A How-To Guide For Cleansing Crystals
A natural stream or sea is a wonderful way to cleanse your crystals.
When I’m working with crystal healing practices, the first thing I do is make sure my crystals are cleansed. Cleansing crystals clears away any energy that might have accumulated.
Why Should You Cleanse Your Crystals?
Crystals absorb energy from people and their environment. Removing stale or negative energy allows each crystal to function with clarity and effectiveness. Cleansing them ensures that their natural healing properties are fresh and pure.
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If the stones are new to you, they might have energy from warehouses, shipping vehicles and the shop they spent time in. Even if you’ve had the crystals for a while, clearing their energy helps you begin each practice with only positive vibes.
Here’s more reasons to cleanse your crystals regularly:
Removal of Negativity
Each crystal can absorb negative energy from their surroundings or from people who have handled them. By cleansing them, you reset their energetic state.
Restoration of Natural Energy
Crystals possess their own energy signature. Cleansing rejuvenates their natural frequency. This is important for crystal healing.
Preparation for New Intentions
You can set new intentions or use a crystal for a specific purpose. Cleansing your crystals beforehand will make sure that stale or negative energy won’t interfere with your purpose.
I like to choose a cleansing method that resonates with both me and my crystals. This invigorates the link between my energy and the stones’. It makes my healing practices more profound and personalized.
In my experience, the more attentive I am to the cleansing process, the more receptive my crystals are. They’re more effective in healing and bringing balance to my environment.
Preparing for Cleansing
Before beginning any crystal cleansing process, take care to ready your environment and your mind. This preparation ensures that the cleansing will be effective and purposeful.
Setting Intentions and Focus
Take a few moments to center your thoughts and articulate your intentions. It’s essential to be clear about why you’re cleansing your crystals.
Your intention may be to recharge the stones, to prepare them for a new purpose, or to release any accumulated energies. Writing down your specific intentions can help solidify your focus.
Intentions: Clarify and write down.
Focus: Concentrate on the purpose.
Creating a Safe and Grounding Space
Next, be sure that your space is secure, calm, and grounding. Creating a physical environment that reflects your intentions builds your sincerity and strength.
Safety: Choose a quiet, undisturbed area.
Grounding: Use elements like salt, earth, or grounding crystals to enhance connectivity with the body and earth.
I like to use practices that align with my personal sense of grounding. I usually begin with a brief meditation. This helps to align my spirit and body with my focused mind.
A safe and peaceful environment is best for cleansing crystals.
Elemental Cleansing Techniques
For elemental cleansing, use materials and elements like water, fire, earth, and air. One common method is smudging. To smudge your crystals, burn sage around them. This will purify them with smoke—an elemental embodiment of air.
Allow the smoke to envelop each crystal. This will clear negative energy. Another elemental technique is to bury crystals in the earth overnight. This method allows them to discharge any absorbed energies back into the ground.
Element of Fire: Use a candle flame and gently pass the crystals through it.
Element of Air: Sage smudging uses smoke to cleanse the energy.
Element of Water: Use running water to cleanse crystals under natural flowing water.
Element of Earth: Burying your crystals immerses them in soil overnight.
Vibrational and Sound-Based Methods
Vibrational cleansing uses sound frequencies to reset the energies of the crystals. You can use tuning forks or singing bowls for this purpose. Striking a tuning fork and holding it near the crystal lets the vibrations cascade over it. You can also use the sound waves from a singing bowl to envelop your crystals. This promotes a clean energy state.
Both these sound techniques are non-invasive. These are perfect for working with delicate or water-soluble crystals.
Cleansing Crystals With Tuning Forks
Strike the tuning fork gently.
Hold it near the crystal to allow the vibration to envelop the stone.
Cleansing Crystals With Singing Bowls
Singing bowls form a sound bath that encases the crystal. To cleanse with singing bowls:
Circular Motion: Rub the mallet around the bowl's edge to initiate sound.
Gentle Strikes: A soft tap can create a resonating tone.
Chanting and Toning
With chanting, focus on using your voice to emit powerful vibrations. These vibrations will resonate with the crystals. Each chant is composed of a sequence of tones that enhances the cleansing process.
For toning, maintain a single note or sound that's harmonious and sustained. Aim its sound wave directly toward your crystal.
I've found this approach to be quite effective, especially when focusing on one crystal at a time. Here’s how I usually use toning with my crystals:
Consistent Note: I choose a single note that feels right and hum or sing it clearly.
Direct Projection: Concentrating the sound wave directly at the crystal.
Crystals can be cleansed by placing them on top of a selenite charging plate.
How to Cleanse Crystals With Selenite
To cleanse with selenite, you can simply place the crystals on a selenite charging plate or near a selenite wand. The energy of selenite is so pure that it can clear the energy of other stones effortlessly.
Cleansing Crystals With Salt
Salt is a potent purifier for crystals. Use sea salt or table salt in a bowl and immerse you crystals in it. This method is not suitable for all crystals, as salt can damage delicate or porous stones.
Method:
Fill a bowl with salt.
Gently bury the crystal in the salt.
Leave it for several hours or overnight.
Cleansing Crystals in Rainwater
Rainwater, ideally collected during a fresh rain, is excellent for cleansing. Ensure the water is clean and place the crystals in it. Let the essence of the rain clear their energy.
Note: Not all crystals are water-safe.
Cleansing Crystals in Full Moon
The full moon is a powerful time for cleansing crystals. Place your crystals outside on the earth or on a windowsill. Let them bask in the moon's glow all through the night.
Placing your crystals under a full moon is a lovely way to clear their energy.
Crystal Bathing in Nature
You can also bathe your crystals in a natural source of water, like a stream or the sea. If you’re lucky enough to live near a natural source, take advantage of the cleansing properties of running water or saltwater. This is a grounding method that also exposes the crystals to earth and air, making it super effective.
Steps for Nature Bath:
Ensure the body of water is clean and unpolluted.
Place or hold the crystals in the water carefully.
Let the natural flow of water run over them for a few minutes.
Remember, some crystals may dissolve in water, so double check the properties of your crystals first.
Rainwater, salt water or natural flowing water are some easy ways to cleanse your crystals.
Crystals Cleanse With Herbs or Incense
In my experience with crystal cleansing, I've found that using herbs and incense are wonderful ways to purify their energy. It also imbues the crystals and my environment with their fragrance.
To cleanse your crystals, try using the natural purifying properties of herbs or incense. Like smudging, you can burn the herbs or incense and let the smoke surround your crystals. This helps to clear away any negative energy.
How to Cleanse Crystals With Incense
Selection: Choose an incense stick that resonates well with the purpose of the crystal. You can use your intuition or a favorite scent.
Ignition: Light the incense stick and let it burn for a few seconds before blowing out the flame to produce smoke.
Cleansing: Pass the crystal through the smoke several times. Or encircle the crystal with the smoke to cleanse it.
Smoke from sage, Palo Santo or incense sticks can be used to cleanse and clear your crystals.
Best Incense for Cleansing Crystals
When you’re choosing your incense, you can use your intuition. You can also find incense sticks for specific purposes. For example, use cinnamon or sandalwood for crystals to attract money. Or use rose or jasmine for crystals to attract love.
For the purpose of cleansing and purifying crystals, some good choices include:
Frankincense: Known for its purifying and protective properties.
Myrrh: Often used for its grounding energy.
Lavender: For a calming and peaceful influence.
How to Cleanse Crystals With Sage
Begin by lighting a sage stick and blow out the flame after a few moments to let it smolder.
Gently wave the crystal through the smoke or allow the smoke to envelop the crystal for a brief period.
Focus on the intention of removing negativity as the smoke passes over and around the crystal.
Cleansing Crystals With Palo Santo
Preparing: Select a stick of Palo Santo. Take a moment to recognize its sacredness.
Activating: Light the Palo Santo, then blow it out to start the smoke.
Application: Move the crystals through the smoke to cleanse them. Or, if you prefer, you can arrange your crystals and wave the smoke above them. This infuses the crystals with the healing properties of the wood.
How to Cleanse a Crystal Collection
I like to use certain techniques for different crystals. Here’s some of my favorite ways to cleanse the crystals in my collection:
How to Cleanse Amethyst
I ensure that my amethyst crystal remains energetically clear by soaking it in a bowl of water mixed with sea salt. It can remain in the salt for up to 24 hours. Afterwards, I gently pat it dry.
How to Cleanse Rose Quartz
I cleanse my rose quartz by holding it under running lukewarm water for several minutes. As I do this, I envision any negative energy being washed away.
How to Cleanse Quartz
To cleanse a quartz crystal, I use a singing bowl. This creates resonant sounds that release stagnant energies. I place the crystal inside the bowl and play it for a few minutes.
How to Cleanse Tiger's Eye
I smudge my tiger's eye by passing it through the smoke of a burning sage stick. I make sure the smoke envelopes the crystal completely for thorough energetic cleansing.
How to Cleanse Citrine
I place my citrine crystal outside under sunlight for a few hours to recharge and cleanse it. It's important to not leave it out too long to prevent color fading.
How to Cleanse Lapis Lazuli
For lapis lazuli, I prefer using a soft cloth lightly moistened with warm, soapy water. Gently wiping the stone removes any accumulated energies.
How to Cleanse Moonstone
Harsh cleansing methods can damage delicate crystals. For moonstone, I like to use natural brown rice. I cleanse the crystal by laying it on a bed of rice. This can draw out negative energy while protecting its luminous quality. After 24 hours, I discard the rice.
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