Cleansing your crystals will not only bring light to them, but it will also be beneficial in terms of bringing light to you as well. Crystals absorb energy; therefore, the more they are surrounded by negativity, the more they can negatively affect you. So, how do you do it?
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Why is it important to cleanse crystals?
It’s important to cleanse crystals because they can be affected by the energy you are emitting into your surroundings.
How?
Crystals absorb negative energy and disperse positive energy, so the more negativity absorbed, the less beneficial they are to your ritual work.
How do you know if a crystal needs cleansing?
You will know if your crystal needs cleansing by looking for any of the following symptoms:
- The crystal feels “heavy” or dense to the touch.
- You feel a negative energy surrounding you when you are holding or using it.
Answer these questions:
- How does it make you feel?
- How long have you had the crystal?
- How does it make you feel just before and right after cleansing it?
- How does it make you feel when you aren’t using it?
The answer to these questions will help you to determine if a crystal needs cleansing.
How to cleanse crystals
Below are the steps to take to cleanse your crystals for healing purposes.
Water
You can use water to remove negative energy from the crystals by rinsing them with a running tap or any natural body of water like a stream.
How to cleanse crystals with water:
Place your crystals into the water and make sure they’re fully submerged. Leave them in the water for a few minutes, then take them out and pat them dry.
Approximate duration: 1 minute per stone
Do this for: Hard stones, such as quartz.
Don’t use this for: Soft or brittle crystals, including selenite, kyanite, and halite.
Salt water
Salt has been used throughout history to absorb unwanted energies and purge negativity.
How to cleanse crystals with salt water:
If you’re near the ocean, consider collecting a bowl of fresh saltwater. Otherwise, mix a tablespoon of sea, rock, or table salt into a bowl of water.
Make sure that your stone is completely submerged, and allow it to soak for a few hours to a few days. Rinse and pat dry when complete.
Approximate duration: up to 48 hours
Do this for: Stones that are hard, such as quartz and amethyst.
Don’t use this for: Stones that are soft, porous, or have metal in them. These are malachite, selenite, halite, calcite, and lepidolite.
Sunlight
Sunlight has a powerful purifying effect and can be used to help clear out negative energy.
How to cleanse crystals with sunlight:
Place your stones in direct sunlight for as long as you can, even if that means leaving them outside overnight. Just note that leaving your crystals outside in the sun for prolonged periods may cause them to lose their color and become weathered.
Approximate duration: 8 to 12 hours
Do this for: Most stones that have been tumbled.
Don’t use this for: Vibrant stones such as amethyst are bright in sunlight. They can break if they are outside when it is raining. The weather can damage soft stones like celestite, halite, and selenite.
Moonlight
Like sunlight, moonlight is known to clear out the unwanted energies that will build up inside your crystals.
A lunar or solar eclipse can be the perfect opportunity to recharge your crystals.
How to cleanse crystals with moonlight:
Place your stones outside under the light of a full-moon night. The bright white light of the moon can take away all those pesky negative vibes!
Approximate duration: 8 to 12 hours
Do this for: Most stones that have been tumbled.
Don’t use this for: Vibrant stones such as amethyst are bright in sunlight. They can break if they are outside when it is raining. The weather can damage soft stones like celestite, halite, and selenite.
Smudging
Smudging is a great method of cleansing your crystals. The smoke from certain herbs helps clear away negative energy and purify the space.
How to cleanse crystals with smudging:
Take a bundle of dried sage and light it. Blow out the flame when the sage is burning well so that you have smoke, not flames.
Use your free hand to direct the smoke over any crystals surrounding you or on display in your house.
Approximate duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Do this for: Hard stones, such as quartz.
Don’t use this for: Some soft stones are not good for heat. Selenite is fragile, and it will break if you heat it. The heat can damage stones with metal in them.
Mantras and prayers
Mantras and prayers can be used to cleanse your crystals, too.
How to cleanse crystals with mantras and prayers:
Hold your stones in the palms of your hands, close your eyes, and repeat a mantra or prayer that you believe will help clear out any blocked energy from the crystals.
Approximate duration: 5 minutes per stone
Do this for: Any kind of stone.
How to program your crystals
Programming your crystals can make your stones more attuned to you and the energies you want them to help bring into and through your life.
Crystals that have been programmed will have a stronger affinity to the person who is treating it.
You can program your crystals by placing them on your body, holding a crystal in each hand and focusing on what you want the stone to help bring into and through your life, or by placing the crystal over your third eye chakra (the middle point between your eyebrows) and envisioning what you want it to bring.
If possible, program all of your crystals at once as part of a ritualized event. This makes it more likely that they’ll be attuned to the same energy.
How to activate your crystals
If you think your crystal feels heavier than normally expected, this may indicate that the stone needs to be activated.
You can activate the crystal by interacting with the stone by speaking, singing, or blowing on it. Doing so can help give it energy.
When you plan to be outside, take the stone with you. Many people find this helpful when going to a park or beach since these places have natural energy.
FAQs
How often do I need to cleanse my stones?
You need to clear all of your stones at least once a month.
If you feel that a stone is still feeling stagnant after cleansing it, consider programming it to help clear away any blocked energy.
If you have too many stones to cleanse regularly or aren’t sure if your cleaning method is working or not, take them in for cleaning by an experienced crystal specialist.
What’s the best method for cleansing crystals?
The best method for cleansing crystals is the one that resonates well with you.
Try out the different methods on this list to see what feels the most fitting for your lifestyle and practice. A method that may work well for one person might not for another, so feel free to experiment!
What crystals cant be washed in water?
Any crystals that are brittle or soft cannot be washed.
What are some good tips for keeping my crystals cleansed?
Some good tips for keeping your crystals cleansed include using sage or other herbs and spices. You can use the smoke from these to clear negative energy away from you, your space, and your things.
If you happen to have a very large crystal that may be difficult to move (or just too heavy), try surrounding it with lighter stones like rose quartz and amethyst that might not need cleaning as often.
Final thoughts
We hope that these quick, easy tips have helped you find the best way to cleanse your crystals for their healing purposes.
How do you usually cleanse your stones?
How often should they be cleaned and how can we tell if it needs cleaning?
Please share with us in the comments below!
Remember, be patient and have fun with it!
