Crystals consume energy and will hold the energy of those who have touched, worked with, or handled the crystal in any way. Plus they travel a long distance to reach you. For this reason, I can not stress how important it is to cleanse your crystal as soon as you receive it. Cleansing will bring your crystal back to its original state, meaning it will clear away all negative energy from the crystal. Charging your crystal gives it more energy and increases the intensity of any intention placed on the stone. When you receive your stone you must cleanse, charge, and place your intentions on it (your intention must to be aligned with the type of energy the stone gives off).
For example, say you have the amethyst crystal. The type of energy the amethyst gives off is a calming, healing energy, and it enhances focus and intuition (just to list a few). With this type of stone, intentions placed on it can be to help one focus better during final exams. Or an intention could be to keep one calm during a stressful time or help one to sleep. The intention must match the stone!
Ways to Cleanse (or Clear) Your Crystals
Water
Submerge your stone in water. This could be done in the sink, or in a bowl, just make sure to submerge it for about 1 minute and pat dry when complete. This is not recommended for brittle stones like selenite, kyanite, and halite. Water neutralizes any negative energy stored in the stone. Although submerging under natural water like a stream or ocean works best, you can also settle for what’s safe and use faucet water.
Salt Water
For centuries salt has been used to banish negative or unwanted energy. If near an ocean collect some in a bowl or bottle. Or you can make your own salt water by mixing a tablespoon of sea, rock, or table salt into a bowl. Then submerge your stone in the bowl for about 48 to 72 hours. Rinse and pat dry when complete. This technique is not recommended for malachite, selenite, halite, calcite, lepidolite, and angelite. Whichever method you choose ensure to submerge your crystal for about 1 minute and pat dry when done.
Natural Light
Place your stone outside your window between nightfall and 11am in the morning. This will let your stone catch both lights from the moon and sun. Too much exposure to direct sunlight may damage the stone’s surface, so don’t forget to bring it back inside.
Earth
Placing your stone directly on or in the earth for 10 to 12 hours is another way of cleansing your stone. Just rinse off and pat dry when done. This technique is not recommended for amethyst, celestite, halite, and selenite because they can be damaged by inclement weather.
Burning Sage
Sage is a scared plant with many healing properties. Burning sage will clear all negative energy restoring your stone back to its natural state. If you are not able to do this outdoors, then indoors is ok, just make sure you’re near an open window. This will allow the smoke and negative energy to disperse out of your home. Once you light the sage with fire, transfer the sage to your nondominant hand and firmly grasp your stone and move it through the smoke. Allow the smoke to envelop the stone for about 30 seconds. If it’s been a long time since your last cleansing, or you feel the stone is holding a lot of negative energy, continue for an additional 30 seconds.
One of the most important aspects of crystal healing are intentions. Our thoughts, words, and actions play a huge role in what we manifest into reality. The use of crystals allows this same way of healing through words. When we place our intentions on crystals, what we are doing is telling what we want to heal, change, be, remove, gain, or do. Setting intentions on crystals is one of the most powerful things about crystal healing.
How to Set Intention
Setting intentions on your crystal is very easy. Just make sure the intention you have is based on the properties or benefits of that particular crystal, and remove any expectations or judgments you may have. Do the work (your part) and allow the crystal to work its energy based on your intention.
After you cleanse it, place the crystal in both of your hands. Examine it, get familiar with it, this in turn gives you the opportunity to get to know your crystal, and allows your energy to intertwine with the crystal's energy. Think of and decide what it is you want to experience or be then make a statement of intent as if you already have or achieved it. For example, if you have a rose quartz, your intention should align with the properties of the rose quartz like finding love, feeling loved, rekindling love, or maybe even learning to love. So if you wanted to place an intention on this stone, you should say " I feel loved", or "I am more compassionate to others".
Let's say you have a Green Aventurine. An intention for this crystal can be "I am prosperous", or "I am successful". No matter what crystal you are working with make sure you do not use words like "should", "could", or "want". It is important to state your intention as if you have already achieved it.
Once Intentions Have Been Placed
Understand that changes may occur over time. Sometimes they are subtle, sometimes they can be immediate, or sometimes they may need to remove somethings that aren't helping you or serving you for a better cause. Sometimes they align or remove things in your life before the change can occur. Either way, the energy from the crystal will always serve your highest good.
Remember, your crystals hold energy and may need to be cleansed often. Once you cleanse them, just remind your crystal of your intentions.