Crystal Basics: The Energetic, Healing, and Spiritual Power of 200 Gemstones

A full-color practical handbook of essential techniques with an in-depth directory of healing stones • Offers guidance on selecting your crystals and gemstones and step-by-step instructions on how to cleanse, charge, activate, and program them • Includes templates for crystal grids and healing layouts, recipes for crystal elixirs, and directions for crystal meditations and energy clearing with crystals • The full-color directory includes 200 different rocks, minerals, gemstones, and crystal formations, organized alphabetically and featuring the physical, psychological, and spiritual healing qualities for every stone In this in-depth yet easy-to-follow guide, crystal healing teacher Nicholas Pearson offers a full-color compendium of 200 crystals and gemstones as well as a hands-on practical handbook on crystal healing, perfect for those just beginning their crystal journey as well as long-time stone lovers seeking an all-in-one reference. The handbook of crystal use opens with a thorough explanation of crystal energy, including its interactions with the human energy field, and teaches readers how to extrapolate what a crystal does based on its composition, crystal structure, formation process, and other properties. In the chapters on techniques, Pearson offers guidance on selecting your crystals and gemstones, then step-by-step instructions on how to cleanse, charge, activate, and program them. He explains how to make crystal grids and healing layouts, including templates for both, and also discusses the numerology and geometry of crystal grids. He explores the essentials of crystal elixirs, complete with elixir recipes, and details how to perform crystal meditations, clear the energy centers and the aura, and practice more advanced techniques, such as engaging with the crystal devas, creating sacred space, and practices for spiritual hygiene and protection. The compendium includes 200 rocks, minerals, gemstones, and crystal formations, organized alphabetically and featuring full-color photographs. Each entry includes geological information and the physical, psychological, and spiritual healing qualities for every stone. Some stones, such as jasper and quartz, have multiple varieties, each given their own entries to provide a thorough reference guide for crystal healers and collectors. This accessible yet comprehensive guide offers the essentials of crystal energy healing paired with a highly illustrated stone directory to give you everything you need to know about crystal basics in one handy volume.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction: What Is a Crystal? The Birth of Crystals Why Crystals Matter PART ONE How and Why Crystals Work 1 Exploring Crystal Energy Everything Is Energy Essential Crystal Functions Crystals and the Human Body We Are Literally Made of Crystals 2 Decoding Crystals Formation Process The Seven Crystal Systems Mineral Composition The Mohs Scale of Hardness Color Diaphaneity, Pleochroism, Cleavage, Luminescence The Consciousness of Stones Putting It All Together 3 The Human Energy Field Biology and Spirit The Aura The Chakra System Exercise: Scanning the Aura Exercise: Dowsing the Chakras Exercise: Chakra Balancing with a Pendulum 4 Building a Collection Helpful Considerations Building a Healing Toolbox Exercise: The Pull-In Test Exercise: The Body Pendulum Storing Crystals 5 Foundational Practices Cleansing Crystals Exercise: Cleansing with Water Exercise: Vocal Cleansing Exercise: Cleansing with Breath Dedicating Exercise: Dedication Ritual Getting to Know Your Crystals Exercise: Crystal Contemplation Programming Crystals Exercise: Programming with the Breath Exercise: Programming with Affirmations Activating Crystals to Their Highest Potential Exercise: Activating and Deactivating 6 Crystal Meditations Getting Started Exercise: Grounding and Centering Exercise: Crystal Visualization Exercise: Crystal Gazing Advanced Meditations Exercise: Crystal Breathing Exercise: Journeying within Your Crystal Exercise: Meeting the Crystal Devas Practice, Practice, Practice 7 Crystal Elixirs Making Crystal Elixirs Using Crystal Elixirs Crystal Elixir Recipes 8 Crystal Grids Making Grids Exercise: Crystal Grid Activation Numerology and Geometry of Crystal Grids Crystal Grid Templates 9 Crystal Layouts for Healing Using Crystal Layouts Basic Layouts Additional Layouts Creating Your Own Layouts Exercise: Intuitive Crystal Layout 10 Spiritual Hygiene and Protection Cleansing Your Space Exercise: Energy Clearing with Crystals Exercise: Creating Sacred Space Psychic Protection Exercise: Cocoon of Light More Practices for Energetic Clarity and Integrity Exercise: Personal Recharge Exercise: Aura Clearing with Selenite Exercise: Combing the Aura Exercise: Cord Cutting Exercise: Extracting Thoughtforms PART TWO A Directory of Crystals and Stones 11 Two Hundred Gemstones for Healing Agate (Blue Lace Agate • Botswana Agate • Crazy Lace Agate • Fancy Agate • Fire Agate • Flower Agate • Moss Agate • Pink Agate • Snakeskin Agate • Tree Agate • Turritella Agate) • Amazonite • Amber • Amethyst (Chevron Amethyst • Lavender Quartz) • Ametrine • Angelite • Apatite, Blue (Golden Apatite • Green Apatite • Red Apatite) • Apophyllite • Aquamarine • Aragonite (Blue Aragonite • Brown Aragonite • Green Aragonite • Aragonite Sputnik • White Aragonite) • Aventurine, Green (Blue Aventurine • Peach Aventurine) • Azurite • Barite • Black Onyx • Bloodstone • Calcite (Blue Calcite • Golden Calcite • Green Calcite • Mangano Calcite • Optical Calcite • Orange Calcite • Red Calcite • Yellow Calcite • Zebra Calcite) • Carnelian • Cavansite • Celestite • Chalcedony (Black Chalcedony • Blue Chalcedony • Grape Chalcedony • Pink Chalcedony • White Chalcedony) • Chalcopyrite • Charoite • Chrome Diopside • Chrysocolla • Chrysoprase • Citrine • Creedite • Danburite • Dioptase • Dumortierite • Emerald • Epidote • Fluorite (Blue Fluorite • Blue John Fluorite • Green Fluorite • Purple Fluorite • Rainbow Fluorite • Yellow Fluorite) • Fuchsite • Galena • Garnet (Almandine Garnet • Black Garnet • Green Garnet • Hessonite Garnet • Rainbow Garnet • Rhodolite Garnet) • Heliodor • Hematite • Hiddenite • Howlite • Iolite • Jade • Jasper (Dragon’s Blood Jasper • Green Jasper • Leopardskin Jasper • Mookaite • Ocean Jasper • Picture Jasper • Polychrome Jasper • Poppy Jasper • Red Jasper • Silver Leaf Jasper • Yellow Jasper) • Jet • Kunzite • Kyanite, Blue (Black Kyanite • Green Kyanite • Orange Kyanite) • Labradorite • Lapis Lazuli • Larimar • Lepidolite • Magnetite • Malachite • Moldavite • Moonstone (Rainbow Moonstone) • Obsidian, Black (Apache Tears • Mahogany Obsidian • Platinum Obsidian • Rainbow Obsidian • Snowflake Obsidian) • Opal (Black Opal • Blue Opal • Dendritic Opal • Ethiopian Opal • Fire Opal • Green Opal • Pink Opal • Purple Opal • White Opal • Yellow Opal) • Peridot • Petalite • Petrified Wood • Phenakite • Pietersite • Prehnite • Pyrite • Quartz (Amphibole Quartz • Elestial Quartz • Garden Quartz • Herkimer Diamond Quartz • Lemurian Seed Crystal • Lithium Quartz • Phantom Quartz • Rose Quartz • Rutilated Quartz • Scepter Quartz • Smoky Quartz • Spirit Quartz • Tangerine Quartz • Tibetan Quartz • Tourmalinated Quartz • White Quartz) • Rhodochrosite • Rhodonite • Ruby (Ruby in Zoisite) • Sapphire • Scapolite • Selenite (Desert Rose Selenite • Golden Selenite • Satin Spar Selenite) • Seraphinite • Serpentine • Shungite • Smithsonite • Sodalite • Spinel • Stilbite • Sugilite • Sunstone • Tanzanite • Tektite • Tiger’s Eye (Blue Tiger’s Eye • Red Tiger’s Eye) • Topaz, White (Blue Topaz • Golden Topaz) • Tourmaline (Black Tourmaline • Blue Tourmaline • Brown Tourmaline • Green Tourmaline • Pink Tourmaline • Watermelon Tourmaline) • Turquoise • Unakite • Vanadinite • Vesuvianite • Wulfenite • Zincite • Zircon Conclusion Appendix: Index of Healing Properties Physical Healing Psychological Healing Spiritual Healing Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Nicholas Pearson has been immersed in the mineral kingdom for more than 20 years. He began teaching crystal workshops in high school, later studying mineral science at Stetson University while pursuing a degree in music. He worked for several years at the Gillespie Museum, home to the largest mineral collection in the southern United States. The author several books, including Crystals for Karmic Healing, he lives in Orlando, Florida.

Review :
"I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who uses crystals or anyone who would love to learn more about them. For me, the standout was the geological information which helped to explain why crystals have the healing properties that they do. This is a book that I would definitely purchase." “Nicholas Pearson’s Crystal Basics leaves no stone unturned! As a crystal healing instructor, I look forward to recommending this as a resource to my students for years to come. Not only does Nicholas share a bountiful directory of 200 crystals and their uses (including a very useful appendix of properties sorted by body, mind, and spirit), but he also introduces the reader to the physics and metaphysics of crystal energy in a way that’s easy to understand for beginners and thought-provoking for seasoned crystal workers. Nicholas also describes how the reader can work with crystal energies for powerful transformation as well as the best practices to care for your crystals. This book is a true gem!” “Thorough, concise, and clear--Crystal Basics is an excellent resource for anyone who wishes to have a solid foundation in the practical, scientific, and mystical exploration of healing crystals.” “This is the book I wish had been available 20 years ago when I first discovered crystals.” “Finally, this is the book the crystal community has been waiting for! Crystal Basics delves deep into the relationship between how minerals are formed and their metaphysical properties. With his wealth of knowledge, Nicholas guides you step-by-step through every aspect of working with crystals. This comprehensive book is an excellent primer and practical guide to the fascinating world of crystals and crystal healing for beginners and beyond.” “Nicholas Pearson’s knowledge of geology and gems shines through the pages of Crystal Basics. This book is full of valuable information that will satisfy rock enthusiasts, especially the section on how and why crystals work.” “A must-have for your library! Nicholas Pearson’s knowledge on crystals is quite impressive. Crystal Basics delivers a magnitude of information for crystal enthusiasts of all skill levels. This will be my new ‘go-to’ crystal book!” “Crystal Basics is a comprehensive guidebook to the amazing powers of crystals and how they intensely impact you in a positive, beneficial way. Pearson showcases the intimate connection between you and crystals for healing all levels of your mind, body, and soul. Written in an easy-to-read style, this illuminating book will enrich your holistic crystal practices.” “I’ve collected more than three dozen crystal and gemstone books over the past 40 years. If I could only keep one, this would be it. Crystal Basics by Nicholas Pearson covers almost anything and everything that you would want to know about the mineral kingdom and crystal healing. There is such a wealth of information that is shared in Crystal Basics--mineral science, basic practices and procedures using crystals, great crystal meditations, and how to make crystal elixirs and unique crystal layouts for healing. The instructions for making your own crystal grids are fun and easy. And, to top it all off, there is a large section on the use and healing properties of 200 gemstones. All the best is included in one book. There is even a section on energy healing.” "Say hello to truly the only book on crystals you’ll ever need. At this point Pearson has already established himself as THE crystal expert. His past books, such as Crystals for Karmic Healing, Crystal Healing for the Heart, and Stones of the Goddess all explored a specific facet (no pun intended) of crystals. Pearson’s Crystal Basics is a constant reminder that working with crystals is an art, and a science. If you want to learn about crystals, and I mean really learn, like geology class learn, this is for you. How are crystals formed? What are they made of? How are they classified? There is also a decent chunk of text dedicated to exploring the possibilities of how crystals work. A well thought out, well written exploration that includes an examination of the human energy field. Crystal Basics is destined to be a classic. I can’t imagine what crystal mountain is left for Pearson to climb, but I cannot wait to find out." "This is a gorgeous -- full color! -- book and should be on the shelf of every single person interested in crystals...science is not the only aspect. Pearson does a brilliant job of placing each stones' characteristics within a framework of metaphysical knowledge. Other excellent sections cover working with stones that make you uncomfortable, storing your stones, cleaning them (physically and energetically), programming, and activating the stones. There is an entire chapter on crystal meditations...another discusses all aspects of making gem waters and crystal elixirs, along with several recipes. Of course he also spends a chapter on crystal grids and layouts for healing. A truly fantastic addition to your library!"