HOW TO CLEANSE YOUR HEALING CRYSTALS WITH SMOKE

Article by Karine Jean-Paul

So you've received some crystals or just bought your first ones, now what? Some people are less affected by energy when they touch stones and other people believe that the crystals come perfectly fine when they come to you therefore require no cleansing. What you may not know is that the crystals you have in your possession may have gone through many hands before it came to yours.

I believe it's important to cleanse your crystals of other people's energy to restore their natural vibration so you can use them on a clean state for the purposes that you have indented. Be respectful towards the energy of the Earth; the crystals, the herbs and yourself.

There are many ways to cleanse your stones such as moonlight, sunlight, water, other crystals, etc. You can research to decide what works best for you and your crystal but today we will focus on cleansing with smoke. The smoke cleansing rituals come from smudging which is sacred to many Indigenous nations from around the world. It can cleanse your space from negative energies and help you connect to the spirit world.

When working with herbs such as white sage, cedar and sweetgrass or wood like Palo Santo please do your research because many of these are sacred to some cultures and the overdemand may mean limited supplies for people who have been using these herbs for centuries. If you wish to protect these sacred medicine, you can buy your white sage and sweetgrass from Indigenous sellers and businesses who sustainably grow them. For alternatives you can also use lavender, rosemary, silver sage and some people like to use incense.

Silver/blue sage is a great alternative to white sage. Similar to white sage, silver sage is used to clear negative energy. It centers, grounds and brings clarity, while encouraging action. It is also said to connect you to your spirit guides.

So how do you cleanse with smoke?

The simple answer, simply by lightning your herbs with matches, holding your crystal above the smoke for 30 seconds to cleanse their energy. Wait, that's it you may ask? Well yes and no.

Intention is what is truly important, what is your reason for cleansing? Here are a few tips to help you on your journey, take a moment to center yourself, take 3 long deep breaths, in and out, in and out, in and out. Breathe in whatever you need and breathe out what no longer serves you.

Make sure to open a window to let the unwanted energy out and the smoke also.

Light your sage stick with matches, smoke is said to carry your prayers and intentions as it purifies your inner and outer environments. Make sure to keep a bowl or shell underneath to catch the ashes, you don't want to light anything on fire (also make sure that your sage is completely put out before leaving it unattended).

While you cleanse with smoke keep positive affirmations in your mind and think about all the good things you want to attract. Now you can really take in all the benefits of this practice and hopefully bring in more joy in your life.