Clearing crystals by Teri Hayes	Crystals put out and absorb energy. For instance, if you have a quartz or rock crystal and it begins to turn cloudy or develops brown spotting than you can be sure that you have negative energies around you. Could be anything from physical illness to negative vibrations around. There is a woman, by the name of Sonia, who can hold crystals in her hand and remove all of the negativity both physically and vibrationally. This is done purely with Sonia's energy alone. NO chemicals or any other means is used. Let's just say she actually has a relationship with crystals. She loves them and they love her. She has a very informative web page: www.geocities.com/seraya5/ or http://sonia.klising.tripod.com/ Have a look at it if your drawn to it. It is a beautiful sight.
	Peace and Light
CLEANING	There are as many cleaning rituals and techniques out there as there are stones and crystals. I personally feel intuition should be used in this area, as each person has a unique and individualized relationship with their stones/crystals. For those just starting out, I am listing several techniques for the cleansing, purification, and charging of your crystals. These come from a variety of sources, which I am listing with each technique. Of course, as always, if you have any questions or a technique you would like to share, feel free to email me at MoonCave Crystals. ** **There are a few words of caution that I may offer here. Some crystals are sensitive to water or light. Some become scratched easily. Here is a simple chart found in one of my favorite books called The Book of Crystal Healing by Liz Simpson. You can find and order this book through the book page on this site. ****Some crystals are very sensitive and soluble in water. It is best not to use any soaking or immersion methods of cleaning with such crystals as Halite, Selenite, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Turquoise, some Calcite and Celestite.
	** **Others are very heat/light sensitive, so putting them out in the sunshine for an extended period of time may damage the color. Crystals that are heat/light sensitive are Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Turquoise, Malachite, Tourmaline, Fluorite, some Lapis Lazuli and Quartz, which may fracture with sudden temperature changes. ** **Alot of the softer crystals are easily scratched since their composition is made up of softer materials. Such crystals are Celestite, Malachite, Rhodochrosite, Fluorite, Selenite, Moonstone, Sodalite, Turquoise, Hematite, Apatite and Lapis Lazuli. Of course, if these happen to be tumbled, the likelihood of scratching is minimized. ** **This first technique is perhaps the simplest and most effective. I was taught this cleaning ritual by Linda Glendenning, my mentor and friend.  ** **The easiest way to cleanse your crystals is to put them under some type of running water  I prefer using prill water myself and as the water flows over them, visualize all the negativity and/or old energies flowing down the drain with the water.
	I personally do each of mine individually, but they can all be done at once if time is tight.  ** **This next technique comes from Scott Cunningham's book entitled Crystal , Gem and Metal Magic, Chapter 7, page 31 entitled Cleansing the Stones.  ** **The simplest is to place the stones in full sunlight for a day, three days or even a week. The Sun's rays do the work here, burning away the unnecessary energies. Place the stones in direct sunlight. An inside window ledge isn't as good as an outdoor location because window glass blocks some of the Sun's rays. Remove the stones each day at dusk. Some stones will be clear after a day's soaking up the rays. Others will need longer periods of time. Check the stones daily and sense the energies within them by placing them in your receptive hand. If the vibrations are regular, healthy, the cleansing has been successful.** **NOTE -some stones fade in the sunlight. For example, Fluorite and Amethyst. Please be aware and do not leave them out for a long period of time.
	** **I too have a technique to cleanse the Crystal. One day before the new moon appears, place the Crystal in a large glass with water and salt. Sea water is best prefer Ask the universe to guide you and ask for positive things to **happen with yourself or around you. The moon light will cleanse the crystal with great pure energy. Keep the crystal in a safe place and none should handle it but yourself unless if the crystal is place on a purple cloth, you then can show your guest. ** **These next suggestions on crystal cleansing come to us from Melody's Love is in the Earth. Her suggestions can be found on pages 54-55.  ** **This is quite an interesting idea, so I felt I should share it here.  Melody suggests soaking the crystal in brown rice.  ** **Soak the crystal in brown rice for twenty-four hours, the rice balances and centers the energy, removing the negativity, while dissipating and transforming the negative to the positive. Upon completion of the soak the rice is purified and energized and is quite wonderful to eat.
	** **She also suggests the following: Soak the crystal in flowers [e.g., rose petals, orange blossoms, honeysuckle, etc.] for twenty four hours; the essence strips away negativity and cleanses the stone while the purity and energy of the flower is transmitted to the stone.  ** **Here are some other time honored traditional cleansing techniques:  ** **Smudging-- Using sage, sweet grass or other smudging herb, simply light the sage for example and allow it to smoke in your bowl or abalone shell. You can either pass each stone over the smoke or use your sacred feather to brush the smoke over the stone. Visualizing the negative energies rising and disappearing with the smoke is helpful.
	** **Here is some additional information on Smudge sticks: The smudge stick is used to purify with the smoke of certain sacred herbs such as cedar, sage and sweetgrass. The American Indians believe that if cedar is burned before they say their prayers in faith, that the Great Father will surely hear and answer. Sage acts to draw out negativity. Cedar and sweetgrass attract positive energies. Sweetgrass has been used for centuries by native peoples of all tribes to attract sweet spirits. Burn smudge sticks to cleanse crystals and stones, to purify your body, your environment, and gifts that you receive or give to others. Smudge sticks may be burned in the car before driving, with a prayer for a safe journey. Smudge sticks will usually go out by themselves after a few moments of smoldering smoke, but always place in a flameproof container to insure complete safety. ** **Water--Another form of the water cleansing technique is to place the crystal/stones in a spring, river or lake for twenty four hours. Then place in the sun for energizing.
	** **Fire--Passing the stone/crystal through the flame of a candle will also purify and cleanse.  **Light--If you are a good visualizer or meditator, you can choose to surround your crystal/stone with white light. As you do this, you may want to state your intention, such as:  I ask that the white or golden light clean this beloved crystal of all negativity and transform such into positive and loving energies. So be it, So be it, So be it. **Earth--Bury your stones/crystals in the earth and allow them to stay until your intuition urges you to bring them back up usually one to three days is average. The energies of the earth will assist in removing all older and negative energies.
Programming	When you first start working with crystals, you hear tons of advice from many sources. Do this, don't do that, make sure you use THIS procedure, etc. It is my firm belief that each person should do what they feel is right for them and use the intuition each has been blessed with . Everyone does need a starting point, however, and it is my intent that this information I am sharing will provide you with a beginning. My sources are many and some of the best sources I have found are listed on my recommended books page. Feel free post here with ways you have found work best for you.  This first procedure comes from Melody's book, Love Is In The Earth, revised and updated edition.
	She suggests the following:  .... Formulate a precise phrase which accurately describes the nature of the programming [i.e., angelic/otherworldly communication, harmony, balance, love, special healing or protection for someone, etc.].   Hold the crystal in the left hand [if left-handed, hold the crystal in the right hand], relax for several minutes, initiate circular breathing, and center the consciousness. Consciously align the personal conscious awareness with the higher self and/or other predefined appropriate otherworldly beings.   Ask for guidance, protection, and assistance in the programming process. Open the center of consciousness and allow receptivity to flow through the inner being.
	Repeat the formulated phrase 20-30 times in succession while visualizing and/or feeling the desired effect of the program. [Be open to higher assistance during this process]. As the phrase is repeated, an energy field will build and culminate in the energy pattern necessary to represent the desired program.  While maintaining full awareness of the energy field, bring total awareness and consciousness to the area of the third-eye or heart chakra. Place the crystal in front of the area of the third-eye or heart chakra and allow the self to feel the connection with it.   Direct the energy field into the crystal for 30-60 seconds and allow the program to be transferred to within the crystal. Intuitive recognition will signal when the transmittal is complete.   Detach consciousness from the crystal and allow the universal energies to act.  End quote from Melody's Love Is In The Earth
	*****Here is another suggestion on how to program a crystal from The Complete Crystal Guidebook by Uma Silbey. She explains the programming of a crystal in relatively simple terms, saying, ;...The process of consciously creating a vibration or set of vibrations in a crystal and storing them in the crystal for later and/or continuing effect is known as programming the crystal. A crystal can be programmed with thought, emotion, sound, color, touch, or any other influence by which you can normally change the vibration in a crystal.
	1. Clear the crystal that is to be programmed.
	2. Hold the crystal in your both of your hands while gazing into it.
	3. Center yourself and clear your mind.Concentrate on that with which you intend to program the crystal.
	4. As you retain your concentration, inhale and forcefully exhale through your mouth. It is as if you are blowing your intention into the crystal.
	5. Continue this process until you feel satisfied that you have completely filled the crystal with your intention.
	She goes on to say, (Quote)..This vibration is now stored in the crystal until you clear it out of the crystal. Some methods feel that a program is locked into a crystal more effectively when steps one through five are done in front of a flame. Then when you are through programming the crystal, you pass it right to left through the flame. This seals in the intended programming. When the programming is done, clear yourself, and the environment around you. When you want the program to be out of the crystal, just clear the crystal.  End Quote from The Complete Crystal Guidebook
	**This particular quote comes from the book Crystal Enlightenment.  (Quote)..For any meditative result a clear quartz can be programmed by projecting a thought into it and holding it during meditation. For example, if you are experiencing anxiety about and interview or examination, hold the terminated point of a clear quartz up to the third eye center and visualize yourself as being calm, secure, confident, and spontaneously flowing with the situation.
	Project this thought form into the crystal and then sit quietly, holding the crystal, as you mentally reaffirm to yourself the positive reality you have created. This crystal can them be carried with you, to be held, looked at, or thought of during the event for which you have prepared. The crystal retains the programmed thought form and will emanate that vision back to you, acting as an assistant and friend.(End Quote)