Even though a crystal will call to you for a specific reason they will still be holding the energy of others who have handled it prior to you. To release the crystal of those peoples energies you will need to cleanse and then re charge your crystals.

To cleanse or recharge your crystal you have many ways to choose from. If you are using your crystals for healing please ensure that you cleanse and recharge its energy after every use. If you do not recharge your crystal they may crack, discolor or break.

Regardless of your use of the crystal ensure that you cleanse and recharge them often. You will know when your crystal feels different and when the time is right to cleanse and recharge them.

Each Crystals has there own preferred method of cleansing and recharging. Please note the following helpful hints

1. Selenite cannot be used with water, as it will damage the crystal. (tip - crystals that end with ite are not generally safe with water)

2. Amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, rose quartz, agate, and many other brightly colored crystals will fade in sunlight.

3. Opals cannot be cleansed using salt, as the salt will soak up the natural water in opals and cause them to crack.

If you use a pendulum you can always check that your crystals have been cleansed and fully charged by asking it. Place the crystals under the pendulum and then ask if they have been cleansed and re charged.

Brown Rice
Pour some brown rice into a porcelain bowl, place your crystals in and then cover them. Leave these sit for 12 hours. The rice will cleanse your crystals by soaking up any negativity they hold. Throw away the rice after cleansing or bury in some earth.

Candle flame
Prior to using this method check that your crystal will not be damaged by fire. Take your crystal and pass it through the flame 3 times to clear away any negativity and to recharge it.

Earth
Mark a spot in your garden and bury your crystals for 24 hours. This will give them the cleanse and recharge that they need.

Incense/smudging
Pass your crystal through the smoke of incense stick or smudge several times. It is preferable for you to use Sage or Naga Champa.

Intent
This method requires you to trust in your own intuition and sense of knowing. Take your crystal and place it in your hands, if you have many place them on a flat surface and hold your hands above them. In your minds eye (third eye) imagine a golden light from above coming down and filling the crystal clearing away any negativity. Let the crystals glow and bask in the light. After a point of time you should feel or know that the vibration or the energy of the crystals has changed. At this point your crystals are clean and recharged ready for use.

Flower Petals
This method is the same as for Brown Rice. If you have a Rose Quartz you can use Pink rose petals, red jasper red rose petals etc. Throw away the petals after cleansing or bury in some earth as this will recycle into positive energy.

Flowing Natural Water
Grab a stocking wash bag and place your crystals inside. Find then a stream or natural water hole. Place your crystals in a gentle flowing stream. Leave this in the stream for as long as possible.

Moonlight
Moonlight is associated with feminine energy. Moonlight is very effective for crystal cleansing and recharging. When the moon is full your crystals will experience the extra energy. Place in direct moonlight overnight. As with the sunlight be mindful of the morning dew and how this condensation may be harmful to some crystals.

Rain
The positive energy from fresh falling rain will cleanse and charge your crystals careful not to place any crystals that can be damaged by water in the rain. Also place them so water runs over them taking any negative energy back into the mother earth.

Reiki If you are attuned to Reiki you can use it to cleanse and charge your crystals. This can be done by placing the crystals in your hands or holding your hands over the crystal and asking the Reiki to flow to cleanse and charge the crystal.

Running water
This is not only good for your crystals but also for yourself. Place the crystals or yourself under running water. While standing there or holding your crystal imagine the water washing away all the built up negative energy. Continue this until you feel a change. Pat yourself dry or leave the crystal to dry naturally.

Sunlight
Placing your crystals in a safe place in the sun for 8 hours is a great way to cleanse and charge your crystals. Note; Sunlight may damage some crystals because of the strong sunlight rays, especially brightly colored crystals. If you think it may rain during this time please ensure you do not leave any crystals out that are affected by water.

Salt Water
Place 1 teaspoon of sea salt to 1litre of water and allow the salt to dissolve. Place your crystal inside the water and leave overnight. Make sure you rinse all traces of salt away from the crystal and allow the crystal to dry naturally. Alternatively you can bury them in salt overnight.