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.

Reviews

"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."
*TheLuminessence.Wordpress.com*

“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!”
*Ashley Leavy, author of Cosmic Crystals*

“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.”
*Krista N. Mitchell, author of Crystal Reiki and Change Your Energy*

“This is the book I wish had been available 20 years ago when I first discovered crystals.”
*Lee Harris, energy intuitive, channeler, and author of Energy Speaks*

“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.”
*Ethan Lazzerini, author of Crystal Grids Power and Psychic Protection Crystals*

“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.”
*Margaret Ann Lembo, author of The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals and Stones and Animal Totems*

“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!”
*Elizabeth Gardiepy, author of Crystal Skull Magick*

“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.”
*Melinda Carver, author of Get Positive Live Positive*

“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.”
*Rev. Ojela Frank, MSC, LMT, founder of AumaKhua-Ki® Energy Balancing & Meditation*

"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."
*The Magical Buffet*

"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!"
*Lisa Mc Sherry, FacingNorth*