Crystal Cleaning

As with all beginner's, once I acquired my first crystals, I read everything I could get my hands on about them. Purchasing was, of course, just the first step in many, according to the books I read. Each book reminded me that cleaning the crystals was a necessary part of being their caretakers. And oh, how they all had different ideas and techniques to do so!! I was overwhelmed at the differences in opinions. Added to that, were the opinions of those I met who told me cleansing crystals had to be done a certain way. Talk about overload!!

I did find out, usually by trial and error, what worked for me and what didn't. One of my first purchased pieces was a lovely rainbow fluorite wand, which I immediately put on my dashboard altar of my recently purchased car. I loved that wand-it even color coordinated with the car with its deep rich blues, greens and purples.

A few days later, I noticed my fluorite friend had faded in color and intensity. I went back to the books. Yes, they did say sunlight was excellent for cleansing stones, so why was my fluorite fading? I was devastated.

Years later, my fluorite friend is still with me, faded and worn, but truly loved. He taught me a very important lesson-Just because you read something, doesn't mean it necessarily holds true in all cases.

So this is what this article is all about. Just a few things I have picked up on my crystal journey to aid and share with you. Take and use what information you will, leave the rest. And remember, common sense is key. There is no "right" way or "wrong" way-just do what you feel in your heart is best for your crystals. My only rule of thumb is this, as I was reminded by a smoky Citrine Elestial one day, if you would not do it yourself (i.e. lay in the sun for three days straight or be buried in sea salt), why would you do it to your crystal friends?

SUN
Sunshine is wonderful for many crystals, Rock Crystal Quartz especially love it. Putting your crystals out in the sun to cleanse is perfectly OK, just a few suggestions when you do so. Do not put in hot, direct sunlight. Some crystals may fracture with sudden temperature changes or while under intense heat. Others will fade.

Crystals such as Amethyst, Fluorite (Heat Sensitive), Rose Quartz, Turquoise, Malachite, Tourmaline, some Lapis Lazuli (Dyed) and Rock Crystal Quartz will react to direct sunlight.

Enhydros should never be left in the sun as they may explode or craze. Liquid, heat, boil, boom :)

Sulfur will fall apart under even a mild exposure to sunlight, and could melt under intense sunlight. Gaseous fumes (sulfur dioxide and trioxide) may also be released with exposure to intense sunlight which could make you very sick.

Realgar, orpiment, and many silver minerals will completely change under any light exposure of more than a few minutes.

WATER
Some crystals are very sensitive and soluble in water. It is best not to soak such crystals as Halite, Selenite, Malachite, and Turquoise. More information will be presented as I do some research.

SEA SALT BATH
This was my favorite when I first began cleaning my crystals. Who wouldn't like a nice bath, right? Dry or mixed in water, this seemed the perfect way to cleanse many at a time. One day, I was cleaning some smoky Citrine Elestials and as I picked up a rather big crystal and began to move it towards the bath, I heard this, "I really do not like this! Would YOU want to be put in sea salt and left there?" I thought about it for a minute, first questioning my sanity at hearing voices, and then thinking twice about what I was doing. Think about it, would YOU want to be left in a salt bath for an extended period of time? My answer was, No, I really do not think I would like that. Since that day, none of my crystals have touched sea salt again.

A lot of crystals can be damaged by a chemical reaction with the salt, which may change the appearance (looking scratched or as if the finish has been removed, etc). Many times pieces are coated with a high temperature wax (such as shoe polish). Salt is corrosive, so putting these pieces in salt or salt water actually removes this coating, which gives the appearance of scratching, pitting or a flat finish.

Some of these crystals are Calcite, Malachite, Rhodochrosite, Selenite, Hematite, and Apatite.

BURYING
Burying your crystals in the earth is again, personal taste. Since they come from the earth, it makes sense to bury them back there to cleanse and restore. Just a word of caution here, make sure you read up on this method using geological books, not metaphysical ones. A dear friend reminded me just the other day that if your going to bury them in the ground check the reaction of the local soil to the chemical makeup of your stones. Once below ground those lovely pyrites etc. can soon turn a spot poisonous. Remember Arsenopyrite=arsenic

THE MOON
This is my chosen and most recommended modality for cleansing any stone. The light of the moon will cleanse, without fading. It does not scratch or dissolve any stone or crystal. It is gentle and loving energy, much like a mother rocking a sleeping baby. Leave them out to soak up the energy and release any that is no longer needed.

SMUDGING-- Using sage, sweet grass or other smudging herb, simply light the sage (for example) and allow it to smoke in your bowl or abalone shell. You can either pass each stone over the smoke or use your sacred feather to "brush" the smoke over the stone. Visualizing the negative energies rising and disappearing with the smoke is helpful.

OTHER IDEAS AND THOUGHTS--In my experience, I have found one or two other methods that work quite well and are painless to all involved. The first is a simple visualization technique. Just sit the crystal down on a table, altar, desk, etc. and visualize all of the stored up energy you don't want to be there, filling a balloon and flying away, or visualizing a mist moving out of the crystal into the universe to be transmuted into positive, love energy. What ever you are most comfortable with. It is all in the intent.

The second cleansing method I recommend is simply running under tepid (NOT hot and NOT cold) water for a few minutes and visualizing the unneeded energy flowing down the drain. Use pure water or spring water if you feel the chemicals in your water system would be harmful to the crystal.

Last but not least, do nothing. Crystals are energy and as energy, they cycle out those unneeded energies on their own, transmuting them to the positive love energy of the universe. If you have many, as I do, just know that the crystals help each other to purge that energy that is no longer useful to them.

There are as many cleaning rituals and techniques out there as there are stones and crystals. I personally feel intuition should be used in this area, as each person has a unique and individualized relationship with his/her stones and crystals. Do what resonates with you.

I personally love the one that suggests soaking the crystal in flower petals, such as rose or honeysuckle. It is something I would like to try next time with my crystal friends and see what they say then!