CLEANSING CRYSTALS
This blog post is about cleansing crystals. It is a blog post I wrote several years ago. I am in the process of moving all the blog posts over from crystalgenn.com. The original post can be found here.
As always, I am talking specifically about QUARTZ CRYSTAL here. Not the term ‘crystal’ when it is used in a general sense (such as selenite, kyanite etc). I usually get a few comments about the inappropriateness of applying some of these methods to ALL crystal, but remember, I am only referencing QUARTZ crystal specifically. Let’s dig in!
CHARGING, CLEARING, PROGRAMMING and CLEANSING CRYSTALS (Lions and Tigers and Bears - Oh My!)
There are so many terms when it comes to working with quartz crystal and many of them seem annoyingly similar. Specifically: cleansing crystals, clearing crystals, charging crystals and programming crystals.
How do you know which is which and what to do when!? I’ll start with this post on cleansing crystals and will add more separate posts on the others.
To simplify, cleansing and charging have to do with stored energy generally and clearing and programming have to do with stored energy specifically.
CLEANSING CRYSTALS
Cleansing crystals is basically energetic washing.
CHARGING CRYSTALS
Charging is what you might think (charging a battery for example).
CLEARING CRYSTALS
Clearing crystals is erasing prior programming that might have been done.
PROGRAMMING CRYSTALS
Programs are specific goals we are working toward with our crystals’ assistance.
CLEANSING CRYSTALS
As I said earlier, cleansing crystals is basically energetic washing.
You will need to cleanse your crystal friend of previous energy or experiences it may have encountered.
This applies to crystals you have been working with as well as crystals new to your home.
Crystals are empathic by nature, and pick up energies in their environment even if you aren’t actively working with them.
If the vibrations in the environment are low, the vibrations of the crystal can get wicky-wacky.
Sometimes the crystal may feel “full” or “sticky” energetically.
Therefore, cleansing crystals of any possible negativity absorbed on your (or another’s) behalf is always a good practice.
WHEN IS CLEANSING CRYSTAL A GOOD IDEA?
Let’s discuss some times you should consider cleansing crystals.
- When the crystal first arrives in your home
- After working with your crystal for healing or intense energy work
- After a particularly negative experience
It is also wise to cleanse your crystal at least monthly. Even if you aren’t actively working with your crystal, you can be assured it is working with you.
It sounds like a chore and something that would take a long time to do. That isn’t true! If you are a person who likes ritual, you can make this as complex as you like. If you prefer instant gratification, there are ways to cleanse instantly as well.
Basically, there are as many ways to cleanse a crystal as there are people to cleanse them. Here are just a few suggestions you might want to try:
DIFFERENT WAYS OF CLEANSING CRYSTALS - RUNNING WATER:
Hold your crystal under running water.* Visualize it cleansing, being open, receptive and energetically “clean”.
CAUTION: if you choose this method, be CERTAIN that you match the temperature of the crystal to the temperature of the water. (For example, if your crystal is cold, use cold water. If it is warm, use warm water.)
The best way to do this is to hold your crystal in one hand and run the water over the other and adjust the heat until the temperatures are roughly equal.
This isn’t rocket science, I don’t mean to the exact degree, but if you “shock” your crystal by placing it in a temperature very different from itself, you can shatter the inside or even break it (for instance dropping a cold crystal into a very hot bath or a hot crystal into a cold bath).
I am told that they don’t like it physically and they also don’t like it energetically. It is jarring but more importantly, it indicates to them that you aren’t being mindful while you are cleansing.
Testing the temperature causes you to be fully present in the NOW.
Once you have the temperature adjusted, hold your crystal under the running water and while visualizing the cleansing, thank it for the work it has been doing on your behalf.
*As I mentioned initially, this method applies to quartz crystal. Some ‘crystal’ (such as selenite) can dissolve in water.
DIFFERENT WAYS OF CLEANSING CRYSTALS - SALT:
You may use salt for cleansing crystals.
I’ve been told by the Crystal People that salt in WATER can be too harsh. It has to do with the ions of sodium chloride in solution.
So if salt is your cleansing method of preference, consider “soaking” your crystal in DRY sea salt.
Nestle your dry crystal in a bed of dry sea salt (or other salt).
Stir the dry salt around with your finger periodically as you bury the crystal and visualize it being restfully cleansed.
You may add sage or another herb such as lavender or sweet grass to the dry salt if you like.
Again, thank your crystal for the work it has done.
After a nap in the sea salt, you may want to brush any remaining salt away and bathe it in clear running water and carefully dry it with a natural cloth.
A water bath after the salt nap isn’t necessary, it’s simply a matter of preference. Personally, I feel that one or the other is sufficient.
DIFFERENT WAYS OF CLEANSING CRYSTALS - INCENSE, SAGE, SMOKE or ENERGY:
You may use incense, sage, smoke or energy (ie; Reiki) for cleansing crystals.
With smoke, simply hold or pass your crystal over (or through) the smoke and intend/visualize it being cleansed and refreshed.
If your crystal is large or if you have too many to possibly cleanse them each individually, it is fine to leave them where they sit and use sage, smoke or energy (such as Reiki) to cleanse your crystal as a group.
The only ESSENTIAL ingredients for cleansing are that you are fully present with them in the NOW at the time of cleansing and express your gratitude for their hard work.
If your crystal is new to your home, you might want to meditate with your new friend or carry it around with you so it will pick up your vibrations and become acclimated to you (and you to it).
IN SUMMARY
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the ways one might choose for cleansing crystals. The suggestions are just jumping off points. Use your imagination! You might also cleanse simply with focused intention. It’s not meant to be difficult!!
If you have any questions about cleansing, feel free to comment below and I’ll do my best to answer. If you have other topics you’d like me to cover, let me know. I’ll write a full post on the subject another time.
Until next time when we discuss charging, try cleansing your crystals. They will thank you for it!
