Crystals: How to Use Crystals and Their Energy to Enhance Your Life (Hay House Basics) - Judy Hall 2015

Nature’s building blocks
Crystal Foundations

Some crystals are shining, glamorous — and expensive. Others are rough, seemingly dull. Many crystals are tumbled, cut or faceted to enhance their appearance, but work just as well in their natural form, although the external shape does alter how the crystal energy is experienced. All crystals generate, store, regulate, transmit and absorb energy, but the fundamental energy-focusing tool is shape.

Universal building blocks

As the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras (whose father was a gem-cutter) noted, the universe is made up of a mere handful of geometric shapes. Crystals reflect these universal building blocks.

Atoms form the heart of a crystal. Inside an atom, dynamic particles rotate in constant motion around a central point, generating energy. So, although a crystal may look outwardly serene, it is actually a seething molecular mass vibrating at a specific, but variable, frequency.

Individual crystals are recognizable by how their component molecules stick together to fill space. Chemical impurities, radiation, Earth-energy and solar emissions, and the way they form, mean that each type of crystal has its own unique signature or crystal lattice. Under a microscope, a large or small version, or different colour, of the same crystal has exactly the same lattice. It is this structure that is crucial to crystal classification. Several types of crystals may form from the same mineral, or combination of minerals, but each type has crystallized differently. However, crystals that have an outwardly different appearance may be classified as the same type. For example, to the naked eye the brown ’sputnik’ form of Aragonite has no outward connection with its pale pink, layered, blue or spiky white relations, but they are classified as the same crystal because their component minerals and internal crystal lattice match exactly.

Geometric forms

Crystals are built from one of seven geometric forms, plus a non-geometric anomaly, that lock together into a number of potential crystal shapes. These crystal systems have generic names based on their internal geometry. Each functions in a slightly different way, channelling energy according to its crystal lattice.

✵ Amorphous: Lacking an inner structure, amorphous crystals allow energy to pass through freely, act rapidly and may be a catalyst for growth. Example: Obsidian

✵ Hexagonal: Highly energetic hexagonal crystals are particularly useful for energy balancing and for exploring specific issues. Example: Rhodochrosite

✵ Isometric (Cubic): Stabilizing and grounding, cubic crystals are excellent for structure and reorganization. This is the only crystal form that does not bend light rays as they pass through it. Example: Fluorite

✵ Monoclinic: Purifying monoclinic crystals enhance perception. Example: Azurite

✵ Orthorhombic: Vibrantly energetic, orthorhombic crystals are useful cleansers and clearers. Example: Peridot

✵ Tetragonal: Absorbing and transforming energy, tetragonals are excellent balancers and resolvers. Example: Idocrase

✵ Triclinic: Integrating energy and opposites, triclinic crystals assist in exploring other dimensions. Example: Astrophyllite

✵ Trigonal: Creating and radiating energy, trigonals are invigorating and protective, rebalancing the aura. Example: All types of Quartz

Crystal practitioner Michael Gienger identified a series of lifestyles built around these fundamental crystal systems and created an intuitive crystal healing method based upon them. You’ll find more details in his Crystal Power, Crystal Healing (see Resources).

The effect of external shape

Although the internal lattice of a crystal — not visible to the naked eye — is fundamental to its energy, its external shape has a bearing too. This outer form does not necessarily reflect the inner structure of a crystal and may subtly effect how energy flows through it.

Shapes may be natural or artificially cut. Their effects are listed below:

✵ Ball: Emits energy equally all round. A window to move through time.

✵ Cluster: Several points on a base create and radiate energy in all directions equally.

✵ Double terminated: Points at both ends emit energy in two directions. Useful for breaking old patterns.

✵ Egg: The gently rounded end focuses and discharges energy and the sharper one pulls it out.

✵ Elestial: Folds, terminations, windows and inner planes radiate flowing energy. This shape absorbs and transmutes negative vibes. Opens insight and change.

✵ Generator: A single six-pointed termination or several points radiating from a fixed base in all directions focuses healing energy or intention, draws people together and attracts abundance.

✵ Geode: Rough outside, beauty and strength within. The ’cave’-like formation amplifies, conserves and slowly releases energy.

✵ Phantom: This enclosed, pointed inner pyramid breaks old patterns and raises vibrations.

✵ Point: Faceted termination. The point out from the body draws off energy. The point in draws in energy. Cleansing and energizing.

✵ Sceptre: A ’head’ formed around a central rod is an excellent power and restructuring tool.

✵ Square: Consolidates energy, anchors intention and grounds it. Draws off negative energy and transforms it.

✵ Twin: Two crystals, usually of equal length, sharing a base draw people together.

✵ Wand: A long point, or specially shaped crystal, focuses energy and either draws it off or brings it in. Useful for joining grids.

Exercise: Sensing the effect of shape

✵ Choose a variety of shapes of the same crystal.

✵ Cleanse the crystals (see Exercise: Cleansing a crystal).

✵ Open your palm chakras (see Exercise: Opening the palm chakras).

✵ Place each shape on your palm chakra in turn and allow yourself to feel how the energy radiates from the shape or is drawn in.

✵ Record the results for future reference.

The Mohs scale

The Mohs scale measures the ability of a crystal to withstand surface scratching. Relating to the strength of the chemical bonds that make the structure coherent, it was developed by Friedrich Mohs in 1822, but the ancient geographer Theophrastus referred to scratch resistance in his treatise On Stones in 300 BCE.

Small, densely packed atoms create strong bonds and a hard stone. The Mohs scale progresses from 1, the softest crystals, to 10, the hardest. But it isn’t a proportional progression, each higher number crystal being exponentially harder than the one before. At 10 on the Mohs scale, Diamond is four times harder than Sapphire, which measures 9, but Sapphire is only twice as hard as Topaz, which is 8.

Each number on the scale scratches itself or anything lower in the table, but won’t scratch a higher number. Gemstones need to be at a minimum of 7 to withstand constant wear, but a hard stone isn’t necessarily tough or durable.

SUMMARY

✵ Crystals are formed from seven basic geometric shapes plus an anomaly.

✵ These shapes have an orderly internal crystal lattice by which a specific crystal is identified.

✵ All crystals generate, store, regulate, transmit and absorb energy, but the fundamental energy-focusing tool is shape.

✵ Crystals may be tumbled, cut or faceted to enhance their appearance.

✵ External shape alters how crystal energy is experienced.

✵ The hardness of crystals is measured by the Mohs scale.