The use of crystals in human civilisations have been recorded as far back as the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Chinese cultures. While ancient humans used crystals more for protection (ancient Greeks believed haematite protected them in times of war while ancient Egyptians used topaz and peridot to repel evil spirits and nightmares), the application of healing crystals in today’s context has evolved greatly. Today, crystals can be used in many ways, including helping to boost clarity of mind, manifest your intentions and balance out your inner energy.

Think of these crystals as tiny energy sources. Since they are made of minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, they respond to their surroundings and give off a tiny electrical charge. This is not unlike our body, which also emits an electrical field (since we are made up of atoms and molecules which are essentially charged particles).

And because each crystals vibrate at their respective frequency, your body responses to them differently. Which also explains why some crystals appeal to you but not your friend, or even why you find that certain crystals work better in different situations.

Working with crystals isn’t some magical process that will leave you suddenly enlightened. What it does is to help you ascertain what you want to achieve (be it clearing out negativity in your mind and in your surroundings or to let go of past emotional baggage), so that your actions can become in sync with your mind through the manifestation of your intentions.

As previously mentioned, different crystals emit their respective vibrational energy, so each crystal bring about its own set of benefits. To make the most of crystal healing, let your crystals choose you. And when you’re shopping for crystals, it’s best to visit a physical store so you can hold each individual piece of crystal in your hands for a couple of minutes and see how you respond to it. Try not to bother too with the benefits that the different crystals possess and let your intuition guide you.

Here are the five most commonly found crystals and how to use them:

In the field of healing crystals, pink stones are generally associated with love. Like other pink crystals (including rhodonite and morganite), rose quartz helps restore love, trust and respect, which can be applied to relationships with others and even with yourself. Some people also use this when they are seeking comfort in times of grief, as well as to promote empathy and compassion.

You can use it during meditation by simply holding it in your hands as you clear out your mind and become more aware of your surroundings. You can also place it around your house to promote harmony amongst loved ones.

Often used to bring about optimism, motivation and clarity, citrine is said to release negative traits like self-doubt. In addition, it can also help boost focus and creativity.

To reap the full benefits of this wonderful crystal, you can carry a small stone in your purse everyday or leave some at your work desk to help improve productivity.

Those who are prone to anxiety and anger can benefit from the calming and soothing properties of blue lace agate. Working with your throat chakra, this stone promotes better communication by helping you avoid angry and resentful words while ensuring that you get your point across effectively.

Most people carry a small stone with them, or you can also wear it as jewelry, preferably as a necklace or pendant to keep it near your throat chakra.

Known for its ability to protect against negative energies and purify the mind of negative thoughts, amethyst is another stone that can easily for incorporated into your everyday life. It also emits a calming energy, which is why it’s often used in meditation.

It is not uncommon to see a big beautiful amethyst stone placed around people’s homes as decor as well as to emanate its calming energy. Some people also place a bowl of small amethyst stones in their bedroom to promote a feeling of calm and wellbeing for better sleep.

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An excellent stone for beginners in crystal healing, selenite (and other white and clear stones) are known to be extremely “absorbent”, making them perfect for cleansing a space, and purging it of negative energy. It is also great for meditation as it helps declutter your mind so you can focus better.

Frequently placed near windows and doors to keep out negative energy, it is also recommended to place selenite at your work place to ward off toxic energy.

After you’ve carefully selected the crystals that speak to you, what you do to them next is also crucial. Most retailers will have a cleansing bowl to help cleanse your crystals of previous energies it has absorbed, and this service is usually provided free of charge.

After you bring it home, you can also choose to wash them in a salt water bath. All you have to do is fully submerge your stones in a bowl of salt water and leave them to soak overnight. Finally, remove them from the salt water and leave them out in direct sunlight to “charge” them.

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Text: Joyce Cheo / Additional reporting: Arissa Ha