A lot of Fundamentalist Christians laugh at new age types and their strange beliefs regarding the powers of gems and crystals.    I find this rather odd considering the importance gems and crystals play in many stories from the Bible.  The throne of God is described in the bible as being covered with gems (of course, God doesn't actually have a throne since he isn't a physical being, it's symbolic).  The gates to heaven are also describes as being covered with gems, primarily pearls which is where the expression "pearly gates" comes from.  The high priest Arron, brother of Moses wears a chestplate with twelve stones or gems in it.  And the ancient group of holy people known as the Essenes get that name from the essen stones they carried with them to aid in healing.