When you acquire a new crystal you should first of all cleanse it and then dedicate the crystal for the purpose intended. This can be done simply by holding the crystal while consciously thinking that it will be used only for good, or during a meditation. You could also call upon your deities, if you wish, using your own ritual. There are many different ways of cleansing crystals. Below are several of the more practical approaches.
•Take the crystal to the sea, clean it thoroughly in the sea water, and allow the water to wash over it for several minutes. The crystal should then be left in the sun or in moonlight, whichever pleases you most, where it can ‘energize’.
•If you cannot use sea water, soak the crystal in salt water for anything from one to seven days – you will know instinctively how long is needed. Use the proportions of approximately three tablespoons of salt to a cup of water (the water must fully cover the stones), put the salt water in a glass container with the crystals and leave in a sunny or moonlit place.
•Bury the crystal in commercial sea salt for at least seven and up to 24 hours (overnight is good), then rinse it with pure water and ‘energize’ it in the sun as before. Note: Salt or abrasive substances may impair the surface of your crystal; this will not affect the properties of the crystal, but is aesthetically not very pleasing.
•If you have a sacred space out in the open, bury the crystals for 24 hours, and as you bury them ask that they may be cleansed ready for your work. Don’t forget to mark the spot where they are buried – it is very easy to lose them!
•Smudge the crystal thoroughly with, for example, a sage smudge stick or favourite incense. That is, allow the crystal to be engulfed in the smoke until such times as it feels clear. Suspend smaller crystals in the smoke or burn incense underneath larger stones.
•Put the crystal in the middle of a large group of crystals or on top of another mineral (one which is a specific energizer, such as copper for the qualities of Venus) for 12 to 24 hours. •Clean the crystal in flowing spring, lake, river or tap water and then energize it by leaving it in the sun. It is important to think of the crystal being cleansed by the movement of the water.
