How to Cleanse Crystals in 2024
Last Updated: February 13, 2024
Cleansing crystals is an essential part of any crystal healing practice. It helps remove negative energy that the crystals may have picked up and prepares them for healing. Our beginner’s guide addresses how to cleanse crystals using various methods and how often.
What Are Crystals Used For?
Crystals have been used for healing and spiritual purposes for centuries. They’re believed to help clear negative energy and promote positive vibes. There are many purposes for using crystals and their energies. Many use them to amplify intentions, cleanse the energy of a room or person, boost self-esteem, promote relaxation or sleep, attract wealth and abundance, or as part of meditation tools.
Crystals—like other kinds of alternative treatment—function by channeling your energy level and focusing on mending your body from the inside out. The possibilities are endless. Crystals can be used in various ways, including placing them on or around your body to heal specific areas, carrying them with you to promote good luck and protection, or using them when you meditate.
DID YOU KNOW? Crystals represent the seven chakra stones of Red Jasper, Carnelian, Citrine, Green Aventurine, Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, and Clear Quartz. |
How to Cleanse Crystals
So how do you cleanse crystals? First, as noted, the purpose of crystal cleansing is to remove negative energy that the crystals may have gathered, which can come from people, places, or objects. It’s crucial to cleanse your crystals regularly to keep them functioning at their best and promote positive healing.
There are many ways to cleanse crystals. The most common methods include using sunlight/moonlight, smudging, sound, water, sea salt, burial, breath, visualization, and brown rice.
Sunlight/Moonlight Crystal Cleanse
The simplest way to cleanse crystals is by exposing them to sunlight or moonlight. The sun’s natural energy is cathartic and energizing, and the moon’s light is said to be cleansing and purifying. Place your crystals in direct sunlight for several hours or leave them outside for sunlight cleansing. This method can help remove the negative energy the crystals have picked up. For moonlight cleansing, put your crystals out in direct moonlight overnight. The full moon to cleanse crystals is even more effective—lay them under the light of the full moon for several hours.
Smudging
Smudging is an ancient practice that uses the smoke from herbs to cleanse and purify objects, people, or spaces. It’s said to clear negative energy and restore balance. Various herbs can be used for smudging, but sage is the most common. To cleanse crystals with sage, light the end of the sage stick and allow it to smolder. Then, wave the smoke around the crystals, making sure to cover all sides. You can also use a smudge feather or fan to help move the smoke around. This method is very effective in cleansing crystals of negative energy. If you can’t smudge outside, make sure you’re near an open window.
Sound
You can use sound cleansing by ringing a bell over your crystals or playing music that’s particularly purifying for them, including chants, drums, or gongs. For example, the sound of Tibetan singing bowls is very cleansing and purifying. One method to cleanse your crystals with a Tibetan singing bowl is to place them near the bowl and use the wooden mallet to gently strike the bowl’s rim or side. Then, use the stick in a clockwise circular motion on the outside of the bowl to continue the ringing. This allows the sound waves to wash over the crystals, help eliminate any negative energy they have absorbed, and keep you safe from bad vibes.
Water
One of the most popular ways to cleanse crystals is by using water. There are various ways to do this, but the most common is to use rainwater. To cleanse your crystals with rainwater, collect the water in a bowl or cup and pour it over the crystals. You can also place them in a stream or river or even the ocean. If you can’t get your hands on rainwater, you can use distilled or spring water. Make sure your stone is submerged in the water. When finished, pat dry. But be careful—not all crystals are water-safe crystals.
Sea Salt
Another popular way to cleanse crystals is by using sea salt in a bath or sprinkling the salt over the crystals. For the bath method, place your crystals in a bowl and cover them with sea salt. Add enough water to cover the stones, then stir until the salt has dissolved. Allow them to soak for a few hours, then rinse and dry. For the sprinkle approach, put your crystals on a plate and cover them with sea salt. Allow them to sit for several hours, then brush off the salt and rinse. Sea salt helps to cleanse crystals by clearing out toxic vibes that might get into the crystals.
Burial
Another way to eradicate negative energy from crystals is by burying them in soil, which can be done outside or indoors. For the outdoor procedure, dig a hole in the ground and bury your crystals in it. Cover them with earth and let them sit for a few days. You can also place them in a pot of soil indoors if you prefer. Put your crystals in a pot on top of the soil. Water them well and allow them to sit for a few days. The earth will help absorb any negative energy they have and restore equilibrium. Some believe this is the most effective way to cleanse crystals.
Breath
This technique is a more subtle way to charge and cleanse your crystals, resembling a short meditation session. First, hold the crystals in your hands and take several deep breaths. Then, while exhaling on the crystal, visualize the negative energy being expelled. You can also gently blow balanced breath on the stones to help remove such energy.
Visualization
This approach is an easy way to cleanse crystals from negative energy. Simply hold the crystals in your hands and visualize the negative energy being expelled. See it flowing out of the stone and away into the ether. Then, imagine the stone being completely cleared of any negativity and restored to its original state of purity.
Brown Rice
Using brown rice is one of the most effortless ways to cleanse your crystals. Place your crystals in a bowl of rice and coat them with the rice. Allow them to sit for a few hours, then brush off the rice and rinse. The brown rice will help absorb any negative energy clinging to the stones.
How Often Should You Cleanse Your Crystals?
The frequency of cleansing crystals depends on how often you use them. If you use them regularly, it’s recommended to cleanse them once a week. But if you only use them occasionally, then cleansing each month or two should be sufficient. Cleaning your crystals ensures their good condition. If any of the crystals are cracked, chipped, or broken, they should not be used for cleansing other crystals. In that case, you should clean them with running water to neutralize any negative energy stored inside the stone and return them to the earth.
DID YOU KNOW? The best crystals for manifesting love include rose quartz, pink kunzite, and rhodonite. |
Do You Need to Cleanse Crystals?
The answer to this question depends on how you intend to use the stones. If you use them as healing crystals or for energy, it’s essential to cleanse them regularly. But if you just put them in your space as decoration, you may not need to cleanse them as often. It’s always a good idea, however, to conduct a brief crystal cleansing before utilizing them for any purpose.
Crystals can store energy on contact, meaning that if you’re not cleansing your crystals regularly, they can become overloaded with negative energy—counterproductive to your goals and intentions. By cleansing your crystals regularly, you ensure they remain clear and energetically balanced, helping you achieve your desired results. The best way to cleanse crystals is the one you think is better.
DID YOU KNOW? The English word for crystals derives from the Greek word krystallos, meaning “ice.” |
Key Takeaways
Crystals are used to help clear negative energy and promote positive vibes. |
There are various cleaning methods, but the most common include sunlight/moonlight cleansing, sage cleansing, water cleansing, and sound cleansing. |
If you constantly use crystals, you should clean them once a week. If you use them seldom, clean them once a month or once every two months. |
By purifying your crystals regularly, you ensure they remain clear and energetically balanced, allowing you to accomplish the benefits you desire. |
Conclusion
Cleansing your crystals is an essential part of keeping them in good condition and ensuring they work to their fullest potential. We’ve listed a few different ways to cleanse crystals, so use your intuition when deciding which method is best for you and your precious gems. Remember to use caution when handling them, as some can be quite delicate. And, as always, trust the process. So go ahead and try one (or more) of these methods to cleanse your crystals today.
FAQ
Some choose to cleanse their crystals with incense. One of the most popular options is to use sage to cleanse crystals by burning the end of a sage smudge stick and wafting the smoke over the crystals. The herbal smoke helps clear the negative energy stored in them. You can also use other types of incense, such as Palo Santo or Frankincense.
How often you need to cleanse your crystals depends on how you use them. When you first get them, you should refresh the crystals, especially if they feel heavy or cloudy or if you plan to use them for energy or another purpose. We suggest cleaning them once a week if you use them for healing or energy. But if you only use them for decoration, cleaning them once a month will suffice.
Another way to cleanse and charge your crystals is by using sunlight. Place the stones in direct sunlight for a few hours. The sun will help clear negative energy and recharge the crystals with positive energy. Knowing how to cleanse crystals will help ensure that your gems are well charged and ready to send forth healing energies.