Another way to use your crystals is to make crystal essences. For those who use or make flower essences, this will be a very easy adaptation.
Essences are very much what their name implies. The energy of the crystal is infused into the water, such that the completed essence is vibrational in nature. It moves through your body (physical and energetic) in this way and as such, it is very gentle, works subtlety, and yet, can be quite effective.
Making Crystal Essences
The process is quite simple. Choose the crystal that you want to work with, and blow your intention(s) for creating the essence into the crystal. Immerse your crystal in a glass or bowl of fresh water***. Place the container where it will be able to bathe in the sun and/or moonlight for 24 hours or more — this would be beautiful to do over the course of a full moon (the day before, of, and the day after).
When you feel the time is right, remove the crystal and then you can either simply drink the water, that is now infused with the crystal’s essence (all the medicinal/metaphysical energetic properties of the crystal), or use it as a “mother essence” in order to be able to create further combinations with it or to simply be able to use it over a longer period of time. Remember to clean your crystals after removing them.
To make a mother essence, follow the process described above. Once the essence is complete, transfer it to a dark colored glass container (blue or amber – helps protect the essence from light, which helps to preserve it) with a snug fitting lid or cap. Keeping in proportion to the size of the container you are using, add 1/4 to 1/3 amount of brandy or vodka and then fill the rest with your essence. You can also use an 80%-20% ratio — 80% essence & 20% alcohol. The alcohol will keep the essence stable for a number of weeks. Store it in a cool place away from the sun.
In small dropper bottles, add the mother essence on it’s own or combine it with other essences, including flower essences. The alcohol in the mother essences is often enough to keep these small bottles stable, but if in doubt, combine again using the same proportions as mentioned above (1/4 to 1/3 amount alcohol or 80%/20%). For those who are sensitive to or do not wish to use alcohol, you can substitute apple cider vinegar (1/4 to 1/3 of the container) or vegetable glycerin (1/3 to ½ of the container).
It’s best to sterilize your containers before you use them, and between uses too.
How to Use Your Crystal Essences
Take 4 drops under the tongue 3 – 4 times a day. You can also put these drops in a glass of water or juice and sip slowly. Like flower essences, crystal essences are most effective when used over a number of days — up to one month. They may take a couple of days to “kick in”. If so, be patient. They’ll be worth the wait.
Some ideas: You can place a grid of crystals around your bowl while your essence is “cooking”, and you can also place a grid around your mother essence container wherever you store it. You can pour some essence into your bath, or add it to a body cream for topical use (about 10 drops per oz.). Also, some people prefer to use distilled vs. fresh water when making a mother essence and you may wish to do the same, but if so, be sure to always dilute down your essence before you consume it. Finally, crystal essences are lovely to combine with flower essences.
***A word of caution! The same safety must be used here as with cleaning your crystals. There are a number of crystals you CANNOT immerse in water – to do so would be dangerous to your health. Many crystals contain metals (galena and sodalite, for example), contain gases, and some contain sulphur or asbestos. Others grow in sharp “shard” formations that break off very easily and could easily cause a wound in the mouth/would be dangerous if swallowed (selenite, celestite, and kyanite, for example). Robyn A. Harton provides a comprehensive list of these kinds of crystals on her website: http://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/toxic-or-harmful-stones/. Above all, use your common sense.
It’s still possible to make essences with the kinds of crystals mentioned above. If you want to use them, including composite stones that contain these crystals, in an essence, place them in an empty glass by themselves where they will remain dry and away from the water at all times, then place that glass inside another glass or bowl. The outer glass or bowl will have the water in it. Again, make sure that the crystal(s) has no contact with the water, so that you’ll be able to drink the essence water safely once the essence is complete. If ever in doubt about whether you can immerse a crystal in water safely, use this method.
For more information about flower essences, their properties, and how to use and make them, a good book to read is Flower Essence Repertory: A Comprehensive Guide to the Flower Essences researched by Dr. Edward Bach and by the Flower Essence Society, by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz. Another wonderful author is Cynthia Athina Kemp Scherer, founder of Desert Alchemy (http://desert-alchemy.com).
Melody’s book Love is in the Earth: A Kaleidoscope of Crystals, offers more information about crystal essences.
Enjoy working with your crystal essences!
