What Do Crystals Have to Do With Chakras and Reiki?

You don’t need crystals to practice Reiki.

And you definitely don’t need a bracelet containing seven perfectly coordinated chakra stones before you start to work with energy.

Because Reiki, chakras and crystals get bundled together so often that it can start to sound like they’re all required before you begin to practice.

They’re not.

They all work beautifully together, and you can absolutely work with them all together daily.

Remember that Reiki can be practiced without any crystals or chakra work.

Reiki is the energy practice.

The chakras give us places to notice and explore.

Crystals give us something tangible to connect with that intention.

So where do crystals come into chakra work?

If you’ve looked at chakra charts, you’ve probably noticed that colour shows up everywhere.

• Root is represented by red.

• Sacral by orange.

• Solar Plexus by yellow.

• Heart by green and/or pink.

• Throat by blue.

• Third Eye by indigo.

• Crown by violet or white.

From there, it’s pretty easy to see how crystals entered the conversation.

• Red jasper gets connected with Root.

• Carnelian with Sacral.

• Citrine with Solar Plexus.

• Rose quartz or green aventurine with Heart.

• Blue lace agate with Throat.

• Sodalite with Third Eye.

• Clear Quartz with the Crown.

Here’s where I’d like to remind you of something very important. You have choices.

There isn’t one crystal police-approved list

Different teachers, books and traditions connect different stones with different chakras.

Let’s be totally okay with that.

Colour is one way to choose. The traditional properties associated with a stone are another. And your own experience with it matters too.

Maybe you look at the Heart Chakra and immediately think rose quartz. Someone else reaches for green aventurine. Someone else chooses rhodonite. Every one of those choices is right.

You have choices. You don’t have to memorize everything.

Instead, consider asking questions like:

• What are your reasons for choosing that stone?

• What does it represent to you?

• What quality are you wanting to bring your attention toward?

• What are you noticing?

Wouldn’t you agree that questions and exploration are far more useful than memorizing somebody else’s chart?

What happens when you add crystals to Reiki?

Reiki doesn’t suddenly become more Reiki because you put crystals on the table.

Reiki is Reiki.

The crystals become another layer of intention and awareness within the Reiki experience.

For example, I may choose to place a stone associated with a particular chakra near someone during a session because there was something the person wanted to explore during the session.

It doesn’t mean the crystal has been assigned an emergency repair job. It means we’re bringing some attention to that area.

It doesn’t have to become more complicated than that.

Does the crystal have to sit directly on the chakra?

Nope.

You can place crystals on her body if she’s comfortable with that. They can also sit beside her body. Under the Reiki table. Around the room. In her hand.

If you’re practicing Reiki on yourself, maybe holding a stone feels good to you. Maybe wearing one works better because you’ll actually remember it’s there throughout the day.

Some tuck crystals in their bra in the morning, and have a good laugh at night when they undress and crystals go flying. Another great reminder to reflect, observe and notice.

How do you choose a crystal?

Not long ago, a friend and I went to Earth Gems here in Calgary. If you haven’t been, you may feel like I was on my first trip there. I walked into the store and suddenly there are 9867 stones, 117 geodes, cards, jewelry and more, and I wanted to buy everything and bring it all home. I didn’t. Thank goodness for self-restraint.

I’ll invite you to start with what you’re exploring at the time. If you’re wanting more grounding, begin there.

If confidence keeps coming up, explore that.

If you’re working with communication, look at stones commonly associated with the Throat Chakra.

Learn about a few choices. Pay attention to what you’re drawn toward.

Then make a choice. Choose a crystal because you love it. Choose a crystal because it will remind you of what you are choosing to work on.

What does a crystal actually do?

Crystals have been used in spiritual, cultural and personal practices for a very long time. Crystals come from the earth and hold energetic qualities.  

I work with them as energetic tools and physical anchors.

And this is why I like chakra bracelets. I love making them, and I love wearing them.

I find it connects me back to whatever I’m working on. If I feel disconnected, I’ll reach for a Rose Quartz bracelet. If I feel I need grounding, I’ll reach for a black obsidian bracelet. And when I’m not sure, I’ll reach for a bracelet with crystals for all of the chakras as a reminder to trust, allow and notice what’s happening around me.

Do you need crystals for chakra work?

Nope.

Do you need chakra stones for Reiki?

Nope.

Can they work together?

Absolutely.

And that’s how I invite you to think about them. Tools in your energetic toolbox.

Reiki gives you a practice.

The chakras give you a framework to explore.

Crystals can give you a physical anchor for that exploration.

Start where you are.