I bought this for my sister for her birthday in the beautiful lavender color. Then bought it for a friend for her birthday. Then just finally bought one for me. All of them in the lavender color - which is lovely. The pillow is heavy and substantial, without being overly so. The crystals come separately in a little bag and I *think* you are just supposed to throw them in there with the buckwheat, but they were so pretty, I just kept them in the bag, so I can pull them out and look at them whenever I want. I usually sit on this - I feel it is a tad high for lying down on it (putting my head on it), but you could use it that way if you are possibly a bigger person or maybe a man. I think for someone petite, sitting on the pillow is the way to go. You can cross your legs and meditate for a while. I even sit on it in front of my mirror, on the floor when I am putting on makeup. It's lovely for any purpose. My friend and sister says it smells like lavender - but I do not smell that at all. I would buy this again for anyone else having a special birthday, who likes to meditate or needs a floor pillow for yoga or stretching. A++