It’s considered ungodly to engage in occult activities because those rituals seek to change or contact the spirit world. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states that “There shall not be found among you anyone…who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist…For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord. ”
If you want to try a crystal, use one sourced from a geologist to guarantee it hasn’t been used for practices that go against your beliefs. Compare a crystal to an herb—herbs are created by God as well and have been used for healing for thousands of years.
If you’ve used crystals for healing or other purposes before, remember that God will forgive you if you give up your practices and ask Him for forgiveness. Crystals can be considered “apportioned to all" in Deuteronomy 4:15-20: “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol … do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. ”[4] X Research source
If you’re struggling to decide whether to use crystals, consider speaking to a priest, pastor, or spiritual leader you feel comfortable sharing your dilemma with.
Job 28:19 describes the value of topaz: “The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. ” Lamentations 4:7 uses rubies and lapis lazuli in analogy: “Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli. ” Proverbs 8:11 compares rubies to wisdom: “For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. ” The river described in New Heaven (Revelation 22:1) and the area before the throne of God (Revelation 4:6) are both described as “crystal clear. ”
Ezekiel 13:20-21 speaks out against amulets: “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. ”
In Psalm 103:2-4, David declares: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. ”
For example, you may use a hammer around the house, but you probably wouldn’t call yourself a construction worker because of it. Practicing witches believe it takes more than one session with a crystal to become a witch. You need to practice the “craft” part of “witchcraft. ”[11] X Research source Essentially, using crystals for healing a few times for fun or for superficial reasons does not mean you’re a witch.
There are other types of witches that specialize in other tools and practices, like plant witches, sea witches, and cosmic witches. Eclectic witches borrow practices from multiple different traditions to customize their magic to suit their needs and circumstances. Many witches probably know how to use some crystals, but it may not be their preferred or favorite way to channel energy.
Witches ethically source their crystals. They purchase them from shops with ties to witchcraft and that aren’t appropriating rituals from other cultures.
Crystals can heal through meditation, physical touch, wearing them as jewelry, or through healing rituals. Practitioners can use crystals for healing both in-person and in virtual sessions using an energy grid. The “energy” of crystals is loosely defined and lends itself to the placebo effect, so many people believe they feel positive effects whether they’re real or not.
Ancient Egyptians wore crystal amulets, Greeks wore them for luck in battle (and to get rid of hangovers), and Ayurveda healers used them for vitality. [16] X Research source In the Middle Ages, poets compared love, purity, desire, and perfection with crystals, contributing to the lore that they embodied powers. In the Christian West, writings about crystals refer mostly to decorating religious objects or symbolizing the light of the heavens (and even the Virgin Mary).
Influencers and wellness shops have made crystals popular among young people looking for non-religious spiritual connections (or who want to be trendy). Crystal use in the West got popular in the 70s during the New Age movement when young people got interested in counterculture and occult spirituality.
If you want a crystal to make a difference in your life, chances are you’ll get some fulfillment out of it. Some medical professionals believe the placebo benefits of alternative medicines, like crystals, shouldn’t be entirely discounted. Even though there’s little scientific evidence to suggest crystals really work for healing, there’s no harm in trying them out.
Geologically, crystals are just rocks made of repeating atomic patterns. The exact pattern gives each crystal its shape, transparency, and hardness. [20] X Research source Crystals are formed when pressurized carbon from deep in the earth cools quickly or when the liquids of a solution evaporate and leave solids structures behind. Salt, pencil graphite, and snow are considered crystals. So are the precious stones we all think of like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.