Think of this as your truly multi-faceted Cliffs Notes....

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Crystals are funny creatures -- they show up when you least expect them to.

Which is also to say, they show up when you need them most.

Like the woven rainbow satchel (hello, teen me) I came across recently in a VERY old backpack, still harboring 3 crystal chips -- tiger’s eye, rose quartz, smoky quartz -- that I picked up at a local gem shop.

Now the funny thing is -- I chose those stones simply because of their appearance, never once thinking about what each of them might possess. But as I learned about their purported healing properties this week, I came to a strange realization -- their collective power mirrored issues that I’ve been currently addressing in my own life. Like… I’m feeling overwhelmed, and not sure how to fix that, so the universe said, “well, reacquaint yourself with a few stones that you found over two decades ago.”

Whether coincidence or divine crystalline intervention, I may never know. But my fascination with crystals has undoubtedly been rebirthed. Where do I learn more?

Introducing Yulia Van Doren, author of “Crystals: The Modern Guide To Crystal Healing” who was kind enough to share with me -- and now you -- a few essentials from her book. A crash course in crystals, if you will. And I promise you this: this story has a very happy ending.

What three crystals would you consider “essential” for anyone to have, especially right now?

Try starting with rose quartz, amethyst and clear quartz. I haven't met anyone who couldn't use more love in their life, which is the magic rose quartz holds. Amethyst is a powerful crystal which helps with transformation, and we all have habits and patterns which we need to transcend. And clear quartz is the ultimate energy amplifier, which makes it one of the best crystals for manifestation, and making your dearest dreams come true.

Is there a “right way” to use crystals? Meaning, is it ok to have them sitting in your home vs carrying them vs using them in ceremony?

Very important: when it comes to crystals, always trust the magic of your own intuition, first and foremost. There truly is no “right” or “wrong” way to use crystals, and all teachings on how to use crystals are meant to spark your personal intuition and imagination. So have fun experimenting! Your intuition is your most valuable magic -- always listen to it, and always trust it (and my books clearly explain which crystals are damaged by sun or water exposure, so you know exactly how to protect your collection).

And does something like a rose quartz skin roller offer you healing benefits?

Absolutely. On a physical level, a skin roller can help detoxify through increased circulation. On an energetic level, rose quartz is connected to the energy of love, so every time you use your rose quartz roller your subconscious will be reminded that you have chosen to be surrounded by love, which opens the energetic space for more love to manifest in your life.

How do you charge/cleanse your crystals?

I like to keep things easy, so my new crystals get placed on a windowsill for 24 hours to charge in a full moon and sun cycle. I follow that with my quick Breath + Intention ritual: hold your crystal in your non-writing hand, and imagine a golden light filling your lungs. Exhale that sparkling light onto your crystal, as though you’re blowing out candles on a birthday cake. Repeat several times, until you sense that all energy cobwebs have been blown away. Simple, quick, and very effective. Moonlight is supercharging and safe for all crystals, so regularly lay your crystals overnight in a place where moonlight will touch them, to keep them glowingly happy.

Separately, I read that you were nominated for a Grammy award??! Please share!

Yes, my “other job” is performing around the world as an international opera singer, and my work has been nominated several times for a classical Grammy, which was a total thrill!

Any go-to daily wellness tips?

Because my work is centered on vibrational wellness (as both crystals and music heal through vibration), I’m very passionate about helping people become more aware of the health of their sound environment. We are constantly bombarded by noise, so regularly spending time in quiet is one of the healthiest things you can do for your nervous system. If you live in a noisy place (or you’re quarantined with noisy people right now!), look for quiet moments: take a shower without background music; turn off the radio while driving; don’t always have a podcast playing while you’re doing other things. Spend time just being quiet. Your nervous system will thank you, and your vibrational wellness will be unmistakably upleveled.