Crystal guide
Crystals: meanings, uses and how to choose one
Crystals such as pyrite, amethyst, rose quartz and citrine are kept at home or work, or worn as a bracelet or pendant, as a reminder of an intention. This guide covers the twelve most asked-about crystals: what each one is, the number and planet it is commonly paired with, how it is used, how to care for it and how to tell real from fake.
The crystals at a glance
The number and planet each crystal is paired with come from the same data as the gemstone calculator. The common uses are what many people do with each crystal, not a promise of any result.
| Crystal | Colour | Commonly paired with | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrite | Pale brass yellow with a bright metallic shine | Not paired with a planet in our data | Desk or cash counter, as a reminder of work and money goals |
| Amethyst | Light lilac to deep violet, often in zones | Ketu (number 7) and Saturn (number 8) | Meditation or prayer corner, bedside or desk, for calm focus |
| Tiger’s eye | Golden yellow to red brown, with a silky moving band of light | Ketu (number 7) | Bracelet or desk stone, for confidence and steady effort |
| Rose quartz | Pale to medium pink, milky and translucent | Venus (number 6) | Bedroom or living room, as a reminder of warmth in relationships |
| Citrine | Pale lemon yellow to golden orange; heated stones lean orange or brownish | Sun (number 1) and Jupiter (number 3) | Study or work desk, as a reminder of learning and growth |
| Lapis lazuli | Deep royal blue with gold pyrite flecks and white calcite veins | Saturn (number 8) | Study or work desk, as a reminder of clear speech and learning |
| Green aventurine | Light to deep green with a fine glitter | Mercury (number 5) | Shop counter, cash box or sales desk, as a reminder of steady trade |
| Black tourmaline | Jet black, glassy, with long lines along the crystal | Rahu (number 4) and Saturn (number 8) | Near the entrance or work area, as a grounding stone |
| Clear quartz | Colourless and transparent, sometimes with cloudy veils inside | Moon (number 2) and Venus (number 6) | Sphatik mala for japa, or a point or sphere in a prayer corner |
| Moonstone | Colourless, white, grey or peach with a blue or white floating glow | Moon (number 2) | Pendant or ring, often by the bedside, as a calm and gentle stone |
| Carnelian | Orange to red to brownish red, translucent, sometimes banded | Sun (number 1) and Mars (number 9) | Bracelet or desk stone, as a reminder to act with courage |
| Selenite | Colourless to white, pearly or silky | Moon (number 2) | Bedside or shelf, as a calm, light-coloured piece |
Crystals are not medicine
Crystals are part of a tradition of intention and reflection. They are not a substitute for medical care, and no crystal can promise money, love or luck. For any health concern, please see a doctor.
How to choose a crystal
Start with your numbers. Each number from 1 to 9 has a planet, and each planet has a few crystal choices. The gemstone calculator shows the crystals of your Mulank (Moolank) and Bhagyank.
Then think about what you want it for and where it will be. A crystal for a shop counter, a study desk or a bedside table is often different from one you wear every day.
Check that it suits daily life. Soft stones such as selenite (hardness 2) or lapis lazuli (about 5) scratch easily and dislike water; quartz crystals at hardness 7 are tougher.
Crystals are different from ratnas. A ratna (navratna gemstone) is chosen only after a Kundli check; see the navratna gemstones guide. Crystals are the gentler, everyday choice.
Read about each crystal
- Pyrite
- Amethyst
- Tiger’s eye
- Rose quartz
- Citrine
- Lapis lazuli
- Green aventurine
- Black tourmaline
- Clear quartz
- Moonstone
- Carnelian
- Selenite
- Navratna gemstones
- Gemstone by date of birth
- Crystals and gemstones
How to tell a real crystal from a fake
- Weight and touch: natural stone usually feels cool and stays cool in the hand for a while; glass warms quickly and plastic feels light.
- Bubbles and perfection: round bubbles, swirl lines and perfectly even colour point to glass. Natural crystals usually show small veils, lines or uneven colour.
- Colour that is too bright: dyed quartz, howlite and agate are common. Dye gathers in cracks, and a cotton bud with a little nail polish remover can lift it from a hidden spot.
- Heat treatment: most citrine sold is heated amethyst, and much carnelian is heated agate. That is accepted, but the seller should say so.
- Trade names: “rainbow moonstone” is a labradorite, “selenite” wands are usually satin spar and goldstone is glass. They are fine to own if you know what they are.
- For a costly piece, ask for a report from an independent gem testing laboratory.
7 chakra bracelets
A 7 chakra bracelet has seven beads or groups of beads in rainbow colours, each linked in modern crystal practice with one of the seven chakras, from red at the base to violet at the crown. A common set is red jasper, carnelian, tiger’s eye or citrine, green aventurine, a blue stone such as sodalite, lapis lazuli and amethyst or clear quartz.
The chakras come from yoga and tantra traditions, but the rainbow colour scheme used in these bracelets is a modern one, and sets differ from seller to seller. Many low-cost bracelets use dyed howlite, dyed quartz or glass beads.
People wear them as a reminder of balance. Like any crystal, a chakra bracelet is not medicine and makes no promise.
Caring for crystals
- Wipe crystals with a soft cloth and keep each one in its own pouch so harder stones do not scratch softer ones.
- Quartz crystals (amethyst, rose quartz, citrine, clear quartz, carnelian, tiger’s eye, aventurine) can be washed in lukewarm water with mild soap.
- Keep pyrite, lapis lazuli and selenite dry: water tarnishes pyrite, dulls lapis and dissolves selenite.
- Amethyst, citrine and rose quartz can pale in strong sun over time, and a clear quartz sphere can focus sunlight, so keep them out of hot, direct sun.
Tools and guides
- Gemstone calculator: the stones and crystals of your numbers
- Navratna gemstones: the nine ratnas
- Lucky number calculator
- Lo Shu grid calculator: your missing numbers
- Vastu Shastra: directions and guides
- Crystals and gemstones with Namieta
Questions about crystals
Which crystal suits my Mulank?
Each number from 1 to 9 has a planet and a few crystal choices. The gemstone calculator shows the crystals of your Mulank and Bhagyank. Your full set of numbers and your question matter too, so ask Namieta before you buy.
What is the difference between a crystal and a gemstone?
In this guide, a ratna (gemstone) is one of the nine navratna stones, worn to strengthen a planet after a Kundli check. Crystals are kept or worn as a reminder of an intention and are the gentler, everyday choice. See the navratna gemstones guide.
Do crystals really work?
Crystals are part of a tradition of intention and reflection. There is no scientific evidence that they change health, money or luck, and they are not a substitute for medical care. Many people still enjoy them as reminders of what they are working towards.
How do I cleanse a crystal?
Many people use a short spell of morning light or rest the crystal on a dry shelf. Quartz crystals can be rinsed in plain water, but pyrite, lapis lazuli and selenite should stay dry. Ask about yours first.
Can I keep more than one crystal together?
Yes. Crystals are commonly kept together in a bowl or on a shelf. Keep soft stones apart from hard ones so they do not scratch.
Does Namieta sell crystals?
Namieta advises on and sells crystals and gemstones. Ask on WhatsApp what is available; see crystals and gemstones.