Lapis Lazuli: Properties, Benefits, How To Work With It & More

There are crystals and precious stones for everything from relaxation to protection, and if you're in need of a little motivation, lapis lazuli is the one to go for. Here's what to know about the benefits and properties of this crystal, plus how to work with it, according to crystal experts.

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Lapis lazuli (also sometimes just called "lapis") is a metamorphic rock best known for its rich dark blue color. It also often has stripes, flecks, or bands of gold running throughout. As crystal expert and co-founder of Energy Muse Jewelry Heather Askinosie tells mindbodygreen, lapis lazuli can be found in Afghanistan, Argentina, Chile, Italy, Russia, and the United States.

"This intense blue crystal has an endless list of associations with legends, royalty, and deities from cultures all over the world," she explains. Most notably, Ancient Chinese and Greek civilizations adored lapis lazuli carvings, and it was often ground into a powder form and used to create eye shadow in ancient Egypt, according to Askinosie.

This stone was also traditionally used in burial ornaments in Neolithic civilizations because of its value, rarity, and healing properties, she notes.

And nowadays, it's still revered by crystal enthusiasts all over the world.

According to Askinosie, lapis lazuli is extremely empowering, so it's great to use when you want to take the lead in your own life. As she explains, "It can be comforting to allow others to make decisions for you [but] if the choices don't work out the way you intended, you can place the blame on somebody else. So, instead of relying on others to make a decision for you, let lapis lazuli empower you to follow your own lead."

Similar to being empowering, this stone can also drum up motivation when you're struggling to get started. As Askinosie notes, "It helps to instill motivation and self-assurance and whatever you need to do to empower yourself to follow your own sense of direction."

To that end, she adds, it's especially helpful if you're feeling outside influences and pressures to do something you don't want to do. "It helps you to realize your authority in your own life, and if you find yourself looking to others for permission, lapis lazuli can help you look no further than yourself and remind you that you are in charge of creating your own life," she says.

Depending on their color and properties, crystals are associated with different chakras in the body. And in the case of lapis lazuli, its deep blue color connects to the third-eye and throat chakras, which support our ability to speak our truth and tap into intuition, respectively.

One simple way to work with a crystal is to pair it with a mantra or affirmation that relates to the stone's benefits. For lapis lazuli, Askinosie says, a fitting mantra would be "I take the lead in my own life." Repeat this affirmation while meditating, with your lapis in your nondominant hand, and feel the empowering energy of the stone and mantra working together.

Another easy way to work with any crystal is to journal with it as you write about your goals. Askinosie suggests taking your journal and writing down five things you can do today to be a leader in your own life. As you're writing, hold your lapis lazuli in your nondominant hand, and of course, be sure to follow through on the list afterward.

According to spiritual author Emma Mildon, crystals can always be worn as jewelry to keep their energy with you all day, and since lapis lazuli relates to the throat chakra, she suggests wearing it as a necklace.

"Call on crystals that you can program with the intention to speak honestly, like truth stones lapis lazuli, turquoise, or amazonite. They're best worn as necklaces as reminders to have the courage to speak your truth," she previously wrote for mindbodygreen.

Altars and crystal grids are amazing tools for working with any intention or manifestation. Crystal grids involve strategically placing your crystals in a geometric pattern to amplify their properties, and similarly, your altar can include a number of different spiritual tools that relate to whatever your intention is.

If you've never made either before, here's out guide to creating an altar space, plus our guide to making a crystal grid, to help you get started.

Lastly, Askinosie notes this is a great crystal to keep in your bedroom because it's not so energizing that it would disrupt sleep, while also helping you connect to your intuition while you sleep. While you snooze, she says, "It helps you to tap into your inner power and probably could bring some pretty cool and interesting dreams."

Lapis lazuli pairs well with a number of different stones, and especially ones that are associated with the throat or third-eye chakras.

As Askinosie tells mindbodygreen, she likes to pair it with pyrite for prosperity and amethyst for boosting intuition. Some other good stones for the third-eye include sodalite, labradorite, lepidolite, and fluorite, and for the throat chakra, consider celestite, blue lace agate, turquoise, and aquamarine.

When it comes to cleansing and charging your lapis lazuli, any of your preferred methods will do the trick. This stone has a hardness between 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale, so it's safe to be cleansed with water (though you shouldn't leave it submerged very long, just to be safe).

Some of the most common methods of cleansing and charging include sun and moonlight, smudging with smoke, using sound, or even your own breath.

Here's our guide to cleansing and charging crystals for more ideas.

Lapis lazuli has a number of benefits, including being motivating and encouraging, helping you speak your truth, boosting intuition, and supporting the third-eye and throat chakras.

Lapis lazuli has spiritual associations with wisdom, truth, royalty, and intuition.

Anyone can benefit from lapis lazuli, but it's particularly helpful if you want to speak your truth, boost your intuition, or take charge in making decisions in your life.

No, lapis lazuli is not expensive, relatively speaking. However, the price will vary depending on the quality of the particular piece.

Whether you want to boost your intuition, speak your truth, or take charge of your own life, lapis lazuli is a perfect crystal to reach for. However you choose to use it, allow this striking blue stone to offer you the motivation and clarity you need to move forward.

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Sarah Regan is a Spirituality & Relationships Editor, a registered yoga instructor, and an avid astrologer and tarot reader. She received her bachelor's in broadcasting and mass communication from State University of New York at Oswego, and lives in Buffalo, New York.