Healing Crystals - How to Care for Healing Gems
So you've been to your favorite crystal shop and found the perfect quartz point to start your collection. It stands there on your kitchen table glistening in the afternoon sun that filters through the nets across your window. It seems to be waiting for something. You sit there for a while wondering what to do next and decide to have a cup of tea. As you sip your brew of green tea and nettles, you continue looking into the crystal, examining the minor imperfections and inclusions that drew you too it in the first place.
Is it really calling out to you for something?
Crystals do have a habit of letting you know when they need a bit of care. This can be via a gentle intuitive nudge when you know it needs charging, cleansing or just being sat with. They can also seem to stick to you too. You either get a mental shout from them or your hand is drawn to them without you really knowing why, except that you know the crystal needs attention in some way. They can also do daft things like fall off your display shelf for no obvious reason, although this is a rarity for more obvious reasons. Taking a nose dive onto the carpet is not particularly good for them so this is avoided wherever possible.
Caring for your crystals can take many forms and there is no set formula that you must follow. The best method is the one that feels right to you although this might change depending on which crystal you are dealing with at the time. You may keep some on display and others tucked away in your 'secret' space. You may place some on the window sill to gather solar energy and others you may keep wrapped up in silk to protect from unwanted negative energies. Whatever feels right for you and the crystal is the best practice and care you can give, however there are some pointers to consider if you wish to avoid unwanted damage, or disruption to their natural energies.
Cleaning
A gentle wash in cool water is best. Soaps may have unwanted effects on the surface of some stones, so it is best avoided unless you know that the stone won't be affected and there is some stubborn dirt on it. Some other stones are best kept away from water as they could start dissolving or breaking up. Water has a habit of getting into minute cracks that the eye can't see and opening them up.
Avoid extremes of temperature at all costs. Excessively hot or cold water can easily shatter your prized possession. Lukewarm, or water at room temperature is best, thus avoiding any 'shock' to the structure of your gem.
Stones that are sensitive to water include:
- Pyrite
- Galeniite
- Chalcanthite
Most stones love the sun. Displaying some of your prized possessions on your window sill will not only keep them energized and free from negative influence but will also make a welcoming sight for passers-by and potentially keep trouble from your door. There are, however, some stones that do not appreciate extended exposure to bright sunlight. Amethyst is one and a list below details some others that are best kept in a more shaded area.
Amethyst has a habit of losing its colour in bright sunlight. I had the misfortune to not know this a few years ago and I now have two very dull and drab looking Amethyst slices. They looked fine for a couple of years (losing their colour is a slow process) but then I noticed they looked a lot greyer than I remembered. Shop keepers should bear this in mind if they want to put their giant Amethyst geodes on display in their store front.
Stones to keep out of direct sunlight for extended periods include:
- Amethyst
- Fluorite
- Rose Quartz
Handling
Always be gentle with your crystals, they may feel very solid but they can be chipped and scratched. A moment's rough handling can easily knock a point off your prize double-terminated quartz wand. Whilst this may not alter its energetic qualities too much, it will change how you feel about the stone, and this could have a dramatic consequences for your healing practice if you continue to use it. A few personal tumble stones in a small pouch is fine, but if you plan to transport and use more specialist crystal items, then I would suggest making sure they are wrapped well before you set out.
Enjoy
Above all, enjoy your stones. Spend time with them and get to know them. If you do this, then you will gradually learn how to care for them yourself. You cared for your best childhood friend without having to think hard about it; so become friends with your stones too.
Andy Cook is a Reiki Master Teacher, Crystal Therapist and Indian Head Massage practitioner. His approach to his clients is one of providing a holistic treatment to the entire person, not just trying to treat the symptoms presented.
He works out of East London and is also available for Reiki training and attunements by appointment.
Andy's personal blog can be found at http://londonholistic.com/energeticthought where further information and other articles can be found.
Also Andy's business website can be found at http://londonholistic.com where consultation and treatments can be booked.
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