Yulia van Doren - Crystals: The Modern Guide to Crystal Healing

Contents

Hello, magic maker.

Whether youre already a devoted member of the crystal-obsessed fan club (never far from at least a few beloved rocks), or are very newly crystal-curious (and wondering what all the fuss is about?) welcome, Im so glad you have found your way to this guidebook.

Crystals can fill your life with magic, their uniquely radiant and sparkling brand of magic. Born from the ancient rumblings and rattlings of our beautiful Earth, literally seeded by stardust from the dawn of time, crystals and minerals are magic-filled tools that are fantastically easy to add into your daily life. You dont need special knowledge or training to begin experiencing the power of crystals, and you certainly dont need to spend loads of money on expensive specimens. All you need to get started is a sense of wonder and open-minded curiosity towards the intricate, gorgeous and powerful creations that are minerals and crystals.

This guidebook is divided into two sections: Crystal Magic 101 covers all the information and tools needed to jumpstart your crystalline adventures, and The Crystals is an in-depth guide to the 50 crystals I believe hold the most magic for our current time, intentionally chosen to be both accessible and affordable.

If this book has found its way to you, crystals hold magic for you to personally discover and experience. Trust your intuition, trust the power of magic, and keep your heart and spirit always open to the gifts that crystals will magically, mysteriously, and most certainly bring into your life.

may your life be full of magic!
Yulia / Goldirocks

we are stardust, billion year old carbon, we are golden...

Joni Mitchell,Woodstock

Everything within and surrounding you at this very moment was born from stardust. Created by ancient cosmic events of unimaginable power and immensity, stardust infuses our entire universe and seeded life here on Planet Earth. And what is stardust made of? Stardust = minerals, minerals and more minerals.

As Madonna (almost) sang, we truly are living in a mineral world. Beneath our feet lie unimaginable quantities and varieties of crystals and minerals within the earth. Above our heads sparkle the mineral clusters we call stars. Our buildings are crafted from minerals and crystals (steel = iron minerals, glass = melted crystals). Our cars, computers and phones work only because they contain a multitude of minerals and crystals that literally power them. Crystal technology isnt just some woo-woo, New Age concept, it is one of the essential building blocks of our modern technological age.

Crystals are enjoying a very bright moment in our collective consciousness. The glittering magic contained within Mother Earths gems is beginning to resonate with a rapidly expanding tribe of people, who are exploring ways to experience them within our daily lives far beyond their obvious industrial uses. Although modern technology utilises the scientifically proven powers of crystals, such as their piezoelectric capabilities (e.g. their ability to transform pressure into an electrical current), there is a community of crystal adventurers who are discovering new powers contained within crystals and minerals ones which we believe modern science simply hasnt caught up with yet.

The mythology of crystals and minerals, as ancient and global as our human history, is experiencing a supercharged moment in our Modern New Age. And because working with crystals requires that each person tap into their intuition to find their own insights and healing, we are all writing this sparkling story together, continuing the legacy of crystals as a connected community of crystalline explorers. What will you discover?

krystallos: from the Ancient Greek, meaning crystallised light

Our beautiful planet contains over 5000 identified minerals, with hundreds of new varieties being discovered each year many crystal healers believe that new minerals surface as their particular energies are needed within the world. Although I like to be informal when talking about minerals/crystals/ rocks/gemstones/stones and interchange the terms, lets take a moment to get clear on their unique differences.

MINERALS are generally formed from only one chemical composition; more than one and they turn into rocks (see right). The definition of a mineral is: 1. Naturally occurring; 2. Solid; 3. Inorganic (e.g. not made from fossilised bits of ancient plants or animals); 4. Has an internal crystalline structure; however, not all minerals form crystals large enough to be visible to our human eyes. Which means that while all crystals are minerals, not all minerals are crystals. Examples of minerals that do not have a visible crystalline structure:

Malachite, Hematite, Carnelian

CRYSTALS generally refer to minerals with a visible crystallised form. This means that they show a faceted, symmetrical (e.g. cubic) or asymmetrical (e.g. rhombohedral), three-dimensional, geometric form. The astounding variety of crystals actually fits into just six categories, or crystal systems, each with its own unique geometric shape, making crystal identification much easier than it might seem at first glance. Examples of crystals:

Quartz, Pyrite, Fluorite

ROCKS are generally formed from grains of multiple minerals fused together into a solid mass. Rocks may contain organic material, which true minerals cannot (for example, Shungite is a rock made from ancient vegetation). Examples of rocks:

Jade, Obsidian, Lapis Lazuli

GEMSTONES are minerals or rocks strong enough to be cut and polished for jewellery. Only about 200 of the 5000+ minerals and rocks can be shaped into gemstones. Examples of gemstones:

Moonstone, Labradorite, Turquoise

STONES is a non-technical term, commonly used in the mineral world to refer to small specimens whose rough edges have been mechanically polished away, aka tumbled stones or polished stones.

POLISHED VS RAW

Perhaps similar to the belief that getting nutrients from real food is more potent than from a vitamin pill, many crystal lovers find something uniquely organic and powerful about a crystal left in its raw form, as created by Mother Earth. There are, however, plenty of minerals who reveal hidden glamour only once polished: Rainbow Fluorites beautiful layers are much more vibrant, as is the flash within Labradorite and Moonstone, as examples. And polished crystals are also often easier to lay on the body for crystal healing, as well as handy for carrying around in all those little spots we love to tuck our rocks (bags, pockets, bras, etc). Just be aware that polishing can sometimes unnaturally freeze a crystals energy flow, so if a crystal doesnt feel alive to you in its polished form definitely try to get your hands on a raw specimen for comparison the energy difference can be quite amazing!