15 Popular Crystals and Their Meanings
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Crystals have always been a staple of alternative medicine, believed to come with certain healing properties. But they're getting a major moment in pop culture, with influencers touting the benefits of their favorite gemstones.
Proponents of healing crystals believe they interact with the body's chakras, or centers of energy found throughout the body. While the effects of crystals may be more of a placebo effect than anything else, there's no harm in taking these beautiful stones for a spin. Try wearing jewelry made from the crystals that speak to you the most, or keep them on your nightstand to bring good vibes for a new day. There are also worry stones made from different crystals that you can keep in your pocket to relieve stress on the go.
So, which ones have the most benefits? Here are the most popular crystals and their meanings as well as how to apply them in your daily life.
Amethyst
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Primary chakra: Crown
Amethyst is the most popular form of quartz known for its striking, dusky purple color. It's the February birthstone, but anyone can benefit from the amethyst's properties. It's associated with the crown chakra, right at the top of your head, so most of its healing benefits are tied to the mind.
Amethyst helps calm anxiety while elevating one's sense of intuition and decision-making abilities. It's also said to help improve sleep quality and promote an overall sense of well-being and tranquility.
Applications: Stressed at work? Feeling indecisive? Amethyst is where it's at. It's also useful for easing tension headaches and banishing insomnia.
Rose Quartz
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Primary chakra: Heart
It's not hard to guess what rose quartz is used for. Its translucent, pale pink color symbolizes unconditional love and acceptance. It's not purely a crystal of romance but one that promotes deep, authentic self-love and inner harmony, or deeper connections with loved ones. In a physical sense, it's helpful for circulation and heart health. It's often seen as a feminine crystal, ideal for encouraging healthy pregnancies and love between mother and child.
Applications: Bring out the rose quartz whenever you're feeling disconnected, hurt or just plain lonely. Rose quartz fosters emotional healing and trust in relationships.
Clear Quartz
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Primary chakra: Crown
Clear quartz looks more like ice than stone. It's similar in composition to rose quartz and amethyst, but it boasts an unmatched purity. It represents balance and is said to be an "amplifier." That means it reflects whatever energy you pour into it. It's excellent for improving clarity and as an all-around healing stone.
Applications: Use clear quartz to give your mental clarity a leg up. It can't erase the effects of burning the candle at both ends, but it can help restore balance and keep you feeling emotionally stable during times of stress.
Jade
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Primary chakra: Heart
Jade, best known in its green form, has been prized for centuries for the sense of balance and harmony it brings about. It can be transparent or opaque, but any form of jade is considered lucky. In feng shui, it's used to promote serenity and gentleness. It's also believed to help remove toxins from the body as well as to promote health of the kidneys and adrenal glands.
Applications: Jade is a good choice for improving financial fortune. It's also good for balancing the body's fluids, encouraging healthy function of the kidneys, bladder and spleen.
Citrine
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Primary chakra: Solar plexus
Citrine, like amethyst, is a type of quartz. It's known as the sunshine stone and the stone of summer, with a warm, yellow glow that promotes good moods and happiness. People also use it to promote thyroid health and boost energy levels across the board.
Applications: Citrine should be your go-to stone whenever you're in a bad mood. It puts the bearer in an optimistic mindset, attracting abundance and wealth instead of closed doors.
Black Tourmaline
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Primary chakra: Root
Tourmaline comes in many shades, but black tourmaline is something special. It's jet black and resembles a chunk of coal, but the stone's darkness isn't sinister in the slightest. It absorbs negative energy and has protective, grounding properties. If you're feeling anxious, black tourmaline can help restore your sense of stability and composure.
Applications: Black tourmaline is often placed at the front entrance of the home to serve as a shield for unwanted negative energy. It symbolizes safety, so take it with you whenever you feel like you need a little protection.
Rhodochrosite
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Primary chakra: Heart
Rhodochrosite's swirling ribbons of coral pink and white resemble the delicate patterns seen in agate stones. It's a healing stone that helps release repressed emotions and helps in opening up to others, clearing the heart and solar plexus chakras. Physically, rhodochrosite helps to regulate the circulatory system and relieve common respiratory issues, like allergies and asthma.
Applications: Rhodochrosite is ideal for anyone working on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Use it to help break destructive patterns and open your heart to a more empathetic, compassionate state of being.
Lapis Lazuli
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Primary chakra: Throat
Lapis lazuli is the birthstone of December babies, and it's one of the few crystals that's an actual rock, not a mineral, composed of lazurite with other elements mixed in. It's usually a deep blue or purple color with lots of fine, intersecting lines of lighter shades, or occasionally gold. It's known as the wisdom stone and is particularly prized in Egypt. It's believed to help you become more self-aware and express yourself. It can also help reduce inflammation, relieve depression and insomnia, and boost the immune system when you're feeling run down.
Applications: Use lapis lazuli to banish sore throats, help thyroid issues, lower blood pressure and bring your body and mind back into balance.
Selenite
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Primary chakra: Crown
Selenite is a type of gypsum mineral that's light and much softer than many other crystals. Selenite is a crystal of spiritual growth and emotional liberation. It helps you to let go of situations and feelings that no longer serve you, setting the stage for growth and forgiveness. It also fosters mindfulness and awareness. In the practice of reiki, it's used for cleansing the aura and elevating consciousness.
Applications: Selenite shines on those days you're feeling stuck. It helps you get out of your own way, shedding the weight of worries and negative thinking. Use it to promote harmony, whether at home or in the workplace.
Tiger's Eye
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Primary chakra: Root
Tiger's eye (or tiger eye) has a deep, coppery glow like the heart of a flickering fire. Lustrous and shimmering like fine silk, tiger's eye is the crystal of confidence and inner strength. It was once valued over gold and silver, believed to have protective powers and the ability to ward off curses. It's tied to both the root and sacral chakra, helping the bearer feel strong, centered, motivated and full of energy. It's also helpful for battling seasonal depression and fatigue.
Applications: Sluggish mood, be gone. Tiger's eye is energizing, giving you an emotional kick in the pants and helping you to regain a sense of control over your own destiny. It also boosts metabolism.
Labradorite
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Primary chakra: Third eye
Imagine a dragon egg, and it would look a lot like labradorite. A feldspar mineral, labradorite's most notable quality is its iridescent streaks. It's believed to promote psychic abilities, stimulate the imagination and calm racing thoughts. It's also used to bring a sense of trust in the universe and one's place in it. On the physical side of things, it's excellent for combating colds, inflammation and pesky digestive issues.
Applications: During times of change, bring labradorite along for the ride. It's a stone of transformation, keeping your vision and sense of stability intact no matter what wild ride life takes you on.
Aquamarine
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Primary chakra: Throat
Aquamarine is especially striking, with a translucent, light blue-green color. It's March's birthstone, and it represents youthfulness, hope and happiness. It was often used in the past as a talisman for sailors. In addition to its protective qualities, aquamarine is said to sharpen intellect and calm cravings, offering a clear perspective and helping people to set their priorities straight.
Applications: Aquamarine is often called the "breath stone" since it's so well-known for helping with colds, allergies and sinus issues. Take it with you during cold and flu season to help ward off bugs before you catch them.
Aventurine
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Primary chakra: Heart
Aventurine sounds a lot like the word adventure, and the similarity is fitting. Aventurine promotes the ability to see the possibilities in life and to have an open mind. It also eases emotional trauma and helps to restore a sense of positivity, optimism and abundance. It's also said to support the function of the thymus gland and nervous system.
Applications: Aventurine is often used in talismans and amulets as a good luck charm. It's a powerful deterrent to anger and irritation, evoking a sense of contentment and peace.
Pyrite
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Primary chakra: Solar plexus
Pyrite, better known as fool's gold, is a rough, cubic mineral with a brassy, metallic finish. Its name comes from the Greek word for "fire," and its properties are fiery indeed. Pyrite is a pro at burning away toxic thoughts and energy, leaving a clear perspective in its place. It's also the crystal of stamina and strength, banishing fears and worries. It's believed to have masculine energy but in a positive, protective way, not an aggressive one.
Applications: Carry pyrite with you when you're not feeling confident or can't seem to find motivation. Pyrite kindles a fire to restore your sense of passion for life and your soul's purpose.
Garnet
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Primary chakra: Root and crown
The dark red garnet got its name from a fruit: the pomegranate. Its clear, glowing stones look very similar to the translucent, juice-filled seeds of the pomegranate fruit, but garnets won't stain your clothes.
Instead, garnet helps to elevate one's self-confidence and sense of identity. It's also used to improve libido and help to heal issues with physical and emotional intimacy.
Applications: Garnet is like a multipurpose relationship crystal. It helps you to feel safe and secure, blocking out feelings of doubt and jealousy that can get in the way of building healthy connections.
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