why do crystals need cleansing?
Many people use crystals to soothe their minds, body and soul. Some believe that holding or placing them on your body aids to promote physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Crystals supposedly do this by positively interacting with your body’s energy field or chakra.
While some crystals are said to alleviate stress, others purportedly improve concentration or creativity.
Crystals are acquired from all over the world and often travel long distances, from source to seller before landing in your hands. Each of the changed hands exposes the crystal to energies that may be misaligned with your own. Hence, it is important to know how to cleanse your crystal so that it works better for you.
Furthermore, regularly cleaning and recharging your stones is the only way to restore the crystal back to its natural state. Read on to learn some of the most common cleaning methods.
1. Natural Light
Using natural light is one of the easiest way to cleanse and charge your crystals under the sunlight and moonlight. At the same time, it is free!
You can choose to bath the stone under the sunlight or moon-tan it under the light of a full moon, although some said that it is not potent enough power to charge a crystal.
However, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may weather the crystal’s surface, so make sure you return for it in the morning.
Recommendation: Set your crystal out before nightfall on a full moon and bring it in before 11am the following day.
Tips: For those that has a large crystal cluster, particularly quartz, selenite or amethyst, you can charge them under the sunlight or moonlight, the place smaller crystals stones or jewelry on it too absorb the cluster’s energy and recharge.
2. Running water
Water is said to help neutralize any negative energy stored inside the stone and return it back to its natural state. Natural running water like a river or stream would be the best or you can buy bottled mineral water or you can also rinse your stone under a faucet.
Whatever your water source, ensure that your stone is completed washed or submerged. Pat dry when complete.
Recommendation: I would highly recommend buying Evian bottled mineral water for cleansing of thee crystals compared to running water.
3. Salt water
Salt has been known in history and Fengshui (such as salt water cure) to absorb unwanted energy and remove negativity.
If you are staying near the sea, consider collecting a bottle of fresh salt water. Alternatively, if you are staying in the city, mix a tablespoon of coarse sea salt (e.g Himalaya salt into a bowl of water.
Submerge the stone completely in the water and allow it to soak for a few hours to a few days’ time. Rinse and pat dry when it is done.
However, note that this is not suitable for soft stones such as malachite, selenite, halite, calcite, lepidolite, and angelite.
4. Brown rice
This method is used to draw out negativity in a safe and contained setting. It’s especially beneficial for protective stone such as black tourmaline.
The steps are very simple. Fill a bowl with dry brown rice and submerged the crystals beneath the grains. You can set it for few hours to one day before removing it. Dispose the rice immediately after the cleansing as it has absorbed the negative energy you are trying to remove.
5. Smudging
Sacred smoke created from burning medicinal or sacred plants is an aspect of many cultures and religions all over the world. Smudging the crystal is said to clear unwanted vibrations, purifying or cleansing out negativity.
There are four types of sacred plants: cedar, sage, sweetgrass, tobacco.
Things you need:
- a firesafe bowl or container
- a lighter or matches
- loose or bundled plants (any of above)
When you are ready, ignite the tip of the plant and hold it with your nondominant hand. Use the other hand to firmly grasp your crystal and move it through the smoke for about 30 seconds.
You can do it for longer period if you had not cleanse your crystal for a while.
6. Larger crystal cluster
Large quartz clusters like amethyst geodes, and selenite slabs can be great tools for cleansing smaller crystals.
Simply place the smaller crystals inside or on top of any of these stones. It’s though that the larger stone’s vibrations helps to remove the negative energy in the smaller crystal.
7. Singing Bowl (Sound)
Singing bowls (including Tibetan singing bowls) are used for a variety of things from cleansing and blessing a space, objects, mediation and even healing. They metaphysically transmute negative or unbalance energy and transform it into positive or balanced energy again.
This method is ideal for people that has large collection of crystals at home which are not easy to move around.
Tip: Alternatively, you can also chant use a tuning fork or a nice bell. It does not matter what key the sound is, so long as the sound emitted is loud enough for the vibration to fully encompass the crystal.
8. Breath
Breath can also be an effective way to cleanse the crystal.
Hold the crystal with your dominant hand, focus your intention for a moment and deeply inhale through your nostrils.
Bring the crystals closer to your face and exhale short, forceful breaths through the nose and onto the stone to bring it to its highest vibration.
You can do it for about 30 seconds per stone.
How to activate your crystals
If your crystal feels heavier than expected and like it lost its shine. It may be beneficial from a little energy activation.
Try lending some of your own energy by speaking to it, singing to it, or sending it some vital life force energy through your breath.
You can also try bringing the crystal out together with you. Some people find that allowing the crystal to soak up natural energy has a powerful effect.
You can also create an activation grid by surrounding the crystal with its more energetic crystals. Some popular choices include ruby, clear quartz, apophyllite, kyanite, selenite, and carnelian.
Questions
What is the frequently to cleanse the crystal?
The more often you use a crystal, the more energy it collects. A good rule of thumb is to cleanse all of your crystals at least once a month.
However, if you feels that the energy of the crystal is weak, just go ahead and cleanse it.
What is the best method to cleanse crystals?
Just find a method that suits your practice and wallet. Different people have different styles of cleansing the crystals, so just pay attention to what feels right.
Where should I place my crystals?
You can keep them near the window or plant so they can absorb this natural healing enerrgy. Otherwise, you can also place the stones around your home, office and any spaces that aliigns with your intentions. Of course, in term of Fengshui, there are specific direction or crystals which they should be placed.
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