Black tourmaline has a reputation as a great protector and energy filter, for good reason. This dark, lustrous stone can absorb negative energy, ground the user, heal, and protect against all forms of spiritual harm. It is easy to use, too, as long as you keep a few things in mind.

What is Black Tourmaline?

Black tourmaline is a dark variety of tourmaline. This is a crystalline boron silicate mineral, whose color varies based on trace elements like iron, lithium, or potassium. The dark brown to black type is also called "schorl," after a village in Germany where it was found. It gets its color from sodium ions.

Using Black Tourmaline for Protection

Protecting yourself with black tourmaline is as easy as keeping it within your energy field. You can do this by carrying a tumbled stone in your pocket or wearing it as a bracelet or pendant.

You can also guard your home by using a larger piece of tourmaline. Put one in each corner of a room (especially common rooms), or near the entrances to your home. This can protect your space from the negative energy that other people bring in.

You may wish to charge and program your stones for the purpose of protection. To do this, hold the black tourmaline in your dominant hand. Ask the stone to guard your aura against psychic attacks, psychic vampires, malevolent magic, and all forms of toxic or negative energy. Feel yourself drawing energy up from the Earth, and down from the sky. Allow it to mix in your body, then flow down your arm and into the stone. When you feel that it cannot hold anymore, thank the black tourmaline and put it down. It is now ready to wear or use.

Using Black Tourmaline to Heal

Like all crystals, black tourmaline has energies that resonate with specific parts of the body. It's said to be very grounding, which means that it can help restore your energy field to normal after it has been disrupted or unsettled. For grounding purposes, simply hold the stone, close your eyes, and breathe deeply for a few moments.

Since it is so good at removing negative energy, black tourmaline is often used to help the body recover from physical illness. Crystal healers often use it to reduce stress, stimulate the immune system, and relieve pain. The best way to heal with black tourmaline is to place it directly on the affected body part. For illnesses that affect the whole body, to speed recovery, or to boost immunity or metabolism, wearing black tourmaline anywhere on the body is said to help.

Emotionally, wearing or meditating with this stone is said to break negative behavior patterns. It is also helpful for reducing anxious thoughts and feelings. It is connected to the root chakra, so working with it can help open this energy center and provide feelings of safety and security.

The Secret to Using Black Tourmaline Effectively

While black tourmaline is very easy to use, there is one thing that many people neglect: Since this stone acts as a sponge for toxicity and negativity, it needs to be cleansed very often. If it is not, it will not be effective.

Think of black tourmaline as an air filter. When it is fresh and clean, it catches all of the things you do not want to breathe in, while still allowing the free flow of air. As it gets clogged with dust and grime, it does its job less and less well. Eventually, either air can no longer flow through, or the filter becomes a source of dust itself. It needs to be kept clean in order to work.

You can cleanse black tourmaline by putting it in water mixed with a little sea salt, placing it in sunlight or moonlight, fuming it with cleansing incense or sage smoke or even playing a singing bowl. Do this regularly, or every time your black tourmaline has come into contact with a heavy source of negative energy or physical illness.

Black tourmaline is one of the most useful crystals for any collection. Even just keeping it around is enough to help shield you from negativity and toxic energies. As long as you properly care for your crystal and keep it cleansed, it will continue to protect and heal you for a lifetime.