Britney Spears claims rocks 'have a lot of intellect we don't even know about' in bizarre post

Britney Spears has shared many things with her fans over the years, with the latest being a lengthy ode to the power of rocks.

The 39-year-old pop sensation has often spoken of her belief in the alleged healing powers of crystals and revealed in an Instagram post that she has collected rocks since she was a child.

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Spears said rocks "have a lot of intellect we don't even know about" as she penned an appreciation for how collecting them helped her mental strength.

She wrote that holding rocks would often give her strength against "bad vibes" and that she would often do so for confidence when doing interviews in the early part of her music career.

Spears added: "My parents honestly thought it was weird that I’d disappear and they'd find me looking for rocks and crystals in people's driveways.

"I have a beautiful collection now, but only about 10. I give them a lot of attention. I almost feel a sort of protection when I see rocks now. They are so strong and solid."

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Spears shared a photo of rocks arranged around a flower, saying it was put together by Lizzie McGuire actor and singer Hilary Duff's children.

"I saw this picture of this rock display and immediately thought of my rocks," she wrote in the caption. "They have a lot of intellect we don't even know about.

"If you ever find yourself alone and have an urge to find a connection to the universe, hold on to one of your favourite rocks. Look up, and let it guide your spirit."

The idea of using rocks and crystals for healing dates back thousands of years, with writings from the Ancient Greek period among those mentioning the practice.

There has never been any peer-reviewed evidence that crystals work and the practice is therefore considered a pseudoscience.

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Spears is set to address a US court later this month in a hearing related to the status of her conservatorship, which gives her father — Jamie Spears — power in relation to her health, finances and career.

The court-appointed arrangement was put into place in 2008, in the wake of Spears's high-profile struggles with her mental health and was explored in the documentary Framing Britney Spears last year.