Crystals: Earth’s First Living Beings

BY ANNIE LARSON Published in Pathways Magazine, Winter 2025, page 18.

In a crystal we have clear evidence of the existence of a formative life principle, and though we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is nonetheless a living being.

~ Nikola Tesla

Our ancestors, the early hominids, engaged in collecting minerals tens of thousands of years ago. Archaeological sites show early hominids made arrowheads and hand axes from flint, chert, and obsidian. While their motivations were likely practical, their selection of specific stone types shows they understood material properties.

As the opening quote suggests, Nikola Tesla’s conjecture about crystals being living beings highlights what was his lifelong fascination with the natural world and its fundamental forces. Tesla is well known for his inventions, such as the alternating current and the Tesla coil. The renowned inventor, electrical engineer and futurist saw crystals as potential in his quest to harness energy and develop groundbreaking technologies. His predecessors Jacques and Pierre Curie’s work in 1880 discovered quartz could produce an electric charge under mechanical stress; Tesla believed crystals, especially quartz, had unique properties for energy transmission and storage.

Quartz crystals vibrate, and they do so at a very precise frequency. This property makes quartz crystals great for timekeeping devices like watches that use quartz crystal oscillators. This precision is also used in space travel. According to NASA, in order to know a spacecraft's location within a small margin of error, astronomers rely on atomic clocks, made from a combination of quartz crystal with mercury atoms that can measure billionths of a second.

To understand more about the fascinating world of minerals, it is essential to recognize that they serve as the fundamental building blocks of rocks and crystals, forming the very foundation of the Earth’s geological structure. They come in an astonishing variety of forms and compositions, each exhibiting its own unique characteristics such as color, hardness, luster and cleavage. This diversity results from the various environmental conditions under which they form, including temperature, pressure, and different chemical elements. Quartz is the most common mineral on earth, and it comes in many varieties. Each variety of quartz possesses its own set of physical and optical properties, making them sought after in various applications, from industrial uses to ornamental gemstones.

An Evolution of Understanding Crystals 

Beyond their use as tools, rocks held symbolic significance. Cave paintings and artifacts decorated with stones and crystals show an earlier recognition of their aesthetic and spiritual value. In his renowned book, The Human Condition, prehistorian and cognitive archeologist Robert G. Bednarik compiles decades of research on human evolution and expertise on paleolithic rock art, and he notes, “None of those crystals were used as tools, nor worked on, nor do they even have perforations or signs of use as jewels. They were objects that the hominins considered valuable in themselves. In summary, 700,000 years ago (perhaps even earlier if other discoveries are confirmed), the brain of Homo erectus felt so attracted by the shapes of quartz crystals that they decided to treasure them.” (Bednarik, 2011)

Neolithic societies mined gemstones for decoration. The ancient Greeks and Romans amassed collections, inspired by mythology and the protective qualities of gemstones. The Chinese honed the art of jade carving, elevating it to a cultural icon.

Like early hominids, Tesla’s interest in crystals went beyond practical use; he saw them as conduits for Earth’s cosmic energy. He believed their vibrational frequencies connected to universal energy fields, aligning with his vision of harnessing Earth’s natural energies for humanity’s free, limitless power.

Tesla further believed in the concept of “ether” as a medium for transmitting energy, and he saw crystals as potential tools to manipulate these vibrations. Summaries of articles found in his published work, The Tesla Papers, assert, “Tesla’s crystal oscillators could harness and stabilize the vibrational energy of quartz while allowing him to produce frequencies that were stable and controlled. His experiments established the powerful radio technology. These precise frequencies were used for signal transmissions.”

For understanding, note from Suntsu Electronic’s Quick Guide to Oscillators that “Oscillators work by converting direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power. To do this, DC power is connected to the circuit which then flows through the oscillator circuit and becomes AC signals at specific frequencies that are called sine waves. These waves act as informational signals in electronics and, since it changes over time as it oscillates, they become integral in all devices that need accuracy.” In the present world, these crystals are used in radio and telecommunication technologies. These are serving as the heart of oscillators in many electronic devices, including radios, clocks, and computers.

Because of their ability to vibrate, Tesla believed crystals could influence consciousness and well-being, and he explored crystals’ metaphysical aspects. His holistic approach considered crystals as tools for both technological and personal transformation. Although Tesla discussed the potential of crystals in his writings and lectures, there is no documented evidence of him conducting specific experiments in his lab using crystals for healing or other metaphysical purposes. Detailed records of his experiments, most of which were seized when he died in 1943, are scarce.

Rockhounding For Hobby and Healing

Like Tesla, I developed a strong passion for collecting crystals and minerals from a young age, a fascination that traces back through my ancestors. In 1965, I gathered my most rare crystal specimens. My father was overseeing the Alamogordo Air Force Base in New Mexico. I collected rare crystals known as “Trinitite” during the dedication ceremony of Trinity Site at White Sands Missile Range. This site is famous for detonating the first atomic bomb explosion on July 16, 1945, as depicted in the Oscar-winning film “Oppenheimer.” Twenty years after the first atomic blast, at age five, I walked on the white desert sand, which had turned into a pale green glass layer because of the bomb’s intense heat. Robert E. Hermes, a scientist from Los Alamos National Laboratory, suggested in his 2005 article in the Nuclear Weapons Journal that “much of the glass was formed by sand which was drawn up inside the fireball and then rained down in liquid form.” You can still visit this site today, although collecting specimens is no longer allowed. It is open two days each year, in April and October, as it remains radioactive.

My own collection, some inherited, became integral to my life, enriching my Reiki energy healing practice with the energies and healing properties each specimen offers. As a dedicated “rockhound,” I seek unique specimens in nature and through exchanges with fellow enthusiasts and specialized crystal shops. Coined in 1922, the term “rockhound” describes collectors who are always on the lookout for distinctive geological discoveries. My adventures often lead me to remote mining locations or gem shows, providing opportunities to deepen my geological knowledge. Over the years, by keeping my gaze downward, I’ve uncovered countless treasures in unexpected places, turning collecting into an exciting crystal hunting quest.

Rockhounding also connects me to my ancestral Finnish heritage, where Saami shamans believed crystals shared a structure with the human brain, long before the discovery of DNA. Stones called “sieidis” were revered as sacred and believed to be inhabited by helpful spirits. Saami families and clans made offerings to these stones for protection and good fortune. Finland started a tradition of using special rocks called “kiuaskivet”, like basalt or peridotite, in saunas for their heat retention. Finlanders may have originally used native spectrolite, related to labradorite, for its healing properties, highlighting ancient practices now mostly forgotten. While most of these cultural healing practices are lost to time, the allure and mystery deepens my appreciation for crystals.

Exploring rocks and minerals is a fascinating hobby. If you're drawn to their charm, you might be a budding rockhound! Start by nurturing your curiosity and wonder, as each crystal tells a story of geological processes that took millions or billions of years to unfold. Beyond their beauty, crystals carry metaphysical properties, adding another layer of significance.

Tesla’s anecdotal work with crystals highlights his innovative spirit and quest to understand technology’s relationship with nature and the universe. His pioneering efforts continue to inspire research into crystals’ potential in energy and holistic healing. As you collect crystals, enjoy the journey and remember that every piece you add to your collection is a small fragment of the earth’s incredible history.

Annie Larson is a psychic medium, speaker, and healer featured in TV, radio, and print outlets including The Washington Post. She offers mediumship sessions providing evidence of the survival of consciousness, meeting clients in Sterling, Virginia, by phone, or online. MediumAnnieLarson.com