The Ultimate 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 when, how often and the broad range of 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 a bracelet, on a necklace or carrying it around all day in your purse, pocket, or attached to clothing; 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?

You don’t go anywhere without a full charge on your mobile, so why would you go anywhere with uncharged crystals? In order to vibrate at their highest capacity, your crystals need to be cleansed and charged.

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 & VIBRATION

Sound healing allows a single pitch or tone to wash over an area (or item) helping to bring it into the same vibration as the tone.

This can be accomplished in several ways including 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.
• Check out our blog on sound healing - tip: check out our curated collections and playlists.

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.

Method: When you’re ready, light a candle or a long match to light your smudge stick. Once the flame appears, let it burn for 60 seconds, then blow out the flame until the end of the smudge stick is just smoke and embers.

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, though try to take advantage of the full moon to super-charge the process (1-2 days either side of the full moon works just fine too).

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

3. BROWN RICE OR SALT

The rice or salt 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 and obsidian.

Rice method: To do this with rice, 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 will have absorbed the energy you’re trying to eradicate.

Salt method: To do this with salt, fill a bowl with dry rock salt (or table salt) and bury your stone beneath the grains. Dispose of the salt immediately after the cleansing, as the salt will have absorbed the energy you’re trying to eradicate.

• Approximate duration: 12 hours, up to 24 hours.
• Use this method for any stone.

4. SELENITE PLATE, BOWL OR BLOCK

Selenite is the ultimate energy tool to purify, cleanse and uplift your home, plus everyone and everything in it – the bonus is it cleanses and recharges other crystals.

Selenite is unlike any other crystal as it doesn’t need to be charged, and it will amplify the energy of all crystals set upon it. Selenite offers a calming and soothing energy. The pure, high vibrational energy of a Selenite plate, bowl, wand or slab is like liquid moonlight.

The stone of mental clarity, Selenite is believed to help:

• remove energy blocks and keep energy clear and balanced
• raise your vibration
• ward off negative energy
• stabilise emotions
• encourage peace and tranquillity
• enhance mental flexibility
• promote good decision making and business practices
• aid awareness of past lives and connects physical and etheric light bodies.

To cleanse or recharge your crystals and gemstones with a selenite plate, bowl or block:

1. Lay them gently on top of the Selenite block, plate or bowl.
2. Leave them there for at least an hour to boost their energies.
3. Alternatively, leave overnight and let the selenite do all the work while you sleep!

Tip: the larger the selenite object the quicker the cleansing process is.

• Approximate duration: 1 hour, up to 24 hours.
• Use this method for any stone.

5. SELENITE GRID

Alternatively, you can also place your crystals or jewellery piece inside a circle of selenite crystals.

• Approximate duration: 6-12 hours.
• Use this method for any stone!
• Suitable for jewellery.

6. 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. Good choices include the following stones:

• Amethyst - master crystal, has an overall clearing effect.
• Carnelian - has an overall clearing effect.
• Citrine - master crystal, has an overall clearing effect.
• Quartz - master crystal absorbs and transmutes energy, also has an amplifying effect for manifestation.
• Hematite - has an overall clearing 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 or small drawstring bag and set the stone you want to restore on top.

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

7. CRYSTAL TUMBLE BOWL

To clear smaller stones or items, set the stone or jewellery piece you want to cleanse and recharge on top of tumbles grouped in a bowl. Alternatively, place items in a small drawstring bag, and place on top.

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

8. PYRAMIDS

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.

9. VISUALISATION

Method 1: 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.

Method 2: Hold two crystals in each hand at arm’s length and imagine white light flowing between them. This will help clear any negative energy stored in either stone. You may also want to focus on sending positive thoughts along with that light, as well as prayers or wishes that either crystal will bring health and happiness into your life.

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

10. BREATH WORK

Breath work can also be an effective cleansing method for smaller stones.

To get started, hold the stone in your dominant hand. Focus on your intention to clear/cleanse the stone for a moment, and then deeply inhale a long breath 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.

11. SUNLIGHT

Although ritual cleansing is often centred around certain points in the solar or lunar cycle, you can also 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. Make sure to pat dry.

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

12. FRESH 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. Do not use water for stones that are soft, porous, or contain trace metals!

13. 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!

14. EARTH OR SAND

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: around 24 hours, 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!

15. 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/stone, rinse and pat dry when complete.

• Approximate duration: A few seconds, 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 help to reinvigorate your original intentions and sense of purpose.

– Cathryn x