Choosing a Crystal That's Right For You!

Are you supposed to choose a stone because you like the color? Or maybe because it's the shiniest of the bunch! Perhaps it's a unique shape or a brilliant cluster! Well, sure. You can do that if you're decorating, but every single crystal, stone, and mineral has its own unique energy profile, and chances are there's something deeper than the surface that drew you in.

If you are saying "I don't play favorites" ... then just ask yourself "why do I feel called to purchase a new stone/crystal?" ... is it possible that your inner Self nudged you via a "gut" feeling or a sign you saw somewhere that "it's time" to buy one? Or, if you're like me, and you just know you don't have them all, so are having a "little mermaid moment".... CUE THE SONG!

Look at this stuff...isn't it neat?...wouldn't you think my collection's complete?...wouldn't you think I'm a girl...a girl who has... everything???

No, zaddy... I DON'T! (I kid... I am BLESSED to have enough.) On a serious note, I tend to truly buy crystals for their healing properties! As a yoga educator and lover of all things divine and brilliant, I use crystals at my yoga teacher training, workshops, and classes and I have specific ones stationed at different places in my home for specific reasons. In this blog post, I'll explain how to buy crystals for their healing properties with respect to your chakras...so it's also a little chakra 101 course. For more info on crystal staging in the home see my other post.

Wait! Did You Say Chakras?! What the Heck Are Chakras?!

In the simplest terms... our bodies are like batteries, we have currents of energy through our entire flesh suit, and chakras are areas of concentrated energy, also called energy centers, where these flows of energy intersect. I have a chakras training course if you're interested in learning more about these...for now, here's the 101. (Ummm. After finishing writing this post...I'm realizing it's more like a Chakras 220 class. You're welcome!)

Starting from your ROOT, located on all the parts you're sitting on...or where the seam of your pants is the bulkiest...yes...the bottom-most point of your torso...it includes your anus (omg what?!), your perineum (aka Taint...bro, I came here for crystals, not anatomy!) and your genitals. (Okay I'm blushing.) So...yeah that's your root, and as you move up where your internal reproductive area is, below your belly button between the pointy parts of your hips, that's your SACRAL. Continuing above the belly button, underneath your ribs right where your diaphragm is, that is your SOLAR PLEXUS. My favorite is next, your HEART Chakra... YOU GOT IT!... at the center of your chest, where your heart is! Moving up to your THROAT (is your throat chakra), then between your brows is your THIRD EYE! (Yep, you have three...or two if you're a Cyclops!) And, finally, we have at the place where you once had a soft spot on your head ... your CROWN chakra!

Each chakra has a color associated...from root to crown, we have the traditional interpretation of color association with chakras: red, orange, yellow, green, sky blue, indigo, violet/white. In that sense, you can now start to see how just "color therapy" will lead you to a stone for your chakra, by selecting a stone, crystal, or mineral with the color of your chakra of focus. So you liked that purple amethyst...maybe it's associated with needing to balance your crown chakra (see below for whatever that means).

Our bodies can in their most basic form heal through "color therapy". And like the colors of our beautiful skin tones across the globe, there are unique variations and hues of colors of stones and crystals offered to us by mother nature in the form of fragments of her body (earth) that we can treasure and hold in our hands, or place on (and yes, sometimes in) our body, or our home and even in our drinking water. (Disclaimer, not all stones/crystals are safe for infusing into your water, so please PLEASE don't go rogue throwing rocks in your water!) Thank you MOTHER NATURE!

Our bodies are so beautifully complex and the deeper truth is that each chakra also has a purpose and system that it works with that governs the emotional and mental aspects of our personalities and bodies as well. (Mind-blown yet?) So, IF <-- big IF you are in TUNE with yourself, you can sense when there is a misbalance, overactive or underactive chakra. By this, I mean observing your own behaviors, attitudes, and physical sensations, with awareness, and not labeling or judging. If you've never done this, there are locations that do aura readings, which will capture chakra energy vibes and they can tell you which ones are under/overactive. You can work with a specialist (typically a reiki master) to have them "scan" (this is with their own ability to manipulate/sense energy and can be done remotely sometimes as well) and assess, they may ask questions to confirm their findings and help you better understand the mind-body connection.

Your personal mind-body connection can be enhanced through meditation, breathwork, journaling, practicing yoga, and mindfulness. Any and all! Even periodical body scans, where you bring awareness to all the parts of your body are a great way to get into the groove of tuning into yourself!

Oh heyyyy, I've digressed and kind of went all-in with this crash course... I owe you some stone selection processes. So...here we go!

Write this down: RIGHT NOW, I AM FEELING .... and list all the emotions, and all of the physical sensations, any mood/behavior observations you have about yourself. Once you have your list...check below for the chakra that corresponds to those things you've listed...might be more than one!

ROOT

BALANCED - Safe, Secure, Connected to the earth, Grounded

Chakra affects your: adrenals, kidneys, spinal column, colon, legs, bones.

Underactive: paranoid, insecure, feeling not grounded.

Overactive: dishonesty, bullying, hyperactive, overly defensive.

SACRAL

BALANCED - Creative, Connected to yourself, Connected to others

Chakra affects your: ovaries, testicles, prostate, genitals, spleen, womb, bladder.

Underactive: emotional issues, sexual shame/guilt, suppressing needs or desires, low libido.

Overactive: sexual addiction, manipulative, excessive, agressive behavior.

SOLAR PLEXUS

BALANCED - Confident, Powerful, Courageous, Self-esteem, Self-worth

Chakra affects your: pancreas, adrenals, liver, stomach, gallbladder, nervous system, muscles.

Underactive: feeling victimized, inability to manifest, over-emotional, possessive love, need for material security, afraid of being alone.

Overactive: judgmental, workaholic, angry, lack of humor, addictive behaviors.

HEART

BALANCED - Open, Loving, Loved, Joyful, Trusting, Peaceful

Chakra affects your: heart, thymus gland, circulatory system, arms, hands, lungs. Underactive: immune system weak, heart problems, lack of compassion, generosity or love emotions, fear, rage, feeling stuck, self-pity, unworthy, fear of rejection. Overactive: excessive sympathy for others, possessiveness.

THROAT

BALANCED - Comfortable speaking your truth, Strong communication, Expressive

Chakra affects your: thyroid, parathyroid, hypothalamus, throat, mouth.

Underactive: sore throat, laryngitis, creative block, problem communicating with others, rigidness, prejudice, not listening to others.

Overactive: over-talkative, arrogant, self-righteous.

THIRD EYE

BALANCED - Intuitive, Aware, Insightful, Imaginative, Wise, Decisive

Chakra affects your: pituitary gland, pineal gland, left eye, nose, ears.

Underactive: sinus issues, eye problems, confusion, wishing to control others, egotistical, unable to think deeply.

Overactive: impatient, authoritarian.

CROWN

BALANCED - Meditative, Understanding Self, Beauty within, Universal connection, Blissful

Chakra affects your: upper brain (cerebrum) vitality.

Underactive: emotional problems, feelings alienated, feeling condemned, overactive thoughts, dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression.

Overactive: psychotic or manic depressive, frustrated.

STILL WITH ME?

Now that you've learned a little about yourself and the balance of your chakras...

you're ready to choose a stone (or 7):

CHAKRA	CRYSTAL/STONE/MINERAL TO HELP BALANCE
CROWN	Selenite, moonstone, clear quartz, fluorite, labradorite, amethyst
THIRD EYE	Lapis lazuli, sodalite, sapphire
THROAT	Blue lace agate, angelite, turquoise, amazonite, kyanite, blue tigers eye, blue topaz
HEART	Rose quartz, green aventurine, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, amazonite, malachite, unakite
SOLAR PLEXUS	Citrine, tigers eye, amber, yellow calcite, topaz
SACRAL	Carnelian, peach moonstone, orange calcite, orange aventurine, bloodstone
ROOT	Smokey quartz, red jasper, red tigers eye, obsidian, jet, black tourmaline

IN CONCLUSION...

Your energy field is such an incredibly well-designed system in which stress, trauma, and painful memories can all affect how the energy flows. Taking some time to become familiar with the seven chakras may help you learn to identify which chakra is in need of some TLC. Balancing your chakras with crystals/stones/minerals paired with meditation is one way to strengthen and restore them! With practice over time, you might elevate various aspects of your life and body, and create a wonderful healing effect. You heal, I heal, we heal. It's a collective effort and every BODY has the power within to heal, balance and feel centered.

Thank you for your interest in this topic, and for allowing me to be a small thread in the fabric of your healing journey!

With love, Michelle