Wizarding Crystals (This is NOT for Muggles)

Although Harry Potter and the Wizarding world weren’t on my radar until just a few years ago, I have fallen in love with every aspect of these amazing books and films since I was introduced to them.   UPDATE: This article previously used the term “totem” to describe animal archetypes that may hold meaning for someone. Using this term is culturally appropriative (as this is a term rooted in Indigenous spiritual practice) in the context it was previously used, especially shared by the author here (who is white). This article has been updated to reflect this change.   There’s something so special and magical about the world that JK Rowling has created that it just lifts my spirit with each read. July 31st is Harry Potter’s birthday (and JK Rowling’s birthday too!) and as the date was approaching (and as I re-read some of the books), I began noticing the scattered references to healing crystals throughout this epic story. In a meeting with Love & Light’s community manager, Lauren Gandharva (who joins me on the accompanying podcast for this blog post), I mentioned that I was thinking about writing a blog post about these wizarding crystals and she suggested that we do a special release on this date. Lauren and I met to have a lengthy discussion about the healing crystals in the books and films, the best crystals for each Hogwarts house, and a few extra crystals to help tap into the energy of the non-muggle universe. The following post summarizes what we discuss in this 90+ minute podcast discussion, but if you’re a Harry Potter fan, the podcast episode is well worth a listen for more detail and in-depth conversation (we promise it will fulfill your innermost need for nerding out about all things wizarding!). Crystals Featured in the Harry Potter Book Series: AMETHYST: Although this crystal wasn’t called out specifically by name, Neville Longbottom purchased a pointed purple crystal as a protective amulet to protect himself against the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. There aren’t too many pointed purple crystals to begin with, so it was quite easy to narrow this down to just Amethyst, but when you add in Amethyst’s known protective qualities (especially in psychic or spiritual matters), it’s a pretty safe bet that it was the stone being referenced.   CRYSTAL BALL: Crystal balls, traditionally made of Quartz crystal, are referenced many times throughout the book series as they’re frequently used in Sybill Trelawney’s divination classes. They’re introduced to third-year students, and although embraced by some students like Lavender Brown, their use is widely ridiculed by most others (including Harry, Ron, and Hermione). For the non-believers, they never got much past the stage of seeing white swirls or fog. Professor Trelawney explains that a seer’s success with the crystal ball as a divinatory tool depends upon their ability to "[quiet] the conscious mind and external eyes" and depend upon "the Inner Eye and superconscious." Love & Light’s resident divination expert, Lauren Gandharva, agrees wholeheartedly with this explanation of crystallomancy. In the film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, at least 2 of the kitten plates in Dolores Umbridge’s office feature a cat with a crystal ball.   DIAMOND: In the book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, after finding success with their joke shop, Fred and George Weasley give their mother, Molly Weasley, a very fancy Christmas gift - a blue witch's hat glittering with what looked like tiny starlike diamonds. Diamonds were also seen in the tiara worn by Fleur Delacour during her wedding to Bill Weasley. The tiara belonged to Molly Weasley’s Aunt Muriel and also featured Moonstones. It was a goblin-made item that glittered and twinkled in the light.