In my last post we discussed using stones and crystals for weight loss and I briefly
mentioned cleansing your stones. So, I thought I should dedicate this blog as a “how to post”.
As shaman, we often call upon the Stone People to assist us with healing, protection or attracting specific energies. As more and more folks are learning about the power of stones and crystals, their use has become more common.
Like all things in the Web of Life, stones and crystals are alive. Your stones, crystals, jewelry, and pendulums can attract positive and negative energy. They absorb the energies you have within you as well as any energies around you. Therefore these objects need to be cleansed and energized regularly.
When to cleanse a crystal or gemstone:
Crystals should be cleansed as soon as you bring your crystal or stone home and then after each time you use the stone for healing, either for yourself or healing for someone else. If you carry stones with you for protection or to attract specific energies, you should set up a regular cleaning schedule whether it be nightly, weekly, or monthly. Cleansing your stones is a good way to get to know them.
How to know if a stone needs cleansing:
This is something that you will come to sense. Sometimes the stones visibly look dark and mucky or they may feel dull, heavy, cloudy. Take time to observe your stones before and after you have cleansed them, see if you notice a brightness or sparkle once they have been cleansed both visually and energetically.
Methods for Cleansing Stones, Crystals, Gems, Jewelry, and Pendulums:
There are many different methods for cleansing your stones. Here are a number of methods that are commonly used to clear crystals and stones to restore their bright, vibrant energy. Some methods are more complex or take longer, others are extremely simple and quick. Use whichever suits you and your stones best. Whichever method you choose, focus on using it with intention of clearing negative and/or unwanted energies from the crystal. Feel free to use different methods at different times. Sometimes you need to do a quick cleansing of the crystals, like between clients, while other days you can set your stones and crystals out for a “spa day”.
Sunlight/Moonlight: Place your gems, crystals, pendulums, and jewelry in a place where they will be fully exposed to the energizing rays of the sun and/or moon. Even if the day is cloudy or you cannot see the moon, their rays will energize the stones as long as they are directly exposed to these elements of nature. I like to place my stones out under the full moon each month to be cleansed.
Most stones will normally be cleansed within 24 hours of exposure. However, stones such as black tourmaline which are being used to deflect negative energies, may require up to 48 hours to become fully cleansed and regenerated.
Stones such as aquamarine, amethyst, celestite, opal, and turquoise may fade in the sun so you may want to place them out under the moon each of the three nights Grandmother Moon is full. Or you can simply use another method for cleansing and regenerating these stones.
Earth Burial: Bury the stone in the ground, either directly into the earth or you can place the gems and crystals into a cloth covering, preferably a natural fabric such as cotton, wool or silk for 24 hours or up to 30 days. You may want to place a marker over it so as to be able to find it later, or bury the stone in a pot of ground soil. (Do not use potting soil as it has been treated.) If possible, find a spot where the soil is not being spread with chemicals through fertilizers or pesticides. The soil will absorb negative energy, disperse it, and transmute it into positive energy and re-energizes the stones.
Smudging: Smudging is one of my favorite ways to cleanse my stones and crystals. It’s quick and easy. Prepare your sacred smudging materials. This can be any herbs or resins you prefer. White sage in wands or loose leaves wonderful cleansing energy. Sweetgrass, cedar, sandalwood, frankincense, and juniper are excellent accompaniments or can be used alone. Light them so they create a cleansing smoke. Say a small prayer or ask the Spirit to help clear the energy of the crystals to be smudged for the highest good. Then slowly pass the crystals through the smoke three or seven times, or brush the smoke over the crystal the same number of times. Do this for each crystal you wish to smudge clear of unwanted energies.
Cleansing By Intention: This a simple ritual, but it works well. Place the crystals or stones in front of you, focus all your energy/intention on the stones, and ask Spirit to cleanse them of all negative energies and to re-energize your stones for their maximum potential. And please remember to thank Spirit for doing this beautiful work for you. This is extra special when done under the full moon and then leave the stones for some extra “Moon Magic”.
Visualization: Visualize a column of pure white or golden light coming down and surrounding the stone. Imagine it cleansing and transmuting the stone’s negative energies into positive ones. Visualization combined with intention a powerful way to cleanse stones and crystals.
Running Water: Rinse the stone in moving water. This will cleanse and re-energize your gems and crystals. Cleansing can be done in several ways:
by holding the stone in a river or brook (placing it into a mesh bag will make it easier to hold onto) for several minutes, by leaving it out in the rain for several hours, by holding it under the faucet for several minutes (Use this method only if you live where you have access to good clear well water. Please do not use tap water, since it is full of chemicals.)
The water will wash away negative energy and return it to the Earth where it can be neutralized.
DO NOT USE WATER on soft stones such as angelite, some calcites, howlite, aragonite, azurite, dolomite, malachite, selenite, sulphur, etc. as it may dissolve the stone to a greater or lesser degree.
Salt Water: While this is a popular way to clear crystals, use salt water very carefully as it can damage your crystals. You need to know about your crystals to be sure that they are not porous or soft, so they won’t be damaged by water. Salt water can get into the structure of some crystals and stones and cause them to break. That breakage sometimes doesn’t happen immediately, but the weakened structure may break later.
Some stones that don’t do well in salt water are calcite, carnelian, halite, hematite, labradorite/spectrolite, lepidolite, lodestone (magnetite), mica, moldavite, opal, turquoise, ulexite, clusters of most stones, and there are surely more. When you do use salt water, do so cautiously and don’t leave your crystals in it longer than absolutely necessary.
Plants: Plant your stones and crystals by placing them in a flower pot with one of your houseplants for several hours. Just as live plants purify the air, they can also purify stones as well, transmuting negative energy into positive energy. If you do not have a plant available, an alternate method is to bury the stone in a glass of dried sage or cedar for a full day. The herbs will absorb the negative energies. After use, burn the herbs, or bury them in the Earth, or discard them in a river or creek. Do not reuse them.
Reiki: Reiki is another methods of cleansing crystals. Basically your are channeling the universal life force energy to heal the stones and crystal of negativity and unwanted energies. As a Reiki practitioner, just treat the stone as you would any other being that needs healing, and set your intent to heal the stone of any negativity or unwanted energies.
There are certainly more methods for cleansing your stones and crystals, but whatever method(s) you choose, treat your gems and crystals with love and kindness. These stones can do so much to heal at all levels, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. They are magical gifts from Spirit and we need to treat them with respect and gratitude.
If you no longer want to keep a crystal or stone, ask if it should be gifted to someone you know. Often times our healing with the particular stone is complete and it is ready to move on to assist someone else. If all else fails, take it outside and bury it so it may return to Mother Earth.
Be sure to experiment with all these different ways to cleanse stones and crystals, and find the method that feels best to you. Most importantly, have fun with it!
Until next time –
Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer reminding us we are all related),
Debbie