Crystals go way back to the beginning of man time among different cultures all over the world. The Ancient Egyptians used stones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, carnelian, emerald and clear quartz in their jewelry primarily for protection and health. The Ancient Greeks, on the other hand, used crystals in a different way. They were known for rubbing hematite all over their bodies before battle, an iron ore associated with the god of war, which purportedly made themselves invulnerable. Ancient China, South America, and New Zealand were known to praise jade, yet, each culture used it in a different way. These are just a few examples of cultures using crystals for salvation in various ways. Over time these traditions were passed on from generation to generation and evolved into what is now practiced as an alternative therapy.
New Age Movement
For some people, crystals are just a piece of jewelry with no significant meaning but for others, it’s a way of life. In this day and age, crystals are used for self-help and are most powerful during meditation. It is believed that crystals channel certain energies and vibrations in your mind and body that can ultimately heal you mentally, physically and emotionally.
Every crystal is assigned to different properties, however, there are crystals you may just gravitate towards for your own reasons, it all depends on the eye of the beholder. The properties in each crystal are meant to take out any negative or out of balance vibrations correlating to different energy centers. In mediation, healing crystals serve as a tool to help connect our conscious, as well as our subconscious thoughts, and feelings with our body’s energy– or chakra. You can think of it as a way to enhance your meditation. When people say they feel the power in the crystal, they are feeling their own body's electric field, or some people refer to it as their ora.
The use of crystals goes beyond meditation. Some people wear them in a necklace for protection, some place them around the house to radiate positive energy, and others keep it in their pocket for luck. It’s truly up to you on how you use it and there’s no right or wrong way to use them. It's a personal thing you work out for yourself.
Not everyone is as sensitive to the sensations crystals supposedly give off during meditation. According to Dr. Christopher French, a psychologist at Goldsmith's College, it comes down to your beliefs of the spiritual world. Dr. French conducted a study that showed people with paranormal beliefs were more inclined to feel tingles and sensations when meditating with crystals. He also argued that crystals themselves are not “magical”, it's all in the power of suggestion. In this study, 80 people were selected to meditate for five minutes while holding a quartz crystal. Half of the people were given genuine quartz, while the other half were given a fake quartz. Only six out of the 80 did not experience at least some kind of sensation. Dr. French concluded, "the fact that the same effects were found with both genuine and fake crystals undermines any claims that crystals have mysterious powers which they are claimed to have.”
The power of crystals may not be scientifically proven, but the mind is a powerful thing. Perhaps it’s the placebo effect that makes people think crystals radiate certain feelings. Either way, there’s no doubt that crystals make many people feel at peace in some way. If you are looking for ways to connect with your mind and body, crystal healing might be for you, but there’s definitely no need to break the bank.
Sources:
https://www.crystalage.com/crystal_information/crystal_history/
https://www.energymuse.com/about-gemstones
https://time.com/4969680/do-crystals-work/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1328277/New-Age-crystal-power-is-all-in-the-mind.html