BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality New Age Choosing Crystals

Let me know how you get on with my suggested methods of choosing crystals. You can read the article here:
Selecting Crystals

Feel free to ask any questions or pitch in with your own methods of choosing here on the forum.

My sis in law and I recently went mining for two days for rose quartz, black tourmaline and aquamarine. We were in a rose quartz pit, the sides were rose quartz! I was totally amazed. Boulders of the stuff. On the third day we went to a quartz crystal mine, but it was below freezing and my whole body ached. We only stayed 3 hours, then headed for home. My back still hurts. Is there a stone or crystal to alleviate backache?

What a fantastic experience. Being surrounded by rose quartz must have been terrific <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Wish I was close enough to come on one of your expeditions.

Backache is best alleviated by someone working on you- it is difficult to do your own back for obvious reasons. You could try a smooth stone you find soothing in the small of your back whilst you sleep- or hold it in position with micropore tape. Maybe try rose quartz- hair of the dog LOL!

I had an opportunity to go mining for quartz a few years ago it was quite an experience!

Generally when I choose stones at a store I do it by touch. By which one feels best in my hand, then maybe by color. For instance if I am getting a piece of flourite I like it to be multicolored with a little blue if possible.

Hi Fiona
I've looked longingly on the web at quartz mines that are open to the public. I would love a go at this- although I gather good strong gloves are needed top avoid cuts! Did you find much?

Selecting by feel & appearance is a great way to choose. The ones that sit nicely in your hand tend to feel like 'old friends' after a while. I do use my eyes too & love the rainbow of colours available- but when I started out I realised I chose from a more limited & earthy colour range. I think that said more about me at that time than the crystals!

Lauren,

I have some stones that are in the shape of large eggs, and if you put one like that on a bed, you can lay on it and roll over it to help work sore muscles and aching backs. At least that's one way I use some crystals, but only very smooth ones... ahahahaha

I'd like to go dig some of my own stones one of these days. I might try again when I travel in Nevada later this year.

I mentioned on Rae's forum that I grew up not far from the Herkimer diamond mines; I've always been SO attracted to them.

I sort of feel like crystals choose YOU, not vice versa, I've never had a hard time picking them.

Once, though, a well-meaning boyfriend decided to give me a quartz formation for my birthday. The minute I saw the thing, I was horrified. I don't know why, but I HATED that crystal.... I thought it was dark and disgusting and I literally threw it out the window (I lived on the first floor... it went into a parking lot). I don't know what it was about the energy of that thing, but it revolted me. The relationship lasted about 10 minutes after that.

I get similar feelings about a lot of diamonds, I think maybe because I'm morally opposed to diamond mining, my mind is open to the possibility that people were enslaved, tortured or killed over that crystal, and for nothing more than vanity... often when I see big ones, they make me sick to my stomach. Diamonds are NOT this girl's best friend.

My commitment ring is a simple silver ring in the shape of a basic double knot. (It looks like this one: http://www.celticmerchant.com/love-knot-ring-1000.html).

It was made from recycled silver and I bought it from a jewelry seller with a humanitarian attitude about her materials... and it picked me and my guy together.... I had been trying to find just the right ring for months, and hadn't seen anything that I wanted to wear all the time.... we were visiting this vendor's booth at a music festival, and we both reached for this ring at the same time. It was my size, my color and exactly what I'd been looking for.

Strangely, it has also made its way off my finger and into my navel... it fits and will stay there for quite awhile if I leave it. It's the no-pain version of a navel ring, I guess, but I identified with Rae's jelly bean crystal when I read about it.

Hi Megan
I am sooo green eyed with jealousy at your proximity to the Herk diamond mines. <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> They are just fantastic little crystals, brilliant & full of light. It amazes me how different they feel in quality to 'normal' quartz.

I know what you mean about 'bad' crystals. I've only had one like it, but it was pretty spooky & we had to get it out of the house pronto. Lucky no-one was walking past when you chucked yours- the boyfriends face must have been a complete picture- poor chap- never mind sounds like it wasn't to be <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I too have the concern over diamond mining. I'm especially worried about what happens to native tribesmen and their lands. There are other ethical concerns with crystals & gemstones & related products. Personally I won't touch corals as 'harvesting' them damages the delicate eco system of the reefs. I'm also concerned about fairtrade, but it is difficult to know the exact source of most stones.

Your ring sounds lovely- I wanted a peek, but the link was down <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Actually after visiting the quartz mine I really have mixed feelings about it. Most of the quartz in that area is strip mined which leaves great gaping holes in the earth. I personally only took what I could pick easily and the stones I have, I have had for years. But i think if I had the opportunity again dont think I would do it.

That does sound less appealing Fiona. I had more romantic pictures in my head somehow. There certainly is an ethical side to this that shouldn't be overlooked, though I guess it is on nowhere near the scale of devastation caused by other types of mining & extraction. Would be lovely to able to tell which have been ethically mined wouldn't it?