How to care for your crystals and minerals.

Firstly, this doesn’t have to be difficult. I understand that a lot of people worry about doing it right. There is a lot of information out there, some of it conflicting and that can leave us feeling a little overwhelmed. For this article, I’m going to keep it very simple. Over time and with experience, you will find that you naturally evolve with the process and do what feels right for you and your crystals.

Crystals and minerals collect dust. They get dirty, just like us humans! They absorb energy, and over time, they can get pretty mucky, not just physically but energetically too.

To clean my collection, I use a feather brush, different sizes of soft-bristled paintbrushes and a bamboo cloth. I brush the crystals with one of the brushes, freeing them from any dust and I use the bamboo cloth to polish the crystal if needed. I really enjoy using the paintbrushes, it can feel like painting a masterpiece and it’s a very therapeutic experience.

I rarely use water to clean or cleanse my crystals, and I don’t advise it either, not unless you know what you’re doing. I especially don’t advise using saltwater. Water is corrosive to many crystals and minerals. The hard quartz crystals are okay though. You may have heard of the Mohs hardness scale. A lot of people who sell and talk about crystals will tell you to refer to the Mohs scale. This scale will tell you the hardness of your crystal – however, this is a hardness test, not a water-soluble test. There are lots of crystals that don’t like water, too many to list. Urge on the side of caution and use a different method.

I will use water on Clear Quartz, and it’s associated brothers and sisters; Smoky Quartz, Rose Quartz, Citrine etc…
I like to use warm water and sometimes I might add a drop or two of organic soap, something special, (absolutely no chemicals).

Imagine yourself in a nice bath, some crystals enjoy exactly the same treatment.
Just make sure to rinse them free of any residue if you do use soap. You can leave them to dry naturally, or you can pat or rub them dry yourself. This is when I use the bamboo cloth, to give them a nice polish afterwards. You will feel and see the difference. The crystals will ‘feel’ more beautiful in themselves. I liken the process to taking a nice bath or shower with a little pampering afterwards.

Before I tell you how I cleanse crystals, I want to talk about working with intention. When working with Crystals, having a clear intention is very important. Our intention is that we want to cleanse our crystals for them to be free of any absorbed energy. During the cleansing process, hold this intention in your mind.

Take your time and enjoy the cleanse. Crystals deserve respect, so we show them that by being fully present while cleansing.  Cleansing your crystals can be a very sacred and ceremonial experience.

How you decide to cleanse your crystals is absolutely the perfect way.  The method I use more than anything else is burning White Sage and ‘smudging’ my crystals.  Burning sage is one of the oldest and purest methods of cleansing.

You will need a fireproof bowl. I like to use an Abalone shell, but any fireproof dish will be fine. Light your White Sage, get a flame going and after a little while, blow the flame out (gently), you should have a nice stream of smoke that should last a little while. Don’t worry if it goes out, just relight it.

Hold your crystals over the smoke and use a feather or your hand to waft the smoke over your crystals. You can do them one at a time or in big batches. You can use a wicker basket or a wicker type bowl, a fruit drying rack or similar. I have a small wooden prune drier, don’t ask me why because I’ve never dried plums in my life, but it works brilliantly for when I need to cleanse a lot of tumbled stones. Put the crystals in the drier or basket and hold the burning sage underneath, the smoke will work its way through the basket and cleanse a lot of crystals all at the same time.

Another way to cleanse your crystals and one that I use often is cleansing with sound. I use Tingsha bells, tuning forks and a singing bowl. Crystals seem to like the high vibrational frequencies, a clear, crisp chime of the Tingshas is perfect. Create your sound whichever way suits you and move the crystals through the vibrations. It’s as easy as that.

For those who practice Reiki, use the Cho Ku Rei symbol. This is a very effective way of cleansing. Finally, if you are absolutely certain that your crystals can withstand water, cleansing your crystals in a natural water source is a very nice way of cleansing. If you can get access to a stream, river or ocean, take your crystals on a journey and give them a loving cleanse in the healing waters of the earth.
For all of these methods, remember, your intention is essential.

There are many ways to charge crystals.  Remember, how you decide to charge your crystals is absolutely the perfect way.

Crystals can get tired, just like us. They work very hard. They appreciate a good charge of new, clean energy from natural sources. You can often tell if a crystal needs cleansing and charging just by looking at it.

This can be achieved very simply.

One of my favourite ways of charging crystals is to lay them out under a full moon or to leave them to bathe in the rays of the sun. Please be aware though, some crystals will fade in colour if left for too long in direct sunlight. Crystals such as Amethyst, Celestite, Kunzite, Turquoise……..if you’re unsure, it is best to use the moon charge. Don’t worry if you can’t see the Moon due to cloud cover. This will not stop the energy from reaching your crystals.

There is nothing nicer than seeing your crystals bathe in the sun, however, please be careful.  I speak from experience when I tell you that direct sunlight and Quartz don’t mix well! I nearly lost my home once from leaving my Quartz sphere in direct sunlight. I was lucky to be home at the time! Do not place any Quartz on windowsills that receive direct sunlight.

 

Other methods of charging are very similar to how we cleanse crystals. Leaving them in running water, taking them to the ocean or a stream is a lovely way to charge and cleanse them. You can also bury them in the ground. I do this often with clear Quartz and Smoky Quartz. These crystals work very hard, and they absorb a lot of energy. They seem to really appreciate going into the ground for a good cleanse and charge from Mother Nature. As with the water advisory, only do this if you know that the crystal can withstand damp conditions. If you do use this method, be sure to put a marker where you buried them, they’re very easy to loose otherwise.

Other crystals can also charge other crystals. Using a cluster bed is a great way to help charge crystals as well as your jewellery. Selenite charging plates are excellent and of course for the Reiki initiated, your Reiki will do the trick. Reiki is an excellent way of charging crystals.

Enjoy the experience.  Hold the intention.  Have respect.

xxx