Sometimes crystals absorb all kinds of energies. When it’s overcrowded, those energies might clash, and your crystal will need a cleanse. Rituals for cleansing crystals will only lead to benefits as a clear crystal will facilitate a clear path. Whether you are a reiki healer, a self healer, or just a collector this article will help you understand how to cleanse your crystals AND how to charge crystals.

How to cleanse crystals: 10 effective ways to clean crystals

We all have those favorite crystals which we cherish. Some sit on our windowsills, protecting our homes or they’re worn as pendants around our necks, determined never to be taken off. Over time and exposure to different energies, we need to resort to our rituals of cleansing crystals. Even when you receive a new crystal as a gift, a cleanse is necessary so you can be assured the healing energy is pure and untainted. Read further to find the best ways to cleanse crystals.

1. Sunlight

Sunlight is powerful and energizing. Its Yin energy compliments and neutralizes the Yang energies in life. Freshly mined crystals will benefit greatly from the sun’s rays as they have only just emerged from the ground so they might be unbalanced. Some crystals, however, are sensitive to direct sunlight – much like some of us humans. Sometimes the power of the sun is too powerful and it can overcharge the crystals. this is not a good thing if you are using them for healing sessions like reiki. Some crystals have even been known to explode when left in the sun for too long. In order to avoid discoloration or overcharging of certain crystals avoid this method. Among the sun-sensitive are citrine,  amethyst, calcite, celestite, fluorite, opal, and more.

2. Moonlight

Remembering that the full moon reflects the light of the sun, this method is great for those previously mentioned sun-sensitive gemstones. Leave them to bathe under the light of the moon for a mystical cleanse. In the morning bring them back inside, careful not to leave them in the sun for too long.

3. Meditation

Along with breath-work, meditation is a powerful crystal cleansing method. The method is similar to when you are cleansing your aura or your chakras. Place the crystal in your dominant hand, left or right, or both, and envision a pure, white light surrounding your whole body. Make your intention to clear the crystal’s energy and not absorb it into yourself.

4. Flowing water

Freshwater is a beautiful way to cleanse your crystal. A naturally flowing river or spring is the most ideal option, so treat yourself to a mission somewhere into nature and bring your crystals along. If you run a busy lifestyle and don’t have as much time for hikes and such, you can always use the readily available tap water from your faucets at home. To cleanse your crystal, make sure they are placed fully under the water, keep it there for however long you feel they need – trust your intuition. 

5. Saltwater

If you have had the pleasure of diving into the ocean at any point in your life, you’ll understand that utterly fresh feeling you are left with. The same applies to your crystals. They feel that exact fresh vibration after a quick salt bath. Sea salt is desirable but normal salt will do. Make sure they are fully under the salty water and left to cleanse for a few hours minimum. 

What’s important to remember is not all crystals are fans of salt. Certain crystals like selenite, halite, lepidolite, or malachite are too porous and will erode easily if exposed to saltwater.

6. Brown rice

Ever dropped your phone in water and left it in a bowl of rice to soak up the bad water? Negative energies can be absorbed from your crystals in the same way. Make sure you are using organic, unbleached brown rice, and leave your crystal within the grains for about 12 hours. Black tourmaline is an especially powerful crystal that loves this method.

7. Smudging

Smudging your crystals can be beneficial by clearing away any imbalances within them. Commonly used in these cases are sage smudge sticks or palo santo. First set your intention before lighting your choice of smudge. Then, once it’s lit, place it into a fire-safe bowl and allow the smoke to waft up and around. Take your crystal and hold it in the line of smoke, making sure it’s encased. Hold them there for up to a minute, whilst focusing on your intention.

8. Sound energy

If your crystal has absorbed too many energies it can cause friction. To clear the friction one can use sound frequencies. Some methods of sound healing are chanting mantras to cleanse your crystals, using a singing bowl or even a tuning fork. The sounds from these methods bring the frequency of the crystal onto the same level, whilst clearing the energy simultaneously.

9. Earthing

Just like walking barefooted on natural ground, allowing our feet to soak up the grounding yet energizing energies into our bodies. Burying your crystals in the earth overnight will help to cleanse them. The earth will absorb the unwanted energies within the crystals to be recycled into good energy later on. The crystal will be refreshed, ready to assist you on a clean slate.

10. Different crystals

Yes, you can even use other crystals to cleanse your tainted crystal’s energy. Certain crystals have the ability to absorb negative energies from their environments or companions. Among them are; Rose quartz, and amethyst which are also excellent crystals for beginners. Selenite is an especially powerful negativity-absorbing crystal. Simply place the crystals you wish to cleanse on top of the cleansing crystal or geode, and leave them for 6 to 12 hours. The cleansing crystals will absorb and neutralize the negative energies and recharge the light energy within them.

What is the best way to cleanse crystals?

One might say the best method of cleansing crystals is in sunlight, but another might say it’s moonlight. There is no ultimate method. Certain crystals are sensitive to certain cleansing methods. Each method is great for its respective outcomes so it is up to you to choose which method works best for you and your crystals., considering your lifestyle and daily schedule.

How to charge crystals

Understanding how to charge your crystals is of dire importance. Like mentioned previously, if some crystals are left to charge for too long in the sun, they have been known to explode from overcharging. You can use any of the above methods for cleansing for charging them as well, just make sure you have read each method through thoroughly so as not to cause them any damage by using a less desirable method.

How to program crystals

Programming crystals is essential if you want to reap the most benefits from their magic. First, you need to ensure they’re properly cleansed, using any of the methods mentioned above. If you would like to know how to program crystals, read the step-by-step pointers below.

1. Place the crystal in your dominant hand.
2. Stand in the sunlight, full moonlight, barefoot on the natural ground.
3. State how you want the crystal to assist you – out loud.
4. Meditate on what you want the crystal to assist you with. Envision that intention flowing into the crystal.
5. Complete the ritual by repeating step three.

How to activate crystals

“How to activate crystals?” is a question on many of our lips. We can do so by building a crystal activation grid. Which is surrounding your tainted crystal with larger ones in a systematic grid shape will ensure they absorb the frequency of the larger crystals in the grid. Another method is similar to the earthing cleansing method. Simply placing the tainted crystal amongst nature can help to activate its energies. Even just a change of scenery from one negative space to a positive one can activate them.

Key takeaways on cleansing crystals

If you are a reiki healer or just a crystal collector, all gemstones need a cleanse from time to time. The one thing to remember is to always charge your crystals with your pure intention after their cleansing session. Fill them up with goodness before they are tainted again.

FAQs

Why is it important to cleanse and charge crystals?

It is important so that negative energies is cleared away to make room for more positive ones. An energetically clear crystal is good for the crystal as well as our well-being.

Does selenite cleanse other crystals?

Selenite is a great cleansing crystal. Place the tainted crystal on top of a large piece of selenite and allow it to absorb the negative energies and transform them into positive ones.

How do you charge crystals in the moonlight?

Leave your crystals out in the naked moonlight to soak up the silvery light. 

Which crystals cannot be cleansed in water?

selenite, halite, lepidolite, and malachite.

What do you do with salt after cleansing crystals?

The salt will be tainted by the crystal’s negative energy, which is absorbed. Once the cleansing ritual is complete, the saltwater should be poured away, down a drain preferably, not to be reused.

How come you can’t use a metal bowl when cleansing crystals?

Just in case the bowl rusts! if the bowl is not stainless steel or any other non-rusting metal, it will rust and ultimately taint the water which is meant to be cleansing the crystal.

Written by:
Jade Small