Crystals and meditation seem to be like peas in a pod here in the west.
It’s not like that in the wisdom traditions that bring us meditation, but a newer intuition with its roots in the American cultural revolution of the 1960s has put crystals into the same space that earlier traditions put singing bowls, malas, rosaries, and sacred clothing.
Crystals seem to fit right in with the idea that we are all manifestations of the same consciousness. Something about crystalline formations speaks to our souls about the structure of the natural world. We can see and feel the truth of order and wisdom in the geometric faces of our mineral friends.
Meditation is a practice dedicated to understanding the truth. When we look within, we find a colorful kaleidoscope of emotions, intentions, thoughts, and ideas in which the same thing can take on different hues and angles from our broadening perspective.
Sometimes in meditation, we see a reflection of ourselves; other times, we see right through ourselves and into the fractal of consciousness beyond. Because of this seemingly obvious fit, people often ask what crystals are best for meditation and how to use them.
Using Crystals for Meditation
The first thing to mention is that crystals are objects within awareness like any other. In a certain sense, it may seem that they have no special powers or properties at all. However, they do have specific colors, and the color is a unique property, isn’t it? You won’t find any green citrine because citrine is orange to yellow by definition.
Crystals also have internal structures that reflect the unique arrangement of the molecules they are made of. It is common knowledge that quartz has been used in radios to transmit frequencies for quite some time now—another unique property. Optical calcite refracts light in a way that produces a double image. Crystals are used in laser technology to amplify the intensity of light energy that passes through them.
While certain types of gems such as amethyst, quartz, and citrine share common
properties among them, the crystals found in nature are as varied and individually unique as people. For this reason, it is suggested to choose crystals for meditation based on a few different factors.
First and foremost, you should feel drawn to the stone and comfortable with it, or perhaps even excited by it. Meditating with a stone is, in some ways, like meditating with another person. Its presence is known to you, and it affects the comings and goings of forms in your awareness. Pick a stone that you have some kind of feeling about, rather than just picking any stone at random.
Second, I like to use the chakra system to help guide my choices when dealing with crystals for meditation. If you believe that crystals and stones have metaphysical properties, then it’s no great leap to associate those properties with the color system of the chakras. You may not feel a physical response in any particular chakra, but the subtle qualities of your experience may offer insight as to the corresponding chakra.
Third, decide how you will use the stones or crystals in meditation. If you plan on physically holding a stone while meditating, you probably don’t want anything too large or bulky. Larger stones can be placed nearby if you feel drawn to include them in your practice.
A basic understanding of the major chakras is definitely beneficial in guiding your
crystal choices. For instance, if you are seeking stones that may help with feeling more centered and grounded, then stones that correspond to the root chakra are ideal.
Getting started with crystal meditation
Generally speaking, the best way to get started with crystal meditation is to find a single stone or crystal that interests you and sit with it exclusively. Don’t overload yourself with ten different stones at once—especially when you are just starting out. That would be like attending a noisy concert and trying to have a conversation when everyone is yelling. No one can really hear what’s being said.
If you spend time working with each stone individually, you will begin to recognize the qualities of that particular crystal or stone for you. One on one is the best way to get to know someone, and crystals and stones are no different.
If you are looking for an excellent guidebook to help you learn the meanings and properties of crystals and stones, stop by Evolve and pick up the Book of Stones by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian. It covers a great variety of crystals and stones in a way that is easy to understand. If you already have that one in your collection, we have many more books on crystals and stones available.
May you find great joy and wonder as you explore the inner world via the vibrant path of crystal meditation!
