By Esme Bourne
In the spirit of a new year, we all aim for fresh beginnings in different ways. This could be through detox diets, wellness retreats, or new workout regimes to get our bodies on track. We often also do a thorough cleaning of the house at this time of year, and that can include deep cleaning precious things, like winter coats, jewellery….and for some, crystals. But how to care for healing crystals properly?
You may know that each healing stone is made up of tiny crystals which are in constant motion, and they do indeed emit an energy signature or frequency. Add to that the theory that colour influences our state of mind, then it makes sense that many people are firm on the point that a gemstone can contain a kind of healing energy.
Going back in human history, there’s no doubt that there’s long been a magical connection between people and gems-in fact, evidence of gemstones used for healing has been found as far back as 4BC. Ancient civilizations such as the Chinese, Egyptians, Sumerians, Greeks, Romans, or more modern Shamans and Medicine Men have used gemstones for healing in multiple ways – they’ve ground them into powders or elixirs, worn, carried or placed them on the body and in ceremonies or rituals. They’re also quite careful about how they care for their healing stones.
These gems need to be kept fresh to ensure their energies are a strong as can be. Cleansing should be especially done when:
- the crystal feels dirty or sticky
- someone else has handled it
- you’ve recently undergone a major change in your life
- a new ritual or regime calls for it
- it has been in a negative environment
- you feel it needs a clean
How To Clean Your Crystals
There are a few ways to do this.
First of all, you can simply cleanse your stone in running water, or in some cases, salt water. Preferably use sea salt, as the unprocessed salt is more effective in removing negative energies and vibrations. Just soak the crystal in the water for an hour or so, then pour the water down the drain so that the earth can absorb all the negative energies safely. Just remember that porous crystals, like opal, lapis lazuli, hematite and pyrite should never be cleansed in water though, as this can dissolve the stone.
If you have amethyst or quartz crystal caves or clusters, then these can be used as a foundation to place your other crystals to be re-energised and cleansed; just place the dirty crystals on the beds or in the caves and leave for 1-2 days.
Another powerful filter for your crystal is to harness the power of the full moon, as the moonlight cleanses and charges the crystal. To do this, the day before the moon is full, wash your crystal with purified water and then place it on the earth outside to allow it to absorb the full moonlight. Another technique is the use of the sunlight, which also helps rebalance and purify your crystal from negative energies that have been absorbed through time. Just lay your crystals on the earth in a sunny spot for an afternoon, and voila.
One further effective practice for cleansing your crystal collection is the Native American technique of smudging. Burn a handful of sage in a bunch, and, allow the smoke to waft over your crystal collection, removing negative energy and restoring balance to it. This is also effective for removing undesirable energies from environments such as your home or office.
Perhaps one of the most powerful cleansers for your crystal collection is the intention of the purification. If you breathe on your crystal with the intention of cleansing it from negative energy and vibrations, it will do so. The same goes for charging it with a healing energy. A key reminder though, is to open all windows and doors to allow the negative energies to escape.
Finally, Reiki, a healing method that channels energy, is again a powerful way to cleanse and rebalance your crystals. As Reiki rebalances your chakras and heals you, this also works on your crystals by rebalancing their vibrations and removing negativity.
Never use chemical cleaners on your gems, as they damage and harm the crystal.
Where to Store Your Stones
Once the crystals have been cleansed, make sure you keep them in safe places. For example, never put purple amethyst or amethyst geodes in spots with direct sunlight, as these will fade the stone over time. It’s a good idea to keep black tourmaline by your electronics to protect you from the nasty electro magnetic fields these emit – but never keep stones like hematite or lodestone near electronics, as their magnetic fields can harm your devices. Finally, as crystals have energetic vibrations, it’s important not to keep too many near your bedside, as they may disturb your sleep.
As you have now cleansed and purified your crystals from the negative energies that have been absorbed, we now can look forward to a more positive and hopeful new year.
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