or as tools for initiation, crystal therapy and crystal healing. 

For example, crystals have historical associations with many religions.  In the Bible, Aaron, the first priest of the Israelites, is described as having carnelians in his breastplate, and angels gave King Solomon a ring of crystals representing the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water.  Islam has the Black Stone of Mecca, which is touched by all pilgrims and which Muslims consider to be the right hand of God on Earth.

The first recorded evidence of “healing” crystals is in an Egyptian papyrus dating form around 1600BCE, which gives instructions for using crystals therapeutically.  The Egyptians make necklaces of lapis lazuli, malachite and red jasper for sick people to wear, believing that the stones would help to banish their illnesses.  They also ground down lapis lazuli, and even used it in a surgical procedure known as “trepanning” – implanting the crystals in the forehead at the brow chakra, to encourage the person to develop psychic skills.

The ancient Greeks, too, recognized the holistic healing properties of crystals, as did many other civilizations over the centuries, including the Mayans, the Celts, the Native North Americans and the Aborigines.  During the 16^th century, wealthy Europeans even took ground crystal powders as curative medicine.

When in 1746 the English apothecary and author Sir John Hill wrote that is was the minerals in the crystals hat accounted for their healing properties, he was echoing the more scientific approach that was becoming more prevalent in medicine at that time.  Soon, doctors just treated the symptoms of illness rather than treating the person as a whole, as they had done previously.

It was not until the 1980’s that Marcel Vogel, an American research scientist, carried out pioneering work that suggested it was the perfect structure of the crystals that could heal through their ability to store, amplify, convert, and repair subtle energy.

COMMON CRYSTAL FORMS

While the basic atomical structure of crystals is always the same, the stones come in many different shapes and forms – some natural and some man-made.  The most useful forms for crystal therapy and crystal healing are listed below;

Chunks – This form looks just like a lump of rock.  Exuding a soft, diffuse energy, it is good for absorbing electromagnetic stress from computers and other office equipment.  Chunks are relatively inexpensive to buy from crystal retailers.  Rose quartz is particularly common in this form.

Clusters – Are formed by groups of small crystals that join together.  They are particularly good at radiating energizing, calming or cleansing energy into any room or environment, depending on the type of crystal you use.  Crystals that commonly grow as clusters are amethyst and clear quartz.

Tumble stones – Are created by tumbling small crystals in a special machine with an abrasive until they become smooth and shiny.  Most crystals are available in this form, which makes them both inexpensive and convenient to carry around.  You can place a stone in your pocket to keep its energy with you wherever you go, or to act as a useful reminder of something important every time you touch it.

Shaped and faceted crystals – Crystals are sometimes cut and polished into shapes, such as spheres, pyramids, obelisks, and hearts, which make them very attractive as ornaments.  If stones are cut well, their energy is amplified by their shape.  For example, a sphere has a protective quality, while a heart shape projects love.