crystals
Smoky Quartz // Guide to the Underworld
The days are darkening.
As potent transformational energy releases into the air this shadow season, powerful magic should manifest with ease. This energy is incredibly malleable, and the veil between the worlds – the seen and unseen – is at its thinnest. The energies are aligned: we shouldn’t have to work so hard to create the things we desire at this time. They should magnetize to us effortlessly. It should take nothing more than the thought, “I want” for our hearts’ deepest longings to show up in our lives.
But we are painfully and blissfully human.
So of course we have our complications.
We are plagued with limiting beliefs and uncertainty. We worry whether things will work out, if our wishes, hopes, and dreams are being heard. We worry whether our healing is working – if the medicine is taking.
It is in these moments that we come to Smoky Quartz. We decide it is time to journey into the depths of our selves: the complicated workings of our psyches, the truths of uncomfortable emotions, and the mysteries of our shadows – little creatures in our minds that are in no way evil, but have a habit of blocking our paths to a thriving existence. We long for clarity and it is the kind of clarity that only this dark crystal can reveal. We may feel hesitant at first, or even nervous, unsure of what we might see when we peer within, but we hold the stone to our hearts:
It whispers the calming magic of loyalty and reassurance to our souls. It
promises protection through and through.
We receive this and know that no matter where this journey takes us, Smoky Quartz will remain by our sides, serving as our guide to the underworld from the moment we enter to the time we leave with arms full of treasures found in the shadowy depths.
A Window to the Soul
Smoky Quartz is a variation of quartz that has been altered by natural underground radiation, resulting in its otherworldly smokey appearance and a unique connection to the earth. Its color ranges from an ever so slightly shaded clear quartz to a dusty brown desert horizon to a dark earthy black, reminiscent of the darkness within the earth’s caves. This crystal is best known for its protective, grounding, and calming qualities, qualities that together serve as a crucial foundation for the deeply transformative work it inspires and aids.
This stone holds the cool energy of descent into the underworld, offering the constant reassurance that as we journey, we are undoubtedly safe. It is as if Hades himself emanates from its shadowed surface, extending a steady hand, ready to guide us into the depths of his realm as soon as we are ready to trust him and embark.
When we invite Smoky Quartz into our healing work, it immediately begins to share its power of calm with us. This is a powerful and sedative calm that washes over the entire body, permeating through to every worry in the mind, every fear, every area of stress and tension, melting them all away with its thorough cleansing.
This crystal is truly a window to the soul, and it is through its calming effects that it is able to claim this title. As the shadowy stone soothes us to our core, we release fear. More importantly, we release judgement.
In the absence of judgement, we are able to be fully present with ourselves. We see every aspect of who we are with no resistance or shame clouding our view. We hold acceptance for all of our darkness and appreciation for all of our light. We know that we are all of both; we are everything that exists within us. Nothing is irrelevant, and at the same time, nothing is so overwhelming that we cannot sit with it.
In this relaxed and regulated state, it is euphoric to be a witness to and for ourselves – to be an observer, simply noticing ourselves. Seeing what’s here within us – what needs to be embodied, what needs to be released, and what needs to be loved into integration.
As we sink fully into this state, Smoky Quartz is proud and elated that we can finally see ourselves the way it (and the universe!) sees us: pure soul. Through this embodied cosmic presence the stone of the shadows teaches us, we can begin the processes of shadow work from a place of light and ease.
Purification & Transmutation
As we move through the gritty processes of shadow work, we almost always discover unwanted energy within us – old coping mechanisms that aren’t necessary anymore, habits and behaviors we have outgrown and are no longer proud to exhibit, and frustrating patterns that are still playing out, born from wounds that have long since healed.
Whenever we notice these unwanted energies, we open ourselves to two powerful abilities that swim within the shimmering shadows of Smoky Quartz: purification and transmutation.
The crystal reaches deep into our energetic and emotional bodies, collecting sticky, stagnant energy that does not serve who we want to be. As we invite it to aid us in the process of releasing and changing those energies, it obliges us, moving to bring the unwanted into the light.
Smoky Quartz is an expert at purification, pulling the unwanted up to the surface and blasting it with light until it is reduced to ash and vanishes with the breath. It may also wash the unwanted away, break it up into nothingness, or set it
ablaze in a cleansing inferno. Its methods vary greatly, as this stone is connected to the elements of earth and air just as much as it summons fire and water. This crystal is ancient and flexible, and enjoys playing with energies in many different ways, like an immortal with all the time in the world to create and destroy.
The transmutation powers of this dark crystal may be even more impressive. This stone has the ability to pull energy into itself, work it like clay, changing it, alchemizing it into a totally different energy, making it a valuable ally for healing, glamour, and even baneful work. One can call on Smoky Quartz to pull fearful energy from an area in the body and transform it into well being. One could also ask for the crystal to absorb threatening energy, transforming it into fierce protection for its holder. It could even be intended that the stone pull joy and confidence from someone whom, for whatever reason, the user believes does not deserve those feelings, and transmute them into energies that would benefit the user instead.
Smoky Quartz is a loyal stone. It is here to guide and offer assistance; it is not here to judge our intentions.
Smoky Quartz is often described as a transmuter of negative energy specifically, absorbing the negative and transforming it into positive energy. While it is true that this stone is an alchemist, it is always urging us to look at the bigger picture, and reminds us that positive and negative are deeply subjective concepts – what is considered negative energy to one person could be a source of powerful radiance for someone else, and these views are completely true and valid for both of them.
Note that this crystal does not work in absolutes:
It is an intimate healer, and its power grows with the strength of the bond it has with its user. It is a brilliantly creative crystal that fuels from practice and cultivates unique methods of energy work for each and every person that uses it.
Because of its personal nature, it is best to let the stone lead the way. Hold the desire to be purified, or the intention to transmute one energy into another, then sit back and sink in as Smoky Quartz takes creative liberty with the way it will achieve these purposes for you.
The Shedding of the Snake
The influence of Scorpio energy is alive and wild in Smoky Quartz. The stone
of the shadows represents all of the decadent darkness held in the 8th house of astrology: sex, death, shadow work, taboos, magic, and transformation.
We can look at shadow work as the process of a snake shedding its skin. We notice ourselves, peel back the layers, look deep within, realize unwanted aspects, and purify and transmute them with the help of Smoky Quartz, emerging changed. Each time we do this, we summon change in profound ways, and if we do it often, we are guaranteed to find ourselves in an endless state of transformation.
As we work through our shadows, shedding our skin again and again, we often become nostalgic for simpler times when we did not know so much. We crave the innocence we held long ago. Smoky Quartz hold us tight through these raw feelings, having empathy for the complexities of humanity, and supports us with emotional nurturing while, still a stickler for the bigger picture, reminding us that we cannot shed and become less.
Smoky Quartz’s most bittersweet message is this:
You cannot go back to a version of yourself that has experienced less. Each time you shed, you become more. The wholeness that you are in this
moment would never fit in that old body. So let it go. Be who you are now: stronger than ever and full of grace and love for all aspects of yourself. This you is the best version yet.
If the darkness feels too heavy this shadow season, turn to Smoky Quartz as a precious friend. Allow yourself to take solace in its cool smokey shade, and know that you are protected when you align your intentions with this crystal from the depths of the earth. Remember that no place within you is too dark for energy to reach; no place is too hidden.
Smoky Quartz finds a way every time. And with its calming alchemy on your side, there is nothing you cannot heal – Nothing you cannot be.
© 2025 Courtney Covey. This content may not be reproduced without permission.
Malachite // Alchemist of the Soul
In the darkest moments of our lives, we all call out for universal assistance. Maybe we are dealing with an injury, hurting tremendously and begging our bodies for relief. Maybe we are sick, praying for the illness to pass so we can finally get on with our lives. Maybe we are in a pit of unimaginable grief, feeling alone and wondering if anyone else has ever felt this same pain. Maybe it’s chaos descending around us quickly like thick black clouds, and we don’t believe in a religion or a deity, but we must believe in something, because we find ourselves silently, desperately urging to find a way out to the light again.
We don’t always realize what we are asking for. But we are asking.
The answer comes when everything falls away for a moment. Pain hits its peak, sleep takes us, or emotions complete their movement and suddenly disappear, leaving little trace. From these moments when the momentum stops, a light appears: hope.
Welcome to the soul-renewing world of Malachite, the stone of transformation, home to some of the deepest energetic cleansing and richest metamorphosis that can be experienced. This vibrant and powerful stone plunges us deep into the earth and the core of our beings, fiercely rooting us in unwavering protection so that we can grow, expand, and live to our greatest potential. When we are truly grounded and trusting in life, there is nothing we cannot overcome. Nothing we cannot heal.
There is no depth within us that the transformative medicine of Malachite cannot reach.
Rooting Deep & Purging Poisons —
Malachite correlates to the root and heart chakras, acting as a powerful grounding stone and healer for the heart. It is known for its swirling patterns of vibrant greens stretched over velvety textures and smooth bubbling or harshly jagged formations. Every piece of Malachite differs wildly from the last, each specimen presenting one of a kind patterns and structures; one who loves this crystal may find they can never have enough of it because of the physical and energetic uniqueness of each stone.
Its energy feels like the cool depths of the earth’s caves where the air is clean, the darkness feels like home, and the silence carries the essence of ancient elemental power.
Working with Malachite brings a sense of grounding deeper than what we’re used to; this stone does not bring surface-level calm. Its energy thrusts into our beings and grabs us by our core, holding us in deeper connection to the earth with its incredible emotional gravity. It shows us that if we are firmly rooted in the earth, our home, we can find a lifelong companion in her that never lets us go hungry. The earth promises protection no matter where we are or what we are doing; our energetic roots run deep into its core and our connection to this nourishing planet can never be completely broken.
Malachite offers a new way of looking at Gaia: the most reliable lover one could come to know.
As we embrace this unbreakable bond with the earth, we open to the detoxifying qualities of Malachite. When we are grounded, we are safe, and when we are safe, we can endure change without feeling threat to our nervous systems. Malachite is a deep cleanser and a master of purging energies, permeating deep into our bodies to pull out anything that does not belong to us or is no longer welcome. This stone can be used to dive into the unconscious, getting to the root of emotional battles, unhealthy patterns, negative beliefs, and addictions, breaking down the walls we put up around ourselves and fiercely fighting by our sides so that we can emerge victorious in our lives again and again.
Breaking Open & Filling with Gold —
Malachite carries the heart-wrenching energy of the Three of Swords tarot card. This card represents the concept of the wound as the place where the light enters; pain and heartache can act as portals for immense healing, growth, and transformation. This energy is crucial for the way the crystal assists in shadow work, the process of unearthing patterns ingrained in our subconscious minds and bringing them to light so that we may be deliberate creators of our lives rather than live on autopilot, ruled by past traumas and hurts.
Malachite teaches us the unmatched power of emotional alchemy — pain can turn to pleasure, numbness to glorious sensuality, neglect to unwavering independence, and trauma to a sense of autonomy that fosters incredible strength, showing us that we are the masters of our own bodies, emotions, and lives.
The processes of shadow work are often grueling and painful, but they are necessary if we want to reach our total potential. Malachite holds us through them and reminds us that if we are to heal, we must have grace and patience for ourselves.
There is a Japanese art form called Kintsugi in which broken pottery is repaired and given new life by filling the cracks with gold. This beautiful practice represents the idea that we should not pretend we have never been broken or hurt; our pain is a part of who we are and makes up our history both collectively and individually. Rather than being defined by what we have been through and identifying with it, we can use the lessons we have learned to enhance our existence. We can become merciful, graceful, soft, confident, independent, empowered, beautiful, loving, and anything else we dream of being — not in spite of what happened, but because of it. Malachite teaches us there is power in this; there is power in being changed. This is the alchemy it knows and is ready to share with us as soon as we are ready to open and learn.
A Gentle Guide to the New Self —
Malachite is often suggested as a gentler substitution for Moldavite, an incredibly potent stone of transformation known for turning lives upside down in the process of great spiritual and emotional shifts. Where Moldavite’s otherworldly wisdom would shove us off a cliff with no warning, knowing the transformation waiting for us at the bottom is what we truly want and ultimately need, Malachite takes a more nurturing approach.
It is merciful, and understands what it feels like to be human; it knows the difficulty we have in trusting what we cannot see.
Malachite has empathy for us. It holds our hands, guiding us down the path every step of the way, staying by our sides while revealing hidden divinity in our lives, shedding light on past lessons, present struggles, and future unfoldings. We cannot get off our path – we will always end up where we are meant to be no matter what – but we can ease the journey by consciously choosing tools that act as supportive allies along the way.
Malachite is a reliable anchor and lifeline during periods of intense transformation. It offers itself as a holding point, gifting us strength and courage as we move through these overwhelming times.
It is always reminding us that we will make it through, we will emerge stronger, and we will thrive once we are on the other side.
The gifts of Malachite may seem intense, but in reality it is life that is intense, and perhaps it is both a blessing and a curse that there is no getting away from it. Crystals are helpers, aiding us in moving through and alchemizing the energies already at play in our lives; remember that while crystals are deeply powerful tools of frequency and spirituality, they do not hold the power to make things go wrong for you, nor would they if ever given the chance. They are here to be utilized, not feared.
Malachite wants us to know that the elements are on our side, and the universe longs for healing and fulfillment for each and every one of us.
Working with this crystal’s medicine and receiving its wisdom helps solidify these beliefs. If you are in need of healing, trust, and lasting change, Malachite may be calling to you. Take it from a long-time devotee of this transformative stone: you will not regret answering.
© 2025 Courtney Covey. This content may not be reproduced without permission.
Celestite // A Gift from the Cosmos
Imagine you are floating blissfully in an endless night sky, your body cool, comfortable, and light, no worries lingering in your relaxed mind as you drift off to sleep. The air is fresh, clean, and cool on your face, and the cosmos is breathing for you, whispering gentle words of reassurance that hold you so tenderly. They are the most tranquil messages you’ve ever received: you are on the right path, there are no wrong choices, and your worries are so much smaller than you think. It’s all going to work out, and it’s going to work out beautifully. More beautifully than you could ever imagine. You can fully feel the resonance in this surrendered state; you notice that the world looks so small from up here. You understand from this new perspective that your worries could be small as well. The universe is holding you. It is fully supporting you — you can feel it with every fiber of your being.
This is the energy cool calm Celestite brings to every one of us. It is the clean refreshing air in the middle of the night when the sky is black and life is quiet, the soothing movement of breath and stillness of meditation, and the unwavering support of sacred space when the world feels like it’s crashing down around you. Whatever troubles you, trust that Celestite can soothe it; it seems to have been gifted to us for this purpose.
Connecting with the Cosmos –
Celestite’s name is derived from the Latin word “caelestis” meaning celestial or heavenly, and this choice of name couldn’t have been more perfect. The soft glittering blues and shimmering white clusters of this magical crystal make it hard to believe it didn’t float down from the heavens, and its otherworldly energy feels the same way. Celestite works with the third eye and crown chakras, encouraging intuition, enhancing psychic abilities, promoting vivid dreams and deep spiritual messages within them, and helping us cultivate deep connections with the universe we live in.
The answers to our problems cannot always be found through thinking about them. We can be so intelligent and have so much information, and still be left with no idea how to handle the situations life throws our way. The conscious mind can only take us so far. There are times that we need cosmic guidance. Celestite helps us to better receive it by carrying us out of our own way, calming our minds to complete silence so that nothing, not even our own thoughts, can stand between us and the universe that only wants to help our lives unfold in the most peaceful and liberating ways. This crystal helps us receive spiritual messages in our sleeping state as well as in meditation: sleeping with Celestite can feel like breathing in the stars, and its light calming vibrations can help you float up into the atmosphere, falling asleep in total peace, free from racing thoughts and overactivity of the mind at night. Trust that the dreams that come to you while Celestite is under your pillow are messages from the divine, and use this as a way of calling up the cosmos for assistance just like calling a trusted friend for advice. This crystal can aid you in connecting and communicating with spirit guides of all kinds, as well as help you cultivate a deeper relationship with the divine within yourself, whether you call that your inner being, your higher self, your heart, your soul, or by any other name. As you work with this stone, you will find yourself in deeper and deeper harmony with both self and Source, as well as more accepting of the idea that you are a spiritual being having a human experience – not the other way around.
Tempering Emotional Storms –
One of the sacred protections of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of compassion and mercy, comes to mind when considering Celestite’s powerful ability to keep us calm even through life’s most chaotic storms. It is the Deliverance from Dangers of Falling, which protects our minds and emotions from negative spirals and the urge to give up when facing moments that threaten to take everything away. When working with this protection, “you may experience the nudge, but not the plummet.” This is a quality that shines in Celestite. When heavy emotional storms hit, threatening us with feelings of total loss and lack, this heavenly crystal calls to be held, ready to provide comfort and healing. It immediately brings a cooling sensation to the body, gifting healthier movement to the breath as emotions move through, and offering incredibly strong vibrations of universal love. It is an extremely compassionate crystal, working as a vessel for spiritual messages of solace as well as new love-filled ways to move through pain and heal emotional wounds. It is this way of comforting, rather than absorbing negative energy into itself or shielding us from the things we don’t want to feel, that makes Celestite so gifted in its unique nurturing. Because it remains an observer and doesn’t absorb outside energies, you may find that its energy always remains light — an endless well of celestial healing you can drink and drink from, yet it never empties. This stone is a giver until the end.
Celestite gently reminds us that nothing is guaranteed in life except for the love of the universe and holds us steady through overwhelming change. It is a wonderful companion when dealing with any kind of grief or loss. Some say that grief is love with nowhere to go — Celestite is a messenger of the divine and will gladly carry that love to the stars for you, relieving you of its weight along with any heavy or complex emotions that may be attached to it. And through becoming lighter, you will begin to realize one of Celestite’s most precious lessons: although everything is temporary in this life on earth, no love is ever wasted.
Clarifying Your Path –
Celestite can help us see the bigger picture, aiding us in finding peace in our lives and building important connections with our purpose and those around us. Taking time to meditate with this celestial crystal offers glimmers of greater potential and clarity on your path. As Celestite helps you connect to yourself and gain deeper understanding of who you are and why you’re here, you will find that same understanding slowly spreading over your entire existence. Because of its high frequency correlating with the crown chakra, it connects you to higher purpose, clarifying exactly what you are meant to do in this life, unveiling hidden passions for it that in hindsight may have been clear since childhood, and gifting you the divine inspiration to begin. Celestite teaches that we have all the time in the world, and there are so many beautiful things we can do with it. It shows us where we are gifted and which of these beautiful things are out there with our names on them, patiently waiting for us, ready to be claimed and embodied.
If you’re dealing with grief, heartache, loss, stagnancy, confusion, or lack of purpose, know you can always find a heavy dose of universal love and deep nurturance in Celestite’s cool radiance. Whatever the darkness took, this stone is prepared to return to you in the form of bright cosmic light and gentle yet powerful alchemical healing that’s sure to last a lifetime. Even the tiniest piece of Celestite holds the energy of the entire universe. No shard is too small; no pain is too deep. This master healer knows how to soothe the human experience like no other.
© 2025 Courtney Covey. This content may not be reproduced without permission.
