Crystals 101: A Beginner's Guide to Earth's Magic
Imagine holding a piece of the Earth's magic in your hand—millions of years of growth and progress, a tiny rock brimming with energy that flows through your fingertips. Now, what if I told you that accessing this enchanting magic is incredibly easy? Welcome to the captivating world of crystals—beautiful, sparkly, and filled with magical properties that can enhance your witchcraft practice and infuse your life with positivity.
The world of crystals and gemstones is an exciting one, with so many beautiful minerals to discover, the first crystal you buy will begin an endless collection. I began my journey into this world at the age of 13, sparked by a tiny amethyst crystal from a science museum's gift shop during a school trip. From that moment on, every outing, holiday, or school excursion became an opportunity to seek more crystals (back in 2003, internet shopping was not yet a widespread option). Today, nearly two decades later, my collection has array of towers, tumbles, and more. That little amethyst crystal was the catalyst for my deep interest in all things witchy.
But what exactly are crystals, which ones should you buy, and how do they relate to witchcraft? With an abundance of choices for both crystals and crystal shops, it can feel overwhelming when you're starting your collection. But don’t worry, this blog post can help! We'll explore a brief history of crystals, their significance in witchcraft, and introduce five beginner-friendly crystals to kickstart your own collection.
What are crystals?
Simply speaking, crystals are rock formations that occur naturally over thousands to millions of years and undergo various transformations. Speaking a little more scientifically (and I’m not a scientist, this description comes from the Britannica website), crystals are a solid material in which the component atoms are arranged in a definite pattern, and their surface regularity reflects their internal symmetry. In simple terms, this means that crystals have a specific shape and structure determined by how their atoms are organized. But what are crystals used for? A great many things, in fact! Apart from the obvious uses such as crystal healing, art, and decoration, did you know that crystals are also utilized in technology? Quartz is a popular crystal for this purpose and is used in watches, clocks, and radios.
How are Crystals Relevant to Witchcraft?
Crystals and witchcraft share a long and intertwined history. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Native American cultures, among others, have a rich tradition of using crystals for magical and ritual purposes. These mystical gems were employed as amulets in healing rituals and divination practices. In the modern-day witchcraft scene, crystals and gemstones remain just as popular. With crystal shops becoming more accessible and people proudly displaying their collections on social media, crystals have become a staple in contemporary witchcraft.
How Can I Use Crystals in Witchcraft?
There are myriad ways to incorporate crystals into your witchcraft practice. Here are a few popular uses:
- Spell work and Rituals: From channelling energy and creating spell jars to manifesting intentions, crystals offer a fantastic boost to your magical endeavours. With a vast variety of crystals available, finding one that aligns with your intention is easily achievable. Charge crystals with specific energy during significant astrological events like the full moon to amplify their properties.
- Representation: Many practitioners use crystals as decorative elements to symbolize specific intentions, elements, deities, or sabbats. For example, moss agate represents the element of earth perfectly.
- Meditation and Manifestation: Crystals with calming and healing energies, such as rose quartz, are ideal for meditation. Meditating and manifesting with crystals help you focus your intentions more effectively.
- Carrying Crystals: Incorporating the magic of crystals can be as simple as carrying them in your pocket or wearing them as jewellery. Having crystals with you throughout the day allows you to attune to their energy and integrate their properties into your daily life. For protection, carry black tourmaline or tigers' eye, or for a motivation boost, carry citrine or carnelian.
- Divination: Crystals can significantly enhance your divination practice. Using crystal runes, crystal pendulums, or keeping crystals near your divination tools boosts intuition and psychic energy. Crystals like amethyst (placed under your pillow for sleep and dream work) and moonstone (with positive divination qualities) can be particularly inspiring.
These are some of the most popular methods of using crystals in witchcraft, but the possibilities are endless. Feel free to follow your imagination and use crystals in a way that resonates with you and your magical practice.
Choosing and Purchasing Crystals
There is an abundance of choices when it comes to purchasing crystals, from social media to brick-and-mortar shops, making crystals easily accessible everywhere. However, navigating through this vast selection can be like entering a minefield—how do you ensure you're buying the genuine article, and how can you make sure your purchase is ethical? Here are some tips for choosing crystals:
- Trust Your Intuition: Follow your instincts and choose crystals that resonate with you. Whether you're drawn to a crystal's energy, its properties appeal to you, or you simply find it beautiful, these are all valid reasons to make a purchase. If you're unsure about where to begin, the list at the end of this blog post should offer some helpful guidance.
- Spotting Fakes: Identifying fake crystals can be trickier online than in person. Real crystals usually feel cold to the touch. Beware of any unnatural-looking colours or overly perfect appearances, as these might indicate a fake. Researching the price is also essential; if a crystal is priced way below its value, it's likely not authentic. My friend Korin over at Luna Amatores has a fantastic blog post on how to spot fakes, complete with helpful image comparisons. You can find the post here
- Purchase from Reputable Sellers: Whenever possible, consider supporting small businesses. Check reviews and ensure that photos are consistent if you're shopping online. Reputable sellers will have a good understanding of their crystals and should be able to trace them back to their source, while also adhering to ethical practices. Some sellers even provide ethicality statements, much like Luna Amatores does
- Have Fun with It: Remember that choosing crystals should be an enjoyable and exciting experience. Don't feel pressured to buy everything at once or invest in numerous types of crystals immediately. Starting with a small tumble stone or a tower is perfectly fine, if it brings you happiness.
Like I said above, there is an abundance of choice, but I’m going to share some of my favourites with you. All these shops are in the UK, and I’ve either ordered from them before or worked with them.
Luna Amatores: One of my absolute favourite crystal shops, and I think half of my collection is from Korin at this point. Korin and I met around 2020 online when I purchased a smoky quartz tower from her Facebook group. Luna Amatores was an online store at that point; however, she’s now running her own shop in Carlisle. Crystals are still the main attraction, but you can now find a whole host of goodies in her shop from incense to skincare to chocolate. One of my favourite things about Luna Amatores (other than the stunning crystals) is that Korin is a huge supporter of other small businesses. There are so many amazing small brands stocked in her shop (and you might find some of my crystal cards dotted around too!).
Love Jessica: Another beautiful UK business I absolutely love is Love Jessica. At Love Jessica, you can find an array of beautiful crystals, self-care items, jewellery, and my personal favourite - crystal kits, which are perfect if you’re just starting out with crystals. Jessica’s crystal kits are designed with specific intentions in mind. For example, the fortune and success kit contain citrine, pyrite, and green Aventurine, all crystals that hold these properties. Jessica has so many options from protection to happiness, even a new mum crystal kit. She also has little zodiac crystal kits which each come with a corresponding zodiac crystal and an information card, which again is a great option if you aren’t sure where to start.
AMA Crystals: You can literally feel the good vibes radiating from AMA’s website. One of the things I love the most about Olaia’s website is the stunning photographs. As someone who can’t take photos to save my life, Olaia has a real gift for capturing the beauty and the spirit of the crystals in her photographs. AMA has some stunning statement pieces, as well as some beautiful smaller pieces, like this gorgeous blue fluorite tower here. I could look at these all day! If you’re interested in crystal grids too, AMA offers an amethyst crystal grid starter kit here, again perfect for beginners. If you want to be bombarded with beautiful crystals, I highly recommend following Olaia’s Facebook page.
So which crystals should I start with?
It’s up to you, as I said above - just follow your intuition! However, if you still need a helping hand, look at this list below. I’ve chosen these crystals as they cover a wide range of properties, they’re budget-friendly, and readily available.
Quartz: Quartz is the ideal first crystal - a great all-rounder. It's versatile, budget-friendly, and possesses a whole host of magical properties such as cleansing, healing, and protection. Quartz can also store, transmit, and amplify the energy of other crystals. It’s sometimes known as 'The Master Healer,' and it’s easy to see why, with its multitude of properties and uses. Another great use for quartz is in meditation, as it can help balance all your chakras and provide a sense of calm.
Amethyst: My personal favourite, amethyst is a very spiritual and relaxing crystal. Many people use amethyst to invoke a sense of calm and relaxation - you can even keep it by your bedside for a restful night’s sleep. Amethyst is also great for divination work, as it can help boost your intuition, access your inner consciousness, and open your third eye. You could even work with an amethyst pendulum for an extra boost to your divination skills.
Rose Quartz: Another calming and beautiful stone, rose quartz is perfect if you’d like something with a calm and loving energy. Rose quartz promotes healing, harmony, and self-love, as well as forgiveness and compassion. If you need a little help managing your emotions, meditation with rose quartz can bring a sense of peace and healing. Alternatively, you could use rose quartz alongside a ritual bath to release stress, anxiety, or any negative emotions you might be struggling with. Rose quartz can also help in dealing with struggling relationships as it promotes forgiveness, compassion, and understanding.
Tiger’s Eye: Tiger’s Eye is a very underrated crystal in my opinion, as it has a wide variety of useful properties, making it a good starter crystal for protection, grounding, and good luck. If you’re feeling a bit out of sorts or drained, meditating with tiger’s eye or carrying a piece with you can help you stabilize your emotions. Tiger’s Eye can also be beneficial in situations where you might need a little extra confidence, such as job interviews.
Orange Calcite: Another underrated crystal in my opinion is orange calcite. It’s bright, cheerful, and has a multitude of useful properties, such as boosting motivation and creativity, promoting inspiration, and bringing a sense of balance. It’s a great little crystal to keep in your workspace or carry with you daily. It’s such a joyful and happy stone and is also good for enhancing mental clarity.
Whichever crystals you decide to choose to start your journey, you can’t go wrong if you follow your intuition. And if you need any help, I have a whole range of crystal goodies here to help you expand your knowledge. Thank you for joining me for this blog post, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know on my social media or in these comments which crystal is your favourite—and please go and show the small businesses I’ve shared on this post some love on their social media. See you on Friday for a look at how our range of journals can help you on your magical journey.
Lots of love,
Laura