How to Cleanse, Dedicate and Programme Your Crystal

It is always a good idea to cleanse a new to you crystal in order to remove any disharmonious energies that it may have collected, as well as it being a super way to get to know your crystal. Usually, one of the five elements of earth, air, fire, water, ether is used.

Crystals may be buried in the earth from a new to a full moon, or they can be left out in the moon or sunlight, taking into account the type and variety of the crystal. If you use either of these methods, take care to remember where you have left them! A smaller crystal can be placed on a Quartz cluster; Amethyst is especially good for this purpose.

Visualised pure light may be blown through the crystal. If you have a singing bowl, place your crystal in it, or use Manjeeras (cymbals) over it.

You might use fire by smudging or passing your crystal over burning incense.

Crystals may be placed in a bowl (not plastic) of seawater or dissolved rock salt. (NB. neither water nor salt should be used for some crystals). Perhaps the simplest means is to hold your crystal under running water. A stream would be excellent for this (keeping your crystal safe!), but as many of us do not have easy access to a stream, holding your crystal under running cold tap water is an acceptable alternative.

If you work with Reiki or spiritual healing, use this to cleanse and empower your crystals.

Use your intuition to choose the best way for you and your crystal. Whichever method you choose, it is important to concentrate and focus all your attention on the cleansing, dedication and programming process. Begin by intending that the essence of the crystal becomes bright and clear and that any unhelpful energies leave and are transmuted to positive ones.

Dedicate your crystal's energy to be used for the Highest Good of All, or say a similar phrase of your own.

You can now programme your crystal if you want to. Programming is a way of connecting with your crystal and agreeing on its primary function e.g. healing, meditation, communicating. State your intention in a positive phrase. For a specific purpose you may say something like 'ensure that I have a full and restful sleep', or for more general help 'to ensure that the energy in this room helps those in it to be calm, loving, full of ideas' etc. Whilst holding the crystal, focus on your intention as you inhale. Exhale slowly, blowing your intention into the crystal.

Your crystal should be cleansed periodically to remove unhelpful energies. The timing for this is usually obvious, as the crystal looks tired; it may have lost its lustre or changed in some way.

The following lists mention some methods that should not be used with particular crystals. It ends with a list of some crystals that are fluorescent.

Crystals that are Heat Sensitive include

Amethyst - may fade in continual gentle heat
Quartz - may fracture if subjected to sudden changes in temperature
Lapis Lazuli - avoid high temperatures
Malachite - avoid sudden changes in temperature
Tourmaline - colour altered by high temperatures
Turquoise - very sensitive to all changes in temperature

Crystals that are easily Scratched include:

Celestite
Malachite
Rhodochrosite
Fluorite
Apatite
Lapis Lazuli
Sodalite
Turquoise
Hematite
Moonstone

Crystals to Avoid Contact with Water include

Halite - Soluble
Selenite - Soluble
Lapis Lazuli - Porous (not to be soaked, dry immediately after cleansing)
Malachite - Cool water only
Turquoise - Porous (not to be soaked)

Stones that may be damaged by Sunlight include:

Amethyst - becomes paler
Apatite - pink variety fades
Aquamarine - becomes paler
Aventurine - translucent varieties often loose colour
Beryl (brown or orange varieties) - may change to pale pink
Celestite - fades in direct sunlight
Citrine - may change colour
Fluorite (green and purple varieties) - change colour
Kunzite - becomes pale or loses colour
Rose Quartz - becomes paler
Smokey Quartz - becomes paler

Crystals that are Fluorescent include:

Aragonite, Benitoite, Calcite, Diamond, Fluorite, Kunzite, Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, Scheelite, Sodalite, Sphalerite and Spinel