Crystals to make you rich and mend a heartache

Although the idea of crystals might conjure up visions of flower-power hippies communing with the universe, these mystical stones are having something of a renaissance — with not a whiff of incense about the 2017 version.

In fact, crystals were feted by different cultures for thousands of years before the peace and love generation hijacked them in the Seventies.

greek soldiers would rub crushed haematite over their bodies in preparation for battle, convinced this would make them invincible. Egyptian princesses used crushed lapis lazuli and malachite as eye make-up in the belief it would bring them physical beauty and spiritual insight.

And there is science behind crystals’ enduring popularity. Crystals are a particular form of mineral with a molecular structure that is a fixed, regularly repeating geometric pattern. Because of this, crystals are among the most ordered and stable matter in the universe, remaining the same over millions of years.

the reason why this is important is because like everything on Earth, crystals vibrate at a specific frequency. their stability means their ability to maintain this frequency and transmit energy is used in all sorts of ways, from ensuring watches keep time — thanks to the quartz in them — to helping run computers: the silicon in silicon chips is a crystal, too.

It’s believed that this ability to keep things ticking in harmony is why crystals have such healing powers when it comes to our wellbeing.

here’s how to use crystals and their different frequencies to bring your life back into balance.

AMETHYST FOR RESTORATIVE SLEEP

thIS crystal is known to bring inner peace and protection thanks to its tones of light to dark purple. Such shades evoke a sense of calm, making it a powerful aid to meditation and the perfect crystal to place on your bedside table to promote relaxing energy for a good night’s sleep. In biblical times, it was believed that amethyst could induce powerful dreams and visions.

HOW TO USE IT: As well as placing amethyst on your bedside table or under your pillow, sometimes, if I’ve been having challenging dreams, I’ll also place amethyst stones under my bed at each of the four corners (which creates a sort of grid that ensures the whole bed area is covered) to help restore protective energy to my dreamworld.

But one of my favourite ways to create a relaxing environment for sleep is to make my own pillow spray. Fill a small glass spritzer bottle with water, add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil and a couple of small chips of amethyst. Spray this on your pillow and your bedlinens for sweet dreams.

CLEAR QUARTZ FOR ENERGY AND FOCUS

WIth its beautiful, colourless transparency, clear quartz is known as one of the master crystals of the mineral kingdom. When the Ancient greeks came across quartz in the mountains, they believed it to be eternal ice sent from the heavens.

A pure crystal with no other mineral inclusions, it helps to bring the energies of clarity and focus — particularly useful when you need to make a decision. It’s also a powerful amplifier of energy, making it a wonderful crystal to help boost vitality. I often carry a piece of clear quartz with me to meetings to help me stay focused.

HOW TO USE IT: You can use clear quartz as part of a ritual to boost your energy. Start by making your space clutter-free. Spritz a zesty and energising fragrance on your hands and breathe it in. then light a yellow or gold candle — the bright colour will help boost energy.

Close your eyes and visualise each step of your day ahead and get a clear picture of what you’re going to do with the extra energy you’re cultivating. think about the impact it will have on you and those around you.

take the quartz in your hand and say out loud something that feels right to you. I use the words: ‘I open up and welcome the energy available to me.’

Finally, look at the candle flame, close your eyes and imagine that flame is flickering inside you. With each flicker, feel the flame burning away worries, tiredness, tension or limiting beliefs, allowing energy to circulate freely around your body and mind. then, whenever you need energy during the day, think of that inner flame.

CITRINE FOR ABUNDANCE

BECAuSE of the iron within it, citrine reflects the colour yellow, energising everything that is touched by its light. It’s also associated with abundance and prosperity.

HOW TO USE IT: think about the one area of your life that you think is lacking — money, health, relationships, happiness, time, fulfilment — and write this word at the top of a piece of paper.

Close your eyes and think about that word, noticing what feelings come up. Pay close attention to any fearful thoughts, nervous energy or sinking feelings. take a deep breath and, as you exhale, give yourself permission to let go of these abundance blockers.

Now write down on your paper how you would act differently if you knew deep down you had as much money/health/happiness/ time/love as you need.

With a piece of citrine in your hand, visualise the things you’ll do with the abundance available to you, feeling the joy associated with this abundance. Make one commitment to something you will do in the next 24 hours as a result of this abundance.

Finally, place the piece of paper in the soil of a plant, and place this plant in an area of your house that you dedicate to abundance, so your dreams can manifest as the plant grows.

ROSE QUARTZ FOR LOVE AND BEAUTY

thIS beautiful pink stone is known as the stone of love and associated with the heart. It radiates calming energies of compassion and nurture, and is particularly beneficial if you’ve been hurt in love. In Ancient Egypt, women would add powdered rose quartz to their beauty creams, believing it would bring them eternal beauty.

HOW TO USE IT: Buy a piece of rose quartz and use it to apply your face cream. I use a palmsized, smooth and flattish stone to massage cream into the skin, helping blood flow and bringing a glow back to the skin.

When the weather is hot, I keep my rose quartz tool in the fridge overnight so that in the morning it refreshes my skin and helps tighten my pores.

MOONSTONE FOR POWERFUL SERENITY

IN INdIA, moonstone was a popular wedding gift because it was seen as a sacred stone.

the moon is traditionally associated with female energy, so I use it when I want to tap into my feminine energy — powerful but serene.

HOW TO USE IT: use moonstone during a full moon as a way of taking stock and letting go of anything that doesn’t help you.

to do this, prepare a moon bathing infusion from one cup of pink himalayan rock salt and one cup of fresh or dried petals. Mix them in a bowl with a moonstone and leave the bowl where it catches the moonlight.

the next day, place the contents of the bowl, except for the moonstones, in a muslin bag, run a bath and add your moon-infusion bag to the water. light some candles and spend the time relaxing, rejuvenating and re-centreing yourself.

The Inner Beauty Bible by Laurey Simmons and Louis Weinstock is published by harper Thorsons on April 20 at £14.99. To order a copy for £11.24 (25 per cent discount) visit mailbookshop.co.uk or call 0844 571 0640. P&p is free on orders over £15. Offer valid until April 17, 2017.