One of our favorite crystal experts, the Hoodwitch, shows us how to work with Rose Quartz, just in time for Valentine’s Day

As we enter the season of love, also known as Valentine’s Day, we’re caught with our hearts — and Rose Quartz — in our hands. Because even though Rose Quartz stones are beautiful to look at, they offer more value than just being aesthetically pleasing. But don’t take it from us, take it from our favorite style and crystal-conscious maven, Bri Luna, also known as The Hoodwitch. Bri’s the owner and creative director of The Hoodwitch.com, the online destination for every modern mystic looking to infuse their life with some magick. And if there’s anyone that knows crystals, it’s Bri.
Rose Quartz works with the heart chakra, the energy center where your heart is along your spine, to help open your heart and nurture the soft side of you.
"Rose Quartz is the nurturer of the mineral family. The vibration is like that of someone that cares for us deeply and teaches us unconditional love, for ourselves and others. Rose Quartz, on an emotional level, promotes self-love, stress relief, self-acceptance, comfort, and inner peace. The stone has been used also to assist in grief, trauma, and depression."
With Valentine’s Day approaching, many of us will take all the extra love we can get.
We’ve asked Bri to help round up eight ways to work with Rose Quartz.
1Find a stone that speaks to you
The first step in working with Rose Quartz is to find a stone that speaks to you. Whether you’re going to your local metaphysical shop or hitting up the internet to find one, there are a few key things to remember when purchasing your new stone. Namely, that your stone should speak to you. When you see a crystal you like, hold it in your left hand and take a second to close your eyes and breathe. Check in to see how you feel, if you feel any pulsating energy in your palm or any warmth in your heart. If you’ve never worked with crystals, the sensations you feel may be more subtle. Trust your intuition! Repeat this process as many times as needed until you find your stone. And if you’re shopping online, Bri reminds you to notice what colors, shapes and sizes you’re attracted to. Again, trust your gut!
2Cleanse it
Once you’ve found your perfect stone, you’ll want to cleanse it. Basically, this means energetically washing your stone so it’s a clean slate for whatever work you plan on doing. There are several ways to do this, whether it’s through leaving your stone in a bowl of salt or saltwater. You can also use incense or sage smoke to help clear your stone. Or, you can cleanse and energize the stone by leaving it under the light of the full moon or sun for a day or two. Bri reminds us not to leave our stones in direct sunlight for too long, however, because the colors will start to fade. Visualization, running water and burying your stone in the earth are also all suitable options. Find what speaks to you and go for it!
3Charge it up
Once you’ve cleared your stone, it’s time to charge it up! This is just a fancy way of setting an intention with your stone. Rose Quartz is known for fostering love, so anything in that realm will be extra potent. Start by finding a quiet space where you can be alone with your stone, no strong electronic devices welcome. You can cleanse the space with incense and sage if you so choose.
Bri instructs:
"Hold the crystal in front of you, clear your mind and focus on the stone. Give the crystal a cleanse with white light [by imagining a white light surrounding the stone and a beam of light piercing the stone.] Concentrate on the specific energy that you wish to program the crystal with, and 'transmit' the energies and thoughts from your mind directly to the stone. Be clear and direct when doing this and don't try to confuse or overload the crystal with different thoughts and energies. Do this until you feel happy that the required thoughts and energies have been transmitted to the stone."
4Make a date to meditate
Meditating with you Rose Quartz is one of the easiest and most potent ways to work with your stone. Taking five or 10 minutes a day to lay with your stone on your chest or holding it and listening to what it has to say is a vital piece in forging a relationship with your crystal. Bri reminds us that crystals are sentient beings that communicate with us, much like plants do. She also reminds us that although it may seem “silly” to be receptive to a crystal, ancient civilizations and cultures all around the world, like the Egyptians and Aztecs, are known to have worked with ancient stones.
Bri explains:
"Overall, working with crystals hugely relies on trusting your own intuition and inner guidance. Trust the words, or messages that come up for you while you've made the time to hold and enjoy your new stone."
5Wear your Rose Quartz on your sleeve
We already know how beautiful this stone is to look at, so the question is why wouldn’t you want to wear it? Wearing your crystal is like an on-the-go fix for when you’re feeling a little bit, or a lot, under the weather.
Says Bri:
"When I'm feeling overly critical of my body I wear a large Rose Quartz pendant that I had custom made for me. It reminds me to be continuously loving towards myself. In the famous words of RuPaul, 'if you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?' And that's exactly the message of our sweet Rosey."
If you don’t have any jewelry with the stone, you can also tuck the Quartz into a pocket, bra or purse. Whether you wear a giant Rose Quartz ring on your finger or a raw pendant around your neck, your heart will be sure to thank you.
6Take a crystal bath
Crystals work because they’re perfect molecular structures, and when we have them in our own energetic field, also known as an aura, they help to restructure our own vibrations. If you want to try something different with your stone, you can take a bath with it. Bri suggests using Moroccan Rose Oil, jasmine flowers, pink candles and of course, your Rose Quartz! You can also add epsom salt, with or without essential oils, to your bath to help you ground and decompress. Since salt is the smallest natural crystal, it helps to absorb access energy. Sit with your stone, enjoying the soothing water, taking time to connect with your Rose Quartz with some deep breaths. Notice if you feel anything, but don’t get frustrated if you don’t — it’s a practice for a reason!
7Charge your water
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Bri tells us that Rose Quartz can be used in purified water, charged in sunlight to create rose elixir to drink. But make sure not to drink the crystals, so be mindful that the pieces you place in the water aren’t too small. Explains Bri:
"Gem essences infuse the water with the vibration of the stone. Rose Quartz water can be used to soothe inflammation of the skin, and also for all of the other wonderful heart healing, love expanding proprieties associated with the stone on its own."
8Sleep with it
Since crystals like Rose Quartz connect us with our psyche and unconscious selves, it makes sense to sleep with your stone! “I suggest cleansing it and placing it under your pillow for a few nights, if it’s small enough to wear hidden somewhere (ex. your bra, or a pocket) this will allow the stone to attune to your personal vibration,” Bri says. You can leave your stone on your nightstand or you can tuck it into your pillowcase. When you wake up in the morning, record any dreams you’ve had. Stones work in the psychic realm so their messages to us may be transmitted through feelings and dreams.
The key to forging a relationship with your stone is to enjoy your time together! Treat your stone like the heart of someone close to you that you love. Be tender with it. Receive its energy with love and humility, and don’t forget to treat yourself the same way.