If you’re an active gemstone fanatic like I am, you are continually collecting new crystals as they call out to you from the shelves. If you’re lucky, you may live in an area where you can find them in nature! If your gem bowl is overflowing with beautiful stones it’s easy to forget to cleanse all of them.
Gemstones do not perform optimally when they have absorbed conflicting energies from their environment; routine cleansing is necessary to keep your crystals ready to work with. Crystals that require cleansing have a tangible drowsiness to them. Each person experiences this phenomena in their own way, you may feel a certain kind of sensation in your hands when you hold it that feels heavy, or grimy (even if the stone is clean), the crystal may make you uncomfortable or antsy. Personally, when my stones need a cleansing they seem to almost call out to me for a metaphysical “bath” when I hold them; a spiritual connection is necessary to sense the needs of your gemstones. Treat them not as objects, but living beings with needs beholden to their own unique energies and personalities.
The most common way of recharging your gemstones is by smudging them with white (or dessert) sage. This method satisfies the elements of earth (the sage) and fire (the smoke, or act of smudging), but it is not the only method of cleansing crystals. Invoking the elementals in our everyday lives are important to actualize our spiritual connections in multiple facets of our physical realm, as opposed to having solidified spiritual commodity times– where the spiritual is estranged from the essence of our daily routine.
Cleansi
ng with the Energies of Earth
Working with the earth elementals in stone cleansing could be argued to be the most organic of the four elements,considering crystals are formed within the Earth. Did you know that Citrine heralds the inane ability to purifying other stones? Simply lay your crystals on a Citrine cluster for a day, and most impurities will dissipate.
Cleansing with the element of Earth can be as simple as placing your crystals in a dish of salt overnight, or burying your stones and performing a cleansing ceremony with the gnomes.
Rosemary has the power to cleanse gemstones of impurities too.
Cleansing with the Energies of Air
The Sylphs are the air elementals, they control the winds of Earth and can be found frolicking in gentle breezes. To cleanse your gems with the power of Air expose yourself to the windy planes and ask for their blessing on a windy day. Invoking their presence inside of a sacred circle is another way of connecting with the element of air to cleanse your stones, by means of incense smoke, symbolic for the missing winds.
Cleansing with the Energies of Water
Purifying crystals with the water element may be the most diverse, and easily accessible, of all the cardinal corners. You can seek the Undines in any body of water, including your bathtub with the right invocation. I enjoy taking my gemstones to the sandy shores to swim with the spirits of the water and literary wash impurities away.

Cleansing with the Energies of Fire
Candle magick is an effective means of cleansing gemstones of collected energies. Passing stones through fire is a simple practice, yet be warned: you risk burning your fingers, as well as marring the stone if it is passed too slowly through the flames. Simply invoking the spirit of the Salamanders while candles burn can be an effective means of cleansing gemstones.
What methods are you most comfortable with when cleansing your gemstones? Comment below!



