By Nicole Marie, Sol Path Tarot and Crystal Magick

Duality is a very important theme in life. Without dark, there cannot be light. Without bad, there cannot be good. We would have no concept of one without the other. Even in ourselves, this dichotomy exists. The path to enlightenment begins with awareness and a restructuring of thought patterns, and for many people, that is a lot of work for one lifetime, and they are content to stop there for now, but for some of us, we are ready to take that next step, which is known as “shadow work.” Shadow work is meeting that part of yourself that isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, acknowledging it, and embracing it so that you can balance both parts of yourself and move on to the next step in the path of spiritual enlightenment. When we repress any part of ourselves (including aspects of yourself that you are afraid or ashamed of), illness, bad luck, and obstacles/barriers can manifest in our lives that can prevent us from achieving the things we want the most. When we balance our light and dark, deep healing on a profound level can occur. Crystals can be a great way to begin this work. You can use them to meditate/dream, which is useful for exploring this part of yourself.

If you are someone who is ready for shadow work, here are four crystals to help you on your journey. (I strongly encourage you to research this topic yourself before you begin, as it is very in-depth and you’ll need to be well-informed.)

1. Indigo Gabbro (aka Mystic Merlinite) – Not for the faint of heart, this stone will reveal the darkest parts of yourself. It will make you look at your past, it will show you the true motivation behind your actions, and it will dig up all that stuff you’ve spent your life burying and lay them all out in front you. This may sound unpleasant, but once you are able to see and acknowledge these things, Indigo Gabbro will then show you how these dark things fit in to your highest self. Examining these pieces of your puzzle can open you up to understanding yourself in a way you didn’t know was possible.
2. Clam Shell Jasper – This stone is incredibly useful for exploring and implementing balance within yourself. It also protects and nurtures you if you’re feeling nervous about taking on shadow work. It will show you your light and dark in relation to each other and then will inspire you to keep moving forward with positive motives.
3. Snowflake Obsidian – This crystal is helpful for shadow work as it shows you your hopes and fears and also shows you the patterns in your life that an inner imbalance may be causing. It’s also a very good grounding stone that will help you feel safe when you are examining these topics.
4. Spider Web Jasper – This crystal is great for aligning and balancing yourself. It will help you slow your thoughts and calm your mind as you meditate or dream to begin this process. This crystal has been called “The Master of the Subconscious Mind”, which pretty much tells you why it’s a great stone for this purpose. Like Indigo Gabbro (but maybe in a more gentle way), it will dig up the things that are causing you problems in your life, and it will also show you what those problems are. You may be so used to something in your life, you don’t realize it’s actually hindering you in any way.

So, roll up your sleeves, take a deep breath, and prepare for some life-changing revelations that will ultimately lead you toward that which is for your highest good. You needn’t be afraid to take on this task, but certainly only approach it if you are ready to make some big changes. Hold the intention that whatever surfaces must be for your benefit, and you’ll do just fine!

Excerpt from The Tumbling Stone Newsletter from Healing Crystals