Qualities like chemical make-up structure, shape, hardness and lustre focus the energies of crystals in certain ways, but colour is the key to how a crystal heals.

We appreciate colour as an adornment, forgetting that it represents a real force – the level of energy in light. This energy stimulates the brain, altering the way we think and feel as well as our physical well-being. Our reaction to colour is instinctive and cannot be controlled. But if we learn the effects of each colour, we will begin to understand why we are drawn to some stones more than others, which will help us to choose the right crystal for every situation.

Many crystals appear in more than one colour. This is because some samples may contain a few extra atoms of an uncharacteristic element that slightly distorts the internal lattice and changes the colour we perceive.

Gem experts discover the true colour of a crystal by a streak test. This involves scraping the crystal across an unglazed ceramic tile to leave a fine dust of particles, revealing the crystal’s underlying colour. The streaks of smoky quartz, violet amethyst, yellow citrine, rose quartz and green aventurine, for example are all grey-white – exactly the same as for clear quartz.

Basic colour qualities

Black – grounding

Brown – enabling

Red –  energizing

Orange – releasing

Yellow – organizing

Green – balancing

Blue – communicating

Indigo (deep blue) – cooling

Violet – integrating

Pink – accepting

White – cleansing

Clear – clarifying