Crystals To Work With During The Cold Season
Listen. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that you need these crystals in order to survive seasonal depression, because you don’t. If you’ve lived thus far without them, congratulations! You’ve already proved your resilience.
To be honest, I get such an itchy, grimy feeling whenever I see mystics or psychics telling people on social media that they absolutely cannot go without crystals, and then proceed to hyperlink their crystal store.
It’s not the idea of business which bothers me, because I think people should be able to pursue their dreams with unabashed freedom and joy. What I have a problem with is shifty marketing.
Telling excited newcomers to the craft that there is a crystal to help with every problem in life, or that the crystal will do the work for the person without explaining the real mechanics of crystal healing, just rubs me the wrong way.
With that said, I think having a crystal collection is pretty cool! Like many of you, I’ve collected rocks since I was a child, and I never really grew out of it. The older I got, the more expensive and elaborate the rocks became!
Not that I’m complaining, however. If I could, I’d have entire rooms dedicated to hosting the crystals on crystal pedestals. All of the things.
Connecting With Crystals
If you live in an area where the seasons change, or if cold weather is a frequent occurrence, chances are you find yourself depressed as winter comes along. This is normal. Seasonal depression is clinically a thing, so no need to beat yourself up if you’re feeling extremely lethargic or unmotivated. I am too.
I’m not someone who holds a crystal and can immediately connect with its energy. A lot of the time, when I’m shopping, I’m just drawn to one and I know that it’s coming home with me, as opposed to all the others. The wand chooses you, and all that.
It bothers the hell out of me, because all of my friends can pick up a crystal and immediately have a sensory reaction to it. I remain beyond jealous, but, alas!
I’m also very attracted to dark crystals. My friends are not. Even if I’m purchasing a crystal that features gradients of color, I always pick the stone which is the darkest in hue. I find dark stones extremely comforting, but I also feel like I can “trust” the stone with energy I wish to get rid of.
In my craft, I’m most comfortable working with darkness, or with harnessing my own darkness to transmute it. The gods and goddesses I’ve connected with are all “dark” entities such as Hecate, Hades, Lilith, Anubis, and Rhiannon. They consistently appear in my dreams, which is where I seem to do most of my “work.” Clearly, working with the light is something I need to practice.
So, it makes sense I have trouble with most crystals if they’re not heavy and dark. Tons of creators right now are writing about the crystals they think are best for alleviating seasonal anxiety and depression, and I agree with the majority of the posts!
But, I also have my own take on things. Again, I’m not telling you to spend money on these crystals or that you need them to “feel better.” If anything, this is purely informational.
You know what you need more than anyone else out there! Trust your intuition when reading content on the Internet.
Without further ado, here are the crystals I’m currently finding most helpful for me, as we all transition from fall to winter.
Black Tourmaline
I mean… yeah.
If you know anything about crystals, you’ll have seen this coming. This is not my favorite stone at the moment, but I do think it’s a good helper.
Just by looking at black tourmaline, you can tell it’s protective. Black tourmaline connects to the root of a person and is good for anchoring them when they feel adrift.
It’s hardy to the touch and really aesthetic. I have a large chunk of it, and the tourmaline is flecked with mica so it has a really nice contrast on the stone’s surface.
While meditating, the color of black tourmaline makes me feel like I’m part of it. I like how solid it is and how the striations make the surface’s pattern unique. It is extremely flaky though, so be careful when handling it. I’ve made so many messes with my tourmaline.
Small pieces work really well in crystal grids, transforming them into impregnable barriers of energy, so there’s that too.
Overall, it’s just a good, classic, protective crystal. Nearly everyone talks about it because of its prevalence in white or defense magic, or just when a person is trying to ward off energies they wish to oppose.
It’s really easy to find pieces which are tiny enough to fit in pockets, bras, purses, or backpacks. Basically, because of its popularity, it’s just super accessible.
Kambaba Jasper
Prior to this summer, I’d only heard about kambaba jasper. I didn’t find it in local crystal stores. During a vacation however, I unexpectedly found a lot of it.
Kambaba Jasper wasn’t necessarily on my list to buy, as I was still totally unfamiliar with it. While shuffling through the store, I came across this massive, polished kambaba jasper heart.
The heart is dense as heck, and it must weigh around four pounds or so. I immediately knew I was going to get it, and when I got back to the place my family and I were staying, it didn’t leave my hands for the rest of the trip. I even slept with it.
Kamaba Jasper is essentially fossilized algae. The stone itself is not actually made of jasper, but rather quartz, feldspar, and other similar minerals.
Furthermore, you’ll find that some of the “jasper” which is sold in stores aren’t true jasper. Stones like bumblebee jasper for instance, aren’t true jasper either. I don’t know who’s in charge of naming these stones, but whatever.
The kambaba jasper heart I bought is larger than the palm of my hand, and is very dark apart from the green swirls and strands of the algae. I usually use it every day. When I’m lying down or resting, I put the heart on the top of my stomach and just leave it there until I get up.
If I’m anxious and have chest pain though, I’ll put the giant heart on my chest. The heavy pressure of the heart can sometimes ease the aches which come from being in distress or worried.
Something about the deep, dark color of the crystal just makes me feel like the jasper can “take it,” or that it’s safe to pour my feelings into. Yes, I do have trust issues. Thank you for asking.
Kambaba Jasper resonates with the heart space (because of the green colored algae) and also the root chakra. The algae in this stone is incredibly primordial and old, dating back to billions of years ago. Therefore it’s associated with Mother Earth and Gaia, because it comes from the true depths of physical creation.
I don’t know when I decided that I could entrust this stone with the brunt of my emotional pain, but now that I have, I always keep it around me. I don’t have a smaller piece of it which I carry on my person though, and I’m still debating if I want to.
Eh. As I’m typing this, I know I’ll probably end up getting a palmstone or something. Jesus Christ.
Black Moonstone
Awhile back, I was told by my cousin (who performs reiki on me) to get a piece of black moonstone whenever I could. When looking up pictures on the Internet, I didn’t feel an immediate connection to it. I already have a lot of rainbow moonstone (or white moonstone), so I brushed it off.
Two weeks ago, I went to my favorite local crystal shop. The shop had a bowl of black moonstone palmstones, and I saw the one I’d take home with me that afternoon. I didn’t even bother touching any of the other black moonstones. I picked up the one I knew was for me, and I bought it!
What I didn’t expect was my intense physical reaction to it. Black moonstone correlates to the sacral and root chakras, and one night while watching TV, I put the moonstone on my bare stomach, right on top of the sacral chakra.
I instantly felt an icy burn radiate from the black moonstone into my skin. It wasn’t painful at all, and the sensation was more akin to running your hands under warm water after being outside in the cold for a few minutes.
Since I normally don’t have a physical reaction to crystals (but a more intuitive reaction), I was shocked, and pleasantly gratified. After this occurrence, I felt more intimately connected to my new palmstone, and gently entrusted it with the stress I no longer wanted to carry for that day.
Black moonstone has an incredible sheen to it. When you tilt it a certain direction, silver tendrils seem to snake up and down just beneath the surface, and it’s mesmerizing.
I haven’t seen this commonly talked about, but rainbow moonstone, which has the same effect, is actually a type of labradorite. Regardless, I love to play with my black moonstone and to turn it this way and that, just to see the rippling silver come to life.
Bumblebee Jasper
This is also a recent addition to my collection, as I bought it on the same day as the black moonstone. As stated above, bumblebee jasper isn’t true jasper, but it’s named so due to the bright yellow, gray, and black hues it’s so widely known for.
Bumblebee jasper is mostly associated with the solar plexus chakra because of its yellow color. It’s used to stimulate creativity and joy, two things I’m always looking to supplement both in my professional and personal life.
At first glance, similarly to kambaba jasper, I wasn’t convinced that I liked it at all. I did a quick search of products on Etsy, and over time, the colors just grew on me. I loved how the swirls of yellow mix in with darker shades, and how it really looked as if it was bursting with life.
I was surprised to see that my local store had it in stock, because it doesn’t have that many sources in the world and I don’t see it available at every place I frequent.
After speaking to the owner of the store, I was told that they’d just gotten a few pieces of it. One look at the only small palmstone was all I needed. I got it without a second thought.
I use this stone almost every day as well. I don’t necessarily meditate with it, but I keep it directly next to me wherever I am in the house, and I hold it a lot just for fun or if I’m doing something mindless.
I’m still fascinated by its colors and patterns. Since I normally don’t gravitate towards yellow crystals, this palmstone stands out a lot in my collection.
While I prefer black stones to meditate with, I think this stone is really good for inspiring good feelings or vibes during the cold season.
Allowing a crystal to hold what doesn’t serve you anymore is great, but there’s just something about looking over and being greeted with overt, cheerful colors which feels new and fresh each time.
Blue Kyanite
My first experience with blue kyanite was in a necklace one of my best friends gave to me for my birthday last year. When I researched the stone, I saw that it resonates with the crown and third eye chakra, but also the throat chakra due to the blueness.
It made me laugh because I’m not always a great communicator, so as I wore it I was surprised to see how much more I was talking about my feelings. I’m not saying that wearing the necklace made me more emotionally available, because I don’t think that’s how crystals work.
Seeing the necklace everyday however, and actively trying to work with the energy of the blue kyanite is what I believe gave me results.
I see blades of blue kyanite everywhere, but I never see large chunks of it, until a few months ago. Once again, I was being an absolute menace and perusing an out-of-town crystal store when I stumbled across this massive blade of blue kyanite.
Like the kambaba jasper, it must also weigh about four pounds. I didn’t deliberate in the store for very long before purchasing it, mostly because I’d never seen a piece of it that size. That particular store-owner said it was a recent addition to their stock (as was the bumblebee jasper), and whabam.
This stone doesn’t necessarily spark joy or deep feelings of trust, but having it on my desk at home and gazing at it just makes me feel like I can breathe. The blue is so calm, a periwinkle sky instead of a fathomless ocean, and the white quartz along its striations makes it look like something out of a fairytale.
If you’re someone who self-isolates like me, keeping blue kyanite close and working with its gentle energy may be helpful when trying to communicate with loved ones, or if you simply want to catch your breath.
Final Note:
This is by no means an exhaustive list. I’m currently keeping close to many of my other crystals, such as: labradorite, green calcite, amethyst, rose quartz, carnelian, and amazonite.
I believe any crystal ever would be super helpful when trying to merge or connect with energies to lift you out of any mental fog. Or, conversely, there are a million other things which are helpful besides crystals, because not everyone has access to the multitudes of stones which are advertised up and down the Internet.
You do not need crystals to survive. Let me reiterate that. Everyone’s situation is different, and I try to collect the stones I buy with gratitude. Additionally, not everyone desires a whole collection of stones. Any talisman or trinket in my opinion is worth working with if you feel that it can help.
Take good care of yourself as we descend into the underworld, just as Persephone has journeyed into the Dark to greet her husband. Spring and summer are always going to come around again.
Originally published at https://bitchfaced.com on November 18, 2021.
