Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. – Albert Einstein
As a species, humans have always been enticed and fascinated by the appearance and powers of crystals. Throughout history, we’ve revered them as something mythical and precious, which has inspired their age-old inclusion in various spiritual practices.
And this tradition continues to flourish in the modern day. We put them in our jewelry, we use them to decorate our homes – and many of us use them for their believed powers for healing and protection.
With hundreds of crystals out there, each believed to have unique properties and offer support in different ways, it can be hard to know where to start – and that’s what we’re here to help you with.
The focus of today’s article is on crystals for protection, where we’ll be delving into gems, precious stones, and crystal lattices believed to ward against negative energy, bring balance and good fortune to those who wear them.
Note: Make sure to source your crystals responsibly, as sadly the commercial demand for crystals can result in environmental damage and exploitative child labor in the mining process.
In this article on crystals for protection, we’ll look at:
- What Are Crystals For Protection?
- How Do Crystals For Protection Work?
- The 8 Best Crystals For Protection
Ready?
Let’s flow.
What Are Crystals For Protection?
First things first – what are crystals?
The word crystal derives from the Ancient Greek krustallos, translating to both “ice” and “rock crystal” with the root kreus meaning “to begin to freeze” or “to form a crust.” And all those years ago, they were onto something.Scientifically speaking, crystals are a special kind of organic solid material wherein the constituent atoms are highly ordered and fit together in a neat repeating pattern, known as crystal lattices. This repeating pattern causes the material to form all sorts of unique shapes.
And just as not all crystals are precious stones (for example snowflakes, table salt and ice cubes are all examples of crystal lattices), many of the stones used in crystal healing are not technically crystals by scientific standards.
In crystal healing, crystals are thus better understood as the collection of minerals, crystalline solids, semi-rare and precious stones, gemstones, and even tree resins (such as amber) that are used in energy healing due to their believed therapeutic powers.
There are currently over 200 recorded healing crystals. To the eye, these crystals can take various shapes, colors, lustres, textures, and even smells.
Note: Crystal healing experts believe that while the shape of a crystal doesn’t affect the type of energy it emits, it does change the way you receive said energy – more on this coming in another article!
How Do Crystals For Protection Work?
Now we know what crystals are – but how are they believed to work?
While the scientific research confirming the protective or healing properties of crystals is very limited and those that do exist point their benefits down to the placebo effect, crystal healing is used by millions of people around the world who testify to its benefits.
Crystals for protection belong to the energy healing practice of crystal therapy, considered by many as a New Age practice in alternative medicine.
The basic idea is that the crystals’ energies interact with our body’s own energy field, dispelling negative energies, fostering instead physical alignment and emotional balance.
According to the laws of physics, all physical matter is made up of vibrating molecules – including crystals and human bodies. Just as molecular structure is different depending on the physical matter in question, as is the frequency with which their molecules vibrate.
As such, different crystals have different molecular compositions and vibrate at different frequencies, and it is this difference in composition and frequency that is believed to give crystals their different healing properties.
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According to crystal healing, when we keep crystals close, a transfer of energy occurs which changes the frequencies in our bodies, triggering therapeutic effects. Many individuals actually report being able to feel this energy transfer, experiencing intense physical or emotional ‘waves’.
This energy transfer is believed to eliminate or combat negative energies, fostering positive energy to flow into the body. In this sense, crystals energies act almost like a protective shield against different manifestations of toxic energy – be this health issues, anxiety, unhealthy relationships, or so on.
In this sense, all crystals are protective crystals. So, the real question when looking for the right protective crystal for you is what exactly do you want protection against?
Traditionally, it is thought that you don’t pick the crystal, but rather the crystal picks you.
So, the right crystal for you is the one that you are drawn to. That is, the energy of the crystal will catch your attention and draw you in – and in doing so it can reveal to you the protection you didn’t even know that you needed.
The 8 Best Crystals For Protection
Now you know what they are and how they’re believed to work, time to look at 8 of the best crystals for protection.
#1: Black Tourmaline
Benefits:
Tourmaline is known as a highly protective crystal found most commonly in Brazil and many parts of Africa. Tourmaline crystals can be found in almost every color, from blue, red, yellow, green, and pink. It can also sometimes be colorless, bi-colored, or multicolored.
Black Tourmaline is recognized in crystal healing for its cleansing properties which purify its wearer of negative energies. It’s believed to forms a protective shield around the body and thus is most effective when worn, on a necklace or bracelet for example.
Internally, Black Tourmaline is thought to be a powerful mental healer ridding negative thoughts and fears. Externally, its energy frequency is thought to attract compassion from others.
#2: Amethyst
Benefits:
Naturally occurring as geodes in various volcanic regions, Amethyst is a beautiful bi-colored purple and white crystal typically sourced from Brazil, Uruguay, South Korea, Russia, the United States, South India, and Zambia.
In crystal healing, it’s known for its potent cleansing powers, which specifically is thought to protect against negative attachments such as addictions or unhealthy relationships, as well as aiding sleep.
In addition to better spiritual wellbeing, the positive energy that amethyst crystals for protection bring are also thought to promote better physical health, protecting and strengthening blood health, immune system, and balanced skin.
#3: Snowflake Obsidian
Benefits:
Sourced from Mexico, the USA, and Iceland, Snowflake Obsidian is a mystical crystal formed from cooled volcanic lava, producing a black and white stone that resembles white clouds on a dark night sky.
In crystal healing, Snowflake Obsidian is known for bringing balance to those who it surrounds. Its energy vibrations are thought to purify anxious energies, having a calming and soothing effect that fosters the release of stressful thoughts.
It is also thought to protect us against pitfalls, allowing us to learn from mistakes as well as recognize successful paths.
#4: Smokey Quartz
Next on our list of crystals for protection is the abundant and beautiful Smokey Quartz, named so for its foggy appearance (the two central stones in the image above). Areas of natural occurrence include Brazil, Madagascar, Colorado, Russia, Ukraine, and Switzerland.
In Crystal healing, Smokey Quartz is recognized for its powerful grounding effects, fostering clear-headedness and reassurance, especially in times of stress. In this sense, Smokey Quartz is a highly protective stone that defends against fear, panic, and feelings of being lost.
Smokey Quartz is also thought to boast impressive physical benefits too, thought to be excellent for treating radiation-related ailments of chemotherapy, relieving pain, and regulating hydration levels in the body.
#5: Emerald
Emerald is a striking crystal, bright turquoise in color found in both clear and opaque forms. Most emeralds bought today come from either Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, Ethiopia, or Zimbabwe.
In crystal healing, Emeralds are thought to protect against deception, dishonesty, and misfortune, attracting instead humility and honestly from others. Internally, the stone is thought to bring harmony, patience and feelings of emotional balance.
Physically, it is thought to protect against poor health by fostering fast regeneration and recovery after sickness, particularly in respiratory organs.
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#6: Blue Lace Agate
Part of the extensive agate crystal family, Blue Lace Agate is a truly beautiful multi-colored blue stone, found naturally occurring in Nambia, India, South Africa, Brazil, China, and some parts of the USA.
In crystal healing, Blue Lace Agate is heralded for its calming and soothing properties, thought to neutralize anger, and instead foster optimism and peace of mind in those who keep them close.
For this reason, this stone is considered a healer of emotional pain and to protect against negative thought cycles, promoting the release of repressed struggles such as low self-esteem or fear of judgment.
#7: Hag Stone
Next on our list of crystals for protection isn’t actually a crystal at all, but instead takes the form of common rock, pebble, or really any stone with a naturally formed hole that runs right through.
And the magic of Hag stones is in this hole. The belief goes that only good things are able to pass through the hole, while bad things are too large and dense to fit through. In this sense, Hag stones are thought of almost like a filter that blocks negative energies from entering a room.
For this reason, Hag stones are often hung in windows, near entrances or in jewelry close to the heart, to prevent negative energies from entering these spaces.
#8: Red Jasper
Last (but not least)on our list of crystals for protection, Jasper describes a family of opaque rocks formed from volcanic sediments and ash. Jasper stones can come in almost every color, each thought to channel different healing properties.
Found all over the world including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the United States of America, Red Jasper is thought to be a highly protective stone loyal to those who wear them or keep them close.
Red Jasper is thought to ground your energies, giving you a sense of support and rootedness to keep you strong and emotionally resilient amid difficult times. Providing stability and thus space for mental clarity, Red Jasper is also thought to improve powers of discernment regarding problems and solutions in one’s life.
It’s not only crystals For Protection that channel Positive energies . . .
For millennia, mudras have been recognized for their healing and protective effects. Simple yet powerful, there’s a mudra for every need.
Read this: Meditation Mudras Guide + 8 Easy Hand Mudras
