Crystals are treasured fruit of the Earth. They come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. And each different crystal and gemstone brings with them their own special beauty and powers, much as each different fruit brings with them their own special flavors and nutrients.
While it may appear that crystals are just inanimate chunks of matter, they are, in fact, conscious and aware. Their timeline is vastly slower than yours. Their lives are much longer than human lives. But, in alignment with the scientific requirements of aliveness, they grow, they eat, and they procreate. They even die (usually by disintegration).
Three different ways to clear crystals
Whenever you acquire a new crystal, unless you dig it out of the Earth yourself, you will want to clear its energy. Use #1 for soft stones like opals, malachite, etc.
1) Smudge them with a sage wand, speaking blessings and welcome as you do.
2) Bury them in the ground or in a bowl of salt. Leave for 24 hours. Rinse.
3) Place them in a glass or ceramic dish. Cover them with spring water. Sprinkle with sea salt. Leave in sunlight and moonlight for 24-hours. Rinse. NOTE: Some soft stones should not be placed in water and some silvering should not be sprinkled with salt.
Getting to Know Your Crystal
Not all rocks are “as hard as a rock.” The Mohs Scale (see chart below) of mineral hardness is based on the ability of one natural sample of mineral to scratch another mineral visibly.
If you carry a softer stone with a harder stone, the harder stone will mark or even break the softer stones. Knowing this, should you have a stone with sharp points, keep it stored with other stones like it, or keep it stored alone, so that the softer stones remain intact too.
An easier way to identify your crystal’s level of hardness is to try to scratch it with other objects. Your fingernail has a hardness of 2.5, a penny has a hardness of about 3.5, and both glass and a steel nail have nearly equal hardnesses of 5.5.
After you have evaluated the hardness, sniff your stone. It won’t just smell like dirt. There may be traces of petroleum or coal-based scents. Touch the tip of your tongue to a washed stone to test for saltiness.
Rub the stone with the pad of your thumb while holding it up next to your ear. Different surfaces will make different sounds when rubbed. Absolutely smooth stones will make no sound. Do you feel you want to hold it or to put it down? Is it lighter or heavier than you expected it to be or just about what you thought?
Next, identify the colors and markings in your stone. What is its predominant color? What do the colors remind you of? Are there any shapes in its markings? What do they seem to be shaped like? Hold the stone in your left hand and place your closed hand over your heart. Can you identify a feeling about the stone? Hold it against the spot on your forehead between your eyebrows. Can you see it in your mind’s eye? What does the stone want you to know about it?
You may want to take a photo of your stone and keep an album to remember which stones you have. If you do, keep some notes with each photo, including where you got the stone, any sensory data you discovered, and any intuitive knowing you may experience as you handle it.
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