Our pick of the best crystals and what they do: a guide

Pretty, mysterious and utterly spellbinding, the best crystals are a lifeline for those of us who seek healing, power and strength through difficult times. Perfect for aligning our energy and creating equilibrium, crystals can be positioned on the body (or even held) to heal and improve our well-being. But which are the best? Well, there are a lot of different varieties that have lots of properties, some with multiple. So, for this, we’re deep-diving into the realm of minerals to find the best crystals for your practice.

If you're a beginner to crystals, it's easy to fall into the trap of buying lots of beautiful gemstones - without knowing what they're for. Even though you may feel a difference in your life, it's worth knowing what your beloved gems do - and how you can incorporate them into your daily routine. Here, you can take time to research the properties of different crystals and tailor your search to your intention. Luckily, we're here to help.

When picking your crystal, trust your intuition and pick up the one you're drawn to.

Best crystals at a glance:

• Best amethyst for stress: Natural Amethyst Geode – View on Etsy
• Best rose quartz for love: Rose Quartz Wire Wrapped Necklace – View on The Psychic Tree
• Best green jade for wealth: Green Jade Gemstone Necklace – View on Etsy

Now, onto the crystals. They come in many shapes and forms, tumbled or in a raw, jagged state. The crystal you're looking for may take the form of jewellery, candles, singing bowls and more. What are the best crystals to wear? We're here to answer your questions and take you on a journey. It's time to embark on a quest to find you the best crystals - grouped by intention.

Best crystals and what they do

Best crystals for stress

To create a calm, soothing environment, we recommend Amethyst. Aquamarine and Celestite. Amethyst, especially, has been used throughout history to help enhance our well-being, whether by reducing anxiety or perceptions of pain. If you're looking to unwind after a tricky day and require serenity, we recommend these three in your bedroom.

Best crystals for protection

Crystals for energetic protection have a long history – for centuries, in fact. For example, Black Tourmaline is recognised as a guard against negative energy, often worn as jewellery to protect us from negative people and situations. Plus, it can ward off negativity from your home. On the other hand, Turquoise stands as a natural guard against your demons.

Best crystals for creativity

Feeling a little uninspired? Perhaps a gemstone can help get those juices flowing. Green Quartz is connected to the heart chakra, which will stimulate creativity and intuition. As for a Red Tiger's Eye, it comes with fantastic grounding properties, making it ideal to rekindle a creative mindset. Calcite is an all-rounder but will make space for creativity.

Best crystals for love

Much like gemstones, love comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether you're keen on improving your own love life or the love you have for yourself, a gemstone may help get you on the right track. For this, we recommend either Rose Quartz, known as the stone of universal love or Rhodonite, which is a stone of compassion and balance.

Best crystal for anxiety

Anxiety can get the best of us. Feeling nervous or on edge can prevent us from daring to be brilliant, or perusing opportunities. It can be a real roadblock in our lives. Anxiety, like all emotions, feeling or thoughts, carries a vibrational frequency. Luckily, crystals such as Black Obsidian and Flower Agate can encourage you to reach your full potential.

Best crystals for money

As well as love and health, crystals can offer success and prosperity in other elements of your life. If you're determined to attain some more wealth, perhaps some pyrite or jade can help. Pyrite is a potent stone with the ability to cultivate abundance and prosperity. Whereas, jade supports your business ventures and manifests your work goals.

Best crystals to sleep with

Sleeping is a vital aspect of our day. Getting too little can have bad repercussions, throwing our energies off balance. If you've tried everything under the sun (such as a pillow spray), then why not give some crystals a go? Perfect for tucking under your pillow, we recommend Howlite and Labradorite to ground, protect and keep you calm.

Best crystal for focus

Struggling to get in the zone? Pop a crystal by your workspace or even on your desk and take advantage of some vibrations, allowing your mind to find balance and concentrate on the task at hand. For this, we have listed Variscite and Flourite. These gemstones will support your mind in staying sharp and focusing on your strengths for success.

These are the best crystals for meditation, too - as they enhance your concentration and practice.

Best crystal for grounding

In a fast-paced and overwhelming world like ours, it's not alien to feel stressed. Sometimes, we feel lost and all over the place - and we need to be reminded of our worth, and our purpose. So, crystals that'll ground you, and stabilise your emotions work best. We recommend Amazonite and Mookaite to connect you to the Earth - for comfort.

Best crystals for good luck

Working with crystals can even you great luck. Gemstones such as Green Aventurine and Citrine can serve as a reminder that luck and opportunity are always around the corner. If you're looking to manifest your deep desires, and transform your life into a prosperous one, we recommend these crystals. They'll keep you receptive to positive change.

FAQs: Best crystals

What makes crystals powerful?

To answer this age-old question, we need to delve into crystals’ deep history. You may have noticed a surge in their popularity with fad social media apps like TikTok playing host to new-age spiritualists – from crystals for manifesting to crystals for protection. Social media seems to be a good resource for budding spiritualists and Wicca. And – there is a long history of crystals being used for well-being.

Even in the UK, archaeological finds dating back 10,000 years ago show that the gemstone amber was in use for protection and well-being, specifically prosperity and health. Whereas in Egypt, stones such as quartz, emerald and lapis lazuli were utilised for medicine, as well as rituals and deep desires. Practices such as crystal healing have several positive benefits - as these can include alleviating physical, emotional and spiritual stress.

As for their power, crystals have the power to interact with our bodies. Known as vibrations, this beautiful property can unlock the potential that may have been previously shut away in our bodies – and this is done by redirecting energy flow. Invoking feelings of grounding and connection, the crystal vibrations interact with the body’s energetic frequency – and it can evoke clarity.

How to best use crystals

This comes down to personal preference. Like any spiritual practice we talk about at Spirit & Destiny, it needs to feel right for you. After all, this practice should be supporting your well-being, healing or success. Crystals may hold the key to unlocking all of your wildest potential. So, we've listed some ways you can incorporate crystals into your daily life.

Place them under your pillow while you sleep, which is ideal for health manifestation.

Incorporate them into your other practice, such as yoga or meditation - just like you would use incense sticks.

Invest in a pouch for your crystals - or keep them in your purse - to take with you.

Popping a crystal with a plant or in the garden may give you (and your space) some harmony with nature.

Wearing crystals as jewellery is a good way to keep them close - as a ring, necklace or crystal bracelet.

Rake a bath with them - either on the edge or submerged; double-check if your crystal is waterproof.

Decorate your space with a crystal or two. Be mindful of where you place them, though.

Hold them when you need a little support or reassurance.

When is the best time to cleanse or charge crystals?

When you’ve become acquainted with your new additions, you’ll need to know how best to take care of crystals. After all, cleansing and charging your stones is key to your continued success. So, we’ve written a short guide on how to spot if your crystals need cleansing or charging – and what methods are best for your chosen gemstone.

Crystals are said to absorb energy. The more often you use a stone, the more energy it absorbs. However, this can include negative energy, too. So, it’s important to make sure your crystals are cleansed. So, a good rule is to cleanse all your stones at least once a month. If an individual stone feels heavier than usual, it would be an excellent time to cleanse it.

There are many ways to cleanse or charge your crystals.

Bathing them in the moonlight on a full Moon

Burning incense or herbs around them

Soaking them in water

Purifying them with salt

Burying them in soil or sand

Where is the best place to put my crystals?

When placed in rooms in which you spend large amounts of time, your crystals and their healing vibrations will fulfil the purpose. So, it's wise to be selective about where you put your crystals. We've got some help from Living Spaces to set out our intentions for each room - and how to make the most of our gemstones.

Offices - don't have to feel dull or lifeless. No! Unleash your working-from-home set-up's full potential and inject some good vibrations for lasting rewards. Whether by yourself or around others, having a crystal to hand when you're in the zone can focus the mind and enhance creativity. It could make the ideal companion for your computer or desk lamp.

Hallways - are the first space that your guests are going to enter when they enter your home. Just like you, when you get home after a long time, you want to make sure there is a welcoming air with plenty of safe, happy and energised vibrations. Plus, your hallway will connect to other rooms in your home, so be mindful of this; on furniture is best.

Bedrooms - are all about recuperating and gathering your strength after a long day. The vibrations need to evoke calm, healing and relaxation - and can be used for health manifestations, also. After all, the bedroom may be a place that you spend a lot of your time in. So, look for soothing crystals to wake up to, around your pillows, preferably.

Bathrooms - need a little love, too. According to Living Spaces, your bathroom walls should "set a well-cleansed tone for your day." Even so, any negatives will get zapped by any cleansing crystals. For example, amethyst acts as a protective gemstone, which will serve as a beautiful pop of colour and keep the energy stress-free and protected.

Living Rooms - finally, pairs well with stones that encourage relaxation, although it's really up to you. There is "no secret to decorating with crystals", says Living Spaces - it's about setting your intentions. On an aesthetic note, some crystals can add a balance of colour, mood and energy to side tables, coffee tables and bookcases. Go with your gut.

Should crystals be kept together?

It's permittable to keep your crystals together as long as you're looking after them. However, there are some crystals that shouldn't be placed together - as they could interact and mess with the energy flow. If they're raw and have rough edges, please be careful about putting them near your tumbled stones - as there could be some unsightly scratches.

The same goes for pairing conflicting crystals with one another. For example, carnelian and amethyst are not ideal together. Carnelian is a booster, promoting courage, motivation and attracting change. Whereas, amethyst helps subdue stress and protects you from overthinking. Putting them together could cancel each other out.

So, be sure to group your crystals together based on their properties. Sometimes, it can take trial and error.

What should I keep my crystals in?

For some of your beloved gemstones, it's best to avoid water, humidity, sunlight and dust particles. Certain crystals are picky and won't fare well with some of the aforementioned conditions. Make sure to do your research before you decide to display them. Sometimes it's better to keep them tucked away. You can use several methods of storage:

Cloth Pouches - will give you protection from all of these, keeping them safe and sound.

Drawers - are a good idea if you want to rotate between crystals and energy flows.

Boxes - are an alternative to a dedicated drawer, ideal for a smaller collection.

What is the best way to display crystals?

When it comes to putting your collection on show, we have some suggestions. Some of our crystals will be light-sensitive and their vitality will fade if they are exposed to the sun. Others will be happy to bask in the sunlight.

Glass Display - is best for those of us who have a larger collection, to keep away from sunlight.

Acrylic Boxes - store crystals well, despite costing a little more than an average storage box.

Glass Jars - add a mystical feel to your collection, keeping your crystal airtight like a genie in a bottle.

What crystals do I need to avoid?

Some crystals, indeed, contain toxic substances. Gemstones such as malachite and cinnabar can cause serious health issues if you're exposed to them for long enough. We'd recommend steering away from these.

Similarly, identifying crystals to avoid will depend on what your star sign is, and what your intention is. For example, a stimulating gemstone like turquoise can be less than ideal for a bedtime crystal. It can fuel insomnia in some of us.

Clear quartz amplifies other crystals, increasing energy in the bedroom - and may help you. However, this gemstone does not suit all crystals. So, be careful which crystals you place nearby as this could be overwhelming for you.

Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Spirit & Destiny, an all-rounder: from health to spirituality. When not at her desk, she’s practising yoga or in deep reflection.