| I have always loved crystals. I love to be surrounded | | | | (not a round flat stone), and you get to lie |
| by them, I love to hold them in my hands and place | | | | down-which is very relaxing after a hard day at |
| them on Chakra points during meditation, and I | | | | work! I originally learned this simple, yet |
| especially love to wear them. When I was young and | | | | oh-so-powerful meditation in "Crystal Enlightenment" |
| broke, I remember saving my change in a jar until I | | | | by Katrina Raphael: |
| had enough money to buy a piece of raw amethyst | | | | - Lie face up; |
| from a little shop in Woodstock, NY! It cost all of | | | | - Place the terminated point of the clear quartz at |
| $5.00, but that was a lot of money back in the '70s | | | | the top of your head; |
| when I was working full time and putting myself | | | | - Meditate as usual (try to work up to at least 15 - |
| through college. I still have that piece of amethyst in | | | | 20 minutes). |
| my library, along with dozens of other beautiful | | | | Simple, right? But wait until you give it a try! It's a |
| crystals and stones. I love the peaceful feeling that | | | | very power meditation, and to help ground the |
| comes from being surrounded by amethyst, quartz, | | | | experience and bring it into physical reality (which |
| aventurine, and lapis lazuli - especially when I'm writing. | | | | makes it easier to remember your experience so you |
| After years of being attracted to the energy and | | | | can record it in your meditation journal), try adding |
| beauty of crystals and stones, I began studying | | | | two more crystals to your meditation: place an |
| them in the early 1980's. I attended a lot of | | | | amethyst crystal on your brow (6th/Third Eye |
| workshops over the years to become familiar with | | | | Chakra) and a citrine crystal on your navel (3rd/Solar |
| the Spiritual and healing properties of the many | | | | Plexus Chakra). The amethyst and citrine should be |
| wonderful and powerful crystals and stones that are | | | | light and on the flatter side so they don't distract you |
| to help us. Those workshops were great, but I think | | | | or roll off during meditation. Meditate for 15-20 |
| I learned the most from Katrina Raphaell's trilogy: | | | | minutes (or longer if you have time). |
| "Crystal Enlightenment," "Crystal Healing," and "The | | | | About that meditation journal - through the years, |
| Crystalline Transmission." They are now my beloved | | | | I've kept a meditation journal where I record what |
| and much referred to "encyclopedias" for everything | | | | and how I felt as I worked with different crystals |
| crystals! | | | | and stones-I highly recommend keeping one because |
| When I first started working with crystals, I found | | | | it will help you remember which crystals work best |
| myself drawn initially to amethyst and clear quartz - I | | | | for different purposes. To help get you started, |
| think that's because those crystals really pack a | | | | here's a little bit from my workshop notes and |
| vibrational punch when it comes to opening up the | | | | personal experiences regarding the three crystals |
| 6th and 7th Chakras, which helps one open up to | | | | used in the meditation outlined above: |
| Spirit. Back in the 80's, opening that channel and | | | | - Quartz (Clear) [Seventh/Crown Chakra]: Radiates |
| communicating with Spirit was a priority for me, and | | | | the Divine white light and allows the user to work |
| I'm sure that working with quartz and amethyst helps | | | | with that light. It's a receiver, amplifier, conductor and |
| me to be a clearer channel today as I continue to | | | | generator of energy. It helps open psychic centers, |
| "take dictation" from my Guide Group through | | | | thus enabling one to meditate more deeply. It is |
| automatic writing for my books. | | | | particularly helpful when used during meditation or |
| Once I started working with them, it didn't take long | | | | when working to contact or align with Spirit or one's |
| for me to realize that holding or wearing crystals | | | | higher self. [Note: This is the first crystal that I ever |
| stones greatly enhanced my meditation | | | | picked up and held in my hand.] |
| experience-and thanks to the workshops I attended | | | | - Amethyst (Purple) [Sixth/Third Eye Chakra]: One of |
| I think I know why: | | | | the best stones for meditation and it works |
| (1) The energy(ies) of the crystals/stones merge | | | | especially well when placed over the third eye |
| with our electromagnetic field, helping to increaseour | | | | (between your eyebrows). It's a calming stone--it |
| overall vibrational level. | | | | works in the emotional, Spiritual, and physical planes |
| (2) The color vibrations of the crystals/stones | | | | to provide calm, balance, patience, and peace. |
| increase the light force and healing energies | | | | Emotionally, amethyst can help heal personal losses |
| aroundthe body. | | | | and grief. Amethyst promotes peacefulness, |
| It's been my experience that meditating with crystals | | | | happiness, and contentment. It also brings emotional |
| stones has also helped me to achieve a better | | | | stability and inner strength. [Note: Amethyst has |
| balance of energy within my body - I feel better | | | | always been my favorite crystal-I love the color and |
| after meditating and working with my crystals and | | | | I love the overall energy and how it helps open up |
| stones. This is because we can choose specific | | | | the Third Eye.] |
| crystals/stones to achieve specific goals-it just takes | | | | - Citrine (Yellow) [Third/Solar Plexus Chakra]: Citrine is |
| a little research on line or reading books to find out | | | | great for dissipating negative energy, and can be |
| the properties of each stone. | | | | used to clear negative energies from the body and |
| I found it very easy to incorporate crystals and | | | | the environment. It enhances mental clarity, |
| stones into my daily meditation practice, and here are | | | | confidence and willpower while helping to relieve |
| some tips for those of you who want to give it a | | | | depression, self-doubt, and anger. Citrine is a happy |
| try: | | | | stone and is also thought to promote success, |
| - Choose the crystals/stones you want to work | | | | prosperity, and abundance! [Note: The positive |
| with; | | | | energies of citrine led me to keep some on my desk |
| - Hold the crystals/stones, wear them, or place them | | | | at work-I'm not shy about holding them in my hand |
| around you where you can see them; | | | | after an unpleasant meeting!] |
| - Meditate as usual. | | | | The best way to learn about crystals and stones is |
| I must be a creature of habit, because I've used | | | | start reading about them and working with them. To |
| basically the same crystal meditation for over 20 | | | | find the crystals and stones that are right for you, |
| years! I started this practice to help me wake up my | | | | hold them in your hand with your fist closed. If it's |
| higher consciousness centers and attain a greater | | | | the right one for you, you'll feel a vibration in your |
| state of awareness during meditation. If you'd like to | | | | hand. Try adding them to your meditation and feel |
| try it, you only need one crystal-a clear quartz point | | | | the difference! |