By Diana Ortiz
In "Crystal Stories," author Diana Ortiz presents a collection of vignettes exploring the world of crystal healing. From the skeptical to the introspective, the stories offer a diverse array of perspectives on this controversial practice. A thought-provoking and entertaining read, sure to appeal to anyone interested in alternative forms of healing or seeking a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them.
Photo by Royalty Free Images Adobe
Photo by Royalty Free Images Adobe
“Here,” says my sister, extending her fist to meet my open hands. “Take these with you.”
She lets a couple small rocks drop from her hands into my palm. I make a fist around them, careful not to let them slip.
“What are these?” I ask.
“They’re crystals,” she says. “Amethyst for protection. Rose Quartz for love, and then Green Aventurine for,” she pauses and smiles to herself, “a little something extra.”
I open my hands to study the crystals closely. The light reflects through them, bouncing little glimmers over my palms. She proceeds to grab my hands, closing my fingers tightly around the crystals. I watch her expression soften when she looks at me, then she closes her eyes and squeezes my hands, breathing a deep sigh before meeting my eyes again.
“You get home safe, okay?” she says quietly, releasing me from her grasp. I nod, briefly filled with the comfort that the crystals will keep me safe. On the way home, I ponder their purpose.
What are they used for? Do they even work?
Crystal healing involves using various crystals and gemstones, like rose quartz, to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Believers in crystal healing believe that crystals have unique properties that can affect a person's energy field, or "chakra." Crystal healing is often used in conjunction with other holistic practices that focus on a person's wellbeing. As Sonali Saujani, a crystal master and teacher, explains, crystals are minerals that hold energy, and humans can exchange energy with crystals when working with them. Although crystal healing is often regarded by scientists as a pseudoscience, many people have found relief through the practice. It's worth noting that other traditional practices, such as drainage massages and acupuncture, were once considered pseudoscience but have since been recognized for their healing benefits. Ultimately, whether someone chooses to believe in the power of crystal healing is a personal decision, but it's important to acknowledge the stories of those who have been affected by it.
MARY
As she stood outside the crystal shop, Mary couldn't help but feel skeptical. TikTok isn’t a very honest source for information, after all. But she had to try. Even if it felt too mystical, too far-fetched, she had to try to get better. The shop was intimidatingly large. Big brown doors were pushed open on either side of the shop, revealing a dimly lit room decorated in metaphysical insignia, colorful tapestries, candles, and dream-catchers. Something about the soft lighting and the gentle scent of burning incense immediately drew her in.
She wandered through the shop, eyes clinging to the waves of tapestries, evil-eye decorated bags, and various gem-studded incense burners. She wandered until she reached the crystal healing display in the back of the shop, closer to the register.
The display was bright and colorful, light beams bouncing off of one another to create a perpetual glimmer of pearlesque light. She ran her fingers over each crystal she picked up, choosing to land on the soft pink stone with a divot that matched the size of her thumb.
Just then, the shopkeeper approached, smiling.
"Can I help you find something?" she asked.
Mary hesitated. "I don't really know much about crystal healing. Is it even real?"
The shopkeeper laughed gently. "It's all about what you believe," she said. "Crystals have been used for centuries as a tool for healing. But ultimately, it's up to you to decide if it works for you."
Mary thought about it for a moment, rubbing her thumb on the smoothness of the pink stone.
“That crystal you have there, that one is a rose quartz. It’s to support emotions, love, and healing,” said the shopkeeper. “You can use it or gift it to a loved one with the intentions you placed on it.”
“Really?” Mary said, wondering who else might need it. On second thought, she did feel calmer, more relaxed than she was when she walked in.
She purchased the stone and left the shop, feeling curious about where crystals might lead her.
Over the next few days, Mary carried the stone with her everywhere she went. She held it in her hand, rubbing her thumb over the stone in a smooth, continuous effort. She even went to sleep with it, tucking it under her pillow at night.
Slowly, she began to notice a difference. She felt calmer, more centered. Her anxieties seemed to dissipate the longer she was more intentional with her actions, the longer she calmed herself, and as a result she felt more confident in herself and her decisions.
She knew that her journey with crystals had just begun, but for now, she felt a sense of calm and understanding that was more than enough.
MADISON
Madison is a young woman with a formidable intellect and a passion for the workings of the human mind. As a college student majoring in psychology, she has always been drawn to the complexities of the human psyche. But lately, Madison has found herself lost in the mud of uncertainty and indecision. She is plagued by questions that seem to have no answers, and the weight of the future hangs heavy.
In an effort to find some sense of clarity, Madison turns to the practice of crystal healing. She sets up an altar in her dorm room, surrounded by a menagerie of crystals that shimmer and glow in the soft light. She places a piece of amethyst on her forehead and closes her eyes, seeking answers to the questions that have been haunting her for weeks.
As she surrenders herself to the energy of the crystal, Madison feels a sense of peace wash over her. The amethyst pulses with a gentle energy that seems to guide her towards the truth. In the darkness behind her eyelids, Madison sees a vision of her future, clear and bright. She understands, with sudden clarity, the path that she must take.
As she opens her eyes, Madison is filled with a sense of profound gratitude. The amethyst has provided her with the guidance she so desperately needed, and she feels a sense of clarity that she has not felt in weeks. She thanks the crystal and places it back into her collection, a talisman of the clarity and purpose she has found within herself.
MIYAH
Miyah is a second year master’s student. She’s been visiting the metaphysical shop called the Dancing Moon in for a little over two months now. She’s been searching for a remedy to improve her low confidence.
Her best friend and roommate suggested that she try crystals. “You set your intention, you get your crystal, and then you charge them overnight. Eventually, you’ll get to a place where you are more confident, more sure of yourself,” her roommate offered.
That is how Miyah finds herself in the Dancing Moon for the fourth time, studying the same “crystal uses and healing properties” poster dangling above the crystal display.
She picks up a blue crystal and stares at it for a few moments before setting it back down letting the stone ‘tink’ slightly against the glass. She does it several more times, picking up stones of different colors, ‘tink’, ‘tink’, ‘tink.’ The man who owns the shop watches her from behind the counter. Finally, Miyah sets a crystal down on the glass shelf in front of her and breathes out a deep sigh, alerting the cashier once again.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong," she says to the shop owner, turning to study his face, looking for an answer. "I've been carrying this crystal with me for weeks, hoping that it would bring me peace, but instead, I feel even more lost," She pulls out a small orange crystal. A carnelian.
The cashier nods sympathetically. "Crystal healing isn't for everyone," he says. "It's important to remember that it is just one tool in your journey towards healing. Sometimes, it takes more than just a crystal to find the peace we seek."
Miyah nods, noticeably disappointed.
The shop owner takes a deep breath and begins to tell Miyah about his own experiences with crystal healing. He tells her about the first time he held a crystal in his hand and felt its energy coursing through him, as if they were connected. He tells her about the times when crystal healing had helped him find clarity and peace, but also about the times when it hadn't worked.
"But even when it doesn't work, it's not a failure," the shop owner says. "It's just another step in our journey towards healing. Sometimes, we have to try different things before we find what works for us."
Miyah listens intently. She thanks the shop owner for his advice and leaves the shop with a newfound sense of hope. She knows that crystal healing may not be the answer to all her problems, but she's grateful for the opportunity to try and to learn more about herself in the process.
Photo by Royalty Free Images Adobe
Photo by Royalty Free Images Adobe