7 Ways To Use Crystals For The First Time As A Beginner

7 Ways to Use Crystals for the First Time as a Beginner: So you just brought home your first crystal.

Maybe it’s a piece of rose quartz that caught your eye, or someone gave you a chunk of amethyst as a gift.

Now you’re standing there looking at this pretty rock and wondering, “Okay, what do I actually do with this?” You’re not alone. Everyone who starts working with crystals has that same moment of “now what?”

The good news is that you just found me here, and I can tell you that using crystals isn’t complicated. There’s no special training required, no complicated rituals you have to memorize, and you definitely don’t need to be spiritual or have any particular beliefs.

Working with crystals is really just about creating simple practices that help you focus your energy and intentions. Whether you carry them in your pocket, place them around your home, or hold them during quiet moments, these stones can become tools that support whatever you’re working on in your life.

Black Tourmaline healing crystal — Black Tourmaline crystal

Getting Your Crystal Ready

Before you start using your new crystal, you’ll want to give it a fresh start. Think of it this way: your stone has been on a journey before it reached you. It might have passed through lots of different hands, sat in a shop for weeks, or been shipped across the country. All that time, it’s been soaking up various energies from different places and people.

Cleansing your crystal clears away all that old stuff so you’re starting with a clean slate. The simplest way to cleanse most crystals is to hold them under cool running water for about a minute. As the water flows over the stone, imagine any old energy washing away down the drain. You can also leave your crystal outside or on a windowsill overnight during a full moon. The moonlight naturally cleanses and recharges stones.

Some other cleansing options include passing your crystal through smoke from sage or incense, burying it in salt overnight, or placing it on a piece of selenite. Whatever method you choose, set the intention that you’re clearing away any old energy and making the crystal yours.

Understanding Crystal Energy

You might be wondering how a rock is supposed to help you with anything. Here’s the basic idea: everything in the universe, including you and these stones, gives off a certain vibration or frequency. Crystals form with very organized, stable structures at the molecular level, which gives them consistent energy patterns.

When you bring a crystal into your space or keep it close to you, people who work with stones believe its stable vibration can influence your own energy. It’s kind of like how being around a calm person can help you feel calmer, or how upbeat music can lift your mood. The crystal isn’t doing the work for you, but it’s creating an environment that supports what you’re trying to achieve.

You can think of crystals as physical reminders of your intentions too. When you see that piece of citrine on your desk, it reminds you to stay confident and positive. When you touch the amethyst in your pocket, you remember to take a breath and stay calm. Even if you’re not sure about the energy part, that reminder function alone makes crystals valuable tools.

Choosing Your First Crystals

If you’re just starting out, you don’t need a huge collection. In fact, it’s better to start with just one or two stones so you can really get to know them. Here are some beginner-friendly options that work well for most people:

Clear quartz: works with any intention and amplifies whatever you’re focused on
Amethyst: helps with calm, better sleep, and clarity
Rose quartz: supports self-love and compassion
Citrine: brings positive energy and confidence
Black tourmaline: offers protection and grounding

The best way to choose a crystal is to trust your gut. Which one are you drawn to? Which color or shape makes you want to pick it up? That’s usually the right stone for you right now. Your intuition knows what you need better than any guidebook.

7 Simple Ways to Use Crystals for the First Time as a Beginner

Now let’s get into the practical stuff. Here are 7 easy ways to start working with your crystals today. You don’t need to do all of these—just pick one or two that feel right to you.

1. Carry Them in Your Pocket or Bag

This is probably the easiest way to use crystals as a beginner. Just drop your stone into your pocket, purse, or backpack and take it with you throughout the day. Having the crystal physically with you keeps it in your energy field, which means you’re getting its support all day long.

When you’re having a tough moment, you can reach into your pocket and hold your crystal. That simple action helps ground you and reminds you of whatever intention you set with the stone. Maybe you’re carrying rose quartz to remember to be kind to yourself, or black tourmaline to stay protected from negative energy at work.

Try to touch your crystal a few times during the day, even if it’s just for a second. This keeps you connected to it and reinforces your intention. You might touch it before walking into a meeting, when you’re feeling stressed, or anytime you need a little boost.

2. Create a Bedside Setup

Your nightstand is perfect crystal real estate. Placing stones near where you sleep lets them work with you during the night, which is when your subconscious mind is most active. This is especially good for crystals that support rest, dreams, and emotional processing.

Amethyst is a classic bedside crystal because it helps calm racing thoughts and promotes better sleep. Rose quartz next to your bed can help you wake up feeling more at peace. Clear quartz near your pillow might make your dreams more vivid and easier to remember.

You can place your crystal directly on the nightstand, under your pillow, or even under the bed. Some people like to hold their stone for a few minutes before falling asleep while thinking about what they want to work on overnight. In the morning, touch your crystal first thing as a way to start the day with intention.

3. Set an Intention with Your Crystal

Setting an intention is basically telling your crystal what you want its help with. This step makes your crystal work feel more personal and focused. It’s like programming the stone with your specific goal or desire.

Hold your crystal in your hands and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths to get centered. Then think about what you want support with. Maybe it’s “I want to feel more confident at work” or “I need help letting go of stress” or “I’m ready to open my heart to love.” Say this intention out loud or silently in your mind.

As you speak your intention, imagine it flowing from your heart into the crystal. Some people see this as light or energy moving into the stone. Do this for about a minute, really focusing on your desire. From that point forward, your crystal is working with that specific intention. You can set new intentions anytime by repeating this process.

4. Use Them During Meditation

If you already meditate, crystals are a natural addition to your practice. If you’re new to meditation, having a crystal to hold can actually make it easier because it gives your mind something to focus on.

5. Place Them Around Your Home

Strategically placing crystals in different rooms creates pockets of supportive energy throughout your space. This is a great option if you want crystal benefits without having to remember to carry them everywhere.

Put protective stones like black tourmaline near your front door to filter the energy coming into your home. Place clear quartz in your workspace to help with focus and productivity. Keep rose quartz in the bedroom or living room where you want to feel safe and loved. Citrine in the kitchen or dining area can bring abundance and joy to shared meals.

You don’t need one in every room. Start with the spaces where you spend the most time or where you feel like the energy needs support. You can move them around too. If a crystal isn’t working in one spot, try it somewhere else and see how it feels.

The crystals don’t need to be huge or on display either. A small tumbled stone tucked on a bookshelf or windowsill works just as well as a big showy piece. Trust where you feel drawn to place them.

6. Wear Crystal Jewelry

Wearing crystals as necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings keeps them in direct contact with your skin and in your energy field all day. This is one of the most convenient ways to work with stones because you don’t have to think about it once you put the jewelry on.

Necklaces are particularly powerful because they sit close to your heart or throat. A rose quartz pendant rests right over your heart chakra. A blue stone like lapis lazuli near your throat supports communication. Bracelets work well too, especially on your left wrist, which is considered your receiving side.

When choosing crystal jewelry, make sure it’s actually made with real stones and not just glass or plastic that looks pretty. Real crystals have slight imperfections and variations in color. They also feel different—usually cooler or heavier than fake versions.

You can wear the same piece every day or switch based on what you need. Maybe Monday requires citrine for confidence but Friday calls for amethyst to wind down. Pay attention to what you reach for naturally.

7. Make Crystal Water

This method lets you work with crystal energy internally, though you need to be careful about which stones are safe to use. Crystal water, also called gem elixir, is made by placing crystals near water so the water absorbs their energy.

The safest method is to place your crystal next to a glass of water rather than directly in it. Some stones can dissolve, rust, or release toxic minerals into water, so the indirect method keeps you safe. Put your crystal next to a glass of water overnight, then drink the water in the morning.

Clear quartz, rose quartz, and amethyst are generally considered safe for the indirect method. Avoid putting any metallic stones, soft stones, or stones with copper in them near water you’ll drink. When in doubt, just place the stone next to the glass rather than in it.

As you drink your crystal water, set an intention for how you want that energy to work within you. Maybe it’s to stay calm all day or to feel more loving toward yourself. The ritual of making and drinking crystal water can become a nice morning practice.

Cleansing and Charging Your Crystals

Your crystals need regular maintenance to keep working well. Cleansing removes accumulated negative energy, while charging fills them back up with fresh, positive energy. Think of cleansing like emptying the trash and charging like plugging in your phone.

How often you need to cleanse depends on how much you use your crystals. If you carry one every day or use it during challenging times, cleanse it once a week. Stones that just sit on a shelf might only need cleansing once a month. You’ll start to notice when a crystal feels heavy or less effective—that’s a sign it needs cleansing.

To charge your crystals after cleansing, you can leave them in sunlight for a few hours (though some stones like amethyst can fade in direct sun) or moonlight overnight. The full moon is extra powerful for charging. You can also place crystals on a selenite plate, which charges other stones naturally. Some people use sound vibrations from singing bowls or hold their stones and visualize them filling with white light.

Keeping a Crystal Notes

This might sound extra, but writing down your experiences with crystals helps you learn what works for you. You just need a small notebook where you jot down quick observations.

When you get a new crystal, write down the date and what drew you to it. Note what intention you set with it. Then every week or so, write a sentence or two about whether you notice any changes. Are you sleeping better with amethyst on your nightstand? Do you feel more confident wearing citrine? Has your mood shifted since placing rose quartz in your bedroom?

Over time, you’ll start seeing patterns. Maybe you’ll discover that you’re really drawn to grounding stones when work is stressful, or that you naturally reach for uplifting stones during winter. This information helps you understand your own energy patterns and choose the right stones going forward.

What to Expect as a Beginner

Be patient with yourself and your crystals. Some people feel dramatic shifts right away, while others notice subtle changes over weeks or months. Neither experience is better or more valid. Your relationship with crystals will be unique to you.

You might not feel anything at all at first, and that’s okay. Keep working with your stones consistently for at least a few weeks before deciding they’re not for you. Sometimes the benefits are so gradual that you don’t notice them until you look back and realize you’ve been sleeping better or feeling less anxious.

On the flip side, if a crystal makes you feel uncomfortable or off, trust that. Not every stone is right for every person. You can try cleansing it again or simply put it away and work with a different one. There are no rules that say you have to love every crystal you try.

Building Your Practice

Start simple with just one or two of these methods and one or two crystals. As you get comfortable, you can add more stones and try different techniques. Some people eventually create elaborate crystal grids or develop complex rituals, while others prefer to just keep a stone in their pocket forever. Both approaches are valid.

The most important thing is that you’re actually using your crystals, not just collecting them. It’s easy to get excited and buy a bunch of pretty stones that end up sitting in a drawer. Instead, commit to working with one crystal consistently for at least a month. Really get to know it. Then add another one if you want.

Your crystal practice should feel good and fit into your life naturally. If something feels like too much effort or doesn’t resonate with you, skip it. There’s no crystal police checking whether you’re doing it right. The only requirement is that it works for you.

Conclusion

Starting your crystal journey doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. These seven methods give you simple, practical ways to begin working with stones right away.

Whether you carry them in your pocket, place them on your nightstand, set intentions with them, use them in meditation, position them around your home, wear them as jewelry, or make crystal water, you’re creating a personal practice that supports your goals and wellbeing.

Remember that crystals are tools, not magic fixes. They work best when you pair them with other healthy practices and self-care. Think of them as supportive companions on your journey rather than solutions to all your problems.

Choose one or two methods that feel natural to you, pick a crystal or two that you’re drawn to, and give it a try for a few weeks. Pay attention to how you feel and adjust from there. Your crystal practice is yours to create, and there’s no wrong way to do it as long as it feels right to you.