Since ancient times, certain gemstones and precious metals have been ascribed properties that range from the ability to promote spiritual healing to the ability to open up one’s heart. People all over the world collect stones and crystals and use them to release mental, spiritual, and sometimes physical blockages within themselves. In fact, it is for these reasons that gemstones started to be incorporated into jewelry in the first place.

Whether you or your loved ones believe in these spiritual practices or not, a jewelry gift featuring a stone imbibed with spiritual significance would be an excellent choice this holiday season, as a piece could be treasured not just for its beautiful appearance, but also for its deeper meaning.

To help you find a gift that would be incredibly meaningful for yourself or for your loved ones, we’ve put together some gemstones that are commonly used in jewelry and we explore the spiritual significance of each stone and metal.

Amethyst
Previously believed to keep the wearer from getting drunk and cleansing them of toxins, this gemstone is now commonly associated with cleansing the body and soul of negative energy. Amethyst, with its calming purple hue, is a “stress reliever,” of sorts, as it is said that the wearer just needs to press the stone against their skin to calm their senses.

Aquamarine

Associated with the life-giving source of water, the greenish-blue Aquamarine is also thought to “wash away” stress and fear. Sometimes called the “courage stone,” this gemstone is said to have the ability to remove doubt and negative energy and to influence the growth of self-respect and inner peace. Because of its connection to water, it is also rumoured to increase psychic power.

Carnelian

Carnelian is a very high-energy stone. Thought to inspire creativity, self-confidence, focus, and movement, this is the best stone to gift to the creative in your life who has been having trouble manifesting their vision into reality. Its bright orange color is sure to bring vibrancy and vitality to any jewelry wardrobe, but its vibration-spiking spiritual properties would be especially valuable to those who’ve been stuck in a rut.

Citrine

Commonly associated with the concept of sunshine, and especially sunrise, citrine is said to bring prosperity and self-confidence to its wearer. Mostly symbolic of new beginnings, especially in business and relationships, this gorgeous sunshine-yellow gemstone would make an excellent gift around the holidays as a way to usher in a prosperous new year.

Emerald

Unsurprisingly, this vibrant green gemstone symbolizes prosperity and abundance, in addition to balance, wisdom, and maturity. Emerald’s color, which refreshes the eyes and is said to revitalize the body, would make a beautiful statement-making piece in a loved one’s jewelry wardrobe.

Garnet

Found in brownish-black to vibrant red colors, the garnet is a gemstone that is particularly well-known for its healing properties, especially among the Chinese. It is said to clear energy blockages and to influence the wearer to abandon unhealthy mental patterns. Its blood red hue imbues it with intense passion, but it also represents faith and truth—a wonderful gift for a significant other to rejuvenate the relationship and ensure a warm holiday season together.

Jade

Like the green of the emerald, the unique green of jade is said to bring prosperity and abundance to its wearer. It’s the stone of good luck and spiritual guidance, as indicated by its nickname, “the Jewel of Heaven.” Thought to symbolize peace and mental purity, this stone also enhances psychic ability and concentration. This is the gemstone to give the young professional in your life who would benefit from a little extra luck.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is thought to increase one’s spiritual potential. Its appearance—the dreamy blue-black of a sky speckled with white stars and the veins of galaxies—connects it to the spiritual world, and so this stone is said to bring enlightenment and develop wisdom, intuition, and meditation in the wearer. As a stone meant to enhance spiritual awakenings, this is a good gift for the loved one who meditates every day and leaves space for new beginnings in their life.

Peridot

Another green gemstone that brings prosperity and wealth to the wearer, peridot is also said to remove feelings of jealousy, anger, and stress. This bright green stone replaces those toxic feelings with ones that encourage personal freedom and self expression, as well as ones that help heal damaged relationships and hurt egos. For the superstitious person in your life, this would make a good present, as it is also said to ward off evil.

Rose Quartz

The stone of unconditional love, as rose quartz is sometimes called, certainly looks the part with its sweet, light pink hue. This gemstone clears the wearer of fear and resentment and instead fills them with feelings of happiness, forgiveness, and peace. This would be excellent for someone who’s been unlucky in love, as rose quartz is said to invite love into the wearer’s life.

Ruby

Like the garnet, the ruby is said to have great healing abilities, especially relating to blood flow and the heart. This stone is also important to the Chinese culture, as it is believed to help decision-making and improve family matters by improving the wearer’s self-esteem and ability to negotiate. Red is also a color of good luck, passion, and creativity—perfect for a loved one with significant business ventures on the horizon.

Sapphire

The deep, calming blue of this gemstone perfectly reflects its spiritual meaning: sapphire is thought to stimulate thoughts of peace and beauty while eliminating negative energy. Thought to inspire truth and promote a positive attitude towards life, this stone would be a valuable addition to anyone’s jewelry collection.

Topaz

Like the other gold and yellow gemstones, topaz is an energizing crystal with the ability to stimulate mental clarity and wisdom. This stone is also thought to ward off mental exhaustion and help heal traumas. This stone would make an excellent present for someone who’s had a tough year; perhaps it can inspire and rejuvenate them for the new year ahead!

Turquoise

This stone is, for some cultures, the bridge between heaven and earth, sea and sky. Thought to protect and align the chakras, turquoise strengthens the mind and body, improving one’s mental condition, circulation, and meditation ability. This gemstone fosters open communication in relationships and encourages self-expression and spirituality. For the very spiritual person in your life, a piece of turquoise jewelry would make an especially powerful gift this holiday season.

In 2017, Time Magazine wrote an article about healing crystals, stating, “…the human mind is a powerful thing, and it’s trickier to say flatly that crystals don’t work, if you define ‘work’ as providing some benefit.” What they determined was that yes, crystals can heal, but only if the mind believes they can heal.

With that said, here’s a list of crystals that are believed to have healing powers. If you’re a fan of alternative medicines, consider getting a spiritual rock collection.

Amethyst
Amethyst has a long history as a spiritual healing stone and is referenced in a handful of modern and ancient religions. According to the Egyptian “Book of the Dead,” instructions are given for laying a heart shaped amethyst atop those who have died to help the body peacefully transition into their next life. The Roman Catholic church looks upon amethyst as a gem of purity often associated with the church’s bishops. And Buddhist prayer beads in Tibet are often created using the stone, so clearly there is a deep spirituality when it comes to the purple gem.

In terms of their modern healing powers, amethyst is said to boost inner strength and provide spiritual protection as well.

Citrine
Used extensively as a talisman against evil, overindulgences, treachery, and scandal during the first and second centuries in the Roman empires and throughout Greece, citrine found its place in history even though it wasn’t as popular as its purple sister, amethyst.

The healing powers most associated with the orange-hued gemstone (which some say receives those powers directly from the sun) are prosperity, abundance, opportunity, protection, and weight loss. Known largely as the “Merchant’s Stone,” citrine is also said to help one prosper by removing financial stalemates.

Rose Quartz
The pale pink hue of the rose quartz emits a soothing, calm vibe, emitting harmony, peace, and even love. It is a crystal often used by those who are emotionally troubled, are struggling with mental illness, or are having relationship woes as it is said to lower stress.

Sometimes referred to as the “love crystal” or “heart stone,” the energy of the rose quartz is said to allow the wearer of the stone to open themselves up to all forms of available love including romantic love, self-love, familial love, and platonic love among friends.

Carnelian
Ancient Egyptians wore the gemstone carnelian as a source of constant renewal and vitality, and the stone was even placed in tombs as “magic armor” for the afterlife.

Varying in color from light orange to reddish brown, carnelian is said to be an energy boosting gemstone that helps to keep the wearer motivated, confident, forward-thinking, and inspired. It is also said to alleviate addictions while inducing joy through creativity and sensuality.

Clear Quartz (also known as Rock Crystal)
Known as “The Master Healer,” many believe that rock crystal offers the wearer the power of a divine white light while allowing one to be in touch with one’s higher self. Clear quartz is also said to be a versatile stone because it magnifies the vibrations of the crystals that surround it and is frequently used to cleanse and re-energize other healing crystals.

Another important property of rock crystal is said to be its ability to stimulate the immune system, bringing the body back into a proper state of balance through the enhancement of organs in the body and through the cleansing of the soul. This allows the wearer a solid connection between physical self and the mind.

While crystals aren’t for everyone from a healing standpoint, there’s no denying that any gemstone in any form brings some sort of emotion to the onlooker and/or wearer. If you’re wearing a ring made with a huge amethyst cut into a beautiful shape, chances are that ring is going to make you happy. If you’ve been gifted a pair of rock crystal earrings, you may not go to your local healer to experiment with their properties, but you’ll likely wear them with pride which will give you confidence and make you feel good about yourself and the person who gave them to you, and at the end of the day, maybe that really is the true healing power of gems.