Although Reiki energy is a strong and gentle energy, there are many ways to amplify it. One of which is to use crystals. You do not have to be attuned to Reiki to benefit from the natural healing properties of crystals. They carry a healing energy that anyone can use!

I first came into contact with crystals when I was about 10. I bought a large piece of purple agate, which I carried around with me for many years, using it as my 'Lucky Stone'. After a while, I didn't need it's luck anymore, and it got put away with my jewellery in my jewellery box. I forgot about it until a few days after I was initiated to Reiki and discovered the healing properties of crystals. For some reason, I had always imagines crystals as clear, and it never occurred to my that my luck stone was really a crystal, and I had been drawing it's energy for a long time. For those of you who do not know, agate is a variety of quartz, one of the most common minerals and has one of the strongest healing potentials. It was also impossible for my to know the significance of the colour purple in the healing world. Agate simulates happiness (something that has always been rare to me) and I can safely say that it got me through some of the hard times in my life. It also attracts personal and spiritual strength and courage, which allowed me to grow into the person who I am today, and the time in which I put it away was when I was able to grow myself, without aid. It increases physical stamina. I went away to the 1998 Girls Australian Basketball Championships, and something drew me to take my lucky stone out of hiding, and it stayed by my side throughout the whole tournament. I still believe that it helped us win Bronze.

I have found that crystals are great for presents. There are times that I have sensed an emotional imbalance in someone's life, and giving them a crystal not only lifts their spirits, but also heals them, whether they believe in it or not.

Here are some of my favourite crystals and their healing properties.

Amber: relieves fear, depression and tiredness. I also use it as a memory aid when I study.
Chrysoprase: a relaxation stone that aids peaceful sleep. I have always had trouble sleeping, but have slept peacefully since keeping this one under my pillow. It also reduced stress, and I found that keeping it by me when doing tests only led me to feel sleepy, so I use it solely for sleep now!
Tourmaline: good for structural alignment, so I bring this with me to the chiropractor.
Turquenite:  eliminates pain, rage and stress and encourages emotional expression.
Aventurine: enhances leadership and is a good heart chakra balancer
Fluorite: increases ability to concentrate (always useful when studying)
Zebra Stone: wonderful for athletes, providing stamina and endurance (one guess what stone I take to basketball practice!)
Agate: stimulates analytical capabilities, provides perceptiveness. Attracts personal and spiritual strength and courage. Stimulates happiness and increased physical stamina.
Rose Quartz: calm and cooling energy that promotes love and self-love.
Paua Shell: used by athletes to build muscle tissue and protect it. I used this after having knee surgery.
 
 

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