As with any method of cleansing, intention is the key–before you begin, you need to be focused on the process of cleansing. So as you cleanse your crystal, think about what you are doing and how this action is releasing unwanted energies.
BRUSHING: A soft brush such as a makeup brush or a paint brush is good for removing dust that can build up on surface and delicate crevices of the stone.
PHYSICAL CLEANSING: A little mild detergent mixed with water in a bowl, followed by a thorough rinse in clear water, will make crystals sparkle. (Don’t use water if they are water-soluble crystals!)
RUNNING WATER: Hold your crystal under running water for a few minutes. It may need longer if it’s been working hard or hasn’t been cleansed for a long time. If you feel that it needs a lot of time, place the crystal in a bowl of water in your sink and let the water run into the bowl for as long as necessary.
MOONLIGHT: Leave the crystal in moonlight, especially in a full moon, or leave it out during a new moon.
BURNING INCENSE OR SMUDGE STICK: The smoke from frankincense, sandalwood, and sage is cleansing. You can burn either incense or a smudge stick (A small bunch of dried herbs burned during Native American cleansing rituals.
EARTH: Bury the crystal in the earth–when you unearth it a week or more later, it will be born anew. Different traditions round the world apply this technique in varying ways. One method is to bury it during a Full Moon and unearth it on a New Moon.
CRYSTALLINE ENERGIES: Place the crystal on an amethyst bed, on a quartz cluster, or inside a geode and allow the crystalline energies to cleanse and clear it. A large amethyst bed can be like a vacation for your crystals.
The question of how long you should leave them is a little open-ended. Crystals are like people–how long do you usually need to refresh and revitalize yourself? To know when a crystal is ready to work again, use your intuition–also, look for brightness and color returning to the crystal, which should no longer feel “clammy.” Once you are used to working with crystals, you will find it easy to know when they are ready to go back to work.
SOUNDS: Chanting, drumming, or playing Tibetan bells or cymbals can clear unhelpful vibrations.
SUNLIGHT: You can cleanse your crystal by leaving it in sunlight and also dry your crystals in the sun after washing them (Caution: Quartz crystals, especially crystal balls, will focus the sun’s rays and so can be a fire risk take appropriate precautions.)
BREATH, LIGHT OR REIKI: Breathing over your crystal helps to cleanse it –focus your mind, heart, and being through your breath, connecting your inner being to the outside. Reiki an also be practiced on crystals, and a meditation technique involving a visualization of light can be used, too. Still your mind and picture a bright light flowing from your brow chakra to the crystal in your hand, washing over it then filling the crystal. When it completely glows with light, slowly bring your focus away from the crystal and back to our surroundings.
Witches Of The Craft® 