Caring for Crystals by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Caring for Crystals

Now that you're familiar with some of the psychic and spiritual uses for crystals, you can start using them to empower yourself! For instance, say you want to start - or strengthen - a meditation practice. There are four basic steps you can take to create a power-packed and supportive crystal to hold that will enhance your focus and experience.

Step 1: Choosing your crystal Truth be told, your crystal usually chooses you. You may be drawn into a store without knowing why and find a particular crystal catches your eye. Buy it! Your Guides or Soul or Guardian Angel (or the crystal itself) called you there. If you don't feel yourself especially pulled toward one piece, take a deep breath, think about your intention and go with your gut. It can't steer you wrong.

Step 2: Cleaning your crystal Provided the store is informed about crystal storage, chances are your crystal is already fairly clean and a little activated. Still, to personalize it, you'll want to do your own cleaning and activation, too.

In order to deep clean your crystal, leave it completely covered in sea salt or an ion solution made of 1 teaspoon each of salt and baking soda per 8 ounces of water (quartz crystals only!). Do this for 24 hours minimum; a week is better.

Step 3: Activating and programming your crystal Always remember that your most powerful tool for activation and programming is clarity of focus and intent. With that in mind, there are lots of ways to activate and program your crystal, but here's a technique that combines the two and is perfect for a meditation enhancer.

Find a symbol of the sacred sound Om (looks like a fancy number 3), which connects you to the still center of Creation. Place your crystal on top of the symbol for several days. Next, every day for a week or so, hold the crystal while you chant the sound Om for 10-20 minutes, focusing on your intent to connect with the deepest center of the Universe. When you're done, you'll have a powerful meditation partner.

Step 4: Maintaining your crystal Finally, once you've cleaned, activated and programmed your perfect quartz crystal, it's important to take good care of it. Crystals should be cleaned regularly and if you wear one to repel negativity, it should be left in salt overnight after every wearing. For a quick, temporary cleaning, rinse it in cold water while imagining you're running white or gold light through the crystal, bottom to tip and out.

Additionally, to keep crystals optimally activated, you want to expose them to natural energy. For example, you may want to put them out in bright sunlight for 24 hours, place them under a full or dark moon or lay them out in the rain (negative ions!), especially during thundershowers. Likewise, your crystal will be enhanced by being placed on a fully activated and programmed crystal cluster, under a pyramid, in water from the ocean or a sacred spring, or if you take it to a mountain or a grove of very old trees.