You buy a beautiful gemstone, wear it for a few weeks and one day you notice the shine has dulled a little and the energy feels less present. That is no coincidence. Gemstones, minerals and crystals continuously absorb energy from you and from their surroundings, and just like you, they need rest and fresh energy now and then. In this blog you will learn how to cleanse (discharge) your stones and charge them again, and which method suits which stone. Because this is exactly where things often go wrong: not every method is suitable for every stone.
Why gemstones need care
In the crystal tradition, stones are seen as living. They grew deep in the earth, sometimes over millions of years, and carry a vibration of their own that matches their composition and structure. The moment a stone leaves the earth and you start wearing it, an exchange begins. The stone takes on tension and unrest from you and gives calm, clear energy back in return.
That same sensitivity is at work in your home. The atmosphere and the light in a room influence how a stone behaves energetically. In a tense environment a stone becomes saturated more quickly than in a harmonious space. Small stones also fill up sooner than larger ones. Cleansing and charging regularly keeps your stone working and feeling the way it did on the very first day.
Cleansing your stones
Cleansing means releasing the absorbed energy and returning the stone to a neutral, pure state. There are several ways to do this, from very gentle to thorough. Which one you choose depends on the type of stone and on how much it has had to endure.
Water
A quick way to refresh a stone is to hold it under lukewarm running water for about five minutes. Make sure the water is not too warm, because a sudden change in temperature can cause tiny cracks. This method mainly rinses away surface tension and is less suited to a deep cleanse.
For a deeper cleanse, place the stone in a bowl of water for twenty-four hours. Use spring water without carbonation rather than tap water, because the lime in tap water attacks the softer stone types and makes them lose their shine. If you see little bubbles forming on the stone, that is a sign the discharge is underway. Feel free to refresh the water a few times, and only ever place one stone or one type of stone in the water at a time.
Not every stone can handle water. As a rule of thumb, stones with a hardness below 4 on the Mohs scale are better cleansed dry. In reality it is not only about hardness, but mainly about solubility and porosity. Some stones contain water or iron, or soak up moisture like a sponge, and are damaged as a result.
Stones you should only rinse very briefly, never soak, include Chrysocolla, Selenite, Calcite, Celestine, Prehnite and Pyrite. These types are porous or contain iron and should not stay in water for long.
Quartz varieties are a good deal more robust. Stones such as Rock Crystal, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Jasper, Aquamarineand Fluorite can safely have brief contact with water. If you are in doubt about a stone, always choose another, safer method.
Never use salt water to cleanse your stones. The salt creeps into the pores and slowly attacks the stone from within. This rule applies without exception, even to the harder types.
Hematite in an Abalone shell
A method that is almost always safe is to leave the stone overnight in an Abalone shell with Hematite chips. Hematite is an iron-bearing stone that cleanses itself and therefore does not need to be discharged first. The chips draw the absorbed tension out of your stone without straining it. You can use small loose pieces for this, such as Hematite Chips. This is especially lovely for jewellery, because clasps and settings are left untouched.
Blowing clean
The simplest cleanse is always with you: your breath. Hold the stone in your hand and blow it clean a few times with real force, with the intention of releasing the old energy. You can almost feel the stone shift in charge as you do. This method is gentle, quick and suitable for every stone, ideal as an in-between refresher.
Sage, incense and Palo Santo
Cleansing with smoke is an age-old ritual. Light a bundle of Sage in an Abalone shell, for example, and pass your stone through the smoke a few times. Burning Palo Santo, sacred wood from South America, works beautifully too and gives off a warm, sweet scent. Sandalwood is a strongly cleansing type of incense that lends itself well to this too. Smoke is one of the few methods that can be safely used on any stone, including the water-sensitive and light-sensitive types.
Brown rice
Cleansing with brown rice is popular and simple. Place the stone completely covered in a bowl of uncooked brown rice for twenty-four hours. The rice absorbs the stored energy. Do keep in mind that rice draws out moisture, so stones that are sensitive to this can dry out. Turquoise, for instance, can crack as a result. Do not use the rice for cooking afterwards.
Amethyst and Selenite
Some stones cleanse other stones. Amethyst is a classic example: the frequency of Amethyst neutralises the tainted energy of another stone. Place the stone on an Amethyst cluster for about twelve hours or, even better, inside an Amethyst geode. Do make sure the energy of both stones is compatible, so they do not disturb one another. Give your Amethyst some rest afterwards, because a cleansing stone becomes saturated too. Selenite has a similar, very gentle cleansing effect and lovingly charges the other stone at the same time.
A thorough cleanse with the elements
If a stone has taken on truly heavy tension, for instance after an intense period, a thorough cleanse with the elements water, earth and fire is fitting. First place the stone in clean spring water for three days, refreshing the water daily. Then set it in the earth for three days, outside or in a container of potting soil. Keep your distance from plants while you do, because the energy the stone releases is not pleasant for your greenery. After three days, take the stone out of the earth and finally move it through a candle flame a few times, carefully, so no soot builds up. In this way you give the stone a complete, deep cleanse through all three elements. Do reserve this method for stones that can handle water and earth.
Charging your stones
After cleansing, your stone is empty and ready to be filled with fresh energy again. Broadly speaking: clear stones love sunlight, translucent emotional stones flourish in moonlight, and dense, earthy stones come to rest in the earth. But here too, the details matter.
Sunlight
Most clear crystals charge beautifully in full sun. Even so, caution is called for, because quite a few stones discolour or fade under prolonged sunlight. The colour of Amethyst comes from iron and natural radiation, and it is exactly that colour that slowly drains away in bright sun. Rose Quartz, Aquamarine, Kunzite, Larimar, Fluorite and Citrine fade in the sun as well, and porous Turquoise can even dry out. If you still want to charge such stones with sunlight, cover them with a cloth or choose the soft morning or late-afternoon sun, when the sun is not at full strength.
Moonlight
Charging by moonlight is gentle, safe and very well suited to translucent emotional stones. The effect is strongest at full moon, and the remarkable thing is that moonlight works even through glass. So feel free to leave your stone on the windowsill overnight. For stones that cannot handle bright sunlight, the moon is a loving alternative.
Earth
Back to the source. By placing a stone in the earth, you charge it with the calm, supportive energy of mother earth. This is a powerful method for stones that have had a lot to process, because the stone comes to deep rest and grounds completely. Do take care with Calcite, Malachite and Amber, because these softer types can lose their polished layer in damp soil.
Abalone shell with Rock Crystal chips
One of the safest ways to charge almost any stone is a night in an Abalone shell with Rock Crystal chips. Rock Crystalis the universal amplifier among crystals and fills your stone gently and evenly with new energy. Small pieces such as Rock Crystal Chips are ideal for this. This method is especially suited to jewellery, because clasps and settings notice nothing of it.
Meru pyramid
A special way to cleanse and charge is the Meru pyramid. It combines two age-old energetic tools, the pyramid shape and the Shri Yantra symbol, into a powerful double effect. Align the pyramid carefully, with one side facing north and south. The Yantra radiates positive vibrations upward, which merge with the energy of the pyramid. Place your stone inside for about eight hours. Leave it there longer and more often, and the result grows even finer.
Self-cleansing stones
A few stones never really need cleansing, because they keep themselves clear. Citrine and Selenite are the best-known examples. They keep their own energy bright and can even support other stones. A pleasant quality, especially if you are just starting to care for your collection.
How do you know when a stone needs rest?
Well-cared-for gemstones last a long time, but they tell you themselves when they are becoming exhausted. Watch for changes in appearance. Amethyst can turn a little grey over time, colours may fade and sometimes small cracks appear inside. These are signs that a stone has done its work. The same goes for minerals you have placed in a room: look at their colour and clarity too.
Feel free to cleanse a stone you wear intensively every week, and charge it again afterwards. If you notice a stone no longer recovers after repeated cleansing, it has probably finished its work. Do not simply throw it away. Thank the stone for what it has done for you and return it to the earth, where it once came from. In this way you stay connected to the natural cycle from which these wonders arose.
Would you like to explore the cleansing and charging of gemstones even further? Read our detailed blog the cleansing and charging of gemstones, or discover our products for cleansing and charging. Treat your stones with attention and respect, and they will give you their finest energy back for years to come.
Martijn Antonius
