TOURMALINE, BLACK: (Also known as Schorl or Aphrizite) Use at the 1st Chakra (Root/Base Chakra) for protection against electromagnetic pollution and negative energy, grounding, increased physical energy, to banish negative thoughts, to enhance positive thinking and creativity, to strengthen the immune system, and to aid in decreasing arthritis pain.

TURQUOISE: Use at the 4th Chakra (Heart Chakra) or at the 5th Chakra (Throat Chakra) for enhancing communication with other realms, to enhance self expression and communication, to help one to live in the moment, to remove negativity from oneself and one's environment, to enhance self confidence, to help one to remain on the path for his or her highest good, to boost the immune system, to aid in healing ailments of the eyes, to reduce acidity in the body and aid in detoxification, and to reduce inflammation.

Once one has selected one's crystals, he or she should cleanse them. This should be done before using them. There are a variety of ways one can clear a crystal. One way to cleanse a crystal is by soaking it in a solution of sea salt and distilled water (lavender oil is also often added to the solution due to its purification properties). Another method involves holding the stone under running water or in a stream to be purified. Yet another method to cleanse a stone is by smudging it. To smudge a stone, one must pass the stone through the smoke of an herb or incense (white sage, juniper, palo santo, sweetgrass, cedar, and sandalwood are all commonly used smudging herbs). Also, one may choose to bury a stone in the soil of the earth for a length of time in order to cleanse it. The clearing process should be carried out until one intuitively feels that the stone has been cleansed, or by feeling the stone's energy. One should then charge the crystal in sunlight or moonlight (preferably that of a full or a new moon) for at least one full day or night.