Crystals for Mindfulness
The world is a crazy place that pulls us in every direction imaginable and then some. Not only do we have the physical distractions in front of us like work, school, a crying baby, or barking dogs but now we must deal with the plethora of distractions from electronics. Day by day, we are losing touch with realities and the present moment, and minute by minute we are losing focus on what matters – our mental and physical well-being. I believe we are a society run on autopilot, distracted by societal messages, hidden agendas, and numbed by an excess stimulus that we are not quite sure how to quiet.
When we lose focus of the present moment and lose the appreciation of what we currently have we become a world full of greedy, unhappy, mindless human beings, not even realizing how far we have drifted off from our current consciousness. Thankfully there are humans who seem to be able to break free or even avoid the traps of our minds that allow us to get off track and focused on anything but what is right in front of us. Matt Killingworth’s research has shown when we are focusing on what is happening in the present moment, it’s a greater predictor of happiness. Thinking about this research and comparing it to my personal experience, when I am experiencing that flow of the moment, when I am fully emerged in what I am doing, not thinking about what happened to me in the past or what could or should happen in the future, I seem to enjoy my time more.
So how do we stop our minds from wandering, and remain in the moment, fully and focused? That’s where mindfulness practice comes in. And something to remember and really focus on is the word practice. Mindfulness practice is something that you must work on and learn, just as you would when learning a new sport or instrument. While practicing mindfulness, we have the intention to pay attention fully with curiosity and without judgment. The intention is to take in whatever is happening around us without wanting to change it or make sense of it – just simply being here, connected with the experience. I have learned in my practice that sometimes we will wonder if what we are doing is correct or the “right way”. I allowed myself to hold my practice back by holding on to those thoughts which eventually led to self-judgment of “I am not doing good enough, this won’t work.” However, the moment we start doubting our abilities, we need to recognize again that these are just thoughts that are flowing, not the reality. Pull ourselves back to whatever we chose our anchor to be, remember our intent, then continue with our practice. There will be days that allowing your thoughts to come and go may be harder than others and this is normal. Our minds were created to think
The science and research on mindfulness is newer and still emerging but research has shown that when we are aware of our patterns of behavior or impulses that we may have to a trigger, we are able to switch from reacting to responding with thought and intention. This for me has been the biggest impact that I have noticed since starting this practice myself. I used to be such a reactive, angry person, and trust me, I still have my moments but being able to create some space for me to process the experience that I am currently in, has been life changing. It has allowed me to truly think before I act and save myself some embarrassment from a lash out as well as my relationships and connections with others on the receiving end.
Utilizing crystals in this practice can help us feel more secure and grounded. They can be a reminder or an anchor to bring you back to your current reality. Grounding crystals such as Red Jasper, Black Tourmaline, or Carnelian can help you focus on your connection to Earth’s energy. If you ever feel yourself floating out of your consciousness or situation, having one of these crystals on you can be a reminder to pull yourself back down to the present moment. Understand that your mind and thoughts will continue to flow and move through your head, but you don’t have to take off with them, you can ground yourself where you want and need to be. If need be, you can use the mantra “I am not my thoughts” to center and reground yourself. Below we are going to go through how and which type of crystals can help enhance your mindfulness practice.
Having a reminder or anchor that can pull you back from your wondering mind is something that I believe is a must-have during this practice. Focusing on your breath, your inhalation, exhalations, and how your breath affects your body is a popular choice for many. For me, having an extra reminder helps my practice be more efficient, especially because I suffer from a very busy mind. There are many different options using crystals that could be a secondary anchor for you in your practice. If you are wanting to use a crystal as your anchor to pull yourself back into your present moment during your practices, a tumbled crystal, worry stone, palm stone or a piece of jewelry is a great choice to go with.
Tumbles are a go-to for me in my everyday life. Even before I learned about mindfulness, I would keep a stone in my pocket and when I was anxious, I would play with it, rub my fingers around its smooth edge and it would pull my anxiety to a level that I could tolerate. They are small enough to place in your pocket or purse, sometimes called pocket-stones, so you always have them when you need them without being too big or bulky to carry around. Tumbled stones are also great if you are on a budget and cannot afford to invest in a bigger piece.
Worry stones are much like tumbled stones in the sense that they are small, pocket-sized, and easy to take with you everywhere. However, worry stones are polished out to have a dip, specifically for you to rub your finger on. These stones are also great for those who are not wanting to spend a lot of money but like something with more of a consistent feel to it.
Palm stones are known to be used a lot in meditation and bodywork. They are generally much bigger than tumbled stones and worry stones, but you can find smaller ones that are pocket friendly. These stones are normally oval-shaped, but their shapes vary – Their bottoms can be flat or round, this is something to keep in mind if you are wanting to use them for bodywork, such as placing on a certain chakra that needs some healing. Palm stones are also a reasonable price and can be found in many different materials.
Wearing a piece of jewelry is a fun way to have an anchor with you everywhere you go. If you are someone who doesn’t have pockets, carry a purse, or simply don’t want to carry a crystal around with you, a piece of jewelry may be for you! By wearing a ring, bracelet, or necklace you always have something touching you. Bring your attention and awareness to these items to be with yourself in the current moment. Jewelry has such a wide range of designs, styles, sizes, and prices which makes it a popular choice for many.
Each of these choices is a great one and there is no right or wrong choice! If you are struggling with determining which kind of crystal to get, consider your lifestyle and what your intuition is telling you. Consider looking into what properties specific crystals have and what is available to you. Sometimes it can be a challenge to find a specific material in a palm stone or worry stone and not all crystals can be tumbled.
Fluorite is a wonderful crystal to have around during your mindfulness practices. I have called this stone, “the stone for students” because its energies help us to remain present, focused, and attentive to whatever it is that we are doing. Utilizing fluorite’s energies while practicing mindfulness allows thoughts to flow and gives our minds a reminder not to get attached, that we are not defined by our thoughts and emotions. This stone will help protect you from the thoughts that you are defined by everything that pops into your mind and be a reminder to create space in your life for contemplation and curiosity.
Kyanite is a stone that will help you relax and communicate with yourself or higher power. Associated with the throat chakra, kyanite reminds us to breathe and to listen to the signs from our body. Kyanite also helps provide calming energy that can help ground us during stressful times. This stone is a great stone to have if you are constantly speaking, teaching, or influencing others, and can be helpful in any activity that requires public speaking.
Amethyst is known for its stress-relieving and relaxing energies. A common stone, that is easy to find can also be helpful when needing support in falling asleep. Amethyst has a connection with the crown and third eye chakra meaning that it aids in spiritual practices. It has the ability to heighten your intuition and help you connect to the spirit. if you are using mindfulness as an aid to help sober living, amethyst is known by the Greeks to help one stay sober from drinking. This stone can be found easily in tumbles, palm stones, worry stones, jewelry, and bigger pieces for your home or office.
Satin Spar, which is sometimes called Selenite, is my go-to when I am trying to clear anything out – including my mind. This stone is known to help energy flow more efficiently and allow your mind to let go when needed. This stone is known to bring clarity to the mind and is great in dispelling any judgmental thoughts. Satin Spar is tough to tumble and is known to dissolve in water so a raw, natural form of this stone may be easier to find. However, there are many different types of carvings that can be found in a variety of shapes!
Lastly, Labradorite is known to bring your mind into a state of clarity and knowing. This stone is known to heighten people’s intuition and connection to the energy source. Known to be a great stone for travelers, having labradorite with you while traveling can help you remain focused on relaxing instead of what needs to be done when you return home. Clearing the mind’s chatter and opening your consciousness to new experiences can really aid in your mindfulness practices.
These are just a few types of crystals and their properties that can aid in your mindfulness practices. Depending on your individual circumstances and needs, other crystal types may call to you more. Researching other crystals using our crystal directory can help further your knowledge on crystals and which ones may be a good fit for you and your lifestyle.
I would love to hear your experiences with mindfulness practices and if you utilize crystals in any way! Drop a comment below to let us know what you thought about our blog and how your mindfulness practice is going for you!
