Practical Crystals: Crystals for Holistic Wellbeing

by Kathy Banegas, Viki Lester (Illustrator)

Working with the power of crystals is all about intention, and crystals can change your life. Anyone can benefit from inviting crystals into their lives, and this accessible and friendly book will help you channel the energies of each crystal, whether you have a hundred crystals, or just one!
 
Discover the powerful, healing and nurturing properties of 150 different crystals , and learn which ones are best to help you in a range of scenarios. Learn which crystals work best for a specific purpose and WHY , and empower yourself to nurture your wellbeing every day with crystals.
 
Organised by theme, learn which crystals you can use
  From rose quartz for self-love and self-care, to amethyst for tranquility and relaxation, there’s a crystal to meet all your wellbeing needs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Adult

144 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I’m a newbie to crystals, and as such, I’m not sure I fully ‘believe’ in the magical ways they’re purported to hold. However I am very curious to learn more about them. I think this book is a very clear and precise way to introduce someone to the world of crystals, and help educate anyone who is wanting to learn more about them. I’ve certainly come out of it feeling like I have a deeper understanding of them!

I think it’s really well set out, with each different scenario having six crystals each to pick and choose from, with a paragraph explaining the differences between each one. It’s definitely a book to keep on hand, as you can easily flick to the section that meets your need and find a corresponding crystal, whether it’s for a new job, a moon phase, a new baby, a chakra, or a wish to have more confidence. There are also sections on choosing, cleaning, and charging your crystals, and even a few grid examples for the reader to try out.

Each crystal is beautifully illustrated - Viki Lester has done a wonderful job with each one, capturing the various details on each individual crystal.

I might not be about to bury my crystals to cleanse them, but I probably will pick up a few more in the future and it’s great to have more of an idea of what they represent beyond just looking pretty.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review!

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start this review by saying I am not a beginner in stones and crystals. I have been collecting my entire life (45 years) and working with them for over 15. So there are always a few things that I hope to see in books and this one met them all. It is an excellent guide for beginners. It is grouped by property which can make things difficult if you have a particular stone in mind, but excellent if you know what you want to do but don't know what stones to use. The biggest thing that I want to see in a stone book is warnings. Warnings on toxicity (don't put your rocks in your mouth unless you are very very sure it won't make you sick) and warnings on water ruining your stones. I was very excited to see both of those right away. Not all of the stones are exactly what I would choose, but it is so intuitive that I can see why those stones were chosen. The only thing I would change is the illustrations. While they were beautiful, they aren't how most of the stones would look if you were purchasing them and that might get a little confusing. The illustrations were more expensive versions of some of the stones, but it was beautiful, informative, and well done. I will be adding it to my collection.

4 stars

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Edelweiss+)

Decent introduction to crystals but I felt them being broken into sections by use got a bit repetitive when the same crystals were featured in multiple sections.

[kendyl heyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book. this book is great for beginners who are new to crystals. this book gives a wide range of situations and gives you some crystals that will help that situation. this book did exactly what it needed to do. i would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in crystals.

[Altu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a collector of crystals for a few years however I’ve never used them for metaphysical uses so I personally don’t know much about most crystals except some of the more common ones; rose quartz, amethyst, clear quartz, aventurine, which means I found this book to be a great and informative read about different crystals.

Overall this is a good book and very informative about the metaphysical qualities you’re trying to work with that can be consumed by the reader in a digestible and enjoyable manner, all information is in line with what you’d see from other sources.

The book begins with some introductions about cleansing, charging, programming and using your crystals so that’s a great way to start for beginners and all the information matched up with the knowledge I have read from other sources so it’s clear this author is very informed and researched about Crystals.

There are different categories for whatever you want to use your crystal for, from emotional healing, physical health, spiritual health and more.
Each of these categories had different subsections depending on what emotion or quality you want to focus on, the sections in emotional health are below, so this is the variety you can expect from the other chapters focusing on different needs.
Joy
Productivity
Forgiveness
Focus
Love
Gratitude
Creativity
Peace
Motivation


Each section has about 6 crystals each, some common and a few less common crystals throughout the book so you will be reading about a nice variety. Each section explains what they’re best to be focused on and the information is written to be easily digested without useless filler.

The book shows illustrations of crystals rather than actual pictures, whilst these illustrations are good illustrations and with the knowledge of the crystal you can figure out from just the picture what crystal it is, however if you’re less familiar of crystals these illustrations are not going to be helpful to identify your crystals, each picture still has the name so it’s not a problem, just don’t expect to identify your crystals with this book as it’s solely focused on the metaphysical side of crystals.

The book doesn’t have any details on the actual crystals in depth, since it’s a metaphysical book I don’t think this is a problem and to be honest I don’t think most of us reading about the metaphysical qualities of crystals are going to be that interested on things such as; Hardness, mineral composition or location of the crystal origin but it’s still worth noting the book lacks that information for anyone seeking it for a better understanding of your crystal, I just suggest finding a crystal you’d like to work with then reading about that specific crystal in more depth rather than overwhelming yourself.

Overall I think this book is a great beginners book as it’s fairly simplified whereas other books, such as The crystal Bible are great books but have lots more information that you might not easily find what your looking for- this one has chapters and will be easy to find what you are looking for.

I also found the crystals depending on seasons a great read and was something I never thought about so for people looking for certain crystals to help you throughout a new season you would find that category useful, I know I will be separating my crystals for winter and seeing what that’s like.

[Fazal Ur Rehman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: Practical Crystals by Kathy Banegas
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Practical Crystals by Kathy Banegas is a user-friendly guide that introduces readers to the various purported benefits and applications of crystals in the realm of holistic well-being. The book organizes crystals by themes and conditions—such as stress relief, emotional healing, or energy balancing—making it easy for beginners to find suggestions based on their specific needs.
For those new to crystal healing, this is a helpful introductory resource. It offers accessible, situation-based recommendations and a gentle entry point into the world of crystal use. However, more advanced readers—or those seeking comprehensive knowledge about individual crystals—may find the book lacking.
One key limitation is that information on each crystal is dispersed across various sections, rather than consolidated. This makes it difficult to gain a full understanding of any single crystal’s properties and uses in one place. Additionally, the book focuses primarily on the metaphysical benefits of crystals without delving into other valuable aspects such as their chemical composition, geological origin, historical significance, or cultural associations.
In short, Practical Crystals serves as a quick reference guide for identifying crystals based on immediate needs, but falls short as a detailed or encyclopedic resource. Ideal for beginners, but less so for those looking to deepen their knowledge.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to think of myself as a crystal enthusiast, though I always start with that 'beginner's wonder' mindset so I can always keep learning about them. This book hit all the right notes.

What's neat about it is that it's a perfect fit, whether you're just dipping your toes into the world of crystals or you've got tons of experience.

I love how it helps you choose the perfect crystal for specific themes or purposes. It's like having an encyclopedia of crystal knowledge right at your fingertip. It describes the unique qualities of each crystal and how to harness their powers for the various themes throughout the book.

I also loved the author's personal touch. You can feel her passion for crystals jumping off the pages, like she’s there with you, sharing her crystal wisdom and excitement.

So, whether you're just starting your crystal adventure or you're already knee-deep in amethysts and quartz, this book is a solid companion that strikes that sweet spot between friendly guidance and serious crystal know-how. I highly recommend this short but very powerful book on crystals.

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical Crystals is an absolute gem of a book! *Pun not intended*.
It's a comprehensive guide that not only reveals the best crystals for various purposes but also delves into the reasons behind their efficacy. I love how the book empowers readers to enhance their well-being using crystals, backed by solid explanations of their properties. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned crystal enthusiast, this book offers valuable insights and practical advice to incorporate the magic of crystals into your daily routine. I will be purchasing this book to refer back to as my go-to resource for harnessing the power of crystals and nurturing my mind and body.

The only thing that would make this book better is if they had photos of the crystals rather than illustrations but it's easy enough to Google so therefore does not affect my 5 star rating!

[Shirley Andrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Information

This book is very well written, outlining and discussing many aspects of purchasing, owning, cleansing, using crystals, and so much more.

The author describes several ways one may use to aid in selecting crystals: to include using your intuition, your senses, using a pendulum, and just doing some basic research. After choosing and cleansing your crystals, she discusses programming and charging your crystals.

The most important part to me is the information provided on the crystals, their types, uses, meaning, how they’re grouped, and many other facets of crystal uses; such as chakra work, use in working with moon phases, and much much more.

This is a book with a great wealth of information, no just for beginners, but is a good reference source for anyone. I highly recommend this book.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for those who are new to crystals. The crystal books I have read are laid out by the crystal, where you go to the page(s) for the crystal you are curious about and then you read all of the information provided on said crystal. Practical Crystals has a very unique layout in that they suggest crystals by topic. I think this is a novel approach and I feel this would really boost the confidence of anyone searching for crystal help in a certain area. In addition to topics, there are crystals for the moon phases, the seasons of the year, job types, and more.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group –Leaping Hare, Leaping Hare Press for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read Practical Crystals
Crystals for Holistic Wellbeing by Kathy Banegas in echange for my honest review.

As someone who hasn't delved a lot into the power of crystals and how rhey can help benefit our lives with the right guidance, this book was really helpful. It really helped me figure out some basic things about crystals -such which ones are more beneficial for specific aspects of my life eg. health, creativity, love life -and how to navigate using them to the betterment of my everyday life.
A great guide to learning about the many aspects of what crystal befits what aspect of your lifee, this books is one I would recommend to anyone who would want an all-inclusive guide about crystals.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crystals have always interested me so when I saw the title of this one and read the blurb, I knew I had to get my hands on it asap. This is such a wonderful tool to have if crystals and their many properties have ever interested you.

With a wealth of information for 150 different crystals, this guide will help you discover the spiritual and physical properties of crystals while also teaching you about your chakra, connecting with nature, and enchanting your life in different areas.

You’ll soon find out there’s a crystal to meet all of your needs and wants.

ARC provided by publisher and NetGalley.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book, whilst I do have a few crystals it is something that I wanted to learn more about and this book is a great guide.

Starting with how to choose your crystals and then a great guide on the ways that you can cleanse and charge your crystals. I love the fact that it covers such a wide range of areas and what crystals to use for these areas.

A really handy go to guide for crystals for any occasion.

[WickedReads221b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book for an honest review!

This was a great beginner guide to a large variety of crystals, very handy to have in one's library. The images were drawings and not actual pictures of the crystals, but they were well done in my opinon.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great guide to crystals and their uses. Along with explanations of what use each crystal is best suited for, it also includes notes as to which are best to gift and for what reason. With illustrations of what each crystal looks like, it's an excellent guide for the proper use of crystals.

[Misse Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introductory guide...

I would classify myself as a beginner, so to speak, as it relates to knowledge about crystals and their properties. I do believe that there has been an increase in educational tools made available for people like me who are interested in learning more about them. This one worked for me. I'd to thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the gifted copy.

One thing that's for sure is that there are a ton of different crystals and in this book there are 150 discussed here. For each Crystal follows a description and the specific purpose they each have. There's a bit of everything here to meet your needs for well being.

[Brynna Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book! Very informative and I like how it was structured into different topics! The drawings of the crystals are wonderful! Definitely a good guide for crystal novices and good reminders for those more knowledgeable!
Thank you to NetGalley and Leaping Hare Press for the eARC!

[Eve Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

the book was very eye opening and a good read for beginner crystal information. It was very well written and easy to understand.