How to Clear and Program a Crystal

Quartz crystals and other minerals and stones are not only things of natural beauty, they're also used in alternative healing methods and in mediation and ritual.

Before using them in any of these practices, it's important to clear them. Crystals pick up impressions from their environment including the thoughts and emotions of the people who've handled them.

There are many different methods used to clear crystals before programming them with your intent. Some of these are explained below and can be adapted to your use.

Salt is known for its physical and metaphysical ability to draw out impurities.

To clear a crystal with sea salt, immerse the stone in the salt for up to a week. You can also use a mixture of 1 cup of water with 3 tablespoons of salt to soak the crystal in. Discard after use.

Running water is another clearing method. A natural source is better such as a stream but you can also place the crystal under running water from the tap.

Sometimes stones may have a large amount of negativity attached to them and need a deeper method of clearing. Burying the crystal can accomplish this as the earth is known to absorb and then transform the energy into something more healthy and useful.

Smudging is an excellent and easy way to clear a crystal, especially one that you believe only has minimal negativity attached to it. An added bonus is being able to smudge yourself and the room you're in at the same time.

To smudge the stone, light an incense known for cleansing properties such as frankincense and pass the crystal through it slowly affirming the clearing action verbally. One of the most popular ways to smudge is with sage, either in loose form or bundled into a wand.

Sweetgrass, cedar and lavender are also sometimes combined in a sage smudge stick. You can also use other loose herbs or resins and burn them on charcoal.

Reiki is a form of hands-on healing used for people and animals. Some healers also use it to purify food and empower objects including ritual items and crystals.

You have to be attuned to this energy from a Reiki master. If you already are attuned, visit my full article on the subject linked below for a full explanation.

Once you clear a quartz crystal, it can then be used to clear other stones. Place smaller stones either directly on or near the cluster for up to a week or until you sense they're clear. You'll need to be sure to keep up with clearing the cluster, though it may be able to go for some time before clearing unless you've used it with stones that are particularly laden with negative energy.

Crystal grids are equally effective. To create one, place several single terminated clear quartz crystals in a circle with points outward. Place the crystal you want to clear in the center of these. The negative energy from it will be drawn out through the points. Do this for up to a week or until you feel the stone has been cleared. You might find it helpful to burn a candle or several near the grid for the negativity to be drawn out and placed into the flame to be transmuted, but this isn't strictly necessary.

After you've properly cleared your crystal, it's time to program your intent before use. Programming places your energetic imprint and intent into the stone. This can be done for personal healing or for friends, family or clients. You can also program the stone as a talisman to be carried with you or placed where it will be of most use.

You don't have to program every stone for a specific use. You can clear each stone and place a general healing intent into them or leave them alone. Stones will do their own thing as they have their own energy.

Below are examples of ways to program crystals. For tips on using Reiki to do this, visit the link above.

This method takes concentration but it isn't difficult if you give yourself the time to do it. Have your intent clearly in mind before you start. Begin by grounding and centering yourself to help clear your mind. An example of how to do this is given in my Reiki clearing and programming article.

Now place the stone in your hand or if it's too large place it in front of you. Mentally or verbally state your intention for the stone's use and thank it for its service to you. Spend time visualizing exactly how this stone will be used and how you want the energy you're placing into it to manifest itself in your life.

Stones can pick up energy from magic and ritual. If you perform something like a Wiccan ritual where energy is raised, then you can release that energy into the stone or you can simply keep it on your altar during the rite.

I've been to rituals where the organizers would allow those attending to bring their magical objects including crystals to be left on the altar during the ritual to be charged. I don't think this is a good idea, especially if it's an open rite that anyone can attend. In such a situation, I would want to clear my crystal after it picked up so many different impressions, so charging there would be pointless. But that's a personal choice. If you know and trust those present at the rite, then it should be fine. Or you might even do a group ritual where you're all placing the same intent into the stone.

You can also program it by keeping it on your altar where you do daily devotions and prayers. You can pray to angels, spirit guides, saints or deities to help you program it and carry it to remind you they're with you.

Stones can be placed out in the sun or moon for several days to absorb the energy. If you plan on using the stone in rites associated with the moon, then placing a crystal outside during a certain moon phase would help empower these rituals, i.e. full or new moon.

You can also place crystals near certain plants or trees to be imprinted by their metaphysical properties such as an oak tree for strength or lavender for healing.

These techniques are suggested as guidelines to follow but aren't set in stone. You can use one or combine a few. Trust your intuition and the impressions you get from each stone. You may find yourself programming your stone but intuitively meeting against resistance that you can't explain. You may get an answer from the stone or not. But it's best to listen to this as it's an indication that you have the wrong stone for the purpose or you need to completely rethink your intention.

Crystals aren't just tools. They're powerful allies worthy of respect. Enjoy your partnership with them.

Source consulted:

I brought much of my personal experience to this article, but the following book has been a great resource for me:

• Silbey, Uma. The Complete Crystal Guidebook: A Practical Path to Personal Power, Self-Development and Healing Using Quartz Crystals. Bantam Books, 1986.