Let’s just assume if you’re reading this you’re on-board with the whole crystal thing. Maybe you’ve come to it since the new age trend went unpredictably mainstream or maybe you’ve always had a soft spot for the healing rocks; either way, your first foray can be a bit baffling as there are so many stones that, thanks to different energies and vibrations, all do different things.

So, which healing crystals for… confidence? calm? We spoke to healer Emma Lucy Knowles about where to start — a beginner’s guide, if you will — and which crystals are best for what/when/why…

CONFIDENCE

BEST CRYSTAL? Tiger’s Eye
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Red-brown and golden
WHAT DOES IT DO? ‘The ultimate protector and confidence seeker, Tiger’s Eye allows you to see through your doubts and darkest shadows to the burning point of challenging your fears and redundant doubts. It’s the trusted body guard, allowing you to move through your day calmly and in confidence. It promotes a sharpness to our inner sight, to see and trust things as they really are – whilst strengthening us in times of change.
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT? ‘This is the stone to take into the ‘big meeting’, the ‘terrifying’ first date, or for those days when you’re in need of some grounding in life, in the present, in the situation when you’ve a fear of falling over your own two feet – allow tigers eye to allow you to witness your own strength and to carry that proudly into the day.’

LOVE

BEST CRYSTAL? Rose Quartz
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Pale pink
WHAT DOES IT DO? ‘Rose Quartz is our teacher of unconditional love. Love is an energy we too often seek to find outside of ourselves. By reminding us the greatest love of all starts from within, she will act as your faithful, loyal guide; navigating you through your exploration of this purest of energies — softening old, negative habits and patterns that reduce us and hold us back from our full potential.’
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT? ‘Take Rose Quartz quite literally to heart, and work with her in setting positive affirmations and intentions. Use to remove and dispel the fear that you are perhaps unlovable, because life moved on when your heart was not ready, or for when life is feeling rough and tough and you wish to soften like jelly and feel giddy within.’

DE-STRESS

BEST CRYSTAL? Jet
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Black
WHAT DOES IT DO? ‘Jet projects a protective vibration, by purifying bad energy absorbing negativity and gently soaking up the ‘bad vibes’, letting go of tension and creating a soothing sense of ease.’
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT? ‘Perhaps you’ve a newly found spring in your step, but it’s caused for some tension with your best pal, partner or colleague, when  they should be embracing this change as a positive change. On the surface they really are trying to be happy for you, but you just sense deep down they’re not and it’s projecting on to you. You can use Jet to wrap you up, soak out the toxins and dissolve them from where they came from – so you can continue to grow without holding onto another’s restrictions.’

INNER CALM

BEST CRYSTAL? Aventurine
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Green
WHAT DOES IT DO? A deeply enriching stone, Aventurine should be used to root deep in life’s garden – connecting you down to promote a blissful mental stability. Calming anger and irritation, the precious vibration aligns and balances your central nervous system, much like hitting the reset button  – allowing this stone to take your weight of the world and return you to a peaceful state of mind.’
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT? ‘Someone pushed you on the tube, raced ahead of you to grab the last space on the bus, walked in to you while mindlessly immersed in their phone, nicked your idea at the office and claimed it as their own? Rather than calling out ‘THIS IS UNFAIR’, take Aventurine in your hand and rub it with your thumb; each rub becoming more and more gentle as you temper the storm and dissolve it before broadcasting it out loud’.

AMBITION

BEST CRYSTAL? Rainforest Jasper
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Greeny, with orange and yellow flecks
WHAT DOES IT DO? ‘Peace, happiness, success and a healthy cash flow – how many of these are on your YES, PLEASE list? These four major life goals are often strived after hard and you’re in luck as Rainforest Jasper is a game-changer; a keen promotor and enabler of them all!’
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT? ‘Call on this treasure chest opener to feel invigorated and charged up, ready to get stuck into and aligned with a task at hand, especially when tired or just feeling the slump after a heavy lunch. Want that promotion, want to make the next big move, want to relocate, want to take a risk? Use Rainforest Jasper to open doors for you and have confidence in knowing what’s behind them will be more than worth your while.’

GOOD HEALTH

BEST CRYSTAL? Bloodstone
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Red-green
WHAT DOES IT DO? ‘It’s the perfect partner for your immune system through periods of rest and repair, gently alleviating negativity and raising your energy levels to give you the extra strength to blast through any fatigue. A go-to for realigning and getting back on track.’
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT? ‘The bewilderingly beautiful crystal is one to seek out when the flu or a cold kicks in, or you’re generally under the weather.’

Read more: Still not sold? Read our sceptic’s guide to healing crystals