If you have ever walked by a shop selling crystals or attended a gem & mineral show, you completely get the lure of beautiful stones. These stones are not just pretty. Each element and stone vibrate at a particular frequency. There are so many different types: Rough, tumbled smooth, fossilized, faceted… Stones and crystals come in every different color, hue and formation, each with its own vibration. These include precious gems, semiprecious gems and stones of every variety. These vibrations call to us, whether we realize it or not. This goes back to humans being bioelectrically connected with the earth. Each vibration speaks to a different part of us and can be used to help us in so many ways. Realizing that this connection is a two-way path is very important. Some crystals open us to different pathways through the cosmos, open us to love, to light, to healing. Other stones protect us and guide us to where we need to be. This two-way relationship must be nourished. This means cleansing, charging and programming them. We are caretakers, as they will last here long after us and, often, use humans to move from place to place. I have personally acquired many stones that when I came into contact with the proper person, I knew that it was meant for them, its part in my journey had been fulfilled.
“The purpose of cleansing is to purify and honor the stone, recognizing the vast journey it has undergone to get to you now” -Andye Murphy of Gaia
It is important to cleanse new crystals and stones, as we are not always aware of how they have been used in the past. There are many different ways to effectively cleanse your crystals. Some of the more common are water, moonlight, sunlight, earthing, smudging, and sound. There exist Super-crystals that don’t need clearing and actually are capable of clearing other stones. (Selenite, Quartz, Carnelian, Amethyst and Kyanite, to name a few)
Aside from when you get it, there are other times to cleans your crystals. As stones work their vibrations to help us, they are working. After work, everything needs a rest. Especially if they have been used to help heal severe sickness or used to help transmute trauma.
One of the most important things when working with crystals is having a clear mind. I always center & ground myself before working with any of my stones.
Purifying and Charging:
Water is one of the main elements of nature and, therefore, a very powerful ally in cleansing and clearing. You can take your stones to a source of natural water (wild spring, river, stream, lakes or the ocean) and let the water wash over the stones, visualizing them letting go of any negativities or blockages or disruptions they might have developed through previous work. If these are not available to you. You can soak them in a bowl of water with sea salt in it or even brush them with salt and then visualize their cleansing as you rinse the salt from them.
(some crystals do not do well in water, especially selenite so do your research before using water to cleanse)
Moonlight is very effective for cleansing crystals, as well as adding potent energies, especially at both New & Full moons, depending on necessity. The moon is a very feminine energy and helps strengthens emotional and spiritual recovery. You should always try to set them on the earth for their moon-bath but, if not possible, at least put them on something natural like wood. I leave mine out all night under the moon and that’s why I also love using the Sun to charge them as well. As the opposite to the moon, the Sun charges them with masculine energy as well. Once again, depending on your intention for the stone. I, usually, leave mine out until just after sunrise. If you are using them to do some heavy “lifting” a little extra sun is a good thing. Remember that intention is everything. (the Sun can fade some crystals like Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Fluorite, Rose quartz & Smoky Quartz, so I bring these in right after sunrise).
Earthing crystals is exactly what it sounds like. You bury your crystals so that the earth is able to “reset” the energy of the stone. I usually leave mine for 7 days but I know others who do it for as few as 3 or as many as 11 days. Use and trust your intuition in these matters.
Smudging is another great way to cleanse if you need to use the stones right away and can’t wait for proximity or moon phases. It works just as you would use sacred smudge to clear the energies in yourself or your home. Sage is the most popular (PLEASE make sure that your sage is ethically sourced as it is a threatened plant in the wild.) I also love using palo santo, sweetgrass braids, or even copal or frankincense resin.
Sound is also very powerful for cleansing. There are various chants, mantras you can create to cleanse, especially in your own voice. This not only cleanses but lends itself to sacred programming. I love using a Tibetan sing bowl to cleanse especially large crystals.
Programming and Intention Setting:
Here we get into some more information on how to use your crystals to help in ritual, manifestation, protection and other areas of your life. Remember that everything on this earth has a spirit; Humans, animals, plants and even stones. We are all in this together. I always ask the spirit of the plant or stone, in this case, if it is willing to help in my endeavor. Make sure to research correspondences, as stones & crystals are naturally efficient at certain tasks. It is important for you to work WITH the vibrations of the stone, rather than at cross purposes.
After centering & grounding, I open my mind to allow the spirit time to consider my request and answer, just like I would a friend or ally. If the spirit is willing, I hold it in my hand. I focus my mind on the intention or goal I am wanting to manifest. Sometimes I use chants or mantras, sometimes visualizations, sometimes I will program them in the dream-space. Once I have set the intention, I thank the spirit for its help and proceed.
As you work with crystals and stones, your experience will grow and become more innate and intuitive in nature. You’ll find that you have grounded allies in this journey and discovering their spirits is a beautiful way to flow through this journey.
Gaia's Sanctorum 