Ten Healing Crystals for Stress

Excerpt from: A Guide to Gem and Crystal Therapy

by Karen Ryan, Crystal Energy Therapist

Amethyst | Citrine | Clear Quartz | Fluorite | Garnet | Hematite | Malachite | Rose Quartz |
Smokey Quartz | Turquoise | Crystal Healing

Crystals for Healing Stress

Stress is unavoidable in any society and is a symptom of our inability or ineffectiveness
to accept change as fast as it seems thrust upon us. We must adapt quickly to
disappointments, shock and traumas, physical pain, and other tremendous emotional and
psychological imbalances in our environments. It isn't easy to keep up with the changes!

Crystals are particularly good at helping us adapt to changes in energy frequencies

created through stressful situations. There seems to be a crystal for every form of stress
including financial (Citrine), relationships (Rose Quartz) and burnout (Smokey Quartz).
Having a large crystal in a room can also help reduce stress, by reducing negative
energies and harmonizing imbalanced energy patterns.

By wearing the crystals through out the day, preferably as a full necklace, as a pendant,
or in a small pouch at the Heart Chakra; the vibrations of the crystals will continue to
affect areas of the imbalance, restoring a positive state where the imbalance has occurred.
The effects of crystal healing at the emotional and psychological levels are subtle, yet are
often noticed more by others than yourself! I have listed ten crystals and gemstones that
are useful in healing stress.

Ten "Stress Stones"

Amethyst
Keep an Amethyst cluster at your desk or in your therapy room to transmute negative
energy. Amethyst helps you think and act at your highest level. It's good for promotions
(spiritual), and reduces tension headaches. Wear an Amethyst pendant continuously for
migraine prevention and for alleviating arthritic pain.

Citrine
The "Success Stone" - Citrine encourages a bright outlook and happiness. It attracts
wealth and joy. Keep a piece in your wallet to enrich your holdings. It can help stabilize
emotions and soothe family problems. Citrine is also good for improving stress-related
digestive problems.

Clear Quartz
Clear Quartz can be worn as a crystal pendant to deflect radiation from going to your
body. Quatrz is an excellent general physical system fortifier and protector. It increases
mental clarity. Hold a clear crystal at your solar plexus and breath evenly for several
minutes to calm your emotions, to relax the body, to clear the mind, and to refresh your
energy. Stare into the crystal to clear writer's block and to increase creativity.

Fluorite
Fluorite - a stone to unblock stuck energies. For digestive systems problems use the
yellow/green colour combination. For pains in the skeletal and muscular system, use the
blue/white colour combination. For head area complaints, use the purple/clear
combination. For asthma, wear the green coloured Fluorite. To help congested mental
thoughts, use a purple cluster in your work area, or position a cluster at your crown
chakra while sleeping.

Garnet
Garnet - An energy revitalizer. Garnet is excellent for strengthening the base chakra. It
promotes sexual energy (for your self and partner). It helps increase circulation to the legs
and pelvic area. It reduces menstrual pain when held or taped over the ovaries and uterus.
Garnet can increase sexual stimulation and fertility too!

Hematite
"The Anti-Stress Stone". Hematite reflects back negative energies to the sender (so you
don't end up taking them on yourself). Hematite dissolves the issues when one meets with
confrontation. Tape a small piece over the leg and back areas to reduce pain and to
increase electromagnetic circulation. Hematite helps balance the meridians.

Malachite
Malachite is excellent for Type A personalities and for those prone to heart disease and
stresses to internal organs. It helps to detoxify the liver and to increase blood circulation.
Malachite is excellent for breaking up old energy patterns. Use it with Rose Quartz to
soften the effects of a broken heart! Due to the possibly toxic copper content of this stone,
keep Malachite away from pets and children, and do not wear it against the skin for long
periods of time. This stone is for external use only.
Rose Quartz
"The Love Stone" - Rose Quartz is very protective and soothing for many issues. Place
a large chunk of the stone at your Heart Centre for 15 minutes to relax after a stressful
day. Rose Quartz helps to unblock anxiety and to promote healing of private emotional
issues. It allows one to become more receptive and open to challenges.

Smokey Quartz
Smokey Quartz is an excellent stabilizer for mood swings. It helps ground feelings of
depression, and both absorbs and transmutes negativity. This stone is best worn at the
solar plexus, the seat of the emotions. Smokey Quartz is excellent for PMS and cranky
persons; and good for persons imbalanced due to extreme stress and burn-out. It provides
a protective field for recovery.

Turquoise
"A Stone of Protection" - Turquoise is an excellent toner for all systems of the body. It
helps prevent organs from absorbing toxins and breaking down. Wear this stone at the
throat to strengthen your will and to communicate effectively. It helps to sweeten the
voice and speak your truth. Turquoise helps reduce premature aging.

Some Hints On Crystal Healing

Your commitment to the crystal is part of the healing process. Let the crystal do the work
for you.

It is best not to wear more than two crystals at any one time if you are new to crystal
healing, as many find the effects too distracting. The length of time to obtain the effects
desired will depend on the quality of the crystal (size, colour, energy charge), location
worn, duration worn, and the crystal's appropriateness to your healing issue. Some
crystals are better suited to the overall underlying problem than to just treat superficial
symptoms. Select your crystal with an honest outlook on the problem.

Ten Healing Crystals for Men

Excerpt from: A Guide to Gem and Crystal Therapy

by Karen Ryan, Crystal Energy Therapist

 Amethyst | Garnet | Jade | Rose Quartz | Smokey Quartz | Diamond |
Hematite | Lapis Lazuli | Malachite | Moonstone |
Crystals and gemstones have often been worn by men as jewelry, or to decorate formal
suits to signify their official or regal status in society. In ancient times polished crystals
were embedded on shields for protection during battle. Carved crystal amulets offered
protection from poisoned wine. Gem and crystal crafting today is still almost exclusively
men's work. However, the use of precious metals and gem synthetics has slowly replaced
the use of gemstones in popular men's jewelry. The use of crystals for healing was
popularized in the tale of England's King Arthur with his wizard, Merlin, who lived in the
Crystal Cave.

If you feel awkward about wearing crystals dangling down in front of your tie in public,
and are not inclined to be an "urban shaman", here are some suggestions:

• Wear your healing crystals in a medicine pouch (a pouch on a string) and tuck it
down inside your shirt. Try to select crystals that are relatively flat, and your
pouch will go unnoticed. Place your crystals inside a small pouch and drop it into
your breast pocket to help heal your Heart.

• For the office or workplace, leave your stones out as decorative objects. If anyone
asks, you can say you are a collector, or you are buying it for your kids as part of
their geology class.

• Keep your crystals loose inside your front pants pockets, and hold them for a
while several times during the day.

• At night, leave the crystals next to your bed or under your pillow. Remember to
cleanse and recharge your crystals at least once a month.

I asked a number of healers (both men and women) about what they felt were the healing
issues for men. The responses are grouped as:

• social isolation
• stress-related
• emotional health
• intuition
• communications
• health issues
• self-esteem and power
• communication

I have listed a selection of ten crystals and gemstones from a group of twenty-five which
are useful in healing men and some of the men's issues listed above. The next crystals
article will be on "Using Crystals for Healing Children", followed by "Using Crystals
for Healing Pets and Animals". Please refer to my other articles on using crystals for
Stress, Romance, and Women's Issues.

Amethyst
A "Master Healing Crystal". Also called "the Royal Stone". Amethyst's most noted
healing quality is its ability to purify and transmute all forms of negativity. Get a large
Amethyst cryystal cluster for your home or office to protect yourself from hostile
energies around you. If anxiety causes shortness of breath, put the cluster on or near your
chest and breath slowly for a few minutes to lessen the symptoms. Consider a large, well-
set amethyst gemstone ring to enhance your personal magnetism and to provide mental
clarity. Amethyst is also helpful for migraines, arthritic pains, and connecting to one's
spirituality for guidance.

Garnet
The "Sex Stone" - Garnet strengthens and restores physical and emotional energy lost
through constantly ensuring the protection and welfare of others. When you feel a bit lost
or abandonned in the chaos of daily life, Garnet helps to provide the needed grounding
and empowering to become more decisive and committed to a direction. Garnet is well-
known for enhancing and regenerating one's sexuality (the physical aspects). For best
effects, tape a small half-inch piece at the Hara centre - one and one-half inches below the
navel - and wear it overnight.

Jade
A "Crystal of Tranquility". Also called "the Sport Stone", promoting agility and
swiftness. Many men from the Far East know the benefits of wearing Jade. Some will
tell you that it is for their health, and how the colour of the Jade gets darker with good
health and lighter with declining health. Jade soothes the emotions, and provides
emotional detachment and restoration after various traumas such as minor surgery,
divorce, funerals, or loss of job. Some say it is for good luck. Jade is a stone which is
easily obtained in most city centres and can be openly worn as a pendant.

Rose Quartz
"The Love Stone" - Rose Quartz is another Master Healing Crystal that specializes in
transmuting emotional negativity at all levels. It enhances one's ability to give and receive
love, by opening the Heart chakra and stimulating greater flexibility in communications.
It mellows out a relunctant Heart, and provides peace in relationships through harmony.
Rose Quartz is used for meditation, as it stills one's aggressive thoughts and provides
mental tranquility. It can heal a broken heart very quickly too.
Smokey Quartz
The "Emotional Balancer Crystal" - Smokey Quartz is a very specialized crystal for
negative emotional energy. This crystal is excellent for mood swings, aggressive actions,
ill temper, and generally nasty thoughts. It grounds all kinds of negative energy. This
stone is helpful for burnout, fear of failure, reluctance to take risks, or wanting revenge,
as well as for tendancies to over-eat, smoke or drink due to stress. It helps you accept
responsibility for yourself, and to broaden your capacity for effective communication by
dissolving self-limiting perceptions.

Diamond
"The King of Crystals" - Diamond intensifies and activates one's internal energies
through its purity of vibration. The better the quality of Diamond, the better one's own
personal qualities and actions. When freely given, Diamond power becomes activated and
can be used for manifesting abundance and increasing personal self-esteem. It is a token
of one's love to another, and both enhances and radiates the beauty of the wearer. The
Diamond is also known for invincibility, representing the life force (prana).

Hematite
"The Stress Stone" - Hematite is a versatile metallic-like crystal used for enhancing
one's logic, mathematical abilities, rational thinking and depth of technical knowledge. It
grounds creative energy to make one's thoughts more practical and focused. As a "Stress
Stone", Hematite reflects negativity back to the sender, so you don't end up with someone
else's stress. For backache or leg cramps, use surgical tape to fix a few pieces onto painful
areas. The crystal's energy is like a magnet and effectively draws out pain related to
muscular or joint alignment problems. Hematite is also used to reduce insomnia.

Lapis Lazuli
"The Stone of The Pharaohs" - Lapis Lazuli is well-known as a favorite stone used in
the courts of the ancient Egyptian Kings. Lapis means "stone" and Lazuli means "blue".
This deep blue stone is used for stimulating mental strength and intellectual precision.
Lapis is a consciousness elevator, raising one's awareness to new heights and to greater
expansion. It brings feelings of success and connectedness and protection. For intuitive
people, Lapis intensifies psychic power.

Malachite
"A Man's Stone" - The deep forest green of Malachite is symbolic of the deep healing
and cleansing this stone provides. It can aid in breaking down old patterns, whether
emotional (stuck patterns of behavior) or physical (tumors, swollen joints, muscular).
Malachite promotes business relationships and the increase of wealth by removing
obstacles to one's growth. The most important aspect of this crystal's healing ability,
however, is for the preventive health of the physical heart and liver. If you are attracted to
this crystal, chances are you have a family history of heart-related problems and probably
need a heart check-up.

Moonstone (Adularia)

"The Feminine Balancing Crystal". To

soften and balance dominant male
attributes with some feminine qualities,
Moonstone provides for a depth of
perception and feelings, discernment,
creativity and self-expression. Other
properties of Moonstone - increases
awareness and focus, releases one's
intuition, has rejuvenating qualities for
the skin and hair (baldness?), reduces
water retention, and provides protection
for travelers. Moonstones increase their
powers before and during the full moon,
so leave them out at night to soak uTen
Healing Crystals for Women
Excerpt from: A Guide to Gem and Crystal
Therapy
by Karen Ryan, Crystal Energy Therapist
 Amber | Amethyst | Apache Tears | Coral (Red) | Garnet | Jade | Jasper | Rose Quartz |
Smokey Quartz | Sodalite | How to Use Crystals

Crystals can be used to assist women of all ages and in all stages of healing. The
awakening of the Self to a spiritual journey is not an easy task. It can demand much time
and resources to achieve self-development and growth. Some choose not to undertake the
risks and perils of peeling off our defences to become fully human and alive, and to
experience the full wealth of life.

"Isis Unveiled" is a term which refers to the Egyptian goddess whose face and form was
covered with a red cloth, symbolic of the ignorance and emotionalism that stood forever
between a person and Truth. To the wise, Isis lifts her veil, dispelling and revealing the
mysteries of the Universe. The inner journey becomes sacred to those who can withstand
the intensity of full consciousness.

Crystals have a healing role to play in this fantastic journey. Like the mysteries of a
woman's consciousness, crystals help to contain the inner processes of "Isis Unveiled",
and help to prepare the unveiling of female consciousness through healing all levels of
her being. Crystals provide protection and give sanctuary for the deep healing a woman
does within herself. I have listed a selection of ten crystals and gemstones from a group
of forty-four that are useful in healing women and women's issues. The next crystals
articles will be on healing men's issues, followed by "Using Crystals for Healing
Children".

Amber
A "Gentle Stone". Amber is very soothing and calming to the nerves. It can uplift a
negative disposition and encourage you to take life less seriously. It promotes fidelity in
relationships. As a self-healing stone, amber guides the emotions into a clearer mental
outlook and to take greater responsibility for one's choices in life. It is also excellent for
soothing emotions during post-operative care. See also Jade.

Amethyst
A "Master Healing Crystal". Amethyst purifies and transmutes negativity. Amethyst
provides protection and balance during transition periods. It reduces the feeling of being
victimized, giving you a spiritual perspective on life's circumstances. The lavender-pink
colour amethyst relates to the Heart chakra, to open and lighten up a betrayed heart and to
heal the sense of loss of life and innocence. The blue-red colour amethyst promotes a
deep spiritual connection between one's self and one's life challenges, supporting the
challenge one has taken on, giving patience and calmness despite overwhelming odds.
The Chevron Amethyst (banded white and purple) helps peel off old karmic patterns to
promote self-love and the ability to get along with others especially with one's Soul Mate
or family members.

Apache Tears (transparent Obsidian)

The "Grief Stone". Apache Tears allow for tears to be shed, stimulating emotional
spontaneity and the release of barriers that prevent you from experiencing deep sorrow.
This stone is excellent for transmuting one's own negativity under stressful situations.
The Apache Tear is a dark black stone of obsidian and when held up to the light appears
transparent. However, it has been noted that the grief one feels goes into the stone and
can turn it opaque.

Coral - Red Coral

A "Woman's Stone". Red Coral quiets the emotions and dispels feelings of despair and
despondancy. It encourages a passionate energy, and stimulates and strengthens female
reproductive organs through tissue regeneration. This stone relates well to the Spleen
meridian for blood circulation, and to purification of the kidneys and bladder. Red Coral
is considered to be "The Blood of Mother Earth" by Native Americans and is considered
particularly precious by Tibetan women for menstration and fertility.

Garnet
The "Sex Stone". Garnet strengthens the life force and provides for the spontaneous
availablity of energy when needed. This gemstone is especially good for the restoration
of victimized and abused women, helping them reclaim lost power. It promotes
regeneration of emotional energy and the acceptance of one's thoughts and emotions.
Garnet stabilizes energy devoted to accomplishing one's purpose. It also empowers and
strengthens the Root and Navel chakras. Garnet heightens sexuality (the physical aspects)
and increases fertility.

Jade
A "Crystal of Tranquility". Jade soothes the emotions and helps keep the peace for
community relations. It provides a sense of self-worth, self-sufficiency and capability in
dealing with any situation. Jade promotes harmony, balance, and tranquility through
emotional detachment. Jade is excellent for recovery after an unpleasant experience
(minor surgery, divorce, funerals, loss of job). See also Amber.

Jasper
A "Nurturing Stone". Jasper makes it easier to use one's own power and to know that it
cannot be taken away. It calms aggressive energy, and facilitates safety and protection
during recovery periods (e.g., from stress, operations, and other life traumas). Red
Jasper provides lively fresh energy and reduces feelings of being vicimized. Yellow
Jasper balances hormones and protects during travel. Green Jasper restores energy and
focus during recovery from burnout.

Rose Quartz
"The Love Stone". Rose Quartz is a Master Healer and transmutes emotional negativity
at all levels. It enhances meditation and healing by harmonizing and balancing energy
fluctations. Rose Quartz embodies the expression "Love Conquers All". It is excellent for
calming the Heart and Solar Plexus chakras after situations involving emotional
upheaval, chaos, trauma, or crisis. Rose Quartz allows love to come to the wearers who
have trouble finding love within themselves to give to either themselves or to others. This
is also a great friendship stone to give to someone you care for.

Smokey Quartz
The "Emotional Balancer Crystal". Smokey Quartz clears and transmutes negative
emotions. This crystal is an excellent stabilizer for mood swings and grounds all kinds of
negative energy. Excellent for PMS sufferers and other cranky persons. It is an excellent
crystal to use in times of stress, and to rebuild emotional burnout by offering protection
during the healing period. Smokey Quartz reduces the fear of failure, unblocks self-
limitations, and lets you risk trying some new experiences.

Sodalite
"A Stone of Peace". Sodalite helps alleviate insomnia caused by overactive mental
chatter. It helps to dispel irrelevant thoughts, provides mental focus, and maintains logical
reasoning with regard to emotional upsets. Sodalite promotes issues of trust, enhances
companionship and the commonality of goals with others. It is excellent for busy women
who find no time for peace, who need to relax and to restore one's mental energies.
[Sodalite is actually a "rock" composed of several types of micro-crystals.]

A Note on How to Use Crystals for Healing

By wearing the crystals throughout the day for 21 days - preferably as a full necklace, as
a pendant, or in a small pouch at the Heart Chakra -the vibrations of the crystals will
continue to affect areas of the imbalance, restoring a positive state where the imbalance
has occurred. The effects of crystal healing at the emotional and psychological levels are
subtle, yet are often noticed more by others than yourself!
Also see Three Steps to Crystal Healing which will tell you more about what to expect
from healing with crystals.

Some Hints On Crystal Healing

Your commitment to the crystal is part of the healing process. Let the crystal do the work
for you.

It is best not to wear more than two crystals at any one time if you are new to crystal
healing, as many find the effects too distracting. The length of time to obtain the effects
desired will depend on the quality of the crystal (size, colour, energy charge), location of
wear, duration, and the crystal's appropriateness to your healing issue. Some crystals are
better suited to the overall underlying problem than to just treat superficial symptoms.
Select your crystal with an honest outlook on the problem.

p the moon's rays.