Smudge:Smudging is the act of burning sacred herbs using the scared smoke to remove negative energy. Always clear your crystal before using or wearing a piece of jewelry for the first time. Remember, it has been in many people’s hands before it found its way to you, so it has absorbed a lot of different energies that are not your own.

To begin, always open the windows or burn the sage outside. To smudge your crystals, run your stones through the smoke of burning herbs until the smoke moves to either the right or to the left in one direction.  This will mean that the crystal is clear.

Brown Rice:Place your crystal(s) in a glass jar or container with a cover; mason jars work really well for this method. Put the brown rice in the jar, then a crystal, then more brown rice, layering crystals and rice, and then put the cover on. Leave it like that overnight. When the rice starts to turn green, discard it in a bag in the garbage can outside.  Don’t keep it in your living space, as this is negative energy that has been absorbed by the rice from the crystals. Do not consume the rice.

Water:Hold your crystal in running water in the sink or in nature in a stream, river or lake until you intuitively feel your stone has been cleansed. It is helpful to  visualize any negativity being washed away by the water. Use caution when using this method to cleanse stones as some stones such a Selenite, Angelite, Celestite, Calcite, Turquoise, Rhodochrosite, Fluorite, Azurite, etc.  may dissolve or be damaged when placed in water.

Sunlight: Put crystals on a windowsill and leave in the sunlight for 24 hours. Use caution when using this method as some stones such as  Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Celestite, etc. will fade in sunlight.

Burying Crystals in the Earth
Crystals can be buried in the Earth when you sense a deep cleaning is needed. Outdoors, dig a hole the size of the crystal in the Earth, place the crystal point down and cover with soil. The amount of time needed for this method is a personal choice. Again, use your intuition. remember to place a marker of some sort, so you can find the crystal again!

Charging Crystals: Whenever you feel that a crystal is not quite working as it once did, that it may look dull or the quality of the energy feels different to you, then it may be time to recharge your crystal. Charging your crystals with positive energy will replace the energy that was removed during cleansing and that has been used over time.

Full Moon:

Place your crystal outdoors or on a windowsill and leave it in the moonlight overnight.

Selenite:Place your crystal on a piece of Selenite overnight. Selenite charges and clears crystals.

Dominant/Non-Dominant Hand:
Your Non-Dominant Hand is your receiving hand.  Any crystal energy you would like to receive in your life wear on this hand, i.e. Rose quartz for Love, Citrine for Abundance and self-worth,etc. Dominant Hand:  you would wear crystals on this hand with energies that protect or block out negative energies.i.e. Black Tourmaline, Labradorite

To Dedicate/Bless a Crystal:

Once your crystal is clear, it’s a good idea to dedicate/bless and program the crystal. It’s not necessary, and it’s a personal choice. This can strengthen and enhance your connection with the crystal and its intended purpose. Dedicating the crystal gives it protection against negative energies and ensures it works for the highest and greatest good. A crystal that is dedicated and programmed becomes a more powerful and useful healing tool.

You only have to dedicate the crystal once, after you clear it for the first time. Clearing your crystal will not remove the dedicationAfter clearing the stone, hold the crystal in your non-dominant hand (your receiving hand) and sense its energy. Crystals are living beings with a life force energy, spirit, and consciousness. Sense the energy of the crystal and ask to be connected with it. Once the connection is established, state, ”Only the most positive high-level energy may work through this healing tool.” See the crystal surrounded in white light. Ask that the “crystal be blessed by the highest energies in the Universe. So Be It.” The stone is now dedicated/blessed.

Programming Crystals: Programming a crystal involves setting your intention for the crystal. It is a way of directing and using the energy of the crystal for a specific purpose. You can also view this as charging a crystal with your intention Remember, crystals receive, store, and transmit energy and therefore will receive and store your intentions.

Think of what you’ll be using the crystal for; have a clear intention. Ask the crystal if it is willing to work with you in this way. Sense the energy of the crystal. If you sense that the stone accepts your intention, state in your mind, “So Be It.”

You only need to do this once before you first use your new crystal. Cleanse the crystal, dedicate and then program. Cleansing the crystal after programming will not erase the programming or dedication. Once a crystal is programmed, it will hold its intent until you or someone else reprograms it.

To Deprogram a Crystal: You may want to reprogram a crystal to use it for a different purpose, task, etc. To remove the program from a crystal, first cleanse the crystal. Create a quiet space. Hold the crystal in front of your third eye and state “I intend to remove all prior programming from this crystal now. So Be It. You can also state “I cancel, clear and delete all prior programs from this crystal now.  So Be It.” Use whatever words work for you.