Crystal Care

     Crystals need to be looked after.  They respond to loving, nurturing care.  If you treat your crystals with respect, then they in turn will serve you well.  Crystals tend to absorb negative vibrations very easily, so it is important that you cleanse your crystals regularly.  This ensures that their energies remain high and their power continues to be effective.  You may also need to recharge them from time to time.

Caring for your Crystals

     Although some crystals, such as clear Quartz and the grainy darker crystals, are able to withstand light, crystal colors will become faded after prolonged exposure to sunlight.  To allow your crystals to continue to look their best, make sure that you position them away from the direct sunlight of windows or keep them covered when they are not in use.  Wrapping delicate crystals carefully in a soft cloth or placing them in a cloth bag ensures that they are not scratched or chipped-it is important to keep soft and hard crystals separate so that the harder ones cannot damage the softer ones.  If you include a Carnelian, it will help to cleanse the stones.  Some crystals are affected by damp, which can penetrate between layers or separate points from a larger cluster.  It is essential to keep all crystals free form dust and dirt.  Stones that are handled frequently need more cleaning than those used for decoration.
     Citrine, Kyanite(never put in water), and Azeztulite are self-cleaning but all other crystals need to be regularly cleansed.  Some stones, such as Carnelian or Quartz, have the capacity to purify other crystals.  Cleansing is especially important if you have only just received your crystal or if you are using it for protection or healing.
     There are several methods of cleansing.  Choose the one that is right for your crystal.  Most tumbled stones and single crystal points are happy being washed under flowing water, but soft, friable crystals or mica-based ones should never be immersed in water and this can harm clusters too.  Selenite is water-soluble and will eventually disappear if washed.  When cleansing crystals, hold a strong intention that all negative energies will be transmuted and the crystal will be re-energized and ready for use again.

Cleansing with Water

     If you live close to the ocean, you can take advantage of your natural surroundings and immerse suitable crystals in seawater(placing them in a washing basket or mesh bag) for an hour or two.  After they have soaked in the seawater, the crystals will need to be rinsed in pure water.  If you do not live near to the ocean, putting a handful of sea salt in a bowl of water works equally well.  Crystals can also be held under running water for a few moments.  Make sure you allow them to dry naturally in the sun.

Quartz Cluster

     A Quartz or Citrine cluster, or an Amethyst geode and be used to clean some smaller stones.  Place the stone you wish to clean on the cluster and leave it there for a period of about 12 hours.  Standing this arrangement in sunlight or moonlight can also re-energize the crystal at the same time.

Light Visualization

     You can rapidly cleanse a crystal by passing it through light.  You can also use light visualization.  Simply visualize a column of pure golden light falling on the crystal.  Concentrate on holding this thought in your mind's eye as the light cleanses and transmutes the energies in your crystal.  If you find it difficult to use the visualization technique, you can achieve the same results by holding the crystal in front of a candle flame.

SALT

     Friable stones can be placed in a bowl of dry salt and left overnight.  It is essential that you thoroughly remove any excess salt from the crystal afterward since it could absorb damp from the atmosphere and damage the surface of the crystal.

Smudging

     The smoke from smudge or joss sticks quickly cleanses crystal energies.  Hold the crystal in the smoke for a few minutes.

Crystal Clear

     It is also possible to purchase a purpose-made crystal cleanser.  Crystal Clear is a highly effective brand.  Allow a few drops to fall on the crystal, or drop them into the washing water.  You can also spray them from an atomizer to clean all crystals, or the environment, instantly, atomized spray is gentle and does not damage delicate crystals, see www.sacredsites.co.uk/sites/petaltone.

Recharging

     Sunlight is an excellent re-energizer for crystals - as is the moon for Moonstones or Hematite.  However, it is best to avoid the hot midday sun because rays focused through a clear crystal can cause burns.  Sunrise is an excellent time for using this method as it concentrates the purifying and invigorating energy directly into the crystal.`