Here is the short version, one stone per centre, from the base of your spine to the top of your head: red jasper for the root, carnelian for the sacral, citrine for the solar plexus, rose quartz for the heart, lapis lazuli for the throat, amethyst for the third eye, and clear quartz for the crown. In chakra tradition each energy centre has its own colour and its own spot on the body, and the crystal that matches usually shares that colour. ✨
For the solar-plexus stone of nerve and drive, see tiger's eye meaning and how to use it.
The one rule of placement is friendly: put the stone where its chakra sits, or wear it so it rests nearby. You do not need seven stones to start. Pick the centre you most want to tend, choose its stone, and let the rest wait. Below you will find the whole map, then a short, clear section for each chakra with exactly where the crystal goes.
The seven chakras at a glance 🔮
Traditions vary a little on wording, but the colours, body spots and go-to stones below are the ones most crystal lovers in Aotearoa reach for. Use this as your quick answer; the sections that follow add the why and the how.
The chakra colours run like a rainbow up the body — red at the root, then orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet or white at the crown. That is the single most useful trick here: match a stone to its chakra's colour, and you are almost always right.
| Chakra | Colour | Where it sits | First-choice stone | Where to place it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | Red | Base of the spine | Red jasper | At the tailbone, or in a trouser pocket |
| Sacral | Orange | Just below the navel | Carnelian | On the lower belly |
| Solar plexus | Yellow | Above the navel | Citrine | On the upper stomach |
| Heart | Green (and pink) | Centre of the chest | Rose quartz | On the breastbone |
| Throat | Blue | The throat | Lapis lazuli | At the base of the throat |
| Third eye | Indigo | Between the eyebrows | Amethyst | On the brow |
| Crown | Violet or white | Top of the head | Clear quartz | Just above the crown |
Jump to your chakra
- Root chakra — red jasper
- Sacral chakra — carnelian
- Solar plexus chakra — citrine
- Heart chakra — rose quartz
- Throat chakra — lapis lazuli
- Third eye chakra — amethyst
- Crown chakra — clear quartz
Root chakra: red jasper and black tourmaline
The root chakra sits at the base of the spine. In chakra practice it is the one you tend when you want to feel steady and at home in yourself. Its colour is red, so the stones are deep and earthy.
Red jasper is the classic first pick, a warm brick-red stone that feels grounding to hold. If you would rather wear your root stone, black tourmaline is the other great choice. It is a glossy black crystal that people keep by the front door or under a busy desk as a boundary stone. Rivendell's Black Tourmaline Round Bead Crystal Bracelet (from NZ$27) keeps it on the wrist all day.
Where to place it: lie down and rest the stone at your tailbone, or simply keep one in a pocket so it sits low on the body. For more root-stone options, see the Balance your Root Chakra collection.
Sacral chakra: carnelian
The sacral chakra sits just below the navel, and tradition links it with creativity, warmth and getting things flowing again after a flat patch. Its colour is orange, and no stone wears that better than carnelian.
Carnelian glows somewhere between apricot and rust, and it is lovely to hold. A Carnelian Round Bead Crystal Bracelet (from NZ$15) is an easy way to keep that spark of orange close while you work or create. Orange calcite and sunstone are gentle alternatives if you want the same warmth in a lighter stone.
Where to place it: rest the stone on your lower belly, a hand-width below the navel. Browse more warm stones in the Stimulate your Sacral Chakra collection, or go deeper with our guide to gemstones for the sacral chakra.
Solar plexus chakra: citrine
The solar plexus sits above the navel, and in chakra tradition it is the seat of confidence and quiet self-belief. Its colour is sunny yellow, which makes citrine the natural match. 🕯️
Citrine is a golden quartz, cheerful and easy to like. One honest note worth knowing: most citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst, which is what turns it that warm amber colour. It is still real quartz and perfectly lovely to own. A Citrine Round Bead Crystal Bracelet (from NZ$25) sits nicely on the wrist, and tiger's eye, with its silky moving sheen, is a grounding alternative for the same centre.
Where to place it: lie back and set the stone on your upper stomach. See more in the Unblock your Solar Plexus Chakra collection.
Heart chakra: rose quartz and green aventurine
The heart chakra sits at the centre of the chest, and it is the one most people reach for first. Tradition ties it to love, kindness and being gentle with yourself. Its colours are green and soft pink, so you have two beautiful stones to choose from.
Rose quartz asks almost nothing of you; it just sits there being quietly kind, which is why it ends up on bedside tables and in coat pockets. Green aventurine brings a leafy, easygoing calm, and its faint sparkle comes from tiny flecks of mica in the quartz. A Green Aventurine Tumbled Crystal starts at NZ$4.99, or keep rose quartz close with a Rose Quartz Round Bead Crystal Bracelet (from NZ$15).
Where to place it: lie down and set the stone on your breastbone, right over the centre of the chest. More heart stones live in the Open your Heart Chakra collection.
Throat chakra: lapis lazuli
The throat chakra sits at the base of the throat, and tradition links it with honest, easy self-expression, saying the true thing kindly. Its colour is blue, and lapis lazuli is the deep, star-flecked classic.
Lapis lazuli is a rich royal blue scattered with gold pyrite, treasured since ancient Egypt. It is softer and more porous than quartz, so wipe it with a dry cloth rather than soaking it. A Lapis Lazuli Round Bead Crystal Bracelet (from NZ$30) keeps that blue at your pulse. Blue lace agate and amazonite are softer, paler alternatives for the same centre.
Where to place it: rest the stone at the base of the throat, or wear it as a pendant so it naturally sits there. Explore the Open your Throat Chakra collection for more.
Third eye chakra: amethyst
The third eye sits between the eyebrows. In chakra practice it is the centre of intuition and clear-headedness — the quiet knowing behind your thoughts. Its colour is indigo, which makes amethyst the obvious, lovely choice. 🌙
Amethyst is a purple quartz. It has been loved for centuries as a stone of calm and clarity. Fluorite, in soft greens and purples, is a gentle alternative, though it is a much softer stone that chips easily, so handle it with care. Keep amethyst close with an Amethyst Round Bead Crystal Bracelet (from NZ$22).
Where to place it: lie down and rest a small, smooth stone lightly on your brow, between the eyebrows. More options sit in the Open your Third-Eye Chakra collection.
Crown chakra: amethyst and clear quartz
The crown chakra sits at the very top of the head. Tradition links it with stillness, perspective and a sense of connection to something larger. Its colours are violet and clear white, so amethyst carries up from the third eye, and clear quartz joins it here.
Clear quartz is the great all-rounder, bright and versatile, which is why people call it the master stone. A Clear Quartz Crystal Point Pendant (from NZ$19.99) is a simple way to wear it. Selenite, a soft, satiny white stone, is another crown favourite, though it must always be kept dry.
Where to place it: lie down and set the stone on the floor or pillow just above the top of your head. For more, see the Balance your Crown Chakra collection, or read our ultimate guide to crown chakra crystals.
A simple seven-stone layout 💎
Once you have a few stones, a full-body layout is a calming ten minutes. Here is the whole ritual, no water and no fuss:
- Lie down somewhere comfortable and warm, and take a few slow breaths.
- Starting at the root, place each stone on its spot: tailbone, lower belly, upper stomach, chest, throat, brow, and one just above your head.
- Rest for five to ten minutes. Let the weight of each stone remind you where your attention is.
- To finish, lift the stones off from the crown downward, and sit up slowly.
Would you like ready-made arrangements you can pick by mood? Our companion guide to crystal layouts for chakra balancing walks through seven of them, plus more on running and closing a session. New to the centres themselves? Start with the basics of the 7 chakras, or try a gentle chakra colour visualisation.
Care that keeps them (and you) safe ☀️
Most of these stones are quartz, sitting at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, so they cope well with everyday handling and a quick rinse. A few need a gentler touch:
- Keep selenite and malachite dry. Selenite is a soft gypsum that actually dissolves in water, and malachite is a copper mineral whose dust is best not breathed or soaked. Wipe both with a dry cloth only.
- Handle lapis lazuli and fluorite gently. Lapis is soft and porous, so skip the soak and use a dry cloth. Fluorite is softer still and chips easily.
- Keep amethyst out of long, direct sun, which can slowly fade its violet toward grey. A shady shelf or a little moonlight suits it better.
- Please do not put crystals in drinking water. Some minerals can shed material you would not want to swallow. Enjoy your stones beside you, not in your glass.
Choosing a piece 🧿
You do not need a whole set to begin. A single stone for the centre you care about most is a perfectly good start, and often the one your hand keeps going back to.
At Rivendell, chip bracelets start at around NZ$6–10, round-bead bracelets from about NZ$15, and crystal point pendants around NZ$20. If you would like the full rainbow in one go, a ready-made Chakra Stones set starts at NZ$11.99, and you will find wearable options in the Chakra Healing bracelets collection. We are online across Aotearoa and in person at Shop 62, Westfield Manukau in Auckland, if you would like to hold a few before you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best crystal for each chakra?
A reliable starting set is red jasper for the root, carnelian for the sacral, citrine for the solar plexus, rose quartz for the heart, lapis lazuli for the throat, amethyst for the third eye, and clear quartz for the crown. The easiest rule is to match the chakra's colour. Reach for a red stone at the red root centre, a blue stone at the blue throat, and so on.
Where exactly do I place the crystals?
Lie down and rest each stone on its chakra's spot: the tailbone for the root, the lower belly for the sacral, the upper stomach for the solar plexus, the centre of the chest for the heart, the base of the throat, the brow between the eyebrows, and just above the top of the head for the crown. If lying down is not handy, wearing or pocketing the stone near that area works too.
Can I use one crystal for all seven chakras?
Yes. Clear quartz is the usual choice because it is seen as an all-purpose stone in crystal practice, and amethyst is a lovely option for the upper centres. Move the single stone slowly from the root up to the crown. Pause a moment at each spot.
Do I have to cleanse chakra crystals, and how?
Cleansing is a personal ritual rather than a rule. If you like to, the gentlest methods are a wipe with a dry cloth, a night beside selenite, or a little moonlight. Skip soaking for softer or porous stones like selenite, malachite, lapis lazuli and fluorite, and never place crystals in drinking water.
Which chakra should a beginner start with?
Start with the centre that matches how you feel. If you want to feel steadier, begin at the root with red jasper. For more calm and rest, begin at the crown or third eye with amethyst. For more warmth toward yourself, begin at the heart with rose quartz. One stone, chosen on purpose, is a better start than a full set bought in a rush.
Sources
- International Gem Society — quartz, selenite (gypsum), malachite, lapis lazuli, fluorite, tiger's eye, tourmaline and aventurine gemstone and hardness information.
- GIA — amethyst (sunlight fading) and citrine (heat-treated amethyst) information.
Arranging stones in the bedroom for calm sleep? Here's where to place crystals for restful nights.