Crystals work with your energies, as such they take from you, that which no longer serves. They work on a frequency much higher than ours, but sometimes that have absorbed too much negativity and as such can impact the effectiveness of your crystal.
It is super important to cleanse your crystals the moment they arrive & again rhythmically every month or so, or early if you feel pulled to do so. Why? Well the simple reason being... if you imagine how many paws have had their hands on your crystal, before it's even gotten to you, you can imagine how many energies that it has lifted & stored. Not only can this blend with your own unique energy, but it can also dull the effectiveness of that crystal. For lack of a better term its capability is similar to a full glass of water, it can't take anymore. Not only that, but most importantly, you don't want someone else's jojo, mixing with your jojo.
Cleaning your crystals can be a really relaxing almost meditative task, one that can also help ground and settle you. There are so many ways in which you can clean & charge you crystals, it's simply which ones work best for you and how much time you have to dedicate to it.
1. Smudging
This is one of my favourite ways of cleaning my crystals and the great thing about it, is that I can cleanse my own energies whilst I am at it!!!
There are a few different smudge sticks you can use, first up would be White Sage which is a dried herb usually sold in most metaphysical supply stores and can be bought bunched or loose (I find bunched is easier unless you have an incense/smudge bowl with charcoal disks).
Or my personal favourite, Palo Santo a tree which is native to Peru, that produces naturally fragrant resin when burned (which smells devine!!!). These are typically bought as individual sticks or as a pack.
The trick to any method when cleansing is to set your intention a few minutes before you light your Sage* or Palo Santo. I typically set an intention to cleanse any negative energies that may be present in my space including my crystals. Then take a few moments to sit with with that, imagining the negativity dissolving and new more positive energies taking its place.
Light the top of your smudge stick, keeping the flame there for a few moments until it begins to burn. You want it to burn for a little bit before shaking it out, but once you have done, you want to then waft the smoke over your crystals, keeping that intention in your mind as you cleanse your space and your crystals. You can do this for a few minutes or until you feel in your gut that the space has been cleared.
For me, I use sage about once a month for my crystals and home as it is fantastic for cleansing negative energies. It contains antimicrobial & antibacterial properties, that also work to repel insects (a great way of keeping those pesky mosquitos away from you!!). It has also been said, to help reduce feelings of stress & insomnia.
Now Palo Santo, I pretty much use throughout the day. I have a stick in my room, shower and office. In the mornings before I jump in the shower, I set my intention for a positive day, lighting my smudge stick & allowing the smoke to intertwine with the steam for the shower, which makes for one super invigorating experience. The same then applies when I start work and before bed.
*Important - it is not recommended to use sage when pregnant and you should always open a window to allow for ventilation.
2. Elemental
This is such a huge topic and one I will delve into in more detail at a later stage, but for now I'll take you through the three ways to clean your crystals using; Water, Sun & Moon (air is pretty much covered via smudging!!)
2.1 Water
Water** has and still is used as a way of cleansing impurities, from christenings to showers, we use water to cleanse things and the same can be said for our crystals. This is typically the go to when cleaning crystals for its ease.
**However, check beforehand if you crystal is water friendly, you wouldn't want to cleanse Selenite with water as it would dissolve and the same for Pyrite as this would rust (a whole blog coming on this soon).
Again it is all about intention, same as before, set the intention to cleanse those negative energies from your crystals. Holding it in the palm of your hand as you run it under cold water (just straight from the tap, not freezing cold or super hot, room temperature will do). Do this for a few minutes or until you feel enough time has passed.
2.2 Sunlight
Sunlight*** is such an invigorating feeling, I know for me I always feel joy at seeing the sun peeking through my window. But it is a great way to not only cleanse but also charge your crystals at the same time. Simply leave them on your window ledge for 12 hours, or pop them outside in direct sunlight (or longer to combine with moonlight as well) and you're good to go.
***Important - some crystals can become bleached in sunlight, so be sure to check beforehand.
2.3 Moon
Moon rituals are becoming increasingly popular and some people incorporate crystal cleansing & charging at the same time. It is completely up to you, it can be a whole luna cycle event or just a night when the moon is at its fullest. Same with sunlight you want to leave your crystals on a window ledge in direct site of the moon for the whole night.
3. Rice
That's right, rice, specifically brown uncooked rice is a fantastic way of getting rid of any unwanted energies, as it's super absorbant. Simply place your crystals in a bowl and fill with brown rice so that you can't see your crystals and they are fully submerged. I like leaving them in sunlight or moonlight to doubly clean and charge them for at least 12 hours. Just be sure you throw out the brown rice afterwards, you do not want to eat it, as it will now contain all those negative energies lifted from your crystals!!!
I'd love to know how you clean your crystals!!! DM me on Insta or tag me in your process 🖤