Cleaning and charging crystals.

The crystal questions keep coming in. The most popular question is how to clean crystals. The answer is...it depends. People have their own little ways and tricks to cleaning crystals, but they are basically the same when it comes down to it.

The first time you get a crystal, especially if you have not dug it up yourself,  clean it. The best way to clean MOST crystals (NEVER do this with malachite, or a crystal with small delicate formations, like druzy) is to dip them in the ocean. The earth's natural energy and salt water will take any negativity out of the stone. You cannot clean the stone's natural attributes out of it, so no worries, this just cleans what may be clinging to the outside.

(Research your crystals, if they are noted as "friable" that means that water will make them come apart, do not get them wet).

Many of us no longer have an ocean available, so the next best thing is to get some room temperature water and salt in a bucket or your sink, and just swish them around. They don't need to be scrubbed, they are used to being dirty, they are rocks.....so don't get crazy on them. Just rinse off negativity and any useless scattered energy.You don't want to damage the crystal, just "dust it off". For friable stones, I recommend using sage.

Next you have to charge them. This is a two step process. One is powering them up, the other is telling them what you want them to do. It is ALWAYS best to use a stone that has the attribute naturally. So do not allow someone to talk you into a similar crystal just becasue they don't have the desired one in stock. You can charge most crystals with sun or moonlight. Again, a little research is needed because certain stones will fade color in the sun. Leaving amethyst in the sun turns it from purple to clear. No need to fade that beautiful coloring, just use a full moon. You can recharge them , or change the direction of the stone a bit under a new moon (new beginnings!).

What I mean by changing direction is that maybe you originally directed a stone to bring abundance, but now you have more friends than you can handle and need a social secretary. Clean and recharge the crystal to bring more abundance in the manner of health, financial prosperity, or creative ideas.

Keeping a piece of quartz with the stone you are using will keep it charged, and keeping citrine with it (citrine NEVER needs to be cleaned) will keep the stone always ready for use. Carnelian also works well to keep stones cleaned (it is a great protector), but will need to be cleaned itself from time to time.

You do not have to clean your crystals every week. When they are sitting in s pretty cabinet in your home, they are probably good for a long time, unless you have a lot of issues in your home. When you do healing work with them, you need to clean them after each session. When you take them with you to do work outside the home, clean them when you get home. When you have them on you, and there is a emotional, or in some way upsetting event, clean them at the end of the day.

Part II of charging is to tell the stone specifically what you want it to do. For instance, Malachite amps up energy. That means it can amp up good energy, and it can amp up bad energy. You may want to tell the crystal that you want it to amp up good energy only, if that is indeed what you want. Some people do not mind the negative being amped up. The reason for that is that they want to bring up issues in their life, get them out into the light, deal with them, and move past them. Malachite will NOT bring new negativity (nor new positive energy) into your life, it is just that the energy that is there will be given more power.

Here is an unusual use for it on the negative energy side (becasue most people think "why would I want to ramp up negative energy!?"). I had a ghost hunting friend back east. He was told that there were negative energies in a home. They never, in any way presented themselves when he was there. We were talking about it one day, and I told him to bring malachite to the house. The first time there was a little activity like doors slamming, then he went back and it was a crazy night. But he was then able to effectively evaluate the situation, locate the source,  and get the energy out of the house. People think amping up negative energy is a bad thing, it isn't always. Remember we live in the yin and yang, we need positive and negative.

This is why it is important to buy those Judy Hall books if you are going to work with crystals. It would be very hard to memorize all the information, it is better to have the books on hand to research the uses , dos and don'ts.

Now your stone is cleaned, charged and ready to go. Even if you do not intend to keep it on you all the time, keep it on your person for at least a few days so it becomes familiar with whom it is working for. It cannot bring you abundance if it doesn't know who you are.

Remember to clean them from time to time unless you keep them with citrine, or in a protected area, like a showcase in a positive and abundant place.

Some people like to add prayer or sage to the cleansing and charging process, use whatever resonates with you, because when it resonates with you, it works better, it is a form of manifesting. Never hand your crystals to someone that you feel is troubled, or has serious issues, unless you intend to clean it immediately afterwards. Do not place that stone back with others until you do so.

Another thing to keep in mind is to adopt stones that call to you. I have a thing for blue/green stones. I love chrysocolla, malachite, turquoise, shattuckite, lapis, blue moonstone...I also have a thing for just the right orange. Orange calcite and carnelian are favorites. When those stones call to you, get them. You don't need a giant piece. Huge stones cost a bundle and most frequently overwhelm a space or another smaller stone near them. There is no need to have something that you need to reinforce the floor to display. A small polished stone that fits in your closed fist will do the job just as well as a $4,000 amethyst geode.

You may want to use shapes and weights that work well with what you are trying to accomplish. Many who do healing work prefer heavier stones, so people can feel the weight and energy, or wands to focus the energy. Clairvoyants want clear, shiny surfaces to gaze into and see visions. The reason for the stone's use should determine its' size. You may simply want a pendant, ring, or some other piece of jewelry, so that you can wear it. Many times I wear protective stones into places with negative energy.

Sometimes you just can't lug a huge 5 pound piece around with you everywhere you go!

Enjoy your crystals and watch them work magic for you!!!
Happy crystal hunting!!!





Peshaui Wequashimese



(C) 2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission