According to Leavy, smoky quartz is commonly found in places like Brazil, parts of Africa, Scotland, and the state of Colorado. It’s actually the national gem of Scotland, with “Cairngorm” quartz, from the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland, being particularly sought after. “Some ancient Celtic people used it for personal adornment and jewelry, as well as in ceremonial pieces like weapons,” she says. And as spiritual health expert and meditation teacher Kara Ladd previously wrote for mbg, “It was the Druid’s first choice in sacred ceremonies and rituals [and was] believed to guide souls to the afterlife and keep evil spirits away.” In general, Leavy says that smoky quartz is terribly underrated and really shouldn’t be. “A lot of people aren’t drawn to it because it’s not seemingly pretty on the surface—and I think smoky quartz just doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it’s pretty amazing,” she notes. Leavy tells mindbodygreen that smoky quartz can keep you grounded if you’re doing spiritual work or meditating, encourage a deeper connection to the Earth, support feelings of peace and calm, and even help you work through personal fears. “Because of that grounding quality, it’s amazing how much we’re able to do better and more easily when we’re really well grounded,” she adds. To that end, Leavy adds that if you’re a person who is sensitive to the energy of other people, or you’re simply feeling a little tender and need extra energetic shielding and protection, “then smoky quartz is a great companion to have in your pocket.” Smoky quartz is also known to grow alongside the crystal amazonite in Colorado, which Leavy says makes these two excellent companions. And if you’re working with smoky quartz to balance your root chakra, other stones that support the root would be great additions too, such as black tourmaline or hematite. Leavy does note to be mindful if you’re working with a rougher piece of smoky quartz so you don’t chip any tips off the cluster. Check out our full guide to charging crystals for more methods of charging that you might prefer.
