Whether you’re looking to amp up your self-love, heal from the heartbreak of past love, or amplify your radiant heart energy to call in new love, we have some suggestions on the best crystals for heart chakra healing to help you along your way.
What are chakras?
According to the ancient Tantric tradition of Hinduism, chakras are considered energetic focal points in the body that are loosely mapped along the spinal column. Many traditions have incorporated chakra theory and practices, which often involve awakening, balancing, or learning to control energies through a combination of breath, movement, or meditation.
In the Hindu tradition, there are seven major chakras, or energetic focal points, that begin at the tailbone and end at the crown of the head. Each is said to hold particular properties or to govern certain energetic states in the body, mind, and spirit. And learning to work with them is thought to be helpful in optimizing states of wellness.
What is the heart chakra?
Location: Heart area
Associated color vibration: green
Symbol: 12-petalled lotus flower
Sound vibration: F
Complimentary yoga poses: camel pose, cobra pose, bridge pose
One of these main focal points is the heart chakra, or anahata chakra. It is described as a concentrated coil of energy located around the center of the chest, which governs our feelings and experiences relating to the heart, such as love, compassion, trust, empathy, and the capacity for forgiveness. It is also thought to have dominion over physiological conditions affiliated with the heart, lungs, chest, and arms, as well as the body’s overall circulation.
When the heart chakra is open and balanced and prana, the life force energy, flows unobstructed:
—We are able to give and receive love in healthy ways.
—We have a strong sense of self-love.
—We are open to friends, close family, and other loving relationships.
—We can move through past pain, grudges, or hurt, and are forgiving and compassionate.
Sign of heart chakra blockage
Blockages in this chakra often result from heartbreaks or other difficult or traumatic situations. We may find ourselves self-isolating or closed off from others and can often feel judgmental, resentful, or emotionally cold. Over time, this blockage can become more like a brick wall.
And while it may seem to offer protection, the obstruction also limits our access to joy, connection, and happiness. An open and balanced heart chakra is not all-trusting and naive, yet it is soft enough to allow for love, in all of its forms, to come in and radiate out.
Best Crystals for Heart Chakra
One way to tune into and create healing around the heart chakra is byusing crystals. Crystals have long been used forhealing, and according to crystal therapy practitioners, each has its own unique structural vibration, which can fall in sync with and balance out our energy.
There are a few different approaches to using crystals for opening or balancing heart chakra energy:
—Some healers suggest using green crystals, as the color vibration matches that of the heart chakra
—Others steer more toward the individual strengths of crystals and minerals, which fall under a wider variety of colors and structures.
Whether you’re looking to amp up your self-love, heal from the heartbreak of past love, or amplify your radiant heart energy to call in new love, we have some suggestions on the best crystals to help you along your way. As always, we recommend that you cleanse your crystals before using them, set an intention, and connect your energies with your stones before asking them to work for you.
1. Green Jade
Not only is green jade considered a lucky stone to use in feng shui, as it is said to strengthen life force energy, but it is often used to balance energy. The lighter green jade is said to be more yin, which is a gentler, more relaxing energy that can be good for TLC.
The darker green is thought to be more yang, which is energizing and can help with taking risks, finding confidence, and taking action. Jade is used to encourage purity of the heart, strengthen bonds (family, friends, partners), and tune into the wisdom of your heart.
2. Rhodochrosite
A deeply comforting pink stone, rhodochrosite is used for deepening self-love, healing emotional wounds, overcoming past hurts, and opening the heart after deep blockages. It is also a soothing stone to use when you are dealing with difficult emotional conflicts.
3. Rhodonite
This pinkish purple (often mottled or veined with black) crystal is a strong choice for finding emotional balance and peace, regulating emotional energy, helping us to act with compassion, and finding the love to overcome stubborn relational issues.
It is thought to aid healing through attachment issues and may also help us to feel more connected with others and live with more kindness and grace.
4. Rose Quartz
Known as the frontrunner of all heart chakra stones, soft pink rose quartz helps the heart gently heal and encourages love, compassion, and forgiveness. It also resonates and amplifies heart energy, preparing us for welcoming in new love.
Good for unblocking, healing, balancing, and amplifying, the inward self-healing properties of this crystal can often open the door to new or renewed love because you’ve done the work needed to make room for something to come in.
5. Green Aventurine
This translucent green crystal helps us overcome unhealthy relational patterns, and it’s thought to increase romantic luck. Green aventurine is also used in crystal therapy to reduce emotional stress, negative thought patterns, and rumination. If you get caught up in your head in matters of the heart, this is your stone.
6. Malachite
This vibrant stone encourages us to take risks and gives us the confidence to open up to love and try new things. Long used by healers for protection and guidance during their travels, this crystal can help us find the courage to follow our hearts’ unique paths—with some added protection and guidance.
How to use crystals for the heart chakra
Once you’ve selected the crystals you feel most called to work with, there are many different ways you can incorporate them into your day.
Wear them
I like to wear mine on a necklace that holds the stone at the heart level when I am doing heart chakra healing work. In particular, I love using mycrocheted rope necklace, which has a small net that allows me to tuck in different crystals depending on how I’m feeling that day. You can also find many of the more commonly used crystals as pendants, ready to hang on your favorite chain.
If jewelry is not your thing but you have a chest pocket in your shirt, slip your crystal in there to keep it close to the chest. Another fabulous tip I learned from a Reiki teacher is to simply tuck your crystal into your bra for the day! No one has to know it’s there but you.
Meditate with them
In meditation, your can focus on the color green, which is the color vibration of the heart, or on visualizing the symbol of a 12-petalled lotus.
For healing meditations, you may enjoy working with round palm stones that feel comfortable to hold as you sit for your session. They also work well when placed upon your heart center while you lay for a reclined savasana (why not also listen to crystal bowls resonating in the key of F while you’re there?)
Use with essential oils
We also love using essential oils that support the chakras, especially those that make the heart chakra sing, such as jasmine, rose, or neroli. Diffuse heart-happy chakra blends while you meditate with crystals or keep them on your bedside table.
Yoga
You can focus your yoga practice on the area of the body you want to open or balance. In this case, heart openers can help to expand the front of the body, increase energy circulation in the chest, and help us to feel vibrant.
Sound healing
Some people enjoy sound healing, and they chant or attend sound baths or use crystal bowls tuned to the vibration that resonates at the same frequency as the chakra.
Whether you’re looking for a love connection, heart healing, or relational support, try working with crystals to bring more peace, love, and understanding into this realm of your life.