We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.
Are you into crystals? Chances are you’ve got one or two—or maybe a whole drawer of them. Here’s how they work, for spiritual purposes: Crystals vibrate with energy, and when you hold one close, it links up with your own vibes and influences you. Each crystal has a unique vibration, and each is used in a different way. Some are good for sleep, some for passion, some for ambition, some for mental clarity.…Chances are, if there’s a mood or goal, there’s a crystal to match.
So if you want to buy a crystal, where do you start? How do you know what each one does? Do you need a giant crystal encyclopedia to navigate your options? And if you forget which of your crystals is red jasper and which is carnelian (they look pretty similar if you’re not an expert!), can you never use them again?
Let me let you in on a secret: It’s all about color.
The color of a crystal is the easiest way to identify its properties. Much of this is also kinda intuitive, like the fact that red is (guess what) typically associated with blood and fire, so therefore it’s a great crystal to help you get to the heart of things or stir up your passions.
Read on to discover the crystal rainbow! Free tip: If you burn a candle of the same color crystal that you’re holding/meditating/keeping near you, you’ll enhance the effect.
Red crystals tend to be associated with courage, strength, action, assertiveness, sexual passion, and potency. Red crystals work fast and get to the heart of things. Keeping one under your mattress or by your bed is a good idea—or for sexual passion, tucked someplace near your hips (like in your pocket).
Examples: carnelian, ruby, garnet, fire agate, red jasper
Orange crystals tend to be associated with joy, creativity, fertility, abundance, and happiness. This is a feel-good stone! Keep a hunk of orange crystal in your kitchen to keep the whole household thrumming with good vibes.
Examples: amber, fire opal, orange selenite, citrine
Yellow crystals tend to be associated with memory, concentration, exams, moneymaking, job changes, moving home, and travel. It’s a great crystal to keep on your desk or wherever you work. If you’re taking a test, try keeping one in your pocket or pencil case.
Examples: lemon quartz, yellow moonstone, tiger’s-eye, gold, sulphur
Green crystals tend to be associated with healing, gradual growth and development, nature, health, love, and loyalty. Green crystals are a perfect choice for jewelry because their effect is best accessed with long-term proximity. These are benefits that you’ll see over months versus hours.
Examples: emerald, moss agate, serpentine, jade, fuchsite
Blue crystals tend to be associated with peace, leadership, justice, authority, partnerships, and collaboration. This color is also associated with great domestic bliss, so keep a shard, pyramid, or point—or even a pebble-size stone—in your foyer or hallway. Size doesn’t matter when it comes to a crystal’s power.
Examples: azurite, lapis lazuli, blue lace agate, blue howlite, aquamarine
Purple crystals tend to be associated with all things psychic, spiritual, and intuitive. This is the crystal crew to help you open your third eye, access psychic skills, tell a fortune, or try energy healing. Use one for specific rituals or routines by placing it on your forehead (third eye) for a ~charge~.
Examples: amethyst, purple tourmaline, royal plume jasper, lilac kunzite
Black crystals tend to be associated with transformation, grief, psychic protection, and blocking a negative influence. When you feel you’re under attack or around toxicity, keep a black crystal with you. It acts like a shield.
Examples: tektite, obsidian, black coral, black onyx, jet
White and clear crystals tend to be associated with clarity, inspiration, new beginnings, and vitality. They’re pretty good all-rounders. If you get only one crystal, then get a white or clear one. They can also be used to ~cleanse~ other crystals: Simply place it next to a crystal you’ve used a lot to give it a glow-up.
Examples: clear quartz, clear opal, clear fluorite, clear topaz
Kerry Ward has been reading, teaching and creating tarot decks, books, and content for over 25 years, and is a horoscope contributor for Cosmopolitan UK and Cosmopolitan US. You can book a personal, written tarot reading with her, which comes as a beautifully illustrated brochure. She is also the published author of Power Purpose Practice, Card of the Day Tarot and Cardless Tarot. She also created the Good Karma, Crystal Magic, and Taroscopes tarot decks. She likes to self-publish unique journals in her spare time, such as The Guided Magic Manifesting Journal and the latest Haunted House Journal. She is a Gemini, so writing is her favourite thing!
Follow her on Instagram h for weekly forecasts, insights, and tarot teachings, or find her on LinkedIn.
Watch Next
Let’s Discuss Aries and Leo Compatibility
Your Weekly Tarot Card Reading, by Zodiac Sign
Your Horoscope for the Week of July 14
Your Sex Horoscope for the Weekend
