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At this time of year, we are all looking for the perfect gift for those we love. In my mind, often there is no better option than to gift a well thought out crystal. For centuries, crystals have held a special place in many cultures, and even those who don’t believe in the concept of healing crystals will appreciate them for their unique beauty and still benefit from their energies.

There are many different ways to gift crystals, from choosing larger display pieces to a little bag of your favorite tumbled rocks meant to be carried in a purse or pocket. You can gift from your own personal collection, passing on a stone with special meaning to you, or you can head out and select a brand new crystal from your local store. You can also find the perfect piece of jewelry containing the crystal you would like to gift, which ensures the recipient can wear it with her every day. Whatever your selection method, you will want to cleanse and set intentions for the new crystals using a smudging technique, moonlight, or one of many other crystal rituals. For more on this, stay tuned for the next blog post which will highlight different ways to work with your crystals.

Once you choose your crystal to gift, cleanse it and fill it full of all the energy you want to impart on the recipient, its time to decide how to share all your crystal knowledge. While gifting a crystal is a special, thoughtful process, every recipient will respond differently. I find, especially when gifting to an acquaintance, sometimes less is more. Writing in a card “this made me think of you” is often all you need.

For those who you want to share more with, I suggest letting them know what you would like the crystal to bring into their lives. For example “I wanted you to have this rose quartz, it is a wonderful stone to bring love into your environment”. Even those who don’t buy into the metaphysical aspects of crystals have to admit the power of the mind is well documented. If you let them know the rose quartz is meant to bring love, that is what they will see and feel everytime they look on it. And for the crystal enthusiast who would love to know more about the properties, feel free to share with them your favorite crystal guide or book, mine is The Book of Stones, Who They Are and What They Teach.

Crystals make the perfect gifts for anyone on your list:

• The Hostess of a dinner party
• Your coworker who has been through a tough year
• Teacher gifts
• Your friend who moved into a new house
• A family member who is about to start on a new journey or path.
• The newlyweds who are about to start their life together
• White elephant gift exchanges
• And many more…

With all this talk about gifting a crystal, how do you know the right one to select? Often times, holding the crystal in your hands will be enough for you to know. We are all drawn to stones for inexplicable reasons, similar to how we are drawn to people, for that certain je ne sais quoi. You don’t always have to be locked into the traditional meanings behind crystals, but knowing them can make it a little easier to narrow down your choices. Here are some of my favorite options to gift.

	Amethyst A calming and meditative stone, this is an easily giftable crystal. The ancient Greeks used amethyst to help promote sobriety, both in body and mind. A stone that radiates love and inner peace, it is said that amethyst helps the bearer approach a problem free of emotional attachment or prejudices.
	Quartz An excellent all-purpose crystal, it vibrates at a universal frequency and is said to amplify your body, mind and spiritual energies. It can help illuminate a spiritual path and awaken intuition.
	Apophyllite and Stilbite This combination of minerals is found in India, and it is a beautiful pairing. The stilbite has a gentle energy, harmonizing with the stronger attraction energy of the apophyllite. This combination is a wonderful one to use to cement a long-lasting relationship, bonding individual souls into one.
	Malachite A wonderful stone of protection, malachite makes a great gift. It is said to cleanse and prepare all the chakras, opening the heart and letting in unconditional love. It encourages risk-taking and change, teaching us how to break bonds and take responsibility for our own actions. It can also release past traumas and experiences, enhancing dreams.
	Azurite The stone of inner vision and insight, azurite is a deep rich blue color, rare in the mineral world and so it makes for a beautiful gift. It is said to cleanse and activate the third eye chakra, which can enhance and allow for greater creativity. Often found with malachite, and this combo is even more beautiful together.
	Tourmaline This is one of the most ancient stones of protection, a grounding stone that provides a connection between the earth and the bearer of the crystal. It promotes a sense of power and self-confidence, allowing for a clear perspective on the world around us. It is a beautiful crystal to gift to someone who works in a challenging environment or may be facing difficult decisions or situations.
	Flourite This is my all time favorite hostess gift, it is said to help release negative energy and stress. It encourages positivity and balance and can be useful in cleaning the auras of those around it. It is a wonderful concentration aid, and purple fluorite, in particular, helps to connect the intuition to the rational mind.
	Pyrite Known as fools gold for its super shiny appearance, there is more to pyrite than meets the eye. It is a wonderful stone of protection, allowing the bearer to see through facades and protecting against negative energies. It can be an aid for learning and recalling memories, sharpening the intellect and enhancing creativity.
	Peacock Ore Also known as chalcopyrite, this mineral is an oxidized form of pyrite. Rainbow and glistening in nature, this is a beautiful and unique crystal to gift. It is said to remove energy blocks and open up the crown chakra. Many crystal healers love this stone for meditation purposes because of that. Chalcopyrite is said to help find lost objects, accumulate information for the bearer and enhance perception.
	Rose Quartz There is no easier gift than rose quartz, a stone of gentle love and beauty. This is one of the stones I like to carry and gift in the tumbled form over raw, it lends itself well to the calming properties of the stone. It is a wonderful heart chakra healer, soothing past traumas and opening the heart for peace, positive self-love and self-esteem.
	Labradorite This is a magical, luminous stone that will be a beautiful gift for any person on your list. A member of the feldspar family, each specimen has a unique flash and distinct personality to it. Well respected for strengthening intuition and helping to reveal the truth behind illusions, a pocket variety of this crystal makes for an excellent companion. It is also thought to help banish fear and insecurities, both stimulating the imagination and calming an overactive mind.
	Jasper While this stone doesn’t have the flashy crystal structure of many of the others on this list, it is still a beautiful stone to gift. This mineral is a natural nurturer stone, carrying a natural connection to the earth’s energies. It is a stone of grounding, stability, and strength. The different colors of Jasper are associated with various energies as well, so there is much variety within this category.
	Apatite This is the stone of manifestation, promoting a humanitarian outlook and service to others. It can be used as a dream stone and for creative problem-solving. it can clear away confusion and negative energy.
	Smokey Quartz This will forever be my favorite crystal to pass out into the world. A grounding and stabilizing force, smokey quartz helps to dispel fear and anxiety. It is a wonderful practical stone, but has a beautiful deep brown gradient color, and can be a mesmerizing visual aid in meditation and calming rituals.

What are your favorite crystals to gift? Let me know in the comments below.