I love crystals.
Yes, this is probably obvious because I run this online crystal shop, but I have a collection of them at home that is... large.
I have discovered that they are particularly useful for clearing the mind before meditation practice.They're also a great way to connect with the earth and keep your energy balanced.
There's something special about working with stones during women's retreats in particular: they help create an environment where we can relax into ourselves and feel connected to each other, the Earth, the Universe, and even a higher power.
Sustainable Self-Care at Harvest Retreats
Sustainable self-care is a way to take care of yourself that doesn't require a lot of tools, money, or effort. It's easy to incorporate into your daily life, and helps you maintain your center.
Sustainable self-care is about recognizing what we need in order to be happy and healthy, and giving ourselves those things regularly.
It's important to remember that self-care isn't selfish; it is actually an act of self-love that you deserve!
Crystals are just one of the tools we can use to help us on our spiritual journeys.
Crystals have been used for healing and protection for thousands of years. Whether you are a crystal newbie or have been working with crystals for years, there's no better time than now to get started on your own journey!
You might be wondering how this works exactly?
Well let me tell you: Crystals are natural powerhouses that can help us harness more positive energy in our lives. By holding a crystal during meditation, or placing it in direct sunlight (or under moonlight!), we can absorb its energy into our body—without having to even touch it!
This is what we used at the retreat!
We used a variety of crystals at the Rooted Retreat, from amethyst and fluorite to selenite and obsidian. Each crystal has its own unique properties that can help you take care of yourself in different ways.
(Learn more about the Rooted Retreat here.)
1. Selenite
Selenite is a stone of clarity and purity. It can help you clear your mind and let go of negative emotions, letting in positive energy instead. Selenite is a powerful stone that can help you to release negative emotions and energy, as well as cleanse your aura. You can use it to cleanse any space (your room or home), crystals or even yourself!
Selenite also makes an ethical alternative to sage smudging because it doesn't have any smoke or burning (or cultural appropriation) involved!
2. Agatized Coral
Agatized Coral is a fossilized coral, and is used for grounding and protection. It can also help you find your true self, as well as your purpose in life. Agatized Coral grounds you while offering protection from negativity, especially when placed on the Root Chakra (base of spine).
It’s also grounding, supports positive change, and brings luck! If you desire deep within your heart to bring something to life then Agatized Coral is perfect for you!
3. Fluorite
Fluorite is a stone of clarity and mental organization. It can be used to bring order and stability to chaotic situations. It assists you in seeing the reality of a situation, as well as bringing common sense into the thought process.
This is an excellent stone for those who have lost their focus on what really matters in life due to stress or mental exhaustion.
Fluorite helps clear away negative energy so that positive energy can flow into your life with ease! It's also known to encourage creativity while reducing stress levels which makes it perfect for anyone looking for relief from overwhelming emotions such as depression or anxiety.
4. Amethyst
When you're feeling out of sorts, amethyst is the crystal for you. It's a great stone for calming your mind, soothing your emotions, cleansing your aura, and helping to keep your aura clear. Because of this it's also great for helping with insomnia, nightmares or stress.
Amethyst can help with emotional healing because it calms the mind and helps bring peace of mind to those who are having difficulty dealing with certain aspects of their lives.
Amethyst makes an excellent piece of jewelry if you wear it as a necklace or bracelet; however if you're looking for something more powerful in terms of its energy then I would suggest using a tumbled stone instead as this will be stronger than any other form that amethyst comes in (which is usually just raw crystals or geodes).
5. Obsidian
Obsidian is a great stone for grounding and protection. It is also great for removing negativity from your life and creating a safe space around you to work with other stones.
You can wear it as a bracelet or carry it in your pocket or bag, but remember that obsidian may break if dropped on hard surfaces such as tile or concrete.
Read more about obsidian here.
6. Moss Agate
Moss Agate is a stone of tranquility, relaxation, and peace. It's a soothing stone that can help you to feel more grounded and balanced. It's also an excellent stone for meditation, as it can help you release anger, resentment and negative emotions that might be holding you back from living the life you want.
Moss Agate is an extremely calming crystal that has been used since ancient times to heal emotional wounds, overcome grief or disappointment, and provide stability during times of change.
This lovely stone encourages self-confidence while helping one to embrace their unique beauty inside and out.
Moss Agate helps us find balance in our lives by bringing us into harmony with nature so we can better understand ourselves as part of creation rather than apart from it (which often leads us down paths toward stress).
7. Blue Lace Agate
Blue Lace Agate is a stone of protection and balance. It helps you to see the truth in your situation, and to move forward with confidence. This makes it a great stone for meditation or in any other purpose where you'd like some clarity about what's going on around you.
Blue Lace Agate is also used as an aide for healing, particularly mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Blue Lace Agate can help heal traumatic memories by helping the person who has experienced trauma to process those emotions without feeling overwhelmed by them.
8. Kyanite
Kyanite is a wonderful stone to use during meditation. It helps calm your mind and bring you into a state of peace, allowing you to focus on the present moment and clear your thoughts. This can be very helpful in achieving goals or communicating more effectively with others.
Kyanite can also help you find clarity in your life by helping you see things more from a different perspective and understand why things are happening the way they are.
Kyanite is a stone that works through vibrations, so it can be carried around with you or placed near other crystals to enhance their properties as well (if they complement each other).
We also used metaphysical tools such as the evil eye talisman and singing bowls.
- Singing bowls are beautiful, ancient instruments that have been used for centuries in sacred ceremonies. They are made from metal or crystal and produce a sound similar to Tibetan bells when they are struck, which induces relaxation and can help you meditate more effectively. At Rooted we were enveloped in a restorative sound cocoon. Read more about it here.
- The evil eye talisman is a tool for protection—it’s believed that by wearing one around your neck or on your left wrist, you will ward off negative energy from others (which can be helpful in stressful situations).
These crystals are used for self-care.
The crystals we used at the retreat are a powerful tool for sustainable self-care. Crystals can be used for many things, but these particular crystals are very effective for creating space around you to practice self-care.
Did you notice a theme?
Almost all the crystals I selected were to help with grounding at the Rooted Retreat.
When you're using these crystals as part of you own practice, just be sure to use common sense when using any form of energy work or healing modality—always listen to your body and trust yourself first and foremost.
Want a recommendation? Reach out!
I hope this article has helped you get to know some of these crystals a bit better, and encouraged you to try them out yourself.
Self-care is important, and I want to make sure that anyone who wants it can find what works for them.
If you’re interested in learning more about which crystals are right for your needs, reach out to me on instagram!
Shop all crystals in the Harvest Retreats shop; Dara Laine Murray's crystal shop for beginners.