Gemstone therapy or the spiritual use of crystals dates back as early as 4500 BC when the rock formations were most widely used by shamans in magic potions and spells for protection and health purposes. By 1609, the concept of crystal healing became popularized, regaining its wide acclaim in the 1980s and making a sharp return to pop culture during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Now, crystals are being sold everywhere from Amazon to street corners and open-air markets to traditional lapidaries.
As with anything that feels fascinating and new to the mainstream, some crystals have been overharvested, fakes have been processed and sold and some folks are in over their heads hoping to explore the metaphysical healing powers for which they haven’t taken the opportunity to learn about.
Leah “ChosenEyes” Brock-White, a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and a spiritual practitioner, sat down with Blavity to offer tips for finding the right crystals, learning to use them and BIPOC-owned shops to buy from.
Who should be using crystals?
Brock-White said that anyone can use crystals. She’s taught children how to use them and has even spent time helping her grandparents learn.
“It very much is not about the gemstone,” Brock-White told Blavity. “It’s about the skill level and the knowledge level of the practitioner.”
The current interest in crystals, however, she said, is attributed to new age “pandemic shamans,” a nickname she and other spiritual practitioners have given to people who proclaim to understand gemstone healing without having put much effort into learning.
“The pandemic made everybody sit still,” she said. “Everyone had to sit and learn and absorb and relearn themselves — everybody had to go on their inner journey, their wilderness during that period.”
During such time, some people have leaned into crystal therapy and that's the issue as Brock-White sees it. While anyone can use gemstones, people who have not made an effort to learn should hold off on practicing.
“With any craft, you have to study — you have to learn,” she said. “You can, of course, just go on Amazon and buy something that says that it’s amethyst and then start sticking it on your body and then thinking that you’re going on these mystic psychic quests. But, anybody who truly is feeling a calling on a spiritual and intuitive level, more than ‘ooh, let’s just ride this trend,’ are the people who should consider diving a little bit deeper on how the energies can actually help.”
Brock-White cautions that while her thought process may seem elitist, she does indeed believe gemstones are available to everyone, as long as they intend to become responsible practitioners.
How to use crystals.
Crystals can be used to heal everything from a pain in your knee to a broken heart and all things in between, including anxiety and stomach cramps.
But, how do you become a responsible practitioner? Simply put, you must be taught.
“There are skilled practitioners who are there to help assist. I am one of those people,” Brock-White said. “You can actually learn in real-time with somebody. There are lapidaries — there are books.”
A book she’s relied on throughout much of her life is The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian.
While internet search engines might be the way of our times, Brock-White said it’s not the best idea to rely on the internet when seeking to read up on crystals. Rather, you could use the search tool to help you find books, people or places to learn from.
Identifying and purchasing real crystals.
There are plenty of places to score real gemstones or crystals, from street vendors to lapidaries. The biggest tool you should have at your disposal when shopping is the ability to ask questions and receive genuine answers or a pamphlet to review on your own.
“Anybody who is working in a lapidary should be knowledgeable,” Brock-White said. “If you ever walk into a place and you’re like, ‘hey, I can’t tell if this is a carnelian or a citrine,’ if they’re like, ‘oh, I don’t know, but it’s orange' — run!”
Brock-White also said that any true vendor should be able to tell you where their crystals are sourced. This means the vendor knows where they got the crystals and where that vendor got them as well, right on down to the country from which they were harvested.
Gemstone jewelry makers, who have become quite popular these days, should also be able to tell you where they purchased their crystals and that should lead you to a place where someone can provide source tracking.
“Even if you’re talking to a street vendor, you want to go to people who know their stones,” she said. “You want to go to people who have some skin in the game. You can tell when you’re talking to someone who knows what they’re talking about.”
Spotting a fake gemstone, especially if you’re shopping at a street market, is as simple as paying attention to the stock being offered by competing vendors. Brock-White said that if everyone is selling the same things without much variation, they're likely not real stones. Seasoned practitioners can tell by the weight and might even have the special visual gear to look deep into the stone. Novice buyers might also be mindful of such shoppers who could assist them.
“Somebody who’s seasoned will tell you to take a look around and let them know if you have questions,” Brock-White said. “You might even find a book or a free manual for you to reference — you’d be encouraged to read up on it. There’s usually some form of exchange when it comes to teaching.”
Now that you know what to do, here are a few BIPOC-owned places to buy gemstone jewelry and crystals.
BRUJATX
BRUJATX sells "Reiki-infused silver and stone magic."
The Native Dream
The Native Dream is a gemstone jewelry company by designer Tabitha Hamilton.
Native Belle Boutiq
Native Belle Boutiq is the company of handmade jewelry maker AB Lewis.
Solid Treasures
Solid Treasures is a jewelry brand by Kendria, a "self-guided metalsmith, lapidarist and illustrator," who literally brings her own designs to life.
Spiritual practitioners find gemstones to be immensely powerful, as such; Brock-White warns that improper use of crystals could have a negative impact on the practitioner. As with anything you’re new to, you should seek to learn as much about the practice as possible before beginning your crystal journey.
