Before we begin the Basic Crystal Users Course, let’s get the vocabulary straight so we communicate clearly. Maybe you all understand what is meant by the words: crystal, mineral, rock, and stone, and you may well know why there are so many confusing names for them. If so, good. If not, let’s review and all agree.
In the first of the two videos today we will explore some basic terms so we all agree on what we are talking about.
What is a "crystal"? What is a “mineral”? What is a “rock”? What is a “Stone”? And what are all these thousands of names of crystal anyway?
In the next video, we will begin Lesson 1 and begin to learn how to select and buy crystals.
The first step in selecting any crystal is to have a clear understanding of what your intended use might be. A crystal for a heart chakra healing session will be quite different from one to be a Focus Stone on a Forgiveness grid. However, remember, there is great flexibility in choosing tools and crystals, and there is no "one right answer”. Let’s dig into how to figure out what crystal we might want.
You are off to a good start. Any questions, issues, things that are unclear, ideas, feedback, or just comments, please share them in the Crystals For Beginners group in Crystal Inner Circle so others can learn too. We are always here, and there are many experts ready to help.
Foundation Information
Lesson 1 - Buying Crystals (step 1)
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Video Transcripts
Foundation Information
Before we begin the Basic Crystal Users course, let’s get the vocabulary straight so we communicate clearly. Maybe you all understand what is meant by the words: crystal, mineral, rock, and stone, and you may well know why there are so many confusing names for them. If so, good. If not, let’s review it and all agree.
What is a "crystal"?
Crystals are natural or man-made samples of minerals that are either transparent or, if not transparent, are varieties of minerals with external planar faces (flat sides). A clear quartz crystal is an example of a transparent type of crystal. A pyrite cube is an example of the second type.
Crystals do not normally have names, although some do. Most are just called by their mineral variety name: quartz crystal, amethyst crystal, etc. The ones with names are generally specific forms of quartz crystals such as Lemurian crystal, Timeline, or such. There is no established list of crystal names. Many of the specialized names of quartz crystals are found in the Crystal Vaults Guide to Quartz Crystals A to Z.
OK, a crystal is a sample of a mineral but...
What is a "mineral"?
The word “mineral” refers to a non-organic (i.e., did not originate from a living organism) substance naturally occurring in nature as a solid, with a definite chemical composition and an orderly crystalline structure of molecules.
An example of minerals is such things as iron, quartz, carbon, beryl, etc. All of these substances occur in nature as a solid, with definite chemical composition and an orderly crystalline structure of molecules.
A pearl is not a mineral, it comes from an organic source - an oyster. Amber is not a mineral, it originated from a now-extinct tree. Oxygen is not a mineral, it is not found naturally as a solid. Glass is not a mineral, it has no crystalline structure. Granite is not a mineral. It is a mixture of minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and mica. It is a rock.
There is an established, universally accepted list of minerals and their common varieties. They all have formal, universally accepted names given to them by the International Mineralogical Society. You can find all the real names and their descriptions of them at a wonderful, authoritative website, Mindat. You can find the common trade names and varieties of these minerals there too.
What is a "rock"?
A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals (and maybe some organic compounds). There is no approved list of rock names. New ones seem to pop up constantly.
What is a "stone"?
The word "stone" is a slang word that can mean rock or a mineral specimen that is not a crystal.
But while these definitions are helpful, knowing them does not completely help us sort out the myriad of trade names for crystals, minerals, and rocks. Some that are established varieties of known minerals are listed on Mindat such as quartz, Rose quartz, Larimar, Emerald, etc. But much of what is in the crystal market is not found on Mindat. Things such as Boji stones, Lemurian crystals, Colombian Amber, Azeztulite, and many more are just rocks with pretty names someone gave them or trade names for otherwise common minerals.
The solution is to ask a single question when you are faced with a new name of a crystal or stone: Ask if it is a variety of a mineral and if so what mineral, or if it is a rock?
If you can determine that it is a variety of a mineral then you can learn about it by going to mindat.org and looking up the mineral. If it is a rock, then you know that you must be careful, because anyone can name a rock anything they want.
So, for example, you will find "quartz" is a mineral, and "Rose quartz" is a variety of quartz by going to Mindat and searching for them. But go to Mindat and search for "Bolderite" and you will find nothing. That is because "Bolderite" is a just a pretty blue/green/white rock I found in my backyard last week that is an indistinguishable combination of a lot of minerals. And "Bolderite" is my name for it.
I can claim anything I want to about Bolderite, should I wish to. If I set up a website, bolderite.com, and told some interesting s
tories about it and explained how it helps me sleep, I am free to do so. Mindat will not have anything listed about "bolderite" because it isn’t a mineral or a recognized variety, it is just some rock.
There are many such examples on the internet and in books. But, if you always ask "Is this a mineral variety or a rock?" you will be able to sort out such things as "Rose quartz" or "Bolderite" or any other name you come across.
Here is a shortcut. The Crystal Inner Circle has 10 full and active crystal communities in which you can simply post a question, and one of our many experts will help. There is no rock, mineral, variety, or trade name they cannot sort out for you. You can also check out the Crystals for Beginners community for endless information about getting started on using crystals.
Review
Crystals are specimens of minerals. There is an approved list of minerals. They all have formal, universally accepted names given to them by the International Mineralogical Society. You can find all the real names and their descriptions of them at mindat.org. What is equally important is that you can find the varieties and the common trade names for these minerals there too.
What about my new discovery "Bolderite"? Nothing on Mindat? Then you know it is a trade name or brand name of something, and you need to learn more before you buy or use it.
If you learn to use Mindat, you can be an informed crystal user and know what is going on when someone tells you about some new crystal or stone with a big price tag.
Oh, here is one last note: often to confuse you, common minerals and rocks are given a trade name with the addition of a trademark. If you see the little TM next to the name of a crystal or stone you can be sure it is a brand or trade name for some mineral or a rock, and not a unique mineral variety. Go to mindat.org and find out what it is. Just like the prescription industry, generic versions of minerals and crystals work the same regardless of the brand or trade name they are sold under.
In short, sort out the names of crystals, minerals, and trade names using Mindat or the Crystal Inner Circle forums. Know what you are looking at, buying, or using.
By the way, this is a never-ending effort. We find new crystals and stones constantly. The marketplace is very vibrant. For example, we just stumbled on Prophecy Stone the other day.
Lesson 1 - Buying Crystals (Step 1)
To become a good crystal user, you will need a growing collection of crystals. This is akin to a budding carpenter starting to acquire his hammers, screwdrivers, saws, and other tools. The process is actually quite similar.
When an apprentice carpenter wants to build a small birdhouse, he learns that the boards he has need to be shortened or more narrow or have different dimensions. He studies the issue and finds that he needs several types of saws. For example, he may find he needs one for ripping a longboard, one for cutting off the end of a board, one for cutting tight dovetails, and another one to cut a circle. He also finds he needs to have a sharpener for his saws, and some oil to maintain them. The effort continues with the need for screwdrivers for different screw heads, a hammer to nail on the roof, etc. In short, he acquires tools as he finds a need (and I freely admit that women make good carpenters too, so I only use “he” as a generic term).
So too, as you continue to learn the craft of crystal use, you will be constantly discovering new methods to improve your life and well-being. You will be finding new ways to use crystals and this will drive the need to find the right crystals for your purpose. The uses for a set of carpenter tools are endless. You can build a birdhouse, frame a real house, make a doll carriage, or fix a leaking roof. The uses of crystals are about as extensive. You can make a pendulum, build a grid for love, realign a chakra, or focus the life force on a desperate need or desire. Our website, Crystal Vaults will teach you about the crystals so you can choose wisely. Crystal Inner Circle will teach you how to use them to make your life the one you want it to be and even guide you to becoming a Certified Crystal Master.
Choosing crystals, like choosing tools, is a personal effort. Some people have large hands, some small. Some want tools that will last a lifetime, others just the cheapest ones that will do the job at hand. Tools are available in many places and at almost any price. The situation is the same for crystals. They too are available in many places at almost any price. The good news is that most crystals are not too expensive. Sure you can use a Sapphire for a pendulum and make a $8,000 pendulum. But you can make one from a green Aventurine for about two dollars.
The size, shape, mineral, and beauty of crystals are never-ending. Each is different. Each has many uses. Just as a screwdriver can insert a screw, remove a screw, open a paint can, pry off a board, poke a hole in a cardboard box, and be turned around and used as a small hammer on a stuck jar lid, so too can a particular crystal be used in many ways. This leads us to the first step in buying a crystal:
STEP 1: DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC NEED OR USE FOR THE CRYSTAL.
The first step in selecting any crystal is to have a clear understanding of what your intended use might be. A crystal for a heart chakra healing session will be quite different from one to be a Focus Stone on a Forgiveness grid. However, remember, there is great flexibility in choosing tools and crystals, and there is no "one right answer".
The more specific you can be in articulating your need, the better chance you have of getting the right crystal or crystals. "I need some crystals to feel better" is kind of nebulous, and will make choosing crystals hard. It is like a carpenter saying "I want to build something". Well, what exactly? It would be difficult to go to a lumber yard and a tool store to get "something". Asking a clerk for help to buy "something" will not be too effective. So too with choosing crystals, be specific. Perhaps you want to make an elixir to help you sleep better. Perhaps you want a crystal to help you on a shamanic journey, or one to deal with an area of a room with poor energy flow. These are more specific needs and will help in your selection of the right crystal.
Your intentions, abilities, and desires are the key factors in the selection of any crystal. Once you have those clear in your mind, the next step is to get some advice on the options you might have. Crystal Inner Circle is divided into 15 communities of practice so that you can easily find expert advice on crystal selection for any purpose. You could spend a lot of time trying to learn all the crystals and their uses, but posting a short question in a Crystal Inner Circle forum can make the process quicker and easier. It is what they were created for. There is also an impressive search option that will bring up any articles relevant to your needs.
And, while there are no single "right answers" there are wrong answers. You could probably cut off a board with a screwdriver and a hammer given enough time, but a crosscut saw would be a better choice as would almost any saw. In using crystals, you could use an Aquamarine to get a better grounding in reality, but a Black Tourmaline might be much more effective.
In the lessons ahead we will explore many uses of crystals, and we will also learn how to know how the physical and metaphysical properties and energies can be matched to the needs we, as human beings, have. We are going to learn how the color, shapes, and compositions of minerals and their crystals match and align with our needs. Don’t be surprised that they do. We are all from the same planet. It would be more surprising if we somehow were not aligned with the natural world in which minerals and crystals form an important part.
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