ONE OF MY FIRST REALLY SPECIAL CRYSTALS WAS ONE THAT I FOUND on the internet at a site owned by Stuart Schmitt of The Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine. I had seen a very handsome looking manifestation quartz among the many pictures on his site and called to ask about it. It had gone, he said, but he had just dug up a half pound Dow crystal that he thought might be just the ticket for me. It was $55 bucks, and normally I am skeptical about buying something like this, sight unseen, but I heard myself say yes, please send it. It arrived a week later along with 25 pounds of small grade B quartz I had also ordered. When I opened the package I was thrilled and delighted to find a very clear, large and fairly symmetrical Dow point with fabulous and prominent record keepers all over the largest face. It promptly became my first and foremost crystal for receiving divinely inspired information, and it still is today, some years later.

When I first received that crystal I knew only little about its physical attributes and was just beginning to learn about how special and diverse the uses for quartz crystals are. Over time I have poured over many quartz crystals with a magnifying glass or a loop looking for record keepers and windows and the like along with other things that I would read about in books. I still remain fascinated and I continue to learn more and discover new things about quartz.

All quartz crystal is known for its ability to amplify energy in many forms. Many quartz crystals have additional use based on internal structures and/or surface qualities of the crystal. Crystals generally consist of a termination, a number of faces that usually meet at the termination, and a body. The termination of a crystal is the part at the very tip-top where all of the faces meet. Some people call it the point or apex. Faces are the flat planes of crystal that terminate in the point at the top of the crystal. Some faces have more sides, or edges, than others. The body of the quartz is the part below the faces and the termination. Sometimes the body is also called the shaft. Here you will find information about a variety of special attributes of quartz crystals. There are many more than what is shared here, but these are the ones you are most likely to run into as you investigate the interesting aspects and uses of quartz crystals.

Aperture Crystals are crystals with an extra face on either the left or right side of the largest face of a crystal. Crystals with an aperture on the right side of the largest face move energy in a clockwise spiral. Right Aperture Crystals are considered to be left brain crystals that promote decision-making, concentration and channeling. Crystals with an aperture on the left of the largest face move energy in a counter-clockwise spiral. These Left Aperture Crystals are considered to be right brain crystals, boosting creativity and telepathic communication.

An Abundance Crystal is a quartz crystal with many small crystals growing at its base. Abundance Crystals are thought to draw prosperity to the owner. They also foster independence and positive attitudes in those who use them. In addition abundance crystals are considered to be protective and nurturing, the mother (crystal) nurturing the little babies (crystals).

Channeling Crystals are crystals that have a large face that is seven or eight sided, with a small triangular face directly opposite of the apex of the large face. Some psychics use a channeling crystal with the large face pressed against their third eye to help bring in information more easily. Channeling crystals are effective because they also activate the higher chakras and bring one into alignment and contact with the Higher Self.

Crater Crystals, sometimes called Key Quartz are crystals that have geometrically stepped indentations where other crystals had, at one time, grown from them. One can place a finger or thumb into an indentation to facilitate one’s understanding of unity within the universe. Crater crystals are helpful in relieving cravings of addiction and they provide one with the ability to remain detached from the emotions during periods of major transition.

Crystal Clusters are attached groupings of crystals, whether they be large or small. They represent safety in numbers and encourage cooperation, sharing, protection and harmonious balance. Because there are a number of crystals in crystal clusters, they have many points of energy. This makes a flat bed of quartz crystals an excellent “recharging grid” for other crystals and stones.

A Dolphin Crystal is a double terminated crystals with a much smaller double terminated crystal attached to its side. It got its name because it looks a bit like a mother dolphin and her baby. Dolphin crystals are all about protection, safety, mothering and nurturing and are great crystals to have for travel.

Double Terminated crystals are crystals that have a termination, or point, at both ends. Carrying a double terminated crystal is kind of like carrying a battery for extra energy that can be used for metaphysical pursuits. Because the energy in a double terminated crystals can move both ways, they are excellent tools for moving energy in healing and ritual.

Dow, or Grandfather Crystals, are very special crystals that are perfectly balanced. Of the six terminating faces, three will have seven edges, and adjacent to each larger face is a small triangular face. So if you looked from the top of the crystal and counted the edges of the faces you would count 7, 3, 7, 3, 7, 3. Dow crystals are very powerful tools for receiving and sending information. Because of their very balanced energy, these Grandfather crystals have been used by native Americans as shamans' stones for ceremony and healing.

Enhydro Crystals have places within their bodies or under their faces that have formed small pockets of water and air. Often this shows up as an air bubble that flits back and forth in a pocket of water. Other times there is debris inside the water that flows back and forth as you turn the crystal. Enhydros are very interesting to look into. Just think how old the water inside must be! Carrying water, the force of life, enhydros are quite useful in healing, especially in combination with other stones. They are also helpful to alleviate stress and anxiety while one is moving through major life changes.

ET Crystals are crystals that have a single termination at one end and multiple terminations at the other end. It is thought that ET crystals place one in communication with the Higher Self and higher dimensional beings. ET crystals are often used as a channeling tool.

An Elestial Crystal is a crystal with odd shaped terminations that are stacked in a parallel manner. Sometimes the edges of these terminations look skeletal or they have the appearance of having been airbrushed with a smoky color. Some say their stacked terminations give elestials a brain-like appearance. They are considered to be highly spiritual attunement tools, supporting universal understanding and muli-dimensional travel. They are also noted to be useful in helping one to release old ties in order to move forward in life.

Fairy Crystals are quartz crystals that have smoky wisps and small sparkly fractures inside the crystal body. The fractures and wisps stimulate the imagination and intuition and make these crystals excellent tools for communication with the fairy and elfin kingdoms. Looking into fairy crystals has been said to reduce anxiety in times of stress and fear.

A Generator Crystal is a crystal that has six faces that all come together at its apex point. Because these crystals have all six sides in connection with the apex it is very useful for generating and focusing energy. Such crystals make excellent wand points and are often used for energy balancing and healing.

Herkimer Diamonds are special double terminated quartz crystals with very short barrel shaped bodies. There are only a few places in the world where this type of quartz is found. Most often they come from the place for which they are named, Herkimer. Herkimers are considered to be Shaman stones that can be used as dream crystals, to access past lives, cleanse and clear the energy bodies, and boost psychic ability considerably. They also have the attribute of bringing all these things into balance for the individual.

An Inner Child Crystal is a larger crystal with a smaller crystal imbedded partially within its body. It is reminiscent of the child within us that peeks out every so often and lets us know how it is feeling. Inner Child Crystals are often used to help one to connect to one’s inner child. They are helpful in coping with grief and depression, and are believed to carry excellent energy for fighting addictions.

Isis Crystals have a special five-sided face that looks like a tall triangle with the bottom two corners cut off. The more symmetrical the face the more balanced the Isis crystal is. Isis crystals nurture and protect the bearer. They instill courage, wisdom, patience and perserverence, and they encourage self-nurturing.

Laser Wands are long crystals that resemble a wand. They are often a bit wider on the bottom than on the top. This interesting shape lends to the Laser wand’s ability to focus energy. The laser wand’s ability to focus energy and thought make it an excellent tool for telepathic communication.

A Manifestation Crystal, also known as a Creator Crystal, is a larger crystal that has a smaller, fully formed, crystal completely imbedded within. It is reminiscent of the mother carrying her baby within her womb, which makes it an effective fertility stone. Manifestation crystals are considered to be shaman’s stones that are mainly used to boost creativity and to co-create and manifest.

If you look into a Phantom Crystal you will see one or more ghostlike versions of that crystal within the crystal body. Phantom Crystals are thought to be helpful by protecting one through emotional traumas and heavy transitions. Shamans use these crystals to access knowledge about past and future incarnations.

Rainbow Crystals have a fracture or fractures within the crystal body that bend light into rainbow colors. The rainbow within is representative of joy in all things, making it an excellent stone for emotional healing on all levels, particularly depression. Rainbow crystals are also known to promote positive transformation and spiritual balance.

Record Keeper Crystals can be identified by small or large, slightly raised triangular shapes on one or more crystal faces. Record keepers are thought to carry ancient information within the triangular shapes. Often they are used for meditation, channeling, and spiritual attunement. The records within record keepers are accessed by rubbing the slightly raised triangles with the thumb or forefinger during meditation.

A Scepter Crystal is a crystal that has a bulbous, pudgy point that sits atop a thinner crystal body. It can look a bit like a spear point or a scepter, for which it was named. Scepter quartz crystals were worn by the high priests and priestesses of Atlantis and Lemuria as a symbol of divine authority. Scepters promote confidence and improve psychic attunement and telepathic communication.

Self Healed Crystals are crystals that have broken and then healed themselves in one of two ways. Some self healed crystals are cracked all the way through, maybe even slightly slipped apart, but still firmly cemented together as if glued back in place. Others will show new planes of crystal faces growing on the area where the crystal broke off from its original cluster, giving it a bit of shiny and geometric look. Either way, these crystals are powerful tools for healing, whether for self or others.

A Spirit Guardian Crystal consists of two double terminated crystals attached to each other side by side. They represent the contact we have with our guides and teachers on the spiritual planes. Spirit guardian crystals are useful as energy generators since they are double terminated. One can also use a spirit guardian crystal for channeling purposes.

Tabular or “Tabby” Crystals are crystals that are twice as wide on their widest opposite sides than they are on their other four sides. Tabbies are used to enhance the flow of energy. They are considered to be great stress reducers as they give off a calming and soothing energy. Tabby quartz also balances the emotions and improves communication.

Tantric Twin Crystals are crystals that have separate points but share a common base. Often the place where the crystals meet will look a bit like a fracture all the way up the middle of the body complete with rainbows. Tantric twins remind us of our need for a personal relationship between ourselves and our Source, and they promote integrity in our personal relationships with others. These crystals are often used to attract someone of like mind, whether as a partner or a friend.

A Window Crystal is a crystal that has an extra face, adjacent to two of the larger faces, that is usually small and diamond shaped. It looks a bit like someone nicked off the bottom corner where two faces of the crystal meet each other, hence the diamond shaped window. Sometimes these windows are a bit more elongated or trapezoidal, but they will have four sides. Window crystals are used to enhance telepathy, open windows to past lives and parallel ones. They are helpful in clearing one’s perception and achieving better communication with the Higher Self.

© Joysprite, The Crystal Lady, 2002

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Joysprite - otherwise known as The Crystal Lady - is a Reiki Master, Crystal Healing Facilitator, NLP Practitioner and Mom of three beautiful children. Her own personal crystal path began in West Texas and is continuing in Ocean Beach, California, where she is the owner of Wisdom Crystals.