Karen Frazier - Crystals for Beginners: The Guide to Get Started with the Healing Power of Crystals

Copyright 2017 by Karen Frazier

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, Althea Press, 918 Parker St, Suite A-12, Berkeley, CA 94710.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The Publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the Publisher is not engaged in rendering medical, legal, or other professional advice or services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the Publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an individual, organization, or website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the Publisher endorses the information the individual, organization, or website may provide or recommendations they/it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at (866) 744-2665, or outside the United States at (510) 253-0500.

Althea Press publishes its books in a variety of electronic and print formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books, and vice versa.

Photography Lucia Loiso, .

Illustrations Megan Dailey,

TRADEMARKS: Althea Press and the Althea Press logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Callisto Media Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Althea Press is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

ISBN: Print 978-1-62315-991-7 | eBook 978-1-62315-992-4

R1

W e live in a modern world that places tremendous stress on the body, mind, and spirit. Virtually everything we do in our daily livesfrom the foods we eat to our politics, work life, and activitiescan pull our lives out of balance. Yet to be our optimal selves, we need balance.

Several years ago, I worked a stressful job for a company that didnt seem to care about its employees. My commute took hours. I had an active son and a husband with an even busier career than mine. With the hectic busyness of our lives, I sacrificed things I knew I should be doing: eating a nutritious diet, engaging in regular exercise, and enjoying activities that allowed me to slow down and seek balance.

Because I was constantly stressed and busy, everything in my life suffered. My health was poor. I was in chronic pain. My relationship with my husband lacked the emotional intimacy we had once shared. I was unhappy. I felt professionally and personally stuck in a hyperactive and joyless existence.

One Saturday, I had some rare free time and absolutely no obligations. I decided to go for a drive and wound up at a huge crystals and bead shop about 30 minutes north of my home. I was drawn to the semiprecious gemstone section, where I bought several varieties of gemstone beads and findings to make jewelry, something Id never tried before.

Later that day, as I sat at my desk stringing crystal beads onto wire, a deep calm descended. My mind, normally foggy and active, felt intent and focused. I connected to parts of myself Id almost forgotten existed. I noticed the stirrings of joy. Working with the gemstone beads created a meditative and blissful state I hadnt experienced in a long time, and I was intrigued.

While Id always had an interest in crystalsand a profound healing experience in my thirtiesthey had fallen into the background of my life. I hadnt used them for years. Working with the gemstone beads on that Saturday reminded me of previous positive experiences Id had with crystals and set me on a new path.

Since then, Ive been collecting and working with crystals. I have them all over my house and use them in my own personal healing practices and with people who come to me for energy healing. They are such an important part of my life that I share my understandings about them in my book Crystals for Healing. While that book is a comprehensive guide to crystals, in the past few years Ive come to realize that people who are just starting to work with crystals need a practical introductory guide. Thats why Ive written this book. Its designed to provide you with basic information and practical applications so you can experience the powerful shifts these beautiful Earth elements can provide.