14 ways to cleanse your crystals

You’ve just returned from a fair and were attracted to a colorful crystal that the lady said was good for attracting money. Did you just put it on your bedside table and hope for the best? Not quite! You must cleanse your crystals first to remove any energy it may have picked up and then put an intent into it. Try any of these 14 simple ways to cleanse your crystals.

How to cleanse your crystals – it’s easier than you think

Need help with crystals or products? Rock Paradise can help.

1. Running water

Running water is an easy, cheap option. It should only be used for hard stones such as quartz and amethyst, and not stones that are brittle or soft, such as selenite, kyanite, and halite. It should also only be used for polished stones, not rough or natural stones or geodes.

Your can cleanse your crystals by holding them under a running faucet for a minute and then pat them dry. Alternatively, find a natural source of running water, like a river or stream. Why not use an indoor or outdoor fountain if you have one? 

2. Saltwater

Saltwater is a natural substance that has been used through the ages to banish negativity and absorb unwanted energy. If you live on the coast, collect a bowl of fresh saltwater. Alternatively, mix a tablespoon of sea, rock, or table salt in a bowl of water. Try and use bottled or filtered water. To cleanse your crystals, completely submerge them and allow them to soak for a few hours. Rinse them and pat them dry.

Use this method for hard stones, such as quartz and amethyst, and not for soft, porous crystals or trace metals, such as malachite, selenite, halite, and angelite.

3.  Rice

Any rice can be used, although the purer the rice, like organic brown rice, the better. It’s a good, safe method to draw out negative energies from your crystal, especially protective crystals like black tourmaline. Fill a bowl with dry rice, enough to submerge the crystal, and bury it in the rice for about 24 hours. Dispose of the rice immediately after the cleansing, as the rice is believed to have absorbed the negative energy. This method can be used for any crystal.

4. Natural light

Natural light includes sunlight, moonlight, and starlight. Although more potent at certain times, crystals can be put out at any time. For something with two energies, set your crystals out before nightfall and bring them in before 11am, allowing your stones to bathe in both the moonlight and sunlight.

5. Sunlight

Sunlight is a potent cleanser, but not for all crystals. Some crystal like ametrine, citrine, kunzite, rose and smoky quartz will fade over time. They should only stay in the sunlight for a few minutes. Stones can be left on a windowsill, or for a more powerful cleanse, on the dirt outside. Take care with clear quartz – it can heat up in direct sunlight and start a fire if left on a flammable material.

Crystals may still be put outside on a cloudy day. Research varies greatly, but you can leave it outside for anything from 5 minutes up to 12 hours. 

6. Moonlight

As long as the Moon’s out and there’s some moonlight, any crystals can be left out. There’s a more powerful 9-day period during the moon’s cycle which will cleanse them better – waxing gibbous Moon, full Moon and waning gibbous Moon. Moonstone is a powerful stone to cleanse by moonlight. For an extra boost, put your crystals on or near pieces of selenite while in the moonlight. 

7. Starlight

When there’s no moonlight, leave your crystals under starlight. As an extra boost, leaving them out from dusk until dawn will give them both starlight and sunlight cleansing. 

8. Smoke

Cleanse your crystals by burning dried herbs, or light some incense or a candle near your crystals. Let the smoke waft over them for a few minutes. You could blow the smoke over the crystals with a feather or a fan. Sage has many healing properties and is a favorite method to cleanse crystals. If you’re unable to smoke-cleanse outdoors, try and sit by an open window to allow the smoke and negative energy to disperse through the window. This method can be used for any crystal.

There are many scents to choose from and if you need some inspiration and want a great place to get them, look at The Psychic Tree.

9. Sound

Singing bowls, Tingsha (two small Tibetan cymbals held together by a chain or piece of leather), a tuning fork, a bell, a chime, or even chanting a prayer or mantra can be used to cleanse your crystals. Some people even play musical instruments near the crystals. It’s not important what the sound is, as long as the sound emitted is loud enough for the vibration to fully encompass the stone. This is a popular method for cleansing crystals.

This is also a good method to use for those who have a large volume of crystals and want to cleanse them all at once, as well as large immovable crystals. The method can be used for every stone, for about 5–10 minutes.  

10. Using a larger stone

Cleanse your crystals by placing them on or around other crystals. Large quartz clusters, amethyst geodes, and selenite slabs can be used as a base for smaller stones. This is a good method to use, especially if the weather is not suitable for cleansing outdoors. Selenite and clear quartz are believed to be self-cleaning, so never need cleansing. They are great crystals to have in your collection, especially if you’re starting, as you’ll always have cleansing stones at hand.

This method can be used for any crystal. Do it for at least 24 hours, or for as long as you feel is necessary.

11. Using smaller stones

Some smaller stones, such as carnelian, clear quartz, and hematite are also said to have a clearing effect, but you need a fair amount of them. Just put them in a dish or bowl and place your crystal to be cleansed on top of them. This method can be used for any crystal. Do it for at least 24 hours, or for as long as you feel is necessary.

12. Breathwork/Visualization

Breathwork can be used as a cleansing method. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Place your crystals in your hands and close your eyes. Start inhaling deep, slow breaths through your nose and exhaling deep, slow breaths through your mouth. As you breathe in, visualize/imagine that you’re breathing in fresh, positive energy or light and as you breathe out, visualize/imagine that the negative energy is being taken out of the crystal and being blown away.

This method can be used for any crystal. Cleanse your crystals by using this method for a few minutes.

13. Dirt/Earth

Crystals can be buried to cleanse them. Find a spot in your garden where the dirt won’t be disturbed. Dig a small hole and place your crystal in it. Cover the crystal with the dirt, mark the spot, and leave it buried overnight or for up to a week. Alternatively, those who may not have gardens, bury them in a box of dirt and bring the box inside. Crystals can also be placed on top of the ground if you’re sure they won’t be disturbed. Take care when digging them back up to not damage them. Rinse them and pat them dry. 

14. Charged spray

Distilled/spring water that has been left to charge under the energy of the full Moon becomes “Moon water”, which can be put into a spray bottle and sprayed over your crystals.

Alternatively, use distilled/spring water and place some charged crystals in it. Leave it for a few days to charge the water, and spray this water over the crystals that need cleansing. Make sure you’re only using hard crystals and no porous or brittle crystals. This is another popular method you can use to cleanse your crystals.

Now you have 14 different ways to cleanse your crystals, so go ahead and clear your crystal’s energy. 

Learn more about crystal healing and how to program your crystals to boost your intentions.

FAQS

Why should I use organic brown rice?

The purer the rice the better. The less processed, fewer chemicals, and less handling the rice has had, the more effective it will be for cleansing your crystal.

Why should I use bottled or filtered water?

The purer the water the better. A lot of our tap water has been recycled, and additives added before it reaches our faucets. We wouldn’t want our crystals to absorb any of those negative energies.

Why do I need to cleanse my crystals?

Crystals have vibrational energy. They may be handled by different people, left in an environment that has negative energy, or picked up various energies from different places. Cleansing them is a way to get rid of the negative energy and return them to a neutral state.

How often do I need to cleanse my crystals?

• When you first get them.
• If you haven’t touched them for a month.
• If somebody else has handled them.
• After you have used them to heal other people.
• If you wish to change the intent in them.

How do I store my crystals when not using them?

Crystals need to be stored on a soft surface, out of the light. They could be stored in a material pouch individually. Try not to store them in a group, as if they get moved, they may chip or damage each other.

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