Crystals & Essential Oils

Stones that are lumped into the world of "crystals" are simply the earth's minerals. Some are called crystals, stones, rocks, gems, and various other names for this field of use. The use of these crystals and stones has dated back thousands of years, and have been used for jewelry and decor, but also for calming, healing, and energy focus. You may have negative preconceived notions surrounding the use of crystals and stones as new age, witchcraft, or divination, but when we take a look at the science and factual evidence behind their use, you may be surprised!

Did you know that at one time people thought forks were from the Devil? Did you know that at one time people thought telephones were straight from Satan? People also thought that if you had electricity in your house you were inviting the demons right into your home. Most modern electronics were thought to be very very bad at one point. Can you  imagine if someone from the 1800s saw a television? They would freak out!

MODERN USE OF CRYSTALS

Crystal are found in many common items you already use today such as clocks, watches, cell phones, and computers. Quartz is the most common mineral used because it can focus an electrical charge by converting electrical energy into mechanical energy with absolute precision when placed under pressure. Quartz, found in watches and clocks, is used as an oscillator to create vibrations and a precise frequency (32,768 times/second)

Silicon (Quartz, agate, amethyst) is used in computers as semiconductors. Crystals are also used in sonar, ultrasound, radios, transistors, televisions, electric  guitars, microphones, and even your ovens. They create a small spark to ignite gas ovens, heaters, and lighters. Liquid crystals are found in display screens. In radios multiple crystals are used to generate different frequencies because each crystal vibrates at a different rate when electricity is applied.

HOW CRYSTALS REALLY WORK FOR HUMANS

Crystals work on humans through living energy, that is, they don't work on their own unless there is actual life present, namely human life. Some call the human energy system chakras, aura, frequency, or meridians. I will get into more on chakras in a bit, so to keep things neutral, I will use the term energy. They basically increase the frequency of light and energy that passes through them. Our bodies are made up of energy and our thoughts also produce a specific type of energy that has a vibrational frequency depending on your mood. Crystals can help direct and redirect those energies. 

Crystals cannot produce in your body something that is not already there. What they can do is speed up your body's natural process. For instance, if you have a headache, they won't cure it on their own, but they will speed up your body's natural response and it may feel worse at first but then get better much faster than it normally would without a crystal. This is also true for mental and emotional processes too. They help focus your body's own energy to get you through faster.

THE GOOD PLACEBO EFFECT 

There is a negative connotation when we hear the phrase "placebo effect" that may have you thinking an outcome is not real if it is "all in your head". The reality is that the placebo effect is a very real thing both in emotional practice and physical practice. It is also very real in the pharmaceutical world. The main thing that the placebo effect teaches us is how powerful our minds are at healing our bodies. Countless studies have been done to show how healing something physical or emotional in your mind will also heal it your body. As you consider the placebo effect, I encourage you to take a deeper look at how effective it is. The act of choosing a stone to use because you are drawn to it or think it is pretty can have calming effects. While the stones themselves have various elements that are known in practice to help with a specific an non-specific array of issues, they also can have a general effect on anything you desire because they will focus the mental energy you are desiring to achieve. 

Consider essential oils. They have both physical properties that are known in practice to help with certain support areas, but also there is a mindfulness that can help immensely speed up the process. An example of this is with my husband. I often apply essential oils on him that he does not know what they are for. He responds accordingly without knowing what it is. His body is very receptive to emotional support through essential oils. I, on the other hand, have a more tightly wound energy and will fight things. If I am angry, my body often will not release that anger because I hold onto it. I have to give that anger to God and pray through it every time. Even if you put an essential oil on me that is meant to help with placate anger such as Joy® by Young Living® I may still keep it from working. When I look at the word "Joy" on the bottle, I tell myself over and over in my mind, and sometimes out loud, "Jen, release your anger and find your joy through Jesus." This mindfulness with attention toward my Creator while using something from nature that has a word on it can be helpful!

Mindfulness in any health-inducing practice is key to success. Mindfulness when you eat, mindfulness when you rest, mindfulness when you pray, mindfulness when you use your oils, and mindfulness when you use your crystals and minerals. 

HOW TO GET STARTED

Getting started with gemstones, crystals, and minerals can seem overwhelming. You will want to start by simply finding a good retailer. Many can be found on Etsy if you do not have a local gemstone and mineral shop. See below for WHERE TO BUY. As you look through the stones, buy a few that you are drawn to or that you think are pretty. That is always a great place to start. Many sellers carry chakra stone sets too. 

WHERE TO BUY

It is best to find a local shop so you can see the stones in person or use Etsy, but beware of retailers selling fakes. Most stones from China are not a safe bet and any stone priced too low is usually too good to be true so use your best judgement. Ask questions to the seller before you buy to see if they are communicative and helpful. Always look in the description section to see if the seller lists what country the stone is from. Reputable resellers should list this information.

WHAT TO BUY

An easy place to start is with a seven stone set. You do not need to use them with the chakras, but it is a good place to start because they are often less expensive sold as a set.

EO SAFE SET: A great small starter set for oilers would include: 

1. Clear Quartz
2. Rose Quartz
3. Amethyst
4. Green Aventurine
5. Citrine
6. Carnelian
7. Red Jasper
8. Black Onyx

You can get raw or tumbled. You can even get palm stones, worry stones, pencil points, pyramids, eggs, or any other fun shape you are drawn to. Worry stones are some of my favorites!

Suggested Larger Starter Kit: 

1. Selenite bar or bowl (for clearing - do not use with oils)
2. Clear Quartz
3. White Howlite (do not use with oils)
4. Rose Quartz
5. Amethyst
6. Lapiz Lazuli (do not use with oils)
7. Blue Lace Agate
8. Malachite (do not use with oils)
9. Green Aventurine
10. Jade (do not use with oils)
11. Citrine
12. Tiger’s Eye (do not use with oils)
13. Carnelian
14. Golden Quartz
15. Red Jasper
16. Onyx
17. Black Obsidian (do not use with oils)
18. Black Tourmaline (do not use with oils)

HOW TO SPOT A FAKE

Just like finding the best quality essential oils, finding authentic stones is important. There are many dyed, plastic, or glass fake crystals out there. It is important to get the real thing and not a fake. Fake stones may still look pretty but they will not have the same focused energy effect that a real one will. 

Fake Quartz: tiny air bubbles in the stone.

Fake Amethyst: if it is super vibrant and has a very uniform color it is probably dyed. Look for cracks that have excess dye that has collected. 

Fake Magnesite (white turquoise): very deep cracks 

Fake Turquoise: 90% of all Turquoise on the market is fake. A fake stone will not fluoresce when shined with a black light. Put the tip of a needle on a flame to heat it up then put the tip onto the turquoise. The real one will burn, the fake will melt. If you are sold a Howlite stone that has been died, look for the black webbing design of the Howlite and notice if it looks slightly muted with the turquoise dye. You can also rub the stone with a cotton ball dipped in acetone. 

Fake Names: A lot of sellers will come up with food related names such as strawberry turquoise. Steer clear. 

CLEANSING & PREPARING CRYSTALS 

Cleanse and clear all your stones when you first get them, then cleanse them once a month. Choose a method or two that resonates with you. Some people believe that stones and crystals can "store" negative energy. This is not exactly true. Generally speaking, stones and crystals do not have a negative or positive energy profile. They are neutral, but once you hold one, they can focus your human energy. Just like a laser beam crystal focuses light, the crystal in your hand can focus your human energy.

Water Cleansing: The fastest and easiest way to cleanse and clear your stones is to place them under running water for a few minutes.

Salt Water Cleansing: Fresh salt water from the ocean is best, but you can also use a tablespoon sea salt or rock salt into a bowl of water for 3 to 48 hours. Make sure your stone is completely under the water. 

Sun Clearing: put your stones out in the sunshine for 10-12 hours. (Caution placing clear stones near anything that could catch fire). (pseudoscience)

Earth Clearing: put your stones into the soil for a few days then remove them and rinse them off with running water and pat to dry. (pseudoscience)

RECHARGING CRYSTALS 

Sometimes you will feel like your stones are no longer resonating at an energy level you are used to. There are two main reasons that this may happen.

First, you may be overly stressed or are actually blocking their energy. Take some time to recharge your own batteries by taking a nap or spending some time in prayer. Take a walk without shoes or socks on in the grass or dirt. Go swimming, or simply lay out in the sun for a bit. Breathe in deeply through your nose while lying on your back with your hands on your stomach. Feel the rise and fall of your stomach as you breathe in and out. 

Second, your stones may need to be recharged. This is a pseudoscience area of understanding. The best way it is claimed to do this is by moonlight. On a full moon, set your stones outside where they will get the most light fall. We know the moon and sun's gravitational pull on the earth are what causes waves and tides. How does this work exactly to recharge a stone? Magazine Inc. stated, "Because solar and lunar eclipses resonate with the energies of dramatic shifts of change, they can be used to charge stones with this kind of energy."

This is not very convincing to me, but I do know that there is a greater number of positive ions in the earth's atmosphere when there is a full moon. An overabundance of positive ions make humans feel off, irritable, and impatient, while negative ions help us feel more calm and grounded. How positive (harmful) ions could help a stone is not clear. If anything, certain stones contain a strong negative (helpful) ion ability to placate positive (harmful) ions.  

This is all very fascinating to me, so for now, I will leave this one up to you!

ENERGY CENTERS AKA CHAKRAS

The human body is made up of many electrical neurons with specific areas that seem more concentrated that historical practitioners have labeled "energy centers" or chakras. The term chakra simply means wheel. The current modern model shows us seven energy centers (technically six plus one), however the original tradition from Tantrik Yoga (600-1300 AD) there are upwards of 12 or 16 energy systems in the body with hundreds or even thousands of actual chakra centers. The limited seven chakras we use today are just one chakra system of many systems in the human body. This makes sense because we are made up of trillions of neuron pathways. In the brain alone there are 100 trillion neural connections!

ENDOCRINE GLANDS & CHAKRAS

The modern chakra system is most closely related to our endocrine system as each one lines up with a specific gland. 

• Crown - Pineal* (sleep, light dark cycle)
• Brow - Pituitary* (growth, vision, energy, mood)
• Throat - Thyroid (energy, metabolism)
• Heart - Thymus (healing and immune system)
• Solar Plexus (Adrenal and Pancreas)
• Sacral (Gut and Female Reproductive)
• Root/Base (Male Reproductive)

* Many details about endocrine system and chakras have the Crown and Brow chakras swapped. Based on the gland and position in the head, the above list is most accurate. The Ayurvedic Wellness Centre in Sydney Australia also agrees with my assessment. (3)

NEW AGE & OCCULT PRACTICE?

Most of what you may see, hear, and learn about chakras is often considered "New Age". What exactly is New Age? In precise terms, it is a spiritual practice that was introduced in the 1970's and most commonly surrounds the ideas of spiritualism rather than religion. It is considered an esoteric form of spirituality. Esoteric means something that is hidden or only can be known by a few people. This is why traditional religions consider "New Age" philosophies to be occult, which also means hidden or secret knowledge. This would then lump in things like witchcraft, divination, mysticism, magic, and supernatural powers.

Chakras are based on esoteric Hindu practices and is often related to Yoga. Buddhists also work with chakras but only use five where Hindu's use six or seven. A book entitled "The Chakras" by Charles W. Leadbeater introduced the rainbow colors for the chakras as they are known today. Gemstones were not added until later.

Something else to note is that the use of psychological states as they are associated with each chakra are a western and modern iteration of the original tradition. Associations of psychological states such as the root chakra being associated with security or the sacral chakra being associated with creativity were all added much later by Carl Jung. Associations based on glands, stones, herbs, tarot, foods, metals, and other forms of mysticism were added by Anodea Judith in her book "Wheels of Life". None of these were based on original Indian Sanskrit sources. (1)

FREQUENCY

The entire planet and universe can be measured in some wavelength of vibrational frequency. The earth is in constant motion and so everything on it is also in motion. Our human body is full of energy too. When one thing of greater frequency comes into contact with a thing that is a lower frequency, the one with the greater will help raise up the lower one. It is why other living things with higher frequency, such as the consumption of plant-based foods, support the health of our bodies. 

A study conducted by Dr. Royal Rife and Dr. Robert Becker illustrates the power of frequencies and how our bodies are affected by a change in them. Two young men were measured at a healthy 66 MHz frequency. They both held a cup of coffee. One drank some and one did not. The one that drank it had his frequency drop to 52 MHz in 3 seconds. The one that only held it had his frequency drop to 58 MHz in 3 seconds. Our bodies are very sensitive to our surroundings and the things we place on and in our bodies. We are constantly in a state of homeostasis, where our bodies are trying to regulate our system back to normal range. 

As stated on nasa.gov, “When you tune your radio, watch TV, send a text message, or pop popcorn in a microwave oven, you are using electromagnetic energy... Electromagnetic energy travels in waves and spans a broad spectrum from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays.” We visibly see frequency at just above 1 quadrillion hertz, which is 10 with 15 zeros. This is what we call visible light. Radio waves are just under microwaves at around 1,000,000,000 or 1 billion hertz. Human bodies radiate heat at around 100 trillion hertz or 100,000,000,000,000. Did you catch that correlation between our cell amount and our frequency heat radiation? We have 100 trillion cells in our bodies.

A hertz (Hz), named after Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, who was the first to prove the existence of electromagnetic waves, is a unit that measures frequency. It is considered one cycle per second, whereas a megahertz (MHz) is one million cycles per second. These frequencies can be found in musical tones, radio waves, computer speeds and electronics. Each periodic table element has a vibrational frequency.

Some state that gemstones contain frequencies native to the actual stone. It is said that the color variations and structure play a big part and is why there is no data on which stones vibrate at which specific frequency. Nothing is completely static, but stones focus energy, they do not create it. Because there is a continual stream of energy flowing throughout the earth and atmosphere, the stones themselves are natural conduits. Consider a light bulb. In and of itself it cannot shine unless it is plugged into an energy source. The stones are like a bulb and you are the energy source through the ultimate power of God. 

More to come... 

CHRYSTALS & CHRISTIANITY 

SOURCES

1. https://hareesh.org/blog/2016/2/5/the-real-story-on-the-chakras

2. https://www.authenticityassociates.com/neural-plasticity-4-steps-to-change-your-brain/#:~:text=The%20human%20brain%20is%20made,plasticity%20from%20brain%20science%20research.

3. https://ayurvedicwellnesscentre.com.au/the-7-chakras-how-they-influence-our-endocrinal-system/

OTHER SOURCES 

https://hibiscusmooncrystalacademy.com/spotting-crystal-fakes-frauds/

https://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/how-to-spot-fake-crystals/

Pairing Stones and Crystals with Essential Oils

The basics of pairing is knowing what stones and crystals are safe and which are toxic when combined with essential oils. Essential oils are natural chelators, meaning they naturally like to pull metals out of things. Any stone that contains metals would not be wise to use with your oils, however there are some instances where it is ok. 

Any stone that is a hard stone is usually safe to use WITH oils but not submersed INTO oils. It is easier to tell you which stones you CAN put into essential oils, such as placing some stones into a rollerball filled with essential oils. (From Allie Phillips' book "The Oily Crystal":

• Agate
• Amethyst
• Aventurine (some may have aluminum)
• Bloodstone 
• Carnelian 
• Cintrine
• Diamond
• Jasper
• Onyx
• Peridot
• Quartz

Here is a list of toxins in stones. Do not use any of these with your oils.

SOURCE URL: https://www.healingcrystals.com/Crystal_Safeguards_Articles_1009.html

SOURCE URL: https://www.healingcrystals.com/Crystal_Safeguards_Articles_1009.html

Emotional Health with Essential Oils

Our emotions are driven by several elements: our natural disposition, how we were brought up to respond, our environment, what we consume, and our chemistry and hormones. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to essential oils, so it is important to try several to find what works best for you. Unlike pharmaceuticals, essential oils work in harmony with our body. Just like the food we eat is a personal choice - what works for us and what doesn’t - so essential oils are a personal choice. While one may work well for a friend, a different one may work better for you. 

Each essential oil has a main property or “action” that it is best at, but they all have multiple actions as well. Lavender is the most well-known of all the essential oils and has a reputation to help us relax and get better sleep. Did you know it is one of the best oils to use during the day to help your mind focus? It is also incredible for your skin health. Many of us use it in our face serums and on minor cuts and burns and even to help support healthy skin cells when you get an insect bite. This is only a short list of all the areas that Lavender essential oil supports. This is the multi-facetted beauty of essential oils!

When it comes to emotions, essential oils work mostly through the limbic system. The limbic system is found on either side of the thalamus directly under the brain in the middle of the head. The main function of the limbic system is emotional and also supports memories, motivation, behavior, and learning, all of which are attached to emotional responses. Doctors are now understanding the profound relationship between our emotions and our physical health. Memories and trauma can contribute to emotional issues that can then cause actual physical trauma. 

Candace Pert stated, “Repressed traumas caused by overwhelming emotion can be stored in a body part, thereafter affecting our ability to feel that part or even move it.” Candace Pert (1946-2013) was an internationally renowned author, neuroscientist, and pharmacologist who published over 250 research articles. It is now understood today that the limbic system, which is comprised by the amygdala and hippocampus are very close to the olfactory nerve (our sense of smell). The olfactory nerve sends messages directly to the limbic system and then triggers and influences emotions and memories. It has been studied and proven that the use of essential oils through the sense of smell can help to release emotional trauma and in some cases activate specific hormones such as serotonin and dopamine.

The quality of the oil you purchase is extremely important when you desire therapeutic action. Many oil companies use synthetics to enhance the oil’s aroma or they remove molecules to make it smell more pleasing. By doing this, they are removing part of the synergy of the essential oil action and ability to work. If you leave even one ingredient out of an apple pie, it is no longer apple pie, but something completely different. The combined ingredients become something other than the sum of its parts. That is the beauty of synergy. 

Young Living® is the only company in the United States that does not create essential oils. They extract them from the plants that create them. Every other company modifies the oils after they are distilled in order to create a more consumer-pleasing aroma. Young Living® is not concerned with how well a customer likes the smell of an oil, they are more concerned with how well it works therapeutically on and in your body.

Save time, save money, and support your family’s health naturally with Young Living®!

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