How to cleanse and charge crystals

 Want to know the best way to cleanse and charge your crystals? Here's our how-to guide on getting the most out of your crystals' energy.

Cleansing and charging crystals are two very different things and sometimes it is easy to overlook the fact that some methods only do one or the other.

Cleansing crystals means that the energy of the crystal is brought back to its original point and that all negative energy that has attached to or been absorbed in the crystal has been neutralised and is no longer a part of the crystal's energy. A crystal which hasn’t been cleansed can have a sluggish energy to it, can end up being of no use at all and ultimately loses the strength of its original properties.

On the other hand, charging a crystal refers to charging the energy within the crystal so that it is able to be omitted to the best of its ability. A crystal which hasn’t been charged cannot give it’s best and doesn’t function at its optimum level.

Crystals respond well to the four elements (fire, earth, air and water), and these elements are what can help to cleanse and charge your crystals. Some elements can both cleanse and charge the energy of crystals, and some elements can only do one of the two. Try the methods below to see which one suits you and your crystals best...
 
 
Moonlight
For: Cleansing and Charging
Element: Air

Even though the moon has water energy to it, its light properties put it under the element of air since its energy is transmitted through the atmosphere.

Exposing crystals to moonlight is the most effective, and easiest, way to both cleanse and charge crystals. Because moonlight consists of feminine energy it harmonises well with crystal energy which is also feminine. The moon is also made up of crystalline structures such as labradorite giving it an extra boost in its charging properties.

When charging crystals under the moonlight be sure that it is done when the moon is at its optimum light strength. This would be 3 days before, during, or 3 days after a full moon phase. Crystals will still charge under moonlight even if it is a cloudy or rainy full moon evening.

When cleansing and charging crystals under the moonlight all you need to do is place them safely in a bowl outside and let them bask under the light. Because we are generally blessed with a full moon once a month it’s a good reminder of when to cleanse and charge your crystals.

Care needs to be taken weather wise with this method as some crystals are water-sensitive and will disintegrate and/or crumble in the rain. Crystals such as selenite, turquoise and malachite are particularly vulnerable to water. If it does look like its going to be a rainy full moon evening then you can simply leave you crystals on an inside windowsill so that they are exposed to the moonlight without getting wet.
 

Sunlight
For: Cleansing and Charging
Element: Air

Sunlight is very similar to moonlight in that it comes under the element of air, even though the sun itself is of the fire element. Sunlight also both cleanses and charges crystals effectively. Sunlight brings a warm and a ‘happy’ charging quality to crystals, although it’s charging strength is only second to that of moonlight since it is of masculine energy.

You can use the same method to cleanse and charge crystals in the sunlight as you do in the moonlight. Simply leave them outside in a bowl, or inside on a windowsill if the weather turns bad. The best time to cleanse and charge crystals using the sunlight is around midday when the sun is at it’s peak performance, or during the day in the summer months.
 

Earth/ Burying Crystals
For: Cleansing and Charging
​Element: Earth

Like moonlight and sunlight, you can cleanse and charge crystals by burying them in the dirt. This is obviously related to the element of earth and is as powerful a crystal cleanser and charger as moonlight and sunlight.

The only problem with burying crystals is that water-sensitive crystals do not take well to this method since soil holds a lot of water. It can be done safely with crystals which aren’t water sensitive though. It is also a little more time consuming than using the moonlight or sunlight method.

To cleanse and charge crystals in the earth simply bury them in a small hole in your backyard and leave them overnight. If the land that you bury them in has any spiritual significance or spiritual history then even better! After they have been buried it is best to wipe away any dirt residue rather than wash them in water as this will take away the charged properties of the crystals.
 

Other Crystals
For: Charging
Element: Earth

Some high vibration crystals actually charge other crystals on their own simply by being in the presence of each other. This comes under the earth element as earth charges earth. Because high vibration crystals pick up stale energy just as all other crystals do this doesn’t make this the best cleansing method.

Using crystals to charge other crystals is a good method to use in between your usual cleansing and charging method. High vibration crystals which are very good at charging other crystals include Super Seven, Clear Quartz, Herkimer Diamonds and Moldavite. Keeping one of these crystals in the centre of your crystal collection will activate the charging process.
 

Water
For: Cleansing
Element: Water

Giving your crystals a rinse under water can help to cleanse them. Unfortunately, water doesn’t charge crystals unless it is within a natural source such as a river (in which you would probably lose all of your crystals!) Again, it is wise to avoid using this method on water-sensitive crystals such as selenite, turquoise or malachite.

I would avoid leaving any crystal in water for too long, so it is therefore best to ‘wash’ them under a running tap and dry them soon afterwards. Prayer and positive affirmations work well in combination with this method, and saying positive affirmations while cleansing your crystals under water can have quite a meditative effect!
 

Smudging
For: Cleansing
Element: Fire

Smudging comes under the element of fire and is an effective way to cleanse crystals. Unfortunately smudging does not charge crystals as well, so in this case it is wise to charge them with moonlight, sunlight or other crystals afterwards.

Smudging crystals is a simple process which only takes a few minutes. All you need to do is hold your crystals over the smoke of a smudge wand for a few minutes or until you feel that their energy has been cleansed enough. Be sure to snuff out your smudge wand properly afterwards to avoid it igniting again unintentionally.
 
 
Prayer/ Affirmations
For: Mainly Charging
​Element: Encompasses all elements as the fifth element

A fifth ‘element’ which helps to cleanse and charge crystals is prayer or affirmations. This can charge crystals effectively and does help to cleanse them, although only a little. I would recommend using prayer or positive affirmations after any other cleansing and charging method to give your crystals an added boost and to help them connect exclusively to you.


Best of luck with your crystal healing endevours!

​Love and light xoxo