by Heather K. Peake

A therapy that involves wearing jewelry: what could be finer?

Gemstone therapy, also called crystal therapy, is based on the idea of interrelatedness, or correspondence. Gems and crystals are formed through the pressures of the earth over millions of years; proponents of gemstone therapy believe that this energy is absorbed into the structure of the stone itself, and then reflected outward when it comes within the body’s aura, calming and healing it.

Gemstones have been used for healing for hundreds of centuries. New Age spiritualists trace the origins back to civilizations of Atlantis and Lemuria, but it appears in the historical record in ancient Egypt, where priests used stones such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, and carnelian. Gems are mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments. They were used in many Eastern religions both for healing and prophecy. And, of course, the symbolic use of gems can clearly be seen in the legacy of birthstones and folklore.

There are several ways to use gems and crystals for healing. You can have a practitioner give you an attunement by placing specific stones on the body’s energy, or chakra, spots. If you choose to explore the therapy alone, you can practice grid patterning ÷ placing them around you as an aid to meditation. For example, one common practice is to arrange pointed crystals around you in a circle with the points facing inward, keeping a large “generating” crystal in the center with you. A much simpler approach to gemstone therapy is to simply keep crystals or stones in your environment, or wear them against your body in the form of bracelets, rings, or necklaces.

Different stones have different properties and energies and therefore stimulate different reactions in the body (a partial list of the more common stones and their uses appears in the sidebar). Healing experts recommend choosing stones without cracks or inclusions, and warn against purchasing any irradiated or dyed stones. Most suggest that care of stones include frequently washing them in pure water and setting them in sunlight to recharge and reenergize them

There are no known side effects associated with gemstone therapy – except, of course, a depleted bank account.

A resident of Vermont for most of her life, Heather Peake currently resides in Sedona, AZ..