To effectively work with crystal energy, the crystals MUST be properly cared for. This involves a 3-step process: cleansing, charging and programming. It is essential this process is done regularly and as with all things crystals, your intention is everything. If you’ve tried working with crystals previously without much success, it’s probable you haven’t cared for them properly.
There are a number of different ways you can do this and I’ll outline a few below.
Cleansing
Before working with crystals, it’s essential that we cleanse away any residual energy or energetic debris that the crystals have picked up. This is particularly important when a crystal is new to you. The crystal has gone through the trauma of being plucked from the earth and potentially broken into pieces, polished or carved. They can pass through many hands, e.g. the finder, the craftsperson, the wholesaler, the seller, the packer and also the people who picked it up while browsing. The crystal picks up unwanted energy at each stage of its journey to you and so really needs to be cleansed.
The first thing you must do when cleansing your crystals is to physically clean your working area. My favourite way to do this is to first open the windows to let fresh air into the room. I follow this by wiping down my table or other work area with a natural surface cleaner. Then, to put me in the right mindset, I close the window and use Palo Santo, sage or incense to smudge the room. It’s also important that your body is clean and that your mind is as clear as possible. Having a shower just before you work with your crystals helps, you can visualise the water washing away any negativity from your body and mind. Crystals are energy receivers and transmitters so it’s important to minimise any negative energy around them.
Sunshine
Sunshine is a powerful light source that can clear any energetic debris from your crystals. You can leave your crystals sitting out in the sun or on a sunny windowsill. However, you need to mindful of the the length of the time that you leave your crystals exposed to sunlight. Some crystals will fade, change colour and/or become brittle or crack. Crystals that are not safe in the sun include Amethyst, Ametrine, Apatite, Aquamarine, Aventurine, Beryl, Calcite, Celestite, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Fluorite, Kunzite, Opal, Rose Quartz, Sapphire, Smoky Quartz, Topaz, Turquoise and Unakite.
Using Water
Natural sources of water, such as rainwater or streams, are best for cleansing crystals. In general, you can use water to cleanse crystals that are at least 6 or higher on the Mohs hardness scale e.g. quartz or amethyst. However, many crystals cannot tolerate water: it can cause them to crack, dissolve, or lose their lustre. Also avoid water for crystals that contain minerals that can rust, e.g. iron. And those that release toxins in water, e.g. malachite that can release copper and pyrite that can release sulphuric acid. It’s a huge generalisation but it’s best to avoid water with any crystal that ends in ‘-ite’. Some examples of other crystals that are not safe to cleanse in water are: Amazonite, Angelite, Apatite, Aquamarine, Black Tourmaline, Calcite, Carnelian, Celestite, Fluorite, Halite, Hematite, Jade, Kunzite, Kyanite, Labradorite, Lapis Lazuli, Lepidolite, Moonstone, Opal, Selenite, Sodalite, Turquoise and Unakite.
Sacred Smoke – Smudging and Incense
You can cleanse your crystals with sacred smoke such as Palo Santo, White Sage, Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedar, Juniper and Copal. Set a clear intention for cleansing. Then, holding the crystal in the smoke, visualise any negative and unwanted energy leaving the crystal and being carried in the smoke.
Sound
You can also use sound to cleanse your crystals as well as your home of negative or stagnant energy. Again intention is everything! So start with the intention that your chosen sound will cleanse the crystals and then make the sound reasonably loud. You can use tuning forks, drumming, singing bowls, bells, clapping or your voice (singing or chanting tones or phrases that resonate with your intention). Recorded music and healing frequencies can also be cleansing, as long as it’s powerful and meaningful to you. Instrumental is safest as words carry different frequencies. And you don’t want to inadvertently add unwanted energy to your crystals instead of cleansing them.
Selenite
Selenite is a cleansing crystal that is not only self-cleansing. It will cleanse other crystals of any negative or unwanted energies. You can purchase bowls of carved selenite for this purpose or you can sit a piece of selenite beside the crystal you want to cleanse. If using this method, I normally leave them overnight to ensure the crystal is properly cleared.
Visualisation
Visualisation is my go to when cleansing crystals as it’s quick, safe for all crystals and doesn’t require any tools, other than my imagination. I use visualisations similar to those of Kyle Gray. Feel free to explore and devise your own. I first set my intention to cleanse the crystals. Then I visualise a beam of divine or angelic light coming down from the higher dimensions straight into the crystal. I visualise any negative or unwanted energy being transmuted (transformed) into pure love for a couple of minutes. The transmuted energy falls away from the crystal into the ground to the centre of the Earth. There, Gaia directs it to wherever it is needed most at that time. I then thank the light source and my guides for assisting me.
Charging
Cleansing the crystal leaves empty spaces that can be easily filled by negative or unwanted energy again. Therefore, it’s really important to charge the crystal immediately after cleansing. Charging is effectively refilling the crystal with light energy to reactivate the crystal’s own energetic properties. There are a number of different ways to charge crystals.
Moonlight
Gentler than sunlight, moonlight is perfect for charging crystals. Moonlight is particularly potent for charging during the 3 days at the Full Moon (day before, day of and day after the moon is at it’s fullest). Leave your crystals out under the moonlight or on a windowsill for a few hours. It doesn’t matter if you can’t see the moon, the energy will still reach your crystals. However, when using moonlight, you need to make sure that you have moved them before the sun comes up. Sunlight will cleanse away the moon’s gentle light. If I’m charging my crystals under a full moon, I leave them in the moonlight for an hour or two, moving them again before going to bed.
Sacred Sites
Crystals can also be charged with the energy of sacred sites, such as Stonehenge. The cleansed crystal will be charged with the ancient wisdom held in that space.
Visualisation
Visualisation is also my go to for charging my crystals. Again feel free to devise your own so that it’s personal and more meaningful to you. I set my intention to charge my crystal with pure love and light so that it will only work for the highest and purest intentions. asking the archangels to assist. I then visualise them sending a beam of divine white light from the higher dimensions down into the crystal. When the crystal is completely filled I thank the archangels and my guides for their assistance.
Programming
Programming is an important step that is often missed. Crystals need to be treated with respect as the conscious beings they are. Again, intention is everything here. To work effectively with crystals, they need to programmed, either specifically or generally.
Hold the crystal in your right hand and cover with your left hand. Then clearly state your intended outcome or purpose.
Some examples of this are ” Thank you crystal for helping me to improve my health”, “Thank you crystal for supporting me to find a new partner”, or “I set a clear intention to programme this crystal to increase my financial abundance”.
If you are programming a crystal to support the life or health of another individual, you need to add the phrase “for the greatest and highest good”. This is particularly important if you do not have their explicit agreement, to prevent any karmic repercussions.
You’re Ready to Go
Now that your crystal has been cleansed, charged and programmed, it is ready to work effectively with you. The crystals need to go through this process every time you work with them. If your intention is for the crystals to work for an extended time, e.g. in a crystal grid, they need a reminder of your intention (programming) every 3 days. This is as much for your benefit as the crystal’s to keep the intention fresh in the front of your mind. Crystals are not magic bullets that will make things happen without any involvement from you. You need to take part in the process, with the crystal energy supporting you.
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