A Guide to Clearing, Cleansing, and Charging Crystals

Crystals often travel long distances, from source to seller, each transition exposes the stone to environmental energies and its handlers on the journey.

You have to take care of your crystals in order to access their energy and an important part of that is cleansing and charging them. Crystals absorb the energy of whatever’s around them - i.e. from the people who wear or handle them to the environments they are in. Regularly cleansing and recharging your stones is the only way to restore your crystal to its natural state. Read on to learn more about the many methods available.

How often should you cleanse crystals?

Cleanse your crystals whenever you get new ones and definitely before you use them for the first time. If you have crystals you’ve owned for a while but never cleansed, then start now.

If you’ve been wearing your crystal (like on a necklace or carrying it around all day in your purse, pocket, or bra, it doesn’t hurt to cleanse them when you get home, especially if someone else has handled them.

Crystals that you use for decor should be cleansed once a month.

How do I clear and cleanse my crystals?

There are a number of methods available to charge or clear crystals including smudging, light and crystal transfer. Most are readily accessible, and some methods work better with certain types of crystals. Please read on to learn more.

1. SOUND

Sound healing allows a single pitch or tone to wash over an area, bringing it into the same vibration as the tone. This can be accomplished using chanting, solfeggio music, singing bowls, a tuning fork, tingsha bells or a nice altar bell. It doesn’t matter what key the sound is, so long as the sound emitted is loud enough for the vibration to fully encompass the stone.

• Approximate duration: 5 - 10 minutes
• Use this for any stone. An ideal method for anyone with a large volume of crystals.

2. SMOKE & SMUDGING

Light incense, dried herbs, or a candle near your crystal and let the smoke waft over. Smudging your crystal or stone is said to clear inharmonious vibrations and restore its natural energy. To smudge with sage, you’ll need a fire-safe bowl, a lighter or matches, and loose or bundled sage. If you’re unable to smudge outdoors, make sure you’re near an open window to allow the smoke and negative energy to disperse. When you’re ready, ignite the tip of the sage with the flame. Firmly grasp your stone and move it through the smoke. Allow the smoke to envelop the stone for about 30 seconds. If it’s been a while since your last cleansing or you feel the stone is holding onto a lot of negative energy, then consider smudging for an additional 30 seconds.

• Approximate duration: about 30 to 60 seconds per stone
• Use this method for: any stone.

2. MOONLIGHT

Give your crystals a dose of pure moonlight by leaving them on a windowsill from dusk until dawn. You can do this any day of the month. Take advantage of the full moon and super-charge the process.

• Approximate duration: at least 12 hours.
• Use this method for any stone.

3. BROWN RICE

This method can also be used to draw out negativity in a safe and contained setting. It’s especially beneficial for protective stones, such as black tourmaline. To do this, fill a bowl with dry brown rice and bury your stone beneath the grains. Dispose of the rice immediately after the cleansing, as the rice is said to have absorbed the energy you’re trying to eradicate.

• Approximate duration: 24 hours
• Use this method for any stone.

4. OTHER CRYSTALS

Other crystals and stones can be great tools for clearing smaller stones and jewellery. It’s thought that the larger stone’s vibrations remove the inharmonious energies found in the resting stone. Clusters, Geodes and slabs, plates or bowls are suitable and good stone choices include:

• Amethyst - Master crystal
• Carnelian - has an overall clearing effect.
• Clear Quartz - Master crystal
• Hematite - has an overall clearing effect.
• Selenite - has an overall clearing and cleansing effect.

For larger stones place your stone directly inside or on top of any of these stones. With smaller stones you may need to have more than one to successfully clear other stones. To do this, with smaller stones place the clearing stones into a small bowl and set the stone you want to restore on top.

• Approximate duration: 12 - 24 hours.
• Use this method for any stone.

5. ENERGIZING PYRAMID

Pyramids are powerful amplification tools that can assist in clearing and charging your crystals and spiritual tools.

For energy healing, meditation and energizing crystals use a copper charging pyramid for your crystals, jewellery, food, water, vitamins or anything else that you feel needs energy or charging. Copper and gold pyramids can be used for a wide range of things including:

• Charging - boosting the potency and energy of fruit, water and vitamins.
• Cleanse and balance energies - for crystals and jewellery.
• To increase energy - for meditation and healing crystals.
• Cleanse, protect and amplify - for use over a crystal grid. 

To use, place a crystal inside a copper pyramid to clear and enhance the power of the crystal. Super-charge the process by placing the copper pyramid on top of a slab of selenite.

• Approximate duration: 12 - 24 hours.
• Use this for any stone.

6. VISUALISATION & REIKI ENERGY

Take a few minutes to ground and centre your energy, then pick up your stone and visualize your hands filling with white, radiant light. See this light surrounding the stone and feel it growing brighter in your hands. Envision the impurities flushing out of the stone, allowing the stone to shine brighter with renewed purpose. Continue this visualization until you feel a shift in the stone’s energy.

• Approximate duration: about 1 minute per stone
• Use this for any stone.

7. BREATHWORK

Breathwork can also be an effective cleansing method. To get started, hold the stone in your dominant hand. Focus on your intention for a moment and deeply inhale through your nostrils. Bring the stone closer to your face and exhale short, forceful breaths through the nose and onto the stone to bring the stone to its highest vibration.

• Approximate duration: about 30 seconds per stone.
• Use this method for: smaller stones.

8. SUNLIGHT

Although ritual cleansing is often centred around certain points in the solar or lunar cycle, you can set your stone out at any time to cleanse and recharge. Set your stone out before nightfall and plan to bring it in before 11 a.m. — this will allow your stone to bathe in the light of both the moon and sun. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may alter the stone’s colour and surface, so make sure you return for it in the morning. If you’re able to, place your stone directly on the earth. This will allow for further cleansing. Wherever they are, ensure they won’t be disturbed by wildlife or passersby. Afterward, give the stone a quick rinse to remove any dirt and debris. Pat dry.

• Approximate duration: 10 - 12 hours
• Use this for: most tumbled stones
• Don’t use this for vibrant stones such as amethyst or soft stones such as celestite, halite, and selenite.

9. WATER

Water is said to neutralize any negative energy stored inside the stone and return it back to the earth. Although natural running water - like a stream is best, you can also rinse your stone under a tap. Whatever your water source ensure that your stone is completely submerged. Pat dry when complete.

• Approximate duration: 1 minute per stone.
• Use this method for: hard stones such as Quartz. Don’t use running water for: stones that are soft or brittle such as Selenite, Kyanite, and Halite.

10. SALT WATER

Salt has been used throughout history to absorb unwanted energy and banish negativity. 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.
• Suitable for harder stones, such as quartz and amethyst. Do not use salt water for stones that are soft, porous, or contain trace metals!

11. EARTH

For some powerful cleansing vibes, you can bury your crystals underground - or collect some sand or dirt and bring it inside. Alternatively, you can simply place your crystal on top of the earth. Wherever they are, ensure they won’t be disturbed by wildlife or passersby and make sure you choose somewhere where you won't lose it. Afterward, give the stone a quick rinse to remove any dirt and debris. Pat dry.

• Approximate duration: up to 48 hours.
• Suitable for harder stones, such as quartz and amethyst. Don’t use this method for stones that are soft or porous!

11. CRYSTAL SPRAY

You can use a crystal spray to clear and cleanse crystals. Sprays typically contain special herbs or essential oils and water. Lightly spray item and rinse and pat dry when complete.

• Approximate duration: up to 48 hours.
• Suitable for harder stones, such as quartz and amethyst. Don’t use sprays on stones that are soft, porous, or contain trace metals - e.g. Malachite, Selenite, Halite, Calcite, Lepidolite, and Angelite.

This act of care can also reinvigorate your original intentions and sense of purpose.

- Love & Light -