Study Guide: Crystal Care 101

:gem: Study Guide: Crystal Care 101 :gem:

#HCCC2:

:gem: How do I cleanse my crystals? :gem:

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When you first purchase or receive a crystal as a gift, you will want to clear them of other people’s energies and vibrations before using them. There are many ways to cleanse your crystals! The method you choose will depend on personal preferences, as well as the type of crystal in question that you are cleansing. Here are some techniques for cleansing your crystals!

:gem: Cleansing them with smoke/smudging.

A great way to cleanse almost any crystal is to smudge them with sage smoke. Sage is well known for cleansing and clearing out static or negative energies from your home. This technique works great for crystals as well! I personally like to my crystals through the smoke 9 times, but other sources recommend fanning smoke over the crystals for about 5-10 minutes. Incense such as dragons blood, or frankincense work well for cleansing crystals as well!

:gem: Salt water solution.

You can make a salt water solution by putting a couple pinches of salt into a bowl of water. Crystals that are in the quartz family are safe to be cleansed by this method. It is recommended to make sure the salt water solution is at the same temperature as your crystals when you submerge them to prevent cracks in the crystals. Leave the crystals submerged for about 7 hours.

:gem: Cleansing with the sun.

You can leave your crystals out in the sunlight for a day to be cleansed and charged. Some crystals such as rose quartz, and amethyst however will fade in the sunlight, so this technique may not be the best method for every crystal.

:gem: Cleansing with the moon.

This is my personal favorite way to cleanse and charge my crystals. Every full moon, you can leave your crystals out in the moonlight to be cleansed and charged. This is a safe method for every crystal! Be sure however to bring the crystals inside or take them off of your windowsill before the sun rises, especially if you have crystals that will fade in the sun.

:gem: Cleansing with meditation.

You can cleanse your crystal with your own energies! Simply hold your crystal in your hands while you meditate. Visualize all negative and unwanted energies being cleared out of your crystal, and being replaced with energies of love and light. Do this for as long as you feel the crystal needs it.

:gem: Cleansing on a crystal cluster.

You can place your crystals on a large cluster or slab of a self cleansing crystal to charge them! We will cover this topic more in depth in just a bit.

:gem: Burying your crystal.

You can bury your crystals in soil for about 24 hours to cleanse them as well. If you are worried about losing your crystals, you can place the soil in a large bowl and bury them. When you are finished, take the soil outside to return those energies to the earth.

:gem: How to I charge my crystals? :gem:

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Charging a crystal is just like recharging your phone or a battery. Crystals need to be charged every so often so that their energy can get back to it’s fullest so that they can work better for you and your craft. Some of the methods listed above for cleansing your crystals also works to charge them. Here are some methods you can use to charge your crystals!

:gem: Sunlight

Crystals that are not susceptible to fading in the sunlight can be charged out in the sun for a day

:gem: Moonlight

Placing your crystals out in the moonlight during a full moon is an excellent way to charge them!

:gem: Meditation

You can charge your crystals through meditation by infusing them with love and light.

:gem: Crystal clusters

If you have a crystal cluster, you can place your crystals that need to be charged on them for a few hours!

:gem: What crystals are good for charging other crystals? :gem:

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As mentioned previously, some crystals are excellent for charging other crystals because they are self cleansing! If you have a large cluster or slab of Azeztulite, Citrine, Kyanite, or Selenite, you can place your crystals on top of the clusters or slabs to be cleansed and charged.

Other crystals such as Amethyst, Clear Quartz, and Carnelian are also good for charging your crystals, but these crystals are not self cleansing and will need to be cleansed and charged up before you use them again.

:gem: What crystals should not be charged in the sun? :gem:

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As mentioned before, some crystals colors will fade if they are exposed to the sun. The following crystals should NOT be charged in the sunlight:

Amethyst

Aquamarine

Aventurine

Beryl

Celestite

Citrine

Emerald

Fluorite

Kunzite

Rose quartz

Ruby

Sapphire

Smoky Quartz

Turquoise

Amber and Opal can become brittle and crack in the sunlight

:gem: What crystals are water soluble and should not be exposed to water? :gem:

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:warning: Some crystals will dissolve, crack, break, or rust in water! Here is a list of some of the crystals that should NOT be exposed to water:

Carnelian

Galena

Halite

Hematite

Labradorite

Lodestone

Malachite

Mica

Moldavite

Muscovite

Opal

Pearl

Pyrite

Selenite

Turquoise

Obsidian

Ulexite

:warning: What crystals are toxic? :warning:

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Gem elixirs or essences are a popular method for crystal healing and part of our practice. There are several crystals however that are TOXIC and you should NOT consume elixirs or essences from them because they can contain various substances such as lead, sulphur, copper, aluminium, zinc, trapped bacteria or virii, molybdenum, barium, nickel, and even asbestos! The following list of crystals are considered :warning: TOXIC :warning: when consumed:

Amber

Boji Stones

Chrysocolla

Chrysotile

Coral

Chrysophrase

Diopside

Dioptase

Emerald

Feldspar

Garnet

Galena/Galenite

Iolite

Jade

Jasper

Lapis Lazuli

Moldavite

Moonstone

Opal

Pearl

Ruby

Sapphire

Serpentine

Spinel

Sulphur

Sunstone

Tiger’s Eye

Topaz

Tourmaline

Turquoise

Unakite

Uranium

ANY crystal that ends in ‘ite’

*This is by no means a comprehensive list of all crystals that are considered toxic. Always do your research before making an elixir or essence that you intend to consume!

:gem: Will my crystals crack or break if they are exposed to extreme temperatures? :gem:

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Crystals cannot expand or contract rapidly to accommodate for temperature changes. When they are exposed to sudden temperature changes, they can crack or sometimes even break. This is why it is important to make sure that when you want to cleanse your crystals with a salt water solution, you will need to make sure that the water is approximately the same temperature as your crystals. Always avoid extreme temperatures of hot/cold to prevent them from cracking. If you live in a place where it can get really hot in the summer and/or really cold in the winter, it may be best to not leave crystals in the car to avoid temperature extremes.

:gem: How do I care for raw/unpolished crystals? :gem:

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Raw and unpolished crystals should be handled with care! Many crystals are very fragile when they are raw such as azurite and malachite. You should not carry these crystals around in your pocket or wear them as jewelry, or drop them because they will break! Some crystals in their raw state are also toxic when the dust is inhaled, such as Azurite. Handle these crystals with care and store them in a safe place where they will not get dropped or handled by pets or small children.

:gem: How do I program my crystals? :gem:

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So you have cleared your crystals of unwanted energies and charged them. Now what? Get to know your crystal by meditating with it, or carrying it around in your pocket or in a crystal cage. Be open to its energies. When you hold your crystal what do you feel? What thoughts come to mind? Crystals work through energetic vibrations that can assist in healing us emotionally, spiritually, and physically.* When you feel that you have gotten to know your crystal a bit better and understand how it works and communicates with you, it is time to program it! Some people prefer to program it before they get to know their crystals and that is just fine! Do what feels best for you and your practice!

To program your crystal, hold it in your receiving hand, which is your left hand.

Visualize being surrounded in light. If you need to go outside or stand under a light to help you, that is just fine! When you are ready, say:

“I dedicate this crystal to the highest good. I ask that it be used in love and light.”

Focus on what you intend to program your crystal for, whether it is for protection, love, healing, etc. When you are ready, say:

“I dedicate this crystal for the purpose of (insert intended purpose here)”

And that’s it! Your crystal is programmed and ready to be put to work!

*Crystals should not replace medications or seeing a doctor. They are merely an aid to assist with healing any ailments you have. If you are suffering from any physical or medical illness, please seek medical attention right away!

:gem: How do I safely store my crystals? :gem:

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When you are not using your crystals, store them in a safe place out of the sunlight. You can keep them on your altar if it is in a place where animals and small children can’t get to them. You can also keep your crystals in a pouch, or wrap them in silk. Be careful when storing your crystals in a pouch as some of them can get scratched. I personally like to put my crystals in a dish on my altar. It is completely up to you!

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:gem: Study Questions :gem:

Just to review, here are the study questions listed again!

1. How do I cleanse my crystals?

2. How to I charge my crystals?

3. What crystals are good for charging other crystals?

4. What crystals should not be charged in the sun?

5. What crystals are water soluble and should not be exposed to water?

6. What crystals are toxic?

7. Will my crystals crack or break if they are exposed to extreme temperatures?

8. How do I care for raw/unpolished crystals?

9. How do I program my crystals?

10. How do I safely store my crystals?

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Thank you for reading and blessed be!

:rose: Juniper Rose :rose:

Instagram: Juniper Rose

*Resources:

Cleansing/Charging: http://www.crystal-life.com/learn/what-crystals-do-how-to-care-for-them/

https://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/charge-crystals-and-stones/

Charging Crystals: http://www.visionsinthewoods.com/caring-for-your-sacred-stones.php

Crystals That Dissolve/Toxic Crystals: http://www.interdimensionalhealinglight.com/test.html

Programming/Storing Crystals: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-14887/how-to-clear-activate-store-your-crystals.html