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Writer's pictureMellissa Spence

Crystals For Beginners

amethyst crystals, rough crystals, tumblestones

No matter if you are just starting on your journey or whether you are a seasoned crystal-collecting enthusiast, there is such a vast amount of information you can learn or refresh your knowledge on when it comes to crystals.


Over the years, we have encountered lots of different questions from those curious to discover more about these beautiful minerals.


Therefore I have created this simple guide to give an overview of what most commonly gets asked.


Read on to expand your knowledge when it comes to working with these remarkable stones and appreciating them in all of their glory!


To get the ball rolling, I will kick things off with the most frequently asked question that I have encountered thus far...


What do I do with crystals?

Handful of polished crystals

So you've got yourself some pretty gemstones...now what?

There's a vast amount of ways you can work with your crystals. From placing them on key areas of your body for healing to making moon water and crystal elixirs. From personalised spell work and manifestation to creating crystal grids... The list really is endless! But for now, here are some of the highlights...


  • Meditate with them Holding a crystal in your hand is a wonderful way to amplify and enhance your meditative practices. It is also a great method for tapping into and blending with its energy.


  • Infuse your bathwater Rose Quartz is just perfect to go in your bath as it imbues the water with all that lovely goodness, creating a magical ambience of unconditional self-love. Who doesn’t want to soak in a bath of that?! There are lots of other crystals that can help you manifest a specific desired effect too; such as Citrine for an added boost of self-confidence before an important meeting! *Please always double-check that a crystal is safe to be submerged in water before doing so.

  • Sleep with them You heard me! Popping crystals under your pillow can be a real game-changer. My go-to for a great night's sleep has got to be Amethyst and I will recommend this until the cows come home! Certain crystals, like Lapis Lazuli, can enhance lucid dreaming and can also help to activate the third eye chakra whilst you are well away in the land of nod. Others (such as Labradorite) can also trigger astral travel experiences too!


  • Carry them around with you Crystals are extremely beneficial to have around you so that they are working with your energy as much as possible; be that in your pocket, in your handbag, or even down your bra if you wear one! Just having them close by is ideal - that's why a lot of people will wear their crystals in the form of necklaces, bracelets, etc.

The main thing is to have fun and experiment with what works (and equally what doesn't work) for you!



How many crystals do I need?

great selection for polished tumblestones

ALLLLL THE CRYSTALS! Nah, in all seriousness, you can have as many or as little as you personally feel is necessary. Even just one individual crystal that you feel drawn to can be enough. And if you are at the very start of your crystal journey, it could be an idea to start small so as not to overwhelm yourself - and then build upon your collection as you go once you have familiarised yourself with the crystal/s you have.

I will warn you though - they do get pretty addictive! I started with one Rose Quartz tumble stone, and I became so obsessed that we now have a house AND a shop full of them!



Which are the best starter crystals?

amethyst, clear quartz, green aventurine tumblestones

If you are venturing down the path of your spirituality, it's a pretty safe bet that you have heard of chakras. But if not, these are the energy centres which we all possess that run down our spines and impact every aspect of our health and well-being.

Crystals are an amazing aid to keep these chakras working in tip-top shape. So when getting your collection up and running it would be a good idea to aim to eventually have each of the chakras covered!

Here are a few examples of which crystals work particularly well with each individual chakra...


Throat ~ Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, Angelite

Heart ~ Rose Quartz, Green Aventurine, Malachite

Solar Plexus ~ Citrine, Tiger's Eye, Golden Healer Quartz

Sacral ~ Carnelian, Orange Calcite, Sunstone


All of these are great to get your crystal journey kicked off as they each cover a huge amount of ground when it comes to your mind, body and soul. But please bear in mind that these are just examples, and by no means is this list exhaustive! I implore you to experiment and branch out to your heart's content at the MANY other crystals that are to be had out there!



How do I cleanse my crystals?

candle with a spell bottle, selection of tumblestones

From burying them in the earth to allowing a pendulum to swing in circles above your crystals, there are SO many techniques when it comes to cleansing.

Many people like to use the power of sound by tapping into certain frequencies that the likes of a singing bowl can emit. But bear in mind that even playing a sound healing video on YouTube can do the trick too!

Also holding your crystals under running water is a good option - just ensure that they are water-safe first and that they don't rate 5 or lower on the Mohs scale. Always use an alternative method if you are at all in doubt.

My personal favourite method has to be with sage though; whether that be a smudge stick or even just with the smoke of white sage incense.

However, the absolute main key here is your intention, that’s why visualisation works a treat! (And for this, you don’t need any external tools either). In this method, you hold the crystal in your hand and envision pure white light surrounding and forming a shield of protection around your crystal. Then imagine it soaking up every ounce of this cleansing energy. And voila! You have a squeaky clean crystal ready to work with and for you!



How do I programme them?

amethyst cluster in hands

When you have finished your cleansing procedure, it is time to give your crystal a specific purpose! Start by holding it in your dominant hand to form a connection and infuse it with your energy. 

Once you feel that a good connection has been established, set your intention about how you want your crystal to work with you - either in your head or out loud. e.g. "Please help me to stay motivated... Please support me in building upon my self-worth... Please protect me from negative energies".

After your intention has been set, hold your crystal in your non-dominant hand to receive its energy.



Can crystals get wet?

lit candle in a bowl of water

Water can really complement and even amplify the healing effects of some crystals.

The majority of the Quartz family are water-safe; so that's the likes of your Amethyst, Citrine, Rose Quartz etc. (But NOT Tangerine Quartz!)

Agates are also good to go when submerged in water, and Aventurines for that matter - which is another form of Quartz.

It is worth noting though that some crystals can only go in water for short periods; such as Moonstone, Carnelian and Jasper - so briefly holding under running water will be fine.

And then we have those that do NOT do well in water at all due to their brittleness, Mohs scale, and chemical composition. Their structure isn't strong enough to withstand moisture which can make them disintegrate, rust, or even worse, become toxic (hello, Malachite!)

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that many stones that end in 'ite' are not water-friendly; like, Calcite, Kyanite, Kunzite, Angelite, Azurite, and Selenite…you get the gist!

But if you are at all doubtful, my advice would be to air on the side of caution and keep those you are unsure of dry and moisture-free.



How do I pick out my crystals?

fantastic selection of rough clusters of crystals

Nobody should be dictating to you which crystal you should and should not get - certainly not me! It is a highly personal choice when picking out which crystals you want, and it should remain as such. This is because your soul is the very best guidance system there is and will never steer you wrong. So trust in it and go exactly where it leads you.

And honestly, this is the fun part! Allow yourself to be drawn to what speaks to you; if a particular colour, shape or feel magnetically draws you in then you take that baby home with you right away and do not look back! And if there is too much choice and you are struggling to decide between a couple of them, hold one in each hand, and close your eyes to feel out which one is calling to you.


rose quartz and amethyst in a bowl

And that's all folks - well, for now anyway! Hopefully, this has given you some food for thought when it comes to crystals and how to make the best of them.


Please bear in mind that everything you read in this blog is just my personal perspective so it should not be taken as gospel. I encourage you to continue to deepen your knowledge by taking advantage of all the amazing sources of information there are out there. Keep your research fun and form your own unique ways to work with your gemstones.


But most of all ENJOY your journey into the wonderful world of crystals!


selection of polished and rough amethyst

If you have any other questions at all, please do not hesitate to reach out and we will be more than happy to advise you as best as we can.


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