One of the most joyful crystals around, citrine oozes positive energy, helping you manifest your dreams, heal childhood wounds, find clarity, and so much more. Here’s how to use it for optimal benefit.
If there’s an object in the world that comes close to encapsulating the magic of the sun, it’s the citrine crystal. The beauty of the sun as it reliably rises and sets is unparalleled, but the pinnacle of its majesty occurs when it is full in the sky, showering us with its magical, healing rays.
“Citrine is like the sun — it’s going to bring you positive energy,” explains Adora Winquist, author, alchemical healing expert, and founder of The Love Frequency, her yearlong Modern Alchemist certification program. “It’s such a crystal of joy.”
Because citrine brings the warmth and energy of the sun, it’s believed to be an auspicious partner in manifestation — which is the art of creating with your thoughts, beliefs, and intentions. “Known as the ‘merchant’s stone,’ it’s commonly used for manifesting and is associated with financial abundance,” says Michelle Melo, a crystal therapist.
Citrine is linked to both the sacral and the solar plexus chakras, two of the body’s seven main energy centers, according to Winquist. “The sacral chakra is our gateway to the emotional body, housing all of the feelings that we have about ourselves, while the solar plexus [the area between your navel and your ribs] is the gateway to our mental body, holding our thoughts and judgments.” This is why working with citrine can offer a wide variety of benefits.
Are you curious what else citrine can do for you — and how to work with it? Read on.
The Lowdown on Citrine
“I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, but much of the ‘citrine’ on the market is actually heat-treated amethyst,” Winquist says. “When amethyst is fired at a high intensity, it transforms the iron content in the stone and it becomes yellow, resembling citrine. It’s an unfortunate part of what happens when something becomes really mainstream and the demand is so high.”
Authentic citrine, on the other hand, is a type of quartz — often referred to as “lemon quartz” — that acquires its natural color from iron impurities and slight radiation in some locations, Melo explains. “Its natural hue ranges from pale yellow, resembling champagne, to a slightly deeper, smoky yellow shade. Natural citrine can be found in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Bolivia, Zambia, and Australia, among other places.”
Not sure whether your citrine is the real deal? Melo advises examining the stone’s color consistency. “If certain regions of the stone display significant color variations, such as a dark amber tip fading to an almost white base, then it’s likely a heat-treated amethyst rather than a natural citrine.”
And Winquist suggests getting to know the crystal shop owner and/or the supplier before you buy citrine.
Citrine’s Meaning, Physical Properties, and Prevalence
Back in the day, citrine was linked to Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun, and ancient Egyptians used the yellow stones as talismans, Melo says. The Greeks, however, associated the yellow rock with the harvest goddess, Demeter, and opted to use it in jewelry.
In terms of its size and shape, natural citrine looks like raw quartz, according to Melo. “It’s naturally mined with a pointed tip and flat sides, and, like clear quartz, occurs in organic clusters.” She adds that the stone’s healing energies remain the same, regardless of its size — though a bigger stone might be more suitable for a large space.
Can’t decide on a piece? There’s no wrong choice, Melo says. “Ultimately, the best form of citrine for you hinges on what you feel most drawn to or aligned with.”
Interested in learning more? Check out The Intuitive Crystal Connection.
The Healing Benefits of Citrine
For centuries, crystals have been used in healing rituals across many cultures. And while science has yet to support the effectiveness of crystal healing, metaphysical experts like Melo explain the mechanism: “Crystals, like everything else, vibrate with energy,” she says. “When a crystal is used and interacts with our energetic body, it helps restore balance and harmony where needed. It’s important to note that our sensitivity to these energies can vary; while some might feel the frequencies of crystals, others might not — and that’s okay. Trust the energies are working where intended.”
Here’s how citrine can benefit your body, mind, and spirit.
It Can Help You Manifest Your Desires
According to Melo, citrine is the gold standard for manifestation. “Manifestation is the belief that the Universe will reciprocate the energy and intention you invest in your thoughts,” she explains. “Citrine assists in sharpening your understanding of your desires, intensifying your positive energies, and clearing any stagnation in your energetic field, thereby elevating your ability to manifest. It also works closely with your solar plexus chakra, the energetic center believed to be responsible for manifestation.”
It Brings Clarity and Inspiration Into Your Life
If you’re feeling stuck, Winquist suggests letting citrine be your muse. “It’s going to bring illumination to your mind. It’s going to help you see outside of the box, connect with your ingenuity, and gain clarity and inspiration. It also evokes a sense of play, allowing you to really move through stuck energies and open up to new levels of self-empowerment.” So when you’re looking for new ideas or if you feel creatively blocked, call upon citrine.
It Can Help You Heal Childhood Wounds
Citrine can help you heal your inner child and any unresolved trauma that you carry from childhood, per Winquist. “Because citrine corresponds with the solar plexus and the sacral chakras, where we hold unresolved patterns and emotions and energy consciousness from our past, in particular through childhood, citrine can be a wonderful ally to help dislodge those energies and create emotional upliftment for empowerment.”
It Can Support Your Physical Health
On a physical level, citrine is believed to help increase your stamina, provide support for your endocrine system, and even aid in digestion, Melo says. “With stones, always keep in mind that they are not meant to ‘cure’ — but to complement a healthy routine.”
It Can Bring Financial Abundance Into Your Business
Want in on a trade secret? Melo says citrine is renowned among business owners for its capacity to evoke financial abundance. The trick is to be very specific with your intentions for your business; for example, maybe you want to bring in new clients or new equipment, or have X number of sales within a given time frame. Make sure to call upon that intention whenever you consciously gaze at your citrine.
How to Use Citrine — And Where to Place It in Your Home
When working with crystals like citrine, the most important factor is your intention behind them. This involves getting clear on what you believe citrine can help you accomplish. Ask yourself: What do I hope to heal or attain by working with this crystal? Then, each time you consciously interact with the crystal, remind yourself of your intention.
With that in mind, here are some of the best places and ways to engage with citrine.
1. Place It On Your Body
When her clients express feeling “stuck,” Winquist places a stone on their solar plexus or forehead to help heal any areas of distortion and bring back a sense of illumination and clarity. You can do the same by lying down, placing the stone on either of those points, and simply breathing and relaxing.
2. Put It In Your Office or by Your Workspace
According to Winquist, citrine is great to have in places where you want to feel energized and clear — like your office. Having a stone or chunk there helps promote symmetry and creativity.
3. Wear It
Wearing citrine — especially citrine jewelry — is one of the most effective ways to harness its energies, Melo shares. After all, the more you engage with citrine, the bigger the benefits you’ll reap.
4. Add It to Your Bookshelf
“I like it around my books, especially the ancient texts that I have on metaphysics or medicine, since I want to be able to garner as much of that wisdom as possible,” Winquist says. Working with citrine can bring great illumination and inspiration to the mind, which is key for accessing solutions and new ways of thinking.
5. Meditate With It
Looking for more balance in your life? Meditating with citrine while lying down, with the crystal between your navel and your chest (in your solar plexus region), can feel wonderful, per Melo.
6. Display It by Your Cash Register, Computer, or on a Stack of Business Cards
If you’re a business owner, Melo recommends putting a piece by your cash register, next to your workstation, or even with your business cards to help boost sales.
6 Citrine Rituals
Consciously placing citrine around your home and using it during your day-to-day life is important if you want to get the most benefit from your stone. The following potent citrine rituals can bring your manifestations to life more quickly, boost creativity and mental acuity, and help you feel more like the sunshine that you are.
1. Yellow Visualization
While holding a piece of citrine or resting one on your body, envision yourself immersed in the gem’s beautiful lemony color, Winquist advises. You can do this anywhere, anytime — and it can help you bust through barriers to creativity and open yourself up to more self-empowerment.
2. Positive Affirmation Meditation
If your thoughts are all jumbled or maybe you can’t seem to come up with any new ideas, try this exercise from Melo: Lie down with citrine on your solar plexus and imagine a bright, warm light beaming down as you recite a positive affirmation of your choice, like:
- I am enough.
- I am worthy just as I am.
- Everything good happens to me.
- I am confident in my decisions.
- The Universe always works in my favor.
- I believe in myself.
Repeat for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Manifestation Box
Add citrine, bay leaves, and cinnamon to a small container, such as a box, jar, or bag, per Melo. Then, add a note specifying your precise manifestation goals. Place these items in a sacred space in your home.
4. Water Ceremony
Fill a clear vessel or jar with water, add a piece of citrine, and let it steep for at least 20 minutes, Winquist says. Now, set your intention for manifesting something specific — or set an intention for gaining clarity on what you’d like to manifest. When the water is ready, strain it, acknowledging that this water is now infused with the vibrational pattern of your intention and the crystal. Drink it, ideally first thing in the morning. Winquist loves doing this ceremony with children.
5. Creativity Booster
If you’re in a creative slump, Melo advises pairing amethyst and citrine and sleeping with them under your pillow, then carrying them with you during the day.
6. Bay Leaf Manifestation Tool
On a bay leaf, write your intention with a pen or marker, being clear on what you are trying to attract into your life, Melo suggests. Place this bay leaf with citrine in your purse, bag, or wallet — and carry it with you until your intention manifests.
How to Care for Your Citrine Crystal
Although there is some debate on whether or not crystals need to be cleaned, Melo believes citrine is a stone that must be cleansed often. “This is due to the fact that our solar plexus can become unbalanced fairly quickly, so citrine works a little harder than most other stones,” she explains.
“This crystal responds well to cleansing with salt water, spring water, or even tap water in a pinch (you can even add table salt),” Melo continues. “Alternative cleansing methods like smoke cleansing (with sage) or sound are also beneficial, though it is not advisable to use direct sunlight, as it could cause the stone’s color to fade.”
Bringing Illumination, Creativity, and Abundance Into Your Life With Citrine
Citrine’s subtle yet powerful energies can help you tap into the Great Central Sun, the beautiful, unending source of wisdom and ancient knowledge, Winquist says. This is why it can bring illumination, joy, play, creativity, abundance, and more into your life. Its magic is in helping you step out of your box — and open up to more clarity, inspiration, and new levels of self-empowerment.
