Choosing a Crystal

"You don’t choose a crystal, a crystal chooses you!" is how I like to look at acquiring a special mineral or gem. Crystals emit an energy frequency, this energy interacts with our own energy, or aura, giving us a sensation or feeling. It is from this sensation we choose which crystal will support us most. Generally a crystal that immediately attracts us will be the most beneficial for us. Perhaps a feeling of awe or calmness washes over us. Or maybe it is the stones lack of physical beauty that draws us to it. (Sometimes it is exactly these stones that can teach us the most).

There are a number of methods to use to get a ‘sense’ of the crystal. Follow the advice below and see which works best for you, or use your intuition to discover your own method to use to help you decide on a stone. If you’re choosing for someone else (what a magical gift!) simply hold the thought of that person in your mind and follow the same steps. You can never choose the wrong crystal.

At first sight - These are the crystals that immediately ‘jump’ out at you from the shelf! It’s the very first piece you see as you enter the store. Or as you peruse a shelf of crystals, it’s the one that seems to draw you to it. This is the crystal for you.

Feeling the energy - Another way to choose a crystal is to feel the energy of the stones. You can slowly move your hand above a group of stones, or hold an individual piece in your hand. ‘Your’ crystal will produce some kind of sensation. It may feel like warmth or a coolness, tingling or a magnetic pull, perhaps it’s a sensation you can’t put into words. This is the piece that is calling to you.

Pendulum - Using a crystal pendulum can also assist you in selecting the perfect crystal. First, hold the pedulum over your hand and ask "which way for YES", take note of which way it swings. Then ask "Which way for NO". Now, hold the pendulum over a crystal and see if it swings in the "YES" direction, or the "NO" direction. The energy of the gem with the "YES" responses has the vibrations that best match you.

Research - Perhaps while reading a crystal book the attributes of a certain stone will resonate with you. It will sound like what you need to help you at this time. This can be an easy way to decide on the type of stone, then use one of the above techniques to tap into your intuition to choose an individual stone from the group.

Cards - There are many divination tools on the market, some deal specifically with crystals. Using a set of "Crystal Cards", "Crystal Ally Cards" or "The Tarot of Gems and Crystals" take a few deep breathes, ask for a card to show you a useful crystal for you to have at this time, shuffle then draw a card from the pack.

Birthstones - It has been long believed that certain stones have a special relationship with each zodiac sign. Unfortunately every country and era has it’s own list of birthstones, for this reason selecting a stone solely because it is your birthstone is something I do not recommend. It is fun to look up your birthstone on one of the many sources available, but then use your intuition to see if it truely is a stone to benefit you.

Mailorder - If you are unable to choose a crystal in person, mail order my be a necessity. A good idea is to tell the supplier a little bit about yourself and what you would like the crystal for. They are then able to chose the right stone for you, probably using one of the above techniques.

Losing a Crystal - Once you have chosen your crystal, know that you were destined to have this particular energy in your life, for the moment at least. As time passes you may feel the urge to pass this crystal on to another person, or you may lose or break it. Don’t fret or worry about such occurances, know that you had the crystal for as long as you required it, it gave to you exactly what you needed for as long as you needed it, whether it was one hour, one day or one decade! Timing is divine.