What You Should Know Before Getting A Healing Crystal

If you're toying with the idea of investing in a healing crystal, there are a few things you need to know beyond the basics. "First of all, anyone who thinks that just buying a healing crystal is going to change their life is going to be really disappointed," Heather Askinosie, crystal expert and co-founder of Energy Muse, told Reader's Digest. Unfortunately, there's a lot more to healing crystals than simply owning them — in other words, you need to be willing to commit. 

"Crystals have been part of the earth since the beginning of time, so even if they're new to your world, you're not new to theirs," Askinosie explained. While they can connect you with nature, improve feng shui, and bring you clarity and balance, they can also make you happier and calmer. "There's a part within your soul that says, 'stop, breathe, and listen.' It reminds you that you can find peace even in the midst of chaos. Stones can help you do that," Askinosie continued.

Speaking to INSIDER, crystal healer Azalea Lee explained that commitment comes down to being aware of your energy. "Sometimes if you look up one crystal, there's about 30 different meanings attributed to it," Lee told INSIDER. "So, say you see a crystal — a little tumbled pocket stone that you're very attracted to. Take that stone and stick it in your pocket for 30 days or stick it underneath your pillow. Don't read any information on it. Then, at the end of those 30 days, look up what people say that crystal's about. See if you've felt that energy." 

Most of the time, you will be drawn to the crystal you most need. "Don't just get a crystal because someone else has it, or because you read that it could be helpful," Lee warned, adding, "To me, that's taking the power out of your own hands and out of your own experience."

According to Askinosie and Lee, once you've found a crystal your body responds to, keep it with you. But whatever you do, be sure to cleanse it before use. "They've been removed from the ground, other people have touched them, sometimes they've been shaped into spheres or hearts. So you should cleanse that energy," Timmi Jandro, co-founder alongside Askinosie, told INSIDER. Put them in front of the sun or moon to prepare them for use.