Part 3: Can Crystals Be Harmful?

In the first two parts of this series, I shared my own journey with crystals and explored what Scripture actually says about stones and precious materials.

But this brings us to a much more difficult question of whether crystals can be spiritually harmful. 

Can crystals become spiritually dangerous?

My answer is yes—but not necessarily for the reason many people might think.

I don't believe that crystals are inherently evil. As I discussed in Part 2, Scripture contains many examples of precious stones being used within sacred contexts.

The concern, for me, begins when crystals become part of spiritual practices that are intended to access, influence or interact with the spiritual realm.

This can open doors to the spiritual realm and if combined with other open doors from trauma, drugs, alcohol, violence, depression, unforgiveness etc it can cause real problems.

This is something I have had to think deeply about because I experienced it myself.

 

Why crystals can be dangerous

Crystals can be harmful because they do have the ability to act as doorways or portals to the spiritual realm. I wrote a little about this on my About Me page, but I want to explain it again here.

I know this from my own experience and also from testing crystals, as I have the ability to sense energy or the spirit to some extent. Scripture tells us to test every spirit because there are many false teachings and spirits in the world:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
— 1 John 4:1

So I began praying for discernment and wisdom while holding a crystal, and then again without holding one. Through this, I realised something that had not quite clicked for me before.

I felt sensations that I can only describe as entering a different dimension or entering the spiritual realm if I held the crystal in prayer.

I finally began to understand why, in the Book of Exodus, God commanded the use of crystals and precious stones in the making of the breastplate of judgment, which was part of the sacred garment worn by priests when coming before God for decision-making and ministry. I also began to understand why it was worn over the heart.

From my previous work with crystals, I had discovered through the sensations I experienced that wearing crystal pendants over the heart seemed to “activate” them. For some reason, their frequencies felt amplified when worn over the heart.

When crystals are used, especially when they are worn over the heart or held in the palms, they can open a spiritual door when you are intentionally using them to access the spiritual realm—for example, through manifestation, spells, crystal grids, or other spiritual practices.

But which door did you just open?

If you have unresolved trauma, resentment, unforgiveness (and other unresolved negative emotions) and have opened many other doors through other New Age practices, drugs, or alcohol, you potentially are opening a door to a spiritual realm that will do you know good.

Spiritual “Ascension” or Warfare”?

The spiritual realm is a mysterious place. If you are not rooted in God and protected by Jesus, you may be opening yourself to something deceptive. Scripture warns us that Lucifer comes as an angel of light.

Most of us carry unforgiveness in our hearts, much of which can be unconscious. This can make us vulnerable to deception in the spiritual realm. You may think you are gaining access to enlightenment, healing, wisdom or other beautiful things, but you most likely being deceived.

Even if you experience some benefit in the beginning, slowly but surely, once that door has been opened, you may find yourself experiencing what I now understand to be spiritual warfare.

For me, this manifested in many different areas of life. It can affect your physical wellbeing, motivation, relationships, pets, children, finances, mood—really, any aspect of your life. I experienced this myself, although at the time I didn't understand that what I was experiencing could be interpreted as spiritual warfare.

I thought I was simply going through a series of extremely challenging situations because I was “ascending”.

Thankfully, God eventually used these experiences to make me wiser, more discerning and closer to Him.

This can become a vicious cycle. When something goes wrong, you may seek out psychics, tarot readers, mediums or other spiritual practices to understand what is happening and try to fix it. You may experience some temporary benefit, but then find yourself taking one step forward and two steps backwards.

The problem is that these practices can lead you further into the spiritual realm, opening more doors and making you increasingly accessible to things you may not understand. And the cycle continues.

If you are involved in New Age spirituality, does it ever feel like you need another reading after the last one? Another retreat after the previous retreat? Another course, another spiritual tool, another crystal, another practice?

You keep searching for the next thing that will finally give you the answer, healing or peace you are looking for.

But perhaps the answer isn't another spiritual tool. You will never find it, no matter how enlightening or profound the next spiritual modality may sound. I spent decades trying to discover who I was through New Age and other spiritual practices, always searching for the next teaching, experience or modality that might finally give me the answers. Only God and Jesus gave me the answer.

Again, I want to remind you that Satan/Lucifer comes as an angel of light. Scripture describes him as being extraordinarily beautiful:

“You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”
— Ezekiel 28:12

And:

“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14

Something can appear loving and enlightened and still lead you away from God.

Crystals & God

Thankfully, my own experiences eventually brought me closer to God rather than further away.

They taught me to become more discerning. They taught me not to accept something simply because it felt beautiful. And they taught me that I don't need to chase every spiritual experience in order to find truth.

I believe God wants us to seek Him and not give something He created the authority that belongs to the Creator.

This is why I now approach crystals very differently.

Because the question is not:

“What energy does this crystal have that will fix the various problems in my life?”

The question actually should be:

What qualities of God and His Kingdom is this crystal reminding me to cultivate in my own life?”

 

And it leads to the next question in this series:

If we still love crystals and appreciate their beauty and energy, is there a way to engage with them in a way that is spiritually safe?

That is what I want to explore in Part 4: How Can We Use Crystals Safely?