Below, learn all about the best stones for protection and strength and, most importantly, how to use these healing crystals for protection.
Experts In This Article
How crystals are used for protection and inner strength
Certain crystals have protective properties, and when put to use, can help you fortify your inner strength. But before diving in, let’s first get on the same page about what “protection” really means when we're talking about crystals.
According to Sadie Kadlec, crystal expert and intuitive healer at Maha Rose Center for Healing, the common notion of protection as a barrier between you and external forces (like other people or negative energy) is flawed. “Instead, protection is really about finding strength, stability, and support within yourself in order to be vulnerable and trusting of the world around you,” she says. “It’s not about putting up a protective shield.” And, as a result, it’s important to note that you’re not looking at energy shield crystals or negative energy repellents that serve as a protective armor to keep all of life’s woes from potentially harming you.
Related Stories
By contrast, using different types of crystals for protection is about tapping their powers to elevate the strength you intrinsically possess. That means learning to practice self-compassion and build your sense of confidence first, and then using crystals to enhance the good vibes. According to Kadlec, the best ways to use crystals for protection are to meditate with them and to carry them with you (you could even wear protective crystal jewelry) as a reminder of your intention and personal power.
As for which healing crystals for protection to use? Everyone responds to the energy of different crystals in different ways, so it’s worth considering whether you’re naturally drawn to a certain crystal(s), or, if you’re shopping in-person, holding a few in your hand to sense which ones seem to resonate. From there, you could just choose one or, to take things a step further, a few different protective gemstones that you can use together with the practice of crystal gridding, says Breana Fernandez, crystal expert at Los Angeles-based metaphysical retailer House of Intuition. This involves “placing chosen crystals into a formation that focuses the intention—such as energetic protection, in this case,” she says.
If you’re not sure where to start, read on for some stones for protection and strength, according to crystal experts.
The best crystals for protection to utilize for a spiritual boost of strength
1. Fluorite
Instead of thinking of protective gemstones as negative energy repellents or energy shield crystals, Kadlec says the protection aspect has more to do with what’s happening on the inside. “[Protection] is about opening the heart and finding strength of self through that process,” she says. That’s why she loves fluorite: It has the ability to create clarity and openness by helping to reinforce positive boundary-setting. Known as the "psychic vacuum," this crystal can also help you remove unwanted mind clutter and regain focus as a result, says Fernandez.
How to use it: To use fluorite, place it on your third eye (where, in particular, it can help clear confusion and break down self-doubtful thought cycles), or wear it as protective crystal jewelry. Fernandez says it’s a popular crystal for protection necklaces, helping you stay grounded wherever you are—especially during Mercury retrograde periods.
2. Kyanite
Compassionate communication fosters security and safety in your relationships—both of which are paramount to protection. Because kyanite is associated with the throat chakra, it can offer support for just that kind of communication and self-expression, says Kadlec: “Kyanite allows our inner truth to surface and be heard, and also puts us in a place to receive and hear from other people.” Separately, there's also a strong balancing energy to this stone, says Fernandez, which can help you make decisions with confidence and assuredness.
How to use it: The next time you want to put yourself out there, need to have a difficult conversation, or have a big decision ahead of you, reach for a piece of kyanite. Carrying it around in your pocket or purse—or wearing it in a piece of jewelry—can keep you feeling safe, comfortable, and confident.
3. Black tourmaline
Known for its grounding energy, black tourmaline is another protective gemstone power-player. In particular, this stone is associated with the solar plexus chakra, which is often unbalanced or out-of-whack whenever you feel unsafe or insecure. "Black tourmaline can absorb threatening energy and transmute it into something non-threatening," says Kadlec, adding that it can help you separate a difficult situation from negative patterns within yourself or others, and figure out how to respond more compassionately.
How to use it: Black tourmaline can act like a spiritual sponge for negative energies, helping soak them up and neutralize them. So one of the best black tourmaline uses is simply placing it anywhere you need that energy absorbed. This makes it a great protection crystal for your home. Place it near entrances, in your home office, in your bedroom—anywhere you wish. You'll also find it used in protective crystal jewelry, allowing you to reap the benefits while you're out and about. Just note: Because of how it absorbs negative energies, Fernandez says it's wise to clean it on a weekly basis.
4., 5. Pyrite and citrine
While these stones aren’t traditionally associated with protection, pyrite and citrine are adept at helping us find structure. “They’re about the clarity of our intention—who we are, where we want to go, and how we can make that happen for ourselves,” says Kadlec. As a result, using these stones in combination can be a powerful part of a manifestation or intention-setting practice. "They're considered a dynamic duo for abundance," says Fernandez.
How to use it: The energy of these two crystals can help support you in situations where you're aiming to forge your own path—rather than follow the trail that other people in your life have blazed before. "Keeping both of these crystals near or in your creative space can supply you with the additional boost of confidence you may need to work toward your goals," says Fernandez.
Pyrite is also known as one of the best protection crystals for travel. If you have a trip coming up, taking it along on your adventures can help “protect from physical and environmental negative energy,” Rashia Bell, crystal expert and co-founder of The Cristalline, previously told Well+Good.
6. Carnelian
Speaking of confidence... cue: carnelian. Known as the "stone of confidence," says Kadlec, it’s one of the best crystals for protection and anxiety. "Carnelian connects us to our courage," she says, "helping to guide us toward doing what's right for ourselves so we don’t silently accept what doesn’t work for us." Living courageously gives us confidence and drive to make decisions that serve us instead of reeling back in fear of those dreaded “what ifs.”
In a similar realm, this crystal can inspire creativity when it comes to confronting or handling adversity, says Fernandez. "If a particular problem is leaving you feeling stagnant or stuck, the passionate energies of carnelian will deliver a boost of self-assurance so that you can find an optimistic side of the situation," she says. And being able to do just that is an essential part of feeling both strong and protected.
How to use it: There are many different ways you can use this spiritual protection stone in your everyday life. Since it's one of the best crystals for protection and anxiety, have it on hand anytime you feel like you could use a boost. Because carnelian also inspires creativity, keep it in your office or workspace.
7. Malachite
Heart-chakra stones like malachite can help open your heart and target fear, helping you feel more secure in whatever choices you make. "Malachite can guide you toward your higher self and toward your purpose in this lifetime," says Fernandez.
Specifically, there's a certain kind of fated, "right-time-right-place" energy to malachite that can provide clarity in otherwise unclear times—like eclipse season, for instance, says Fernandez. In other words? When things feel off-kilter, malachite can help you better understand why you are where you are and the journey that may lie ahead. As a result, Fernandez adds, this crystal can make you more aware of the power of diving timing and the comfort that can come with surrendering some of your control to the universal forces at work.
How to use it: The next time you’re going through something big, carry this healing crystal for protection with you throughout the day. “Malachite offers protection, deep healing, and cleansing on both physical and energetic levels,” Mariah de La Mer, author of Crystal Healing for Women, previously told Well+Good. “This stone helps to release old traumas, wounds, and patterns stored within the cellular structure of the body, and it’s a beautiful stone to work with in times of transition, heartbreak, and loss.”
8. Amethyst
There are numerous ways to use amethyst for protection. First, it’s one of the best crystals for protection and anxiety. “Amethyst fuses with the crown and third eye chakras to send peaceful vibes straight to where you need them," Heather Askinosie, author of Crystal Muse, previously told Well+Good. She says this not only relaxes the mind, but also helps you get some clarity on what may be causing you stress.
Amethyst is also a great protection crystal for travel. According to Bell, it can help you avoid not-so-fun travel delays and counteract jet lag. (Aka the crystal for protection and good luck is nothing short of a carry-on essential.)
How to use it: Amethyst is a popular crystal for protection necklaces, providing you the comfort of wearing it throughout your daily activities or as you jet off to your next big adventure. You can also use it as a protection crystal for your home, placing it anywhere that could use some calming energy—be it your office, bedroom, or living room.
Frequently asked questions
Can I carry protective crystals in my pocket or purse?
Yes, you can certainly carry the best stones for protection and strength in your pocket or purse. Kadlec says carrying them with you is a great way to tap into the protective powers of these crystals in order to elevate the strength you already possess. You’ll also find many popular crystals in protective necklaces, allowing you to wear the spiritual protection stones wherever you are.
Can protective crystals shield me from negative energy at work?
Dealing with work stress? Grab an amethyst for protection. Experts recommend placing the crystal anywhere you tend to experience stress that could use some calming energy—your office or home office, included. Because it's one of the best crystals for protection and anxiety, it can make an overwhelming space feel much more peaceful. (Pro tip: If you’re trying to decide which crystal shape to get, Askinosie says a cube is a great pick for placing in a corner of a room.)
How should I cleanse and charge my protective crystals?
If you want to amplify the energy of your protective crystals, be sure to charge them. Because they can absorb negative energy, cleansing them—and refilling them with high vibrational energy—is important, Amy Leigh Mercree, medical intuitive and author of Aura Alchemy, previously told Well+Good. (Pendulums and throat chakra stones are often cleansed, for example, “in order to not cloud the effectiveness of the crystal.”) One of the most simple ways to cleanse and charge crystals is to lay them out in the sun. But for more options and further instruction, be sure to read up on how to charge crystals.
Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.
