As Valentine’s Day 2019 fast approaches, there’s no doubt that many of us have love on the brain. At some point, whether you like it or not, you’re bound to be stricken by love. Apparently, love has no regard for boundaries. Love is a little feisty that way. It sneaks in and it doesn’t discern. And it’s inescapable. Love is…

Love is kids crafting Valentine’s for their secret crushes, it’s being hit with love-at-first-sight, it’s meeting the love of your life, or conversely, it’s the potential love, who subsequently becomes (my personal favorite) the ghosting, heartbreaking kind of love. Love seeps into most kinds of relationships. It’s the deep love felt for family, friends, and all of the adored pets in this world. Love can be moments. That hug, that kiss, that look in the eyes. That perfect memory seared into your brain. And sometimes love is a loss. But, at its very best, love is unconditional. Love is inevitable and unexplainable. Love is universal. No matter your walk of life, I’ve found one thing to be true. Love is love is love.

Once love is desired, it’s often hard to control. The heart wants what it wants. So, for the kind love that your heart wants this Valentine’s Day, I’ve compiled a list of the top 5 love crystals based on the love type you seek.

New Love

The most well-known love crystal is Rose quartz. From soft shades of pale pink to a deep blush, rose quartz is the best all-around love stone. It is most definitely a romance stone known to aid in manifesting and attracting new love. But, because it’s known to open and clear the heart chakra, the heart opens to allow any new type of love to enter. It can manifest the love you need, like familial love, friendship love, compassionate love, or self-love.

Passionate Love

Regardless of whether you’re single, taken, poly, sapio, netflix and chill, or it’s complicated, many of you may be in desire of some steamy, sultry, sexy time. I mean it’s only natural! If that’s you, then it’s time to light some candles and find some Garnet my friend. Garnet is most recognized for its rich merlot color and is known for physical love. It ignites passion and desire. It can be explosive. And, even if it’s not physical passion you seek, but rather an inner passion and vibrancy to feel alive, garnet can help. Red crystals are often associated with circulation. Circulation removes blockages which help to reduce sluggishness, improve energy and vitality. Garnet can be reinvigorating, summoning inner passion and drive. Feel the heat!

Unconditional Love

Nobody wants a good thing to end. For those who have found love and are in search of longevity, the last thing you want to do is come from a place of fear of losing love. This is true for all relationships, not just romantic. An everlasting Emerald is best for strengthening your bond. Emeralds enable loyalty and success in relationships. In a sense, this gemstone is the gateway to healthy, unconditional, loving bonds that stand the test of time.

Lost Love

Those who have experienced love, may know that letting it go is incredibly difficult. Unresolved lost love can be painful and lonely. Whether it’s a broken heart or the loss of a loved one, Pink Tourmaline helps to move forward. It doesn’t mean to forget, but it offers a path to healing. This crystal helps to gain a safe distance from the loss, offering room for more perspective, and ability to take the first steps that let the healing begin.

Self Love

The word self-love feels kind of like a loaded term these days. It seems like anybody experiencing a letdown or insecurity is immediately deemed flawed and encouraged to manifest self-love. Then, there are others, who view self-love as vanity. Regardless of the many connotations, I do believe that self-love is critical for living well. If our external world is controlled by our inner thoughts and beliefs, then having self love is key for empowering and attracting healthy love, healthy relationships, mental balance, abundance, and improved physical state. Self-love means having positive self-esteem, instilling and honoring your boundaries, and living a life in alignment with your value system. Without valuing our own thoughts and feelings, we can’t expect others to. We won’t know how best to love others if we don’t understand our own selves. Most of us get this on an intellectual level, but achieving it is elusive for many. I don’t purport to being a self-love guru with a detailed how-to guide, but I figure any crystal that acts as a gateway to higher dimensions is worth trying. At minimum, it can’t be a detriment in working towards self-love. Citrine opens a path to the higher self. It is a stone that regenerates the spiritual self. All the negativity and feelings that are out of balance are cleansed which opens the door for self-healing and renewed energy to practice self-help. It’s a cheerful, happy stone with it’s warm amber shade, aussaging depression and fear, stimulating optimism and positive thinking.  

You’ve picked your love crystal, so now what?

Once you’ve picked your love crystal, don’t forget to set your intention. Get specific. Focus on the what, the when, and the why. Don’t worry too much about the how. Let the crystal guide you. You can wear them, hold them, hang them, and surround your space with them. For serious crystal lovers, it’s advised to cleanse them and build a crystal grid to maximize the benefits.