If you’re new to the crystal world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There’s big crystals, small crystals, crystal spheres, crystal hearts, crystals for charging other crystals—with all these choices, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’re boiling it down with this essential tutorial on crystals for beginners.

The first and most important lesson you’ll learn from your work with crystals, is to trust yourself. Trust that you know which crystal is right for your spirit, and trust your connection with it. Don’t get caught up in searching for answers outside. The answer to what you want and need comes from within. Take this short crystal test to find a crystal using your intuition. Once you’ve found the crystal that you want to work with, the fun part can begin! Read below to find out all you need to know about crystals for beginners:

Choosing Your Crystal Shape

You may be wondering if the shape of your crystal matters. While the healing properties of your crystal will remain the same regardless of shape, the experience you have with your crystal may differ. Following are some of the most common crystal shapes you’ll find, and how to work with them:

Point

A crystal point is an intense energy tool that serves to focus and amplify the power of the stone. You can use it to direct healing energy inward, by turning the point toward you, or outward, by turning it away. Many people use their points to manifest intentions, because a standing point will continue to radiate the energy of your intention out into the universe even after you leave it. Points are some of the best crystals for beginners because of their versatility.

Sphere

A crystal sphere emits energy equally out in every direction. It provides a gentle, full energy that you can feel both grounded by and immersed in. Holding two spheres in meditation brings a sense of harmony to your practice.

Cube

A crystal cube is associated with the root chakra. This makes it a powerfully grounding stone to create calm in your environment. You can establish a protective grid by placing a crystal cube in each of the four corners of your room—don’t worry, we’ll go more into what grids are in a bit.

Pyramid

Pyramids are a sacred shape that were used in many ancient civilizations. Use a crystal pyramid to beam concentrated energy up into the universe. Use it to help manifest your intentions by writing them down on a piece of paper, and setting the crystal pyramid on top.

Heart

This loving crystal shape is great for reminding you to keep it’s healing properties close at heart. Work with them to nourish your spirit with the energy that you want to give and receive.

Harmonizers

Crystal harmonizers are a pair of cylinder shaped crystals that aid your meditation practice by bringing you into spiritual, mental and physical balance.

Cluster

Crystal clusters are one of the most beautiful occurrences in nature. A cluster happens when many points form on the same matrix. Because a cluster has so many points, it is believed to vibrate a higher energy. Having a cluster in your home or space will ensure that it remains elevated with the energy you want to cultivate.

Tumbled Stones

Tumbled stones are great because of their wide range of uses. As small, smooth stones, they can easily be held in your pocket or purse. You can also use them to create your own crystal grids. If you’re new to this, and you’re trying to decide which crystals work best for you, tumbled stones are some of the best crystals for beginners.

What’s a Crystal Grid?

Sometimes we get so caught up in explaining why certain stones or crystal shapes are ideal for crystal grids, that we forget not everyone knows what a grid even is! So let’s break it down. A crystal grid is a formation of stones, usually emanating out from one central stone. Grids are helpful for creating an energy with intention, and holding that energy long after you set it. These crystal grid formations join the energies of many crystals into a symphony of harmonizing vibrations. Grids can be small, taking up a only a small portion of your desk or sacred altar, or they can be massive, like the crystal grid we visited on our spiritual retreat in Kauai that was large enough for us to lay in the center.

How to Create Your Own Crystal Grid

The best way to create your own crystal grid is to use your intuition. Understand what energy you want to establish, and work from there. While there’s no right or wrong way to make a grid, we like to use a crystal point at the center of ours because it helps to marry the many energies of the stones together, and amplify that united energy out into the space. You may also find it easier to map out your grid if you use a grid cloth, so that you be assured of the symmetry.

When choosing your stones, select ones that are in tune with your intention. So for a crystal grid for wealth, you’d choose stones like jade, pyrite, aventurine, goldstone, citrine and tiger’s eye. While for a crystal grid for love, you’d choose stone like rose quartz, rhodochrosite, malachite, carnelian, rhodonite, amazonite and kambaba jasper.

After you have your crystals, you’ll want to purify their energy. Cleanse both your crystals and your space with the smoke of sage or palo santo. Then write your intention on a piece of paper, fold the paper, say the intention aloud, and place the paper under the center stone. Then fill out the rest of your grid. Activate the grid by taking a quartz point, and drawing an invisible line connecting every stone in the grid as you visualize your intention coming to fruition.

How to Cleanse Your Crystals

We can’t talk about the basics of crystals for beginners, without stressing the importance of crystal cleansing. If you never cleanse your crystals, eventually their energy becomes overloaded and dim. Here are some easy methods for crystal cleansing:

• Sage or Palo Santo Smoke—To purify the energy of the crystal, simply immerse it in the smoke of sage or palo santo. Perform crystal cleansing on a regular basis, or whenever your crystal begins to feel like it’s not vibrating with the same energy as it once was.
• Sun or Moon Light—You can also do crystal cleansing by leaving your crystal out in the light of the sun or moon for at least 4 hours.
• Soil of the Earth—Bury your stones in the soil of the earth, or even the soil of a potted plant for up to 24 hours. Don’t forget to leave a marker so that you can remember where you placed it!
• Quartz or Selenite Crystal—Quartz and selenite are two of the best crystals for beginners because they are both cleansing crystals. Cleansing crystals are high-vibing purifiers that don’t need to be charged. Because their energy remains clear and amplified, you can use them charge and cleanse your other crystals. Place a stone on your cleansing crystal to purify and enhance its energy.

How to Set Intentions with Crystals

Setting intentions with crystals sounds like a lofty practice, but it’s actually very easy. It’s all about getting in touch with your true spiritual needs, and commemorating that newfound dedication to yourself. When you invest time into setting intentions with crystals, you’re really investing in your future. Set aside 11 minutes to set your intention and get crystal clear about what you want. Crystal intention setting begins when you find a quiet area to sit and reflect. Then hold your crystal in your hand to get in sync with its energy. Visualize your intention. When you feel ready, say intention your intention out loud three times. Repeat your crystal intention setting as often as needed to keep your energy focused on your goals. Place the crystal on your sacred altar, or somewhere that it can be easily viewed as a reminder of what you’re working towards.

That’s everything you need to know about crystals for beginners. Get started with even just a few of these techniques, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering your crystal practice. For more information on healing crystals, check out our new book Crystal Muse: Everyday Rituals to Tune into the Real You.