What To Know About Smoky Quartz, From Its Properties To How To Work With It

Quartz is one of the most popular crystals out there—but we would be remiss not to spotlight one of its unique varieties: smoky quartz. Here's why this stone shouldn't be overlooked, from its benefits to how to work with it, according to crystal experts.

In general, Leavy says that smoky quartz is terribly underrated and really shouldn't be. "A lot of people aren't drawn to it because it's not seemingly pretty on the surface—and I think smoky quartz just doesn't get the attention it deserves because it's pretty amazing," she notes.

Leavy tells mindbodygreen that smoky quartz can keep you grounded if you're doing spiritual work or meditating, encourage a deeper connection to the Earth, support feelings of peace and calm, and even help you work through personal fears. "Because of that grounding quality, it's amazing how much we're able to do better and more easily when we're really well grounded," she adds.

To that end, Leavy adds that if you're a person who is sensitive to the energy of other people, or you're simply feeling a little tender and need extra energetic shielding and protection, "then smoky quartz is a great companion to have in your pocket."

Smoky quartz can also help you reignite your passion when you're feeling stuck or stagnant. As Leavy tells mindbodygreen, "If you feel a little disconnected from things that you once felt really passionate about, smoky quartz can offer a good boost to help get you reconnected with those things."

One simple way to work with smoky quartz is to meditate with it. As Askinosie notes, "Meditating while holding this crystal in your hand can help you identify and let go of stale, sticky patterns and beliefs that are holding you back."

Being a particularly grounding stone, smoky quartz is connected to the root chakra and is an excellent stone to work with if you're looking to recalibrate your root. "Smoky quartz supports the root (or Earth) chakra, supporting grounded energy and protection in the present moment," Ladd previously wrote for mindbodygreen.

Having some smoky quartz around your home is a great way to keep its grounding and protective energy present. Leavy, for example, recommends keeping some in your bedroom to create a protective shield while you sleep. And as Askinosie previously wrote for mindbodygreen, "Every now and then, depending on the energy of the space, I also like to add smoky quartz to my kids' bedrooms to stabilize and absorb any unwanted energy."

Next time you want to tap into inner peace and calm, consider adding some smoky quartz to a ritual bath. Here's a rundown of what you'll need, from spiritual expert and author of Ritual Baths Deborah Hanekamp:

Ritual:

According to crystal expert Yulia Van Doren of Goldirocks, smoky quartz can be a great companion as you're doing shadow work. It's certainly not easy to confront the darkest depths of yourself, but smoky quartz can offer gentle protection, grounding, and shielding as you learn to integrate your shadow.

Leavy notes that if you're into divination of any kind, whether it be tarot or oracle cards, pendulum work, astral travel, or scrying, smoky quartz is helpful in giving you proper insight and enhancing your accuracy. "And again, I think that comes from the grounding," she adds.

And last but not least, smoky quartz is a great crystal to have on hand if you're doing any sort of manifesting practices. "Because of that grounding and connection to the physical, it helps you tap into things in the physical plane, like your career, wealth, and abundance and prosperity," Leavy says, adding, "And it's helpful for focus, particularly when you're dealing with managing really detailed projects."

And if you're working with smoky quartz to balance your root chakra, other stones that support the root would be great additions too, such as black tourmaline or hematite.

Check out our full guide to charging crystals for more methods of charging that you might prefer.

If you overlooked smoky quartz the last time your were browsing your local crystal shop, you might want to reconsider. This underrated variety of quartz has so many benefits, with even more ways to use it, so don't miss out!