CRYSTAL VISIONS: Smoky Quartz

A crystal to battle burnout, overwhelm and stress 

Smoky Quartz is my favourite anti-stress stone. Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, my head is buzzing with a million thoughts or the bullets of my to do list are bouncing off my brain, I reach for my Smoky Quartz Amulet. I love it because it brings me immediately back down to earth and helps me feel grounded again. Just like taking a few deep, cleansing breaths when you're feeling overwhelmed, having a Smoky Quartz on hand can help clear mental clutter and plant your feet firmly back on the ground.

What is it?

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth so comes in lots of different varieties like Amethyst, Carnelian, Agate, Tiger's Eye - these are all types of quartz! But it's not just pretty to look at, it's also super useful and can be found in kitchen worktops, in watches, radios and cell phones and even in sandpaper. Smoky Quartz is a type of quartz that is made from the same silicon dioxide but where the colour has changed from clear to orangey brown, grey or almost black by natural irradiation in the Earth as the crystal formed.

Did you know? Smoky Quartz is the national gem of Scotland? It has been found in the Cairngorm mountains for centuries and became popular inn Victorian times as it was said to be a favourite of Queen Victoria herself. These days 'Cairngorm Quartz' is very hard to come by as it has mostly all been mined and the land is now protected by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Where is it found?

Smoky quartz is found in many places on Earth in pretty much every continent. As well as Scotland, It has been found in Madagascar, America, Russia, Switzerland and Ukraine. Most of the Smoky Quartz on the market however comes from Brazil where it is abundant.

How tough is it?

7/10 on the Mohs scale. 

Why you need it in your armoury

Smoky Quartz is highly purifying and is one of the best anti-stress stones there is. It helps you let go of that which does not serve you, including grief, fear, and resentment enabling you to rise above conflict and not get embroiled in it. And because Smoky Quartz turns negative energy into positive, working deep in the psyche and grounding negative energy back into the Earth it’s a great crystal to have in an argument or to help clear the air after one. 

Cleanse with:

Can be cleansed with water, incense or buried in the ground for a few days vay-cay.

Works well with:

Amethyst or any other grounding stones. Especially keep one nearby if you're meditating, scrying or doing spell work as Smoky Quartz will keep one foot on the ground and will tether you to the earth.