Clearing, Cleansing, and Programming Your Gemstones

We are going to learn about clearing, cleansing and programming your stones. 

As you go along and grow in your abilities to use stones, you will find which methods fit your practice best.Everyone has their own ritual as to how they like to treat their stones but I will talk about the basics.

Why and when to clear and cleanse

Gemstones help us build our ability to trust and understand our intuition. The first time you acquire a gemstone you must clear and cleanse the stone; this will help you in the programming process later. Clearing and cleansing are really the same step using the same method. Whenever your stone feels heavy or stagnate, has a dull luster, or makes you feel uncomfortable when holding it, it indicates clearing is needed. Stones can become discolored at times. This is a sign your stone is very full of dense energies, possibly requiring a longer clearing time. You can clean them regularly if you use them for healing others. Although I don’t feel stones can transfer negative energy back to anyone, some people do feel they can. You will know your stone is clear when it feels light, tingling, and buzzy or creates a happy feeling in your guts and spirit. You can’t mess anything up if you don’t do something right, this is not about perfection. There is no right or wrong way, just choose what fits your personal beliefs. Remember - this is your ritual.

Ways to Bring Them to Purification.

To me clearing and cleansing is like giving your stones a holy bath. Traditionally, most use sea salt. It is considered to be the most powerful way. I recommend this way for your stone’s first bath. You can use table salt, but it is not approved by everyone because of worry about the chemicals in it. The salt can be used dry or mixed with water. I often use sea water from the ocean because I want the earth magic of Gaia, but I live close to the ocean. The common time to leave them in the purification state is at least 24 hours. This gives the stone time to assimilate the energies. One clue I have used when using salt water is watching the tiny air bubbles that gather on the side of the glass; when those bubble dissipate I know the stones are clear.

Some people bury their stones in earth and leave them for a bit. Others use the sunlight and moonlight at their most personal time of power. Use whatever elemental magic you like working with to purify your stones. For instance, you could use the sunlight and soak them in ocean water. I caution leaving them in the direct sun or extreme cold as this could cause some injury to your stone.

One of the last ways to purify stones is by using herbs or smudging. Try burying them in a small bowl of herbs like rosemary, myrrh, frankincense or rose petals. You can use sage for burying or burning, letting the smoke linger around the stones but not burning them directly. Once your stones are purified it is time to program them.

Programming Your Stone

This is when we dedicate the stone to work with us for the highest and best purpose and this is the part of the process that is the most magical. It is when you’re tuning your frequencies to those of each stone. It is a deep bonding time; you’re getting to know the power of your pure stone by receiving the energy of it.

Sit alone with the stone, rubbing and adoring it, much like meditating but focused on what you want from the stone. You are exchanging energies, melding the tune of spiritual frequencies and passing the message of the desires you wish to bring about in your life. By using your mind’s eye, think about the reason for the stone, giving it focus and responsibilities. Yes, all stones have basic healing properties but programming increases that power. This type of programming and dedicating opens the channel between your higher power and the stones frequency. Let your intentions and intuition come to you, feeling it deep in your soul with a knowing of mind, body and spirit. This will solidify the process. For instance, I use 75 different stones for reading others’ souls. I will first ask a stone if it would like to work with me before I buy it. Then when programming it, I make it clear as to the focus of the stone, opening its channel to many types of souls and not just honing it to work with only my energies. This gives the stone the abilities to be more flexible in it healing role. 

You can make this practice long or short; it is fully up to you and your intuition. Using stones teaches you to continually build your intuition and deepen understanding of the insight into your soul’s wellbeing. Trust is what you’re growing to know and believing in your abilities with confidence, that you are in tune. Now that you have dedicated your stone, use it.

Stones like to be carried, held, talked about and shared. Leave them out in your environment. Boxing them up or putting them away makes stones feel unneeded and it many require reprogramming.  While they are out, they can get sunlight and continue to empower their energy frequency daily. You will read about many other ways to work with stones like I stated above. Trust is the key, your soul knows what it needs better than we consciously do.

So allow yourself to venture outside your world and let the power of a gemstone or crystal enchant your life. 

**** First Published in Paranormal Underground Magazine February 2013***