A Beginner’s Guide to Crystals
How and Where to Start (Without Overthinking It)
If you’re new to crystals, or picking them back up after a long break, welcome. You’re in the right place. And before we go any further, let’s clear something up straight away: there is no such thing as “doing crystals wrong”.
You don’t need an encyclopaedic knowledge of minerals. You don’t need to feel energy straight away. You definitely don’t need fifty stones lined up perfectly to be legit. Crystals are a relationship, not a checklist. You’re allowed to start slow, start simple, and start wherever you are.
This guide is here to help you understand where to begin, which crystals are genuinely useful at the start, and how to choose stones that actually support you, not just look pretty on a shelf.
First Things First: Why Are You Drawn to Crystals?
Before we talk about what to buy, it’s worth asking why you’re here in the first place.
For some people, crystals are about emotional support. For others, they’re tools for grounding, focus, sleep, protection, or spiritual connection. And for many, it’s simply curiosity. All of those reasons are valid.
If you’re a total beginner, you might not feel much at first. That’s normal. Sensitivity develops with time, trust, and experience. If you’re coming back to crystals after a break, you might already know what works for you, but feel unsure where to restart. This guide is written with both of you in mind.
How to Choose Crystals: Intuition Meets Practical Needs
There are two main ways people choose crystals, and the sweet spot is usually somewhere in the middle.
Practical choice
This is choosing a stone based on what you’re dealing with right now. Stress, sleep issues, anxiety, lack of focus, feeling ungrounded, emotional overwhelm. This approach is especially helpful if you’re new or restarting and want tangible support.
Intuitive choice
This is the “I don’t know why, but I need this one” feeling. You’re drawn to a colour, a texture, a piece you keep coming back to. Even if you can’t explain it yet, that pull is often meaningful.
You don’t have to choose one method forever. Many people start practically, then find intuition kicks in naturally over time. If your brain needs logic to feel comfortable at first, that’s completely fine.
The Essentials: A Tiered Approach for Beginners
You don’t need everything. You just need a good foundation.
Tier One: The Non-Negotiables
If you’re starting from scratch, these are solid, reliable, and versatile.
Clear Quartz
Often called the “master healer”, Clear Quartz is a brilliant all-rounder. It amplifies intention, supports clarity, and works beautifully alongside other stones. If you only owned one crystal, this would not be a bad choice.
Amethyst
A calming, protective stone that supports emotional balance, rest, and intuition. It’s especially helpful if your nervous system feels fried or your mind won’t switch off.
Smokey Quartz
Grounding, stabilising, and excellent for stress and emotional overwhelm. This one helps bring you back into your body when life feels loud.
Black Tourmaline or Obsidian
These stones are about protection and energetic boundaries. Great if you’re sensitive to other people’s moods or environments, or just want to feel more anchored.
Tier Two: Gentle Support Stones
Once you’ve got a base, these are lovely additions depending on what you need.
Rose Quartz
Not just about romantic love. This is emotional safety, self-compassion, and softness. Ideal if you’re doing any kind of healing work or feeling tender.
Sodalite or Blue Lace Agate
Both support communication, calming the mind, and speaking honestly. Great for overthinkers and people who hold things in.
Citrine
Confidence, motivation, and a gentle boost of personal power. Especially useful if you’re rebuilding momentum or feeling stuck.
Tier Three: Follow Your Curiosity
This is where you let yourself explore. Colour, texture, rarity, story. If a stone keeps catching your eye, there’s usually a reason. Trust that.
Choosing the Right Shape (Short and Sweet)
When it comes to shape, there’s no hierarchy. Tumbles, raw pieces, clusters, towers, carvings. They all work.
Choose what you like. What feels good in your hand. What fits into your space. What makes you want to pick it up.
Function matters, but personal preference matters more. You’ll use what you love.
How Many Crystals Do You Actually Need?
Here’s the honest answer: fewer than you think.
A small, intentional collection that you connect with will always be more powerful than a huge one you don’t engage with. You don’t need to collect for the sake of collecting. It’s okay to build slowly, to sit with one stone for weeks or months, and to let your needs evolve.
Crystals aren’t Pokémon. You don’t have to catch them all.
Where to Place Your Crystals
Simple is best, especially at the start.
- Bedroom: calming stones like Selenite or Rose Quartz
- Workspace: Clear Quartz, Citrine, Fluorite or Sodalite for focus
- Living areas: grounding stones to keep energy balanced
- Entryway: protective stones to set the tone of your space
You can also keep a stone in your pocket or bag if that feels more natural.
Cleansing and Care (Beginner Friendly)
Crystals don’t need complicated rituals to work.
Some easy options:
- Placing them in sunlight (only for a short time and only whilst supervised) or moonlight
- Using smoke from incense or herbs
- Sound cleansing with a bell or singing bowl
- Simply setting an intention and giving them a moment of attention
Do what feels manageable. Overcomplicating this is one of the quickest ways people give up.
A Final Word (And an Invitation)
Starting with crystals isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about listening, noticing, and allowing yourself to learn as you go.
If you’re drawn to this world, there’s a reason. You don’t need permission, and you don’t need perfection. Just curiosity and a little trust.
At Unearthed, we believe crystals should feel supportive, grounding, and accessible. No pressure. No hierarchy. Just real stones, real knowledge, and a community that gets it.
Welcome back. Or welcome in. Either way, you’re part of the Fam now.
