Throughout history people have attached a special importance to those things out of the ordinary. The rarer and more unique the item, the higher its value. That value is often more than just monetary, with many objects and substances bestowed with magical, superstitious or supernatural powers. Crystals, with their spellbinding ability to reflect and refract light of different colors, have long been viewed as being more than just beautiful objects; they are believed to have certain powers of healing and magic.

Types of Crystals and their Uses

While many people think of crystals as the normal colorless quartz crystals, actually most precious and semi-precious gemstones are crystals in their own right. Crystals can also been grown from salt and sugar - glass crystals being a prominent form of man-made crystal. Because of their beauty and powers, crystals have become very popular jewelry items. Crystal beads can be strung to form an attractive crystal necklace, crystal bracelet or set of crystal earrings. Many people collect crystal figurines, such as crystal angel figurines, crystal animal figurines and so on. Crystal is also a very popular material for interior decor and is often used for glasses, dishes, bowls, windows, chandeliers, candle holders other ornamental and functional household objects. Crystals are also widely used in industry.

Crystals and their Powers

The powers of crystals are believed to be linked to several areas. Most crystals are deemed to have positive influences, and crystals of different substances can be more beneficial to some people than others. Central to this is the idea that crystals and astrology are linked, so that some crystals will bestow a benefit to those born under a certain zodiac sign. Other crystal powers are more universal, such as their healing or purification qualities. Healing crystals, as they are known, are most commonly worn as jewelry or hung above windows or doorways in the house. They are also often found hanging from the rear view mirrors in vehicles. Because of their versatility, crystal jewelry makes the perfect gift, especially something like a crystal bead bracelet or crystal jewelry necklace.

Here are some of the main powers of certain popular types of crystals:

Rose Quartz: love

Aquamarine: protection, healing and courage

Garnet: commitment, passion, devotion and health

Sapphire: prosperity, happiness and fulfillment

Diamond: attunement and relaxation

Amethyst: peace and strength

Emerald: love, memory, and intelligence

Ruby: energy and wisdom

The great thing about crystals is that many of them are inexpensive despite the benefits they can potential bestow upon their owner. The most prized power crystal, the Amethyst, is quite cheap and can be bought by anyone. Of course, crystal figurines and other collectible crystal art forms can range from inexpensive to priceless, as can gemstones, depending on the brand, artisan, quality, size and perfection of the crystal itself. In particular, handmade crystal jewelry can be quite valuable. Therefore crystals can be an astute investment as well as a provider of mystical and healing powers - so choose your crystal carefully and you will be rewarded with good fortune!