“Hold your hands over them and see if you feel anything that draws you in,” she suggests, or close your eyes, then open them, “and see which one really stands out,” she adds. Before you go the research route, it’s important to take some time to consider what you really need. Leavy notes that she’s had people come into her store looking for a crystal for love, for example, when it turns out what they really needed in the love department was more confidence or better communication. Leavy also advises getting familiar with specific areas of the world where there are big environmental impacts from mining, where workers are not paid fairly, where there are unsafe mining conditions, and where there are child labor issues, and intentionally being more cautious when purchasing crystals from those areas. It’s a great manifestation stone and encourages us to follow our dreams, stay positive, and walk through life with gratitude. It’s associated with the solar plexus chakra and is a powerful crystal to use during breathwork. It’s long been revered for helping to balance the body and clear the mind, and its clear color makes it a versatile stone for a variety of scenarios and situations. “For that reason, this is a great stone to start with if you’re a total beginner to the world of crystal healing,” she adds. From here, let the quartz guide your path. What is needed to manifest your goals? Create an achievable, action-oriented plan with the guidance of clear quartz. This is a great crystal for nurturing and supporting your ability to love yourself and accept love from others with an open heart. According to Leavy, “Moonstone encourages you to experience the freedom that’s found through giving in to your wild side and following your passions.” “Feel any energy that’s not for your highest good being drawn out of the chakra center, moving down your legs, and out through the soles of your feet into the earth. Move the stone up to your sacral chakra, and repeat this process while visualizing the color orange. Continue on in this way, visualizing yellow at the solar plexus chakra, green at the heart chakra, light blue at the throat chakra, indigo at the third-eye chakra, and violet at the crown chakra. Take three deep, cleansing breaths to complete the practice.” It can help you steer clear of negative people and situations by helping to bring your intuition forward so you can see the truth behind whatever is happening. Some crystals can be cleaned with water, but some can’t, depending on porosity, so it’s always best to check specific guidelines, stone by stone. It’s also important to store them in a safe place where they won’t be damaged, especially if they have any sharp edges that can easily break off. Wrap them up in a soft pouch or piece of fabric when you’re not using them, and if you display them on your altar or anywhere else in your home, be sure to clean them once in a while.
