Using crystals to promote healing is a six-thousand-year-old practice, dating back to the time of the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia. The crystal healing philosophy we know today is formed on concepts borrowed from the Chinese concept of life-energy (chi or qi) and the Hindu/Buddhist concept of chakras, or vortices of life-energy that connect physical and spiritual element within our bodies.
Crystals are solid, with atoms arranged in what is called crystal systems. Seven types of crystal systems exist, producing different physical geometry. However, they all share the characteristic of atoms arranged in tightly ordered, repeating patterns. Crystalline lattices split cleanly and smoothly, which is how gemstones are faceted to catch light in fine jewelry.
Our central nervous system acts as an electrical system, running along the spine where there are major energy centers which vibrate at set frequencies and have specific nerve centers in communication with them. The color spectrum of visible light is set up very similarly, with the major frequencies being red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Each wavelength also has an associated vibrational resonance.
This may sound familiar if you’ve done your research on chakras. First described in Hindu scripture thousands of years ago, the word chakra means ‘wheel‘ and are described as vortices of energy that flow through the body. Blockages of chakras are thought to manifest as physical and emotional issues.
Understanding the connection between color, vibration, and the central nervous system, crystals provide a vibration that we can “tune in to”, providing the corresponding chakra a chance to “harmonize”.
Because they contain different energies, it’s important to understand which crystals are right for you. Here are some of the most popular choices and their purported benefits: