Citrine: Magical Properties, Benefits & Uses

If you’re feeling down, low on energy, or need some extra financial luck, chances are someone will tell you to keep some citrine on you.

These yellow to orange crystals are one of the go-to tools for witches, energetic healers, and gem collectors alike — nothing really compares to their bright, effervescent energy.

About Citrine

Citrine is a variety of colorful quartz. This means that it’s silicon dioxide based, with trace minerals that impact its color.

Some experts say that the color is due to iron impurities in the crystal’s structure, while others point the finger at aluminum. In reality, there are likely several different ways to end up with a yellowish quartz crystal, all of which end up labeled “citrine.”

A yellow citrine crystal isolated on a white background.

Interestingly, many of the citrine crystals currently on the market aren’t actual citrine at all. Some are clear quartz that has been dyed, while others are heat-treated amethyst.

The only surefire way to tell a citrine stone from a treated stone is through pleochroism.

This means that, when viewed under magnification, the crystal will appear to shift colors when viewed from different angles. Baked amethyst and dyed stones don’t exhibit this characteristic.

That said, there are some visual cues you can use to tell if the crystal you’re looking as is more likely to be genuine citrine, or treated:

  • Citrine tends to have an elongated growth habit, like clear quartz points. Baked amethyst is generally sold as geodes, or “points” that resemble small, triangular pieces.
  • Real citrine’s color ranges from an almost smoky quartz light brown, like apple juice, to the pale yellow of white wine. Dyed stones are brilliant yellow, while baked amethyst takes on an orange-brown color.
  • Genuine citrine is usually very transparent. Baked amethyst isn’t.
  • Citrine most likely won’t have much of the matrix attached. Baked amethyst almost always has a cloudy, chalky-white base.
  • Citrine can have some color zoning, but doesn’t show a lot of contrast between the tip and the base. Treated amethyst almost always has a very striking color contrast.
  • Real citrine is more expensive, since quality specimens are less common. Amethyst is fairly common, so treated stones tend to be much cheaper.

See also: Check out Citrine crystals here.

Citrine Healing Properties & Benefits

Crystal healers generally recommend citrine for anxiety, low mood, or fatigue. It’s said to have a very uplifting energy that gives off feelings of positivity and joy.

Physically, citrine is sometimes used for digestive disorders. It’s also used by crystal healers for problems with the urinary tract and kidneys, and to balance the endocrine system.

See also: Check out Citrine jewelry here.

Citrine Magical Properties

Citrine is the “merchant’s stone,” and is considered a prosperity crystal par excellence. Folk magic is full of advice to keep one in your bank, wallet, or cash register.

If you don’t handle money directly in your line of work, keeping a sphere, tower, or other specimen on your desk or in your work area can help boost your earnings. In short, wherever citrine goes, money flows!

It’s also a very solar stone, which means that it’s associated with all things related to warmth, positivity, and the sun.

It’s said to be one of the crystals that never needs cleansing (though some sources disagree), and is routinely used for optimism, hope, confidence, and happiness.

A macro shot of citrine crystal with magical and metaphysical properties.

This stone is also considered generally lucky, and good at attracting abundance in all its forms. It makes a beautiful addition to charms to attract anything positive into the user’s life.

As a yellow to orange stone, citrine is associated with confidence, pride, intellect, communication, learning, and concentration in color magic. It would make a fantastic stone for business majors.

For those who work with chakras, this crystal is associated with the solar plexus chakra, Manipura. This is the seat of will, power, confidence, and decision-making. When it’s blocked or unbalanced, we may feel shy, afraid, or even powerless.

Wearing or meditating with citrine near the solar plexus area (a few inches above the navel) can help unblock and restore the flow of energy to this important chakra.

Citrine History & Folklore

Historically, people believed that citrine soothed tempers and calmed anger. It could make men more charming and intelligent, women more fertile, and allowed people to bring more happiness into their lives.

Carrying this stone was said to protect against snakebite. The Celts used it as a talisman for health and vitality.

How to Cleanse Citrine

Cleansing is the process of removing energies that a crystal may have accumulated in its life, in order to restore it to its energetic baseline.

There’s some debate about whether citrine needs to be cleansed at all. Those who feel that it doesn’t hold on to negative energy generally don’t see a need to do so.

As long as it’s done properly, cleansing never hurts a crystal. If you wish to keep your citrine energetically clear, you can use one of the following methods.

Some methods for cleansing Citrine include:

  • Hold it under clean, running water.
  • Bathe it with an infusion of cleansing herbs.
  • Sprinkle it with sea salt.
  • Bury it in soil.
  • Place it under moonlight.
  • Use music, chimes, singing bowls, or bells.

Since citrine is a transparent crystal, exposure to intense sunlight may cause the color to fade. If you wish to use sunlight for cleansing, limit exposure to 5 minutes, and try to do it in the early morning.

If you use a singing bowl, avoid placing your crystals inside the bowl. The vibrations of the sound may cause some crystals to shatter.

Getting Started With Citrine

Citrine is a very easy stone to start with. The only tricky part is choosing one.

First, you should decide if a citrine’s authenticity matters to you. There’s nothing wrong with using a heat-treated amethyst — it’s entirely up to you how you want to work with your crystals.

Before purchasing anything, you should do your homework and know that you’re buying from a reputable supplier who acquires their crystals ethically.

Next, take some time to examine the stones available to you. If at all possible, you should handle them. Pick them up in your non-dominant hand, close your eyes, and see what you feel.

A good stone should feel pleasant, maybe even a bit “buzzy” or tingly to the touch. If it feels prickly, or makes you want to put it down right away, it isn’t a good choice for you.

Orange citrine crystals with magical and metaphysical properties.

Once you have a stone, choose whether you want to cleanse it. Some crystals pick up a lot of stray energy in their travels from the mine to you. If you don’t feel that citrine needs to be cleansed, then don’t worry about it.

At this point, you can start working with your stone. Hold it in your dominant hand, and ask it for its help in achieving your desire. Do you want to attract money? Does your mood need lifting? Speak your needs out loud.

If you’re using your crystal for healing, try to keep or wear it close to the area that needs help. If you need a mood or energy boost, a neck pouch might be a good idea. If your bladder, kidneys, or digestive system need help, keep it in a pocket near these organs.

If you’re using your citrine for magic, consider how you want to deploy it. If you’re an entrepreneur, try keeping it in your cash register — it’ll keep the money flowing. You can also add it to a prosperity spell jar, place it on your altar, or just keep it near your work space.

No matter how you choose to use your crystal, it will become more effective with time. The more you touch and use it, the stronger your relationship will become.

After awhile, you’ll have a powerful magical and healing ally that can help you manifest all of your desires.


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