Care guide: how to cleanse crystals + charge crystals for healing

 

Have you ever put on your raw gemstone jewelry and wondered about crystal cleansing? Then keep reading because today I'm sharing a crystal guide on how to cleanse crystals and how to charge crystals. I'll show you why caring for your healing crystal is important, charging vs cleansing, and different care methods like salt, the full moon, incense, water and more - that will further your knowledge on your crystals for beginners journey.

Why do we care for our crystals? 

Crystals absorb and transmit energy. When we work with them, we sync our energy to their vibrational frequencies for holistic healing, in addition to modern medicine practices. Crystals can require maintenance just like ourselves and anything in our environment. Because energy is flowing in and out, there are times when there is energy buildup or stagnant energy. When this happens, crystals need to be cleansed or charged. This should be done before you begin working with it, and from time to time. As Nicholas Pearson puts it in Stones of the Goddess, “cleansing your crystals regularly helps to sweep away unnecessary energetic patterns so that you and your crystals can focus more precisely on the task at hand.”

Cleansing vs charging

Cleansing and charging are terms often used interchangeably because they have similar meanings. Some people also use the term clearing to describe cleansing and charging.

Cleansing removes any unwanted energy buildup. For example, this can be from before you received the crystal which was in someone else's surroundings. These energies may not necessarily be negative nor positive, but rather misaligned with your particular intention. 

Charging re-energizes stagnant energy by filling the crystal with grounding energy. You may want to charge a crystal that has been unused for a while before working with it or if it doesn't seem to be performing as well as you feel it should. Whatever term you use, the most important thing is to make sure you hold an intention of moving the energy with the crystal as you care for it.

Care methods 

Here are some common ways to cleanse your crystal:

• visualize the crystal surrounded by light
• use other crystals like clear quartz and carnelian
• immerse in flower petals or dried herbs such as rose petals, honeysuckle, sage, thyme, or rosemary
• use sound vibrations such as a singing bowl, bell, music, or song
• run water over it
• place it in the sunlight or moonlight
• bury in dirt or place in a bowl of rice
• use a smoke cleanser or incense with a fireproof dish
• pass it through the flame of a candle 
• use oil such as lavender, sandalwood, or lemon
• pass the stone through symbols of the four elements
• place in a bowl of salt or sand
• use your breath

When to cleanse

How often you care for your crystals, depends on how often you work with them, and/or how much energy they may absorb or emit. It is important to cleanse your crystal each time you program a new intention. To program an intention, read this crystal intentions post. During other cleansing periods, it really just comes down to your intuition. If you are unsure, choose an interval you can devote time to caring for your crystals. Some people like to cleanse frequently especially when they are having stressful or difficult days. Others reserve time each month to care for their crystals. And yet some people believe since crystals are powerhouses for storage and transmission, they can go even longer intervals between cleansings. Either way, treat it as a way of bonding with your crystal when you do.

 

Cautions

It is important to note that almost any of these methods can damage crystals depending on what kind of stone it is, so remember to do your research prior to cleansing. Practice caution when using water, sunlight, salt, oil, smoke, and flame since they may damage crystals. For example, water or oil can discolor or damage crystals that are porous, and some can even dissolve in water. Salt or sand can scratch crystals. Excessive sunlight can damage or fade crystals. Be extra careful with frayed or brittle crystals. When cleansing your crystal jewelry, be mindful of how these methods will affect your jewelry’s metals. Also, please consider the Mohs scale hardness when using other crystals for cleansing, as well as when storing your crystals together, since they may scratch each other.

How to cleanse crystals using 10 common methods

Incense

• In a fireproof dish, light your incense and create the smoke. Hold a cleansing intention while moving your crystal through the smoke, allowing it to pass over and through your crystal for several seconds to a minute. Set aside, and extinguish the incense when done.

Water

• Keep a cleansing intention while using water. Hold your crystal in your hand under running water, such as tap water, for several seconds to a minute. If you have multiple crystals, use a strainer. Dry off with a towel or let them air dry.

The moon

• You can use the moon during any phase, but the full moon can give your intention an extra boost. Place your crystal by a window in the evening or directly outside. Leave it for several hours or the entire evening before retrieving it.

Other crystals 

• Crystals that have cleansing properties can be used to cleanse your crystal. Some of these include selenite, carnelian, or quartz, especially quartz clusters. Place your crystal on or near your cleansing crystal for about a day.

Sage smoke cleanser 

• Sage and other herbs like cedar and juniper have cleansing properties that can be used to cleanse your crystal. In a fireproof dish, light your smoke cleanser and create the smoke. Move your smoke cleanser over your crystal, allowing the smoke to pass over and through your crystal for several seconds to a minute. Set aside, and extinguish the smoke cleanser when done.

Salt

• Salt is a powerful banishing tool. Fill a large bowl or container with salt. Hold a cleansing intention while placing your crystal in the bowl of salt. Make sure it is completely immersed and set aside. Leave it in for about a day.

Sound 

• Sound vibrations move energy, and you can use tones and pitches to do so. Use tools like a singing bowl, a bell, music, or your own voice. As you create or play the sound, visualize the sound waves washing over your crystal. Use this method for about a few minutes.

Visualization and your energy 

• Breathe in and out deeply to focus on centering your energy. Hold your crystal in your hands and imagine a white light radiating from your hands and encompassing your crystal. Hold an intention and imagine your crystal washing unwanted energy away, then filling up with recharged energy. Do this for a few minutes.

The sun

• Use natural light to cleanse. Peak sun times during the day and year can provide optimal cleansing. Keep a cleansing intention as you place your crystal by a window during the day, or directly outside. Leave it for several hours or the entire day before retrieving it.

The earth 

• Go outside and find a safe spot in your backyard. Hold a cleansing intention as you bury your crystal in the dirt just deep enough to immerse the crystal. Alternatively, get dirt from your yard to fill in a container, deep enough to bury your crystal. Keep it buried for about a day.

Interested in more crystals for beginners? 

If you enjoyed learning about how to cleanse crystals, then you’ll love this free crystal guide. It includes popular crystals and gemstones meanings, affirmations, how to use them in your everyday life, and printable cards. Click here to get yours!