The History and Healing Properties of Crystals

For as long as we have existed, humans have had an affinity with crystals and stones. The use of amulets and talismans dates back to the beginnings of humankind.

The oldest amulets are of Baltic amber, from as long as 30,000 years ago and amber beads were discovered in Britain from the end of the ice age 10,000 years ago.

The first historical references to the use of crystals come from the ancient Sumerians, who included crystals in magic formulas during the 4^th millennium BC.

The ancient Egyptians used crystals in amulets, healing, and even cosmetics.

The ancient Egyptians used lapis lazuli, emerald, carnelian, and clear quartz in the jewelry, using the stones primarily for health and protection.

Chrysolite (topaz and peridot) was used to combat night terrors and eradicate evil spirits, and the Egyptians also used crystals in cosmetics. Galena (lead ore) was ground to powder and used to accent the eyes. Green stones were generally used to signify the heart of the dead and included in burials. Similarly, green stones were also used during a later time in ancient Mexico.

The Bi Disk date back to the Neolithic period between 3400-2250 B.C

  The Chinese highly prized Jade and even some Chinese written characters represent jade beads. The “Bi” is a type of circular Chinese jade artifact which originated during the Neolithic period (3400-2250 BC). Most were undecorated but later periods have ornate surface carvings. The circular form represents heaven and was one of the earliest of religious symbols. They were ceremoniously placed on the bodies of high-stature persons during burials representing a “Sky” symbol. 

Prehistoric Jet beads on display at the Prehistoric Museum.

Jet is a velvety black-colored gemstone that is a type of lignite. This black gem was used in Britain as far back as the Neolithic period and made into beads for adornment. The Romans used jet stone for rings, hair embellishments, and pendants.

The word “crystal” comes from the Greek kristallos, meaning “coldness drawn together” or ice. It was believed that clear quartz was water that had been so deeply frozen it would always stay solid.

Crystals in Religion

Crystals and gemstones have played a part in all cultures and religions. They are mentioned throughout the Bible, in the Koran and many other religious texts throughout history.

The origin of birthstones comes from the breastplate of Aaron, commonly referred to as the “High Priest’s Breastplate” mentioned in the book of Exodus. 

Bodhgaya is the very place where Buddha attained his enlightenment where Siddhartha meditated under the Kalpa Tree or Tree of Knowledge.

The Kalpa Tree, or Tree of Knowledge, represents an offering to the gods in Hinduism, and said to be made entirely of precious stone. A Buddhist text from the 7^th century describes a diamond throne situated near the Tree of Knowledge (the neem tree that Siddhartha meditated underneath).

In Western Christianity, the crystal was often used to decorate important religious objects, as it was believed that the crystal manifested transcendence and the light to the heavens. Amulets were banned by the Christian church in 355 A.D., but gemstones continued to play an important role in history, with sapphire being the favorite gem for ecclesiastical rings during the 12^th century.

Crystal and Gemstone Meaning

Although no longer widely used medicinally, gemstones have continued to hold meaning. Many tribal cultures have continued to use crystals in healing. Primarily made of ground turquoise and powdered maize, the Zuni tribe in New Mexico still make stone fetishes that represent spirit animals.  

Turquoise, or “Doo tl’ izh ii” in Navajo, holds a very special significance in Native American cultures, especially for the Navajo people.

Other Native American tribes still hold precious stones, especially turquoise, as sacred. Both Aborigines and Maoris have traditions regarding stones for healing and spiritual practice, some of which is shared with the world, while some knowledge and ancient practices are tightly held private within their communities.

Gemstones carry similar meaning to different cultures that strangely have had no interactions from different sides of the planet. Turquoise has been worn to give health and strength all over the world, whereas jade has been used as a kidney healing stone by the Chinese, Aztec and Mayan civilizations, while jaspers have always been associated with calm and strength.

New Age Stones and Crystal Traditions

Today, we see ads with crystals for sale, and generally presented with angels and spirit guides. The link between crystals and gemstones can be credited to Anselmus de Boodt in 1609 A.D. Boodt was a court physician to Rudolf II of Germany when he combined Christian superstitions and suggested they were controlled by the presence of either godly or devilish angels.

However, scientific reasoning crashed down in the late 17^th century with scholar Thomas Nichol’s book “Faithful Lapidary” that determined that stones could not possess esoteric entities. 

At that time, the traditional use of crystals and stones for healing and protection lost it’s religious standing and became “old world superstition.

At the end of the 19^th century, the rise of the Spiritualism movement saw many experiments attempting to demonstrate that crystals and gemstones could indeed affect people, all subsequently been debunked as old gimmicks.

Center for New Age store in Sedona, Arizona is one of the most popular stores in the town.

By the 1980s and 90s, the New Age cultures began using gemstones and crystals in indigenous healing traditions and channeling.  Much of the practice was drawn from old traditions with more information gained by experimentation and channeling. Books by Katrina Rafael during the 1980s helped popularize the use of crystals.

Crystal therapy crosses the boundaries of spiritual and religious beliefs and no longer viewed as an alternative culture, but a more mainstream therapy. Many colleges even offer it as a qualification subject.

Crystal Energy

Crystal energy is the power that crystals naturally give off. Crystals have the remarkable ability to transform, amplify, absorb, and transmit. With energy everywhere, crystals become the perfect conduit. In fact, the vibrations of crystals are known to change depending on the energy surrounding them. With that, every stone has a unique and different effect. 

Crystals are the perfect energy conduit, used in watches, smartphones and computers.

Research into the structure of the atom over the last few hundred years has revealed that everything in our universe is made up of energy. Even solid objects are really just vibrations of energy at the most fundamental levels. In fact, healing crystals and the cells in our bodies are made up of the same kind of energy.

Scientists have figured out how to use the energy inherent in crystals for things like keeping time, creating electronic components to smartphones and computers. The energy properties of crystals are widely used in modern technology.

Many pharmaceutical companies use ground minerals that form inside of crystals. However, even though we have several uses for the energetic properties of crystals, we neglect to commonly use them in energetic healing.

3 Ways to Use Healing Crystals

There are thought to be three primary ways to heal mind, body, and spirit by transforming energy and resolve the imbalance.

Clearing – Crystals have the ability to absorb and remove certain types of energy from your body. Like a magnet collecting shards of metal shavings, a crystal can absorb negative energy from your body.

Energizing – Crystals and stones can push energy into body, mind or spirit through the inducement of resonating frequencies. Similar to the way electricity works by conducting and transferring energy into an object. It is thought crystals can harness energy from the quantum field and transfer it to the body’s energy field.

Balancing – The world is very symmetrical. Leaves on trees, flower petals, fruit, and even our bodies. The energy of our planet aligns everything in a mirrored pattern. When our body’s energy is misaligned and out of balance, crystals can attract and repel, to balance areas of conflict.

The ancients believed in the healing energy of crystals, not because they didn’t know better or were susceptible to the power of suggestion, but because it works, thus why they are still used today in Laying on Stones and Reiki. When it can’t hurt, it may be worth a try.

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