What Are Chakra Crystals and How Do I Use Them?

In this article:

• What Are chakras?

• Roles of the Seven Chakras

• Chakra Meditation with Crystals

• Summary

Which crystals can I use to open the seven chakras?

This is one of the most common questions I'm asked as a crystal shop owner and, as with most spiritual work, the answer is simple: whichever works best for you. In the same way that one person might favour runes over tarot, it's whatever tunes in most with your skills or abilities.

With thousands of naturally occurring minerals in the earth, it can be overwhelming for newbies and experienced collectors alike. If you're frantically researching every single gemstone known to man, I'll let you in on a secret: you can let your intuition pick for you.

Before I knew anything at all about crystals, I attended a spiritual coaching session with an experienced psychic who showed me some of the tools she used to tap into the spirit realm. Amongst them were oracle cards, crystal balls, scrying mirrors and dozens of raw and smooth crystals. As beautiful as they were, none of them stood out to me.

It was actually a pendulum that caught my eye: a striking, deep cobalt blue stone containing flecks of gold and white. If you guessed lapis lazuli, you're absolutely right! I couldn't take my eyes of it, in fact I was almost tempted to sneak it into my pocket. The lady explained a bit about the stone's properties and history and, suddenly, everything became clear.

I'm a huge Ancient Egyptian buff, as represented in a lot of my jewellery and art pieces. Lapis lazuli was highly sought after by the Ancient Egyptians and commonly used in jewellery, cosmetics and pigments. Egyptians believed that the gold and white specs reflected stars in the night sky, and lapis was the link to divine forces and universal knowledge. It resonates with the throat and third eye chakras and can be used for psychic development and spirit communication.

This made a lot of sense regarding my spiritual path opening up. Lapis lazuli was calling out to me, and as someone who doesn't believe in coincidences, my first piece of advice if you're new to crystals is, simply, to let them choose you! Whether that means looking at pictures online (you can head over to my shop's crystal section as a starting point) or visiting a physical store and seeing what jumps out.

For me, the lapis was a good indication of what I needed to focus on, and there's an abundance of information about different types of crystals online. In order to understand the role of crystals in chakra work, it helps to have a basic understanding of the chakras themselves.

What Are Chakras?

The word "chakras" refers to energy centres within the body that regulate our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. There are seven chakras positioned from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Each one is associated with a specific colour, element, organ and theme in our life. The goal is to balance all chakras through various energetic healing techniques, leading to enhanced health and alignment.

The chakra system is a spiritual concept originating from India and is not recognised by traditional science.

Chakra	Colour	Area
Crown	Violet/white	Top or crown of the head
Third eye	Indigo	Forehead between the brows
Throat	Blue	Centre of the neck or throat
Heart	Green	Middle of the chest or breastbone
Solar plexus	Yellow	Stomach between navel and bottom of the ribcage
Sacral	Orange	Lower abdomen below the naval
Root/base	Red	Base of the spine or tailbone

As you can see from the descriptions above, we can use colour as a basis for choosing the right crystals (for you). This still only narrows it down to seven categories, which isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things. If you already have an idea of which energy point you want to work with, such as the heart chakra, then you can start by searching for green stones.

Even if you're not familiar with their properties, you can work with the energetic vibrations of any particular gemstone. That's not to say you can't use other colours: rose quartz, for example, is known as the "stone of love" with its soft pink hues. A lot of crystals are interchangeable and can be used for multiple chakras. For the purpose of ease, this article will mainly focus on colour for beginners.

It also depends on what you want to achieve, and for this you need to understand the roles of the seven chakras.

Roles of the Seven Chakras

During my coaching lesson, I was taught that our ascent begins at ground level and we should always work upwards from the root or base chakra. This makes sense when we think about the importance of grounding in spiritual work, as it's our bodies that keep us anchored in the physical plane - the earth.

Imagine the roots of a tree: the deeper they reach, the higher its branches can climb and the more solid its structure. When working your way through the chakras during cleansing or activation, it's vital to start at the bottom.

Root Chakra

Bearing the above in mind, we can use the root chakra as an example of how crystals and gemstones apply to spiritual work. Let's take a moment to think about the colour red. What thoughts or images come to mind?

Blood. Life. Danger. Love.

How do these elements resonate with the root chakra?

As the first chakra, this is all about what keeps us grounded, from survival instincts (blood) to basic needs (life). It covers our sense of security (danger), family (love) and abundance. When the root chakra is open, we feel confident and able to withstand life's challenges. Signs of blockages or imbalance can manifest as feelings of insecurity, anxiety, fear, scarcity and lack.

Physically, the root chakra is associated with the spine, kidneys, bladder and large intestine. It's not uncommon to experience bowel disorders, immune system dysfunction, addictions and allergies if blockages are present. The physical role of chakras is a separate topic, and energy work shouldn't be used to replace a traditional diagnosis or treatment from a health professional.

Crystals

Red jasper is wonderful for grounding by connecting to earth energies. It's a stone of endurance and strength, used to guard against attacks of both a physical and spiritual nature. It helps to alleviate old fears, promote emotional balance and reactivate passion for life.

Garnet is a talisman of protection and strength. It builds resistance, activates survival instincts and inspires hope. Its firey energy ignites passion to energise and rejuvenate, while dissolving stagnant energies. It attracts success in relationships and goals, easing fears so your confidence can shine!

Hematite is another example of how the properties of gemstones aren't limited to colour. Some sources refer to the root chakra as deep brown or black, which connects to earthy stones such as tourmaline and smokey quartz. Hematite provides protection and grounding by absorbing negative energy. It also calms stress and worry while enhancing confidence and focus. Hematite seals the aura during spiritual work and is highly recommended for balancing the crown and third eye chakras.

Using these examples, you can go one step further by choosing a stone that most resonates with your goals and intentions. To summarise, when working with the root chakra:

• Use red jasper to reconnect with the earth, combat insecurity and bring stability back to your life.

• Use garnet to boost vitality in times of low mood, attract abundance and harmony in relationships.

• Use hematite in times of stress and to balance the higher chakras during spiritual work.

  
  

Sacral Chakra

To get a feel for the second chakra, picture the colour orange just as you did with red. What comes to mind this time?

Fire? Energy? Passion? Fun?

The sacral chakra is sometimes known as the sex chakra, so it's no surprise that we might associate it with passion. It relates to our emotions and governs sexuality, creativity and desire. When balanced, we allow healthy emotional expression. If blocked, we may struggle with emotional imbalance, lack of inspiration, unhealthy relationships and not allowing ourselves to experience pleasure.

Crystals

Carnelian is a stone of motivation, from confidence building to expressing all of those talents that are waiting to shine. It inspires passion, reduces sexual anxieties and protects against jealousy. If you're lacking inspiration, use carnelian for the ultimate mojo booster - whether in love or life!

Goldstone, although manmade, contains tiny copper sparkles that help to tune into the radiant side of life. The stone is filled with ambition, promoting confidence and eliminating self-doubt with a healthy dose of grounding energy.

Moonstone comes in many shades, from soft peaches and pinks to beige and deep browns. Some use it for the crown chakra due to its connection to the Lunar Goddess, which lends feminine wisdom to both men and women. It's highly protective with the power to stabilise emotional imbalances. Use moonstone to attract new love and bring passion back to relationships.

Solar Plexus

Now we're a bit more familiar with chakras, try the colour visualisation for yourself before reading on. Make a note of what comes to mind when you think of yellow, have a browse through the Little Moon Tree crystals or use Google for a broader search. See what jumps out and how the properties resonate with any feelings, images or words that come to mind during meditation.

For me, the colour yellow reminds me of the sun which brings vitality, power and joy amongst other things.

The solar plexus chakra is the centre of our personal power. If we think about its location in the body, it strongly connects to our gut instinct: the ability to be confident, assertive and in control of our life and purpose. If your solar plexus is blocked, you might be lacking in self-belief and the ability to make decisions; or feel completely powerless.

Crystals

Tigers eye, as the name suggests, is a stone of courage, action and determination. It uses focus and grounding to connect with ambitions; dispels fears and anxieties while benefitting overall energy levels. Use tiger's eye when seeking new opportunities for growth and attracting abundance.

Citrine is thought to harness the power of the sun and is good for pretty much everything! It opens the mind to accept joy and release depression by transforming negative thoughts into positive ones. It stimulates imagination, creativity and the willpower to transform dreams into reality. It's best known for attracting abundance and success.

Yellow or orange calcite is associated with both the sacral and solar plexus chakras. It energises and cleanses by dispelling blocked or negative energy from the aura. It builds up mental and emotional balance and helps to release fears and anxieties. Use it to promote self-belief in all areas.

Heart Chakra

The colour green is a reflection of the earth, nature, growth and healing. The cycle of life would cease to exist without love, as it's what we use to nourish ourselves and our relationships with others.

As the name suggests, the heart chakra can influence our ability to give and receive love, including the most important kind: self-love. When someone's heart is open, they can experience joy, peace, compassion, empathy and gratitude. A blocked heart chakra will make it difficult to fully open up to the people in our lives and experience everything love has to offer.

Crystals

Green aventurine is thought to be the luckiest of all crystals and stimulates vitality, optimism and joy. It's connection to the free-flowing energies of the earth aid the release of unhealthy patterns and provide an emotional anchor for the heart. It can benefit relationships by bringing stability, compassion and empathy to the user.

Emerald is known as the "stone of successful love" and promotes loyalty, unity and friendship. It helps to maintain balance in relationships and has a healing effect on emotions. It's a symbol of hope and renewal and brings harmony to all areas. It's thought to attract love, revive passion for life and increase self-esteem.

Rose quartz is the first stone that comes to mind when we think of the heart, and for good reason. It opens the heart chakra to give and receive unconditional love, healing and peace. It can improve friendships, restore harmony in relationships and deepen bonds. Wearing rose quartz is believed to attract new love, happiness and joy.

Throat Chakra

Blue conjures feelings of inner peace and harmony. Imagine the stillness of clear water and the serenity of an open sky.

The throat chakra controls our communication, self-expression and truth. When balanced, we can speak and listen with clarity and authenticity. We have the confidence to express ideas and opinions, even in public. Someone with a blocked throat chakra may have difficulty expressing themselves or communicating with others. They have trouble finding the words to say how they truly feel and are unable to stand up for what they believe.

Crystals

Sodalite, known as the "logic stone", calms the mind for rational thought and objectivity. It empowers one to get in touch with the inner self, aiding verbalisation of feelings and self-esteem. It can correct self-destructive behaviours and heal disagreements in relationships. For creatives, it stimulates the highest form of self-expression.

Amazonite's soothing shades of turquoise-green help to overcome past trauma and focus energy into a positive direction. It tames irritability and aggression and protects against judgment. It encourages the communication of feelings by boosting confidence and self-empowerment.

Angelite's strong vibrations aid communication with angels and connection to higher frequencies. It helps to transmit and vocalise knowledge absorbed through the third eye and crown chakras. It promotes spiritual awareness and can be used to connect with loved ones through mediumship and channelling.

Third Eye Chakra

Indigo is a deep, rich colour that falls between blue and violet. Purple is often associated with royalty which inspires wisdom and intuition. It also reminds us of the night sky and the mysteries of the universe.

As we move up the body, we're getting closer to our connection with the divine and further away from ego. The third eye chakra governs our psychic abilities, which allows us to access our inner guidance through heightened awareness and visionary powers. If blocked, we might feel disconnected from our intuition and can be overly attached to the external world. This can cause lack of clarity and an inability to make decisions.

Crystals

Amethyst purifies the mind and cleanses the aura of negative energy. It enhances psychic abilities by deepening meditative states and aiding focus. It dissolves fears and anxieties while stimulating creativity and imagination. Most known for relieving insomnia, it can also aid dream recollection and visions.

Iolite is a stone of dreams, intuition and exploration. It provides an inner compass for the soul and brings peace during spiritual journeying. Its ability to heighten imagination can increase the vividness of dreams. It dissolves fears of the unknown and enables a clear sense of perspective.

Lapis lazuli, my personal favourite, is believed to be the key to unlocking universal knowledge. It expands awareness, heightens perception and opens the mind to new ideas. It's commonly used in psychic development, spirit communication, past life regression and dream counsel. Due to its connection with the throat chakra, it can also aid communication with Spirit.

Crown Chakra

The crown chakra has associations with both violet (cosmic energy) and white (source). When we think about the colours of a rainbow, the chakras follow this pattern because each colour corresponds to a specific frequency - just as light passes through a prism. To me, the crown chakra resonates with clarity, consciousness and higher frequencies.

As the highest chakra, this sits at the crown of the head and is our connection to the divine. It represents our ability to be fully spiritually connected, allowing access to a higher state of consciousness. When balanced, we experience spiritual enlightenment by detaching from ego. There's a sense of unity with all living beings and ultimate bliss. If blocked, we may feel disconnected from our spiritual selves, lack purpose and become narrow-minded or stubborn.

Crystals

Depending on how you visualise the crown chakra, there's a diverse range of crystals to choose from - which I really love as it makes the experience all the more personal. Some people prefer to use amethyst for the crown chakra due its purifying vibrations. From the clarity of quartz to the iridescent flash of labradorite and the violet hues of ametrine, here are a few personal favourites.

Clear quartz or the "master healer" aligns chakras, eliminates energy blockages and heals on all levels. It aids connection to the higher self, allowing spirit messages to be transmitted to the physical form. It opens the mind to clear thinking, increases concentration and expands awareness.

Rainbow moonstone is a variety of labradorite that displays a blue or multicoloured sheen, representing the healing vibrations of the moon. It aligns all chakras and acts like a prism to diffuse energy throughout the aura and shield it from negativity. It helps to raise awareness, enhancing intuition and intellectual levels. It stimulates psychic gifts and grants access to universal wisdom.

Selenite gets its name from the moon goddess, Selene, and is one of the best known crystals for connecting to the spiritual realm. It draws light from higher planes into the body to clear energy blockages and connect with the highest level of consciousness. It has good programmability for transmitting information from spirit guides and angels.

Chakra Meditation with Crystals

Now you've chosen your crystals, you might be wondering how to use them. A common meditation is to lie on your back and place the crystals onto the corresponding areas of your body. For example, if you want to open the third eye chakra then you can place a piece of amethyst on your forehead.

Alternatively, you can hold the crystals in your hand and focus on their colours as a means of connecting to the chakras. Some people imagine their chakras opening like the petals of a lotus flower or visualise them swirling like a mini vortex of energy. You could use simple affirmations, such as:

I am grounded (root chakra); I am open to receiving love (heart chakra); I am connected to my higher consciousness (crown chakra).

If all of this sounds overly simple, that's because it is! Spiritual work was never meant to be complicated, which is a point that a lot of people miss. It's not magic, it's not a special ability or superpower; it's energy. The hard part is believing your affirmations wholly and truly, and for those who aren't accustomed to using their imagination, visualisation can take a lot of practice.

Here are some other methods you might want to try:

• Place crystals around the home as a gentle reminder, so whenever you see or pass by them, you're actively directing your focus towards your chakras.

• Take a relaxing crystal bath, as long as you check that they're safe to put in water first.

• Wear crystal jewellery, ideally near or close to the chakra points. A rose quartz necklace or quartz headband are perfect examples.

• Carry stones in a bag or pocket so their healing vibrations are never far away.

  
  

Also note that, while chakras can be blocked or underactive, it's also possible for them to become overactive. For example, someone with an overactive throat chakra might speak over people or not listen to the opinions of others. An overactive root chakra can cause someone to be materialistic, greedy and arrogant.

To get the most out of your crystals, ask yourself these basic questions and adapt your meditation accordingly:

• What area of my life feels imbalanced?

• Where might I have a blockage?

• What do I want to improve on?

• What is my goal from this meditation?

Summary

Use the table below to remind yourself of what each chakra represents, signs of blockages or imbalance and crystals you can use. Remember, there are thousands of gemstones in the world and there's no right or wrong. Once you're used to working with different crystals and their vibrations, you might find that some work better than others.

Happy exploring!

	Theme	Blockage	Crystals
Crown Chakra	Spiritual enlightenment, connection with the divine.	Spiritually disconnected, lacking purpose, seeking happiness from the external world rather than self.	Quartz, rainbow moonstone, selenite, howlite, labradorite, ametrine, lepidolite, fluorite.
Third Eye Chakra	Psychic ability, intuition, visions.	Disconnected from intuition, lack of clarity, inability to make decisions.	Amethyst, iolite, lapis lazuli, azurite.
Throat	Communication, self-expression, truth.	Difficulty communicating and standing up for beliefs.	Sodalite, amazonite, angelite, celestite, aquamarine.
Heart	Giving and receiving love, joy, peace.	Difficulty opening up to people, lack of trust.	Green aventurine, emerald, rose quartz, rhodonite, unakite, ruby.
Solar plexus	Personal power, gut instinct, confidence.	Lack of self-belief, inability to make decisions.	Tiger's eye, yellow calcite, citrine, amber, yellow topaz.
Sacral	Sexuality, passion, creativity.	Emotional imbalance, lack of inspiration.	Carnelian, goldstone, moonstone, orange aventurine, sunstone.
Root	Grounding, security, survival instincts.	Insecurity, anxiety, fear, scarcity.	Red jasper, garnet, hematite, smokey quartz, tourmaline, onyx, black obsidian.

If you found this article helpful, take a look at the selection of chakra crystal sets available to purchase from the Little Moon Tree shop.

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