crystal cleansing

Stones are subject to a wide range of energies before they arrive in your home, before using them a cleansing or purification on the stones should be performed. This is a simple process that removes any past influences from the stone, readying it for our uses. It is advisable to do this for each stone. There are a multitude of methods which have been utilized for crystal cleansing. After cleansing sense the energies within them by placing them in your receptive hand. If the vibrations are regular and healthy, the cleansing has been successful.

The following are several examples of workable techniques:

~ Place the stones in full sunlight for a day, three days, or even a week. The Sun's rays do the work here, burning away the unnecessary energies. Place the stones in direct sunlight. An inside window ledge isn't as good as an outdoor location because window glass blocks some of the Sun's rays. Remove the stones each day at dusk. Some stones will be "clear" after a day's soaking up the rays. Others will need longer periods of time.

~ Smudge the crystal [e.g., with sweetgrass, cedar, sage, incense, etc.]. This method of cleansing has been used for centuries by Native American and Native African tribal cultures.

~ Take the crystal to the sea, cleanse in sea water [via allowing the water to "wash" over it], and energize in the sun. If the sea is not accessable to you then, soak the crystal in sea salt for 7-24 hours. Rinse with pure water, and energize in the sun. Caution: With some of the softer crystalline forms, salt or abrasive substances may mar the surface; this will not, however, affect the properties of the crystal.

~ Place the crystal on a large crystal cluster or on another mineral [which is a specific energizer] for 12-24 hours.

~ Cleanse the crystal in flowing spring, river, lake, or tap water and energize in the sun. [Water is the universal cleanser and is effective in cleansing undesirable energies from all physical forms.]

~ Soak the crystal in flowers [e.g., rose petals, orange blossoms, honeysuckle, etc.] for twenty-four hours; the essence strips away negativity and cleanses the stone while the purity and energy of the flower is transmitted to the stone.

~ Soak the crystal in brown rice for twenty-four hours; the rice balances and centers the energy, removing the negativity, while dissipating and transforming the negative to the positive. Upon completion of the "soak" the rice is purified and energized and is quite wonderful to eat.