Crystal Health and Sacred Pleasure by Vanessa Cuccia
Awaken Your Sensual Energy Using Crystals and Healing Rituals, One Chakra at a Time

June 2018
Nonfiction, spiritual, self help

I received a digital copy of this ARC from Quarto Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

In full disclosure, I only have a minimal understanding about the use of crystals in healing. I wasn’t sure what to expect but when I began reading it became obvious that this book focuses on the use of chakrubs crystal used for intimate, sexual healing.

The book is beautifully illustrated and provides a detailed history of chakras and how to use this energy to understand yourself from a spiritual perspective. The author incorporates her own experiences and learning which makes the book less intimidating and more intimate like receiving advice from a friend.

Historical information about crystals as well uses for specific crystals allows the reader to interpret how they might be useful in her life. The use of crystals dates back to Ancient Egypt and Native Americans. The book reminds you about the formation of these precious crystals which traveled their own journey to arrive within our world. Their shape and texture each formed through the years based on their chemical properties and surrounding environment. It is no surprise that those who are spiritually inclined would find significance in these colorful stones.

This book focuses on chakrubs which are specific crystals formed for intimate use which have never been previously owned. It is important to differentiate them from crystal wands which may have been handled by several people before purchase. Chakrubs are personal and need to be presented without the influence of outside energies. The author provides insight into how to choose a chakrub based on your personal intentions.

This book provides an alternative view for the use of crystals based on the different chakras. It is well organized, informative and easy to read. ( )

Crystal Healing and Sacred Pleasure by Vanessa Cuccia introduces a new way to heal yourself, utilising one of nature's greatest tools- crystals. This healing form focuses on using them to heal the chakras and combining that energy with your own sexual energy. After the author opened herself to admitting that she had suffered a sexual trauma by having sex forced on her by her boyfriend at the time, she started working with crystal energy to heal and release that blocked energy. Doing so allowed her to redefine her sexuality, and become more open with herself and others. This book shares her insights with those who need or wish to learn this type of healing.

The first two chapters discuss the chakra system in overview, and the history of using crystals in energetic healing. You get a little crash course on geology, and crystal formation. There's a bit that talks about the author's Chakrub products, and information about choosing, cleansing, and charging your crystals. The next two chapters provide an introduction to healing exercises, and the basics of self love, which is basically to be gentle with yourself and not judgemental.

Each of the seven main chakras, most commonly known to Westerners, is discussed in their own chapter. Each is presented with the basic information related to the chakra in question. While the main focus for healthy and impaired chakra functioning focuses on sexuality, other benefits/afflictions are discussed. A sexuality oriented exercise accompanies each section, along with a section detailing associated stones and their uses/benefits. The final chapter looks at other methods of self love using crystals. These include creating crystal elixirs, and working with the lesser known chakras of the hands and feet.

While I am as yet reluctant to try the sexual oriented techniques within, I found the reading fascinating. Cuccia provides plenty of alternatives for people who would prefer to work without those aspects, or if they lack certain physical necessities for them. This book is geared towards women and feminine energies, and I'd love to read a book similar, but from the male perspective to see what the difference would be. Being male, or working with masculine sexual energy isn't the same for sure. Full of gorgeous photos and easy to process information, this is a must for any interested in chakra healing, and working with feminine sexual energies.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )