Meditation, Neuroplasticity, & Crystals
MEDITATION & NEUROPLASTICITY
The emergence of neuroplasticity has proven that our brains have the capacity to create new neural pathways and connections. There has been more research that one of the best ways to take full advantage of this is through meditation. Meditation is the most powerful way to tune into our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies as well as drop into the expansiveness that lives within us. It’s a state that we can come back to with curiosity and acceptance, and to fully surrender to our experiences with full presence.
Meditation can be so daunting because our mind is trained to run the same loops over and over again, which creates deep ridges (neural pathways) in the brain. But because our brain has the powerful ability to rewire, it is possible to replace old thought forms with new ones, creating new neural pathways and connections. As a mindfulness meditation practitioner and facilitator, one of the challenges that comes with any type of meditation is learning to have the patience to sit still with ourselves. Because we live in a world full of stimuli through technology, this can be extremely difficult when we are so used to something outside of ourselves grasping at our attention. But I think the most challenging part of meditation is shedding light onto parts of ourselves that we’d rather keep hidden.
As we welcome more meditation (stillness) into our lives, we learn to ease the nervous system through focused breath and connection back to our body. We begin to have more pauses in our lives in areas that we maybe tend to react to instead of respond to. Our brain waves also shift and our mind moves from the analytical to the subconscious, which is the space we can transform old thought patterns into new ones. We learn to come back home to ourselves and build a foundation within that reflects externally, allowing us to reach our full potential.
CRYSTALS & MEDITATION
The most profound energetic shifts can occur when crystals are partnered with practices that rewire the brain (neuroplasticity). When crystals are incorporated into meditations, they are truly able to do their best work. Selecting a crystal that is supportive with the energy of your healing target will make the process much more expansive. This can be done by intuitively choosing a crystal or allowing a crystal to choose you and to see what comes up from there. Sometimes we don’t realize we need healing in certain areas until a crystal (or meditation) has shed light onto those areas. Crystals can enhance your meditation practices by:
Because crystals carry frequencies, they can work to clear any energetic blocks within your body. It can stimulate and support the healthy flow of life force energy throughout your body’s fields (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) and energy centers, bringing yourself back to homeostasis and alignment.
When you program your crystal with a specific intention, having the crystal physically in your presence reinforces through visualization the new ways of being you wish to embody and imprint on your brain. They help you replace old beliefs and thoughts with healthier ones in the form of new neural pathways. Your behaviors change in response to your beliefs and vice versa and as a result, you are able to develop new neural pathways. It’s the ultimate practice when working with the Law of Attraction.
They can work as guides. Whether that’s through deepening your insights or providing protection and support as you understand the roots of your blockages and how to address them. They can physically anchor you back to your body and the present moment as you surrender to the process and what comes up.
USING CRYSTALS DURING MEDITATION
Crystals can be incorporated into meditation practices anyway you feel comfortable and called to do so. Some ways you can add crystals to your practices:
Placing your crystals physically on your body. Because each crystal corresponds with a chakra ( energy center), you can place a crystal directly on an area that you want to work with or choose an area you feel intuitively called to do so.
Holding your crystals in your hands or having them near you.
Creating an altar or crystal grid where you can write your intentions on a piece of paper and placing them in this space as you meditate.
Carrying crystals with you (e.g. carrying them in your pocket or bag)
Although any crystal is a great crystal to add to any meditations, these are some of my favorite crystals to work with:
Clear Apophyllite
Blue Chalcedony
Black Tourmaline
Himalayan Quartz
Mordenite
Stilbite
Calcite