So you've chosen your desired crystal and found a place for it in your home and are ready to start reaping its healing properties. But before we use crystals for healing and rituals or just to add their unique energy to your altar or sanctuary, cleansing is needed to clear out any stagnant energy that they may be carrying. This is also wise to do with any jewellery that you may have been wearing during a particularly stressful day.

Here are a some of the most effective ways to clean and clear out those not so fun vibes from your prized stones:

• Smoke or Incense. Smudging with herbs, palo santo or incense can be used to restore your crystals natural frequency. Bathe the crystal in smoke until you feel that the heaviness has lifted.
• Water. Running water is the best and simplest method to cleanse, just be careful not use with water soluble crystals, such as selenite and celestite.
• Salt. A salt water bath or burying your crystals in natural salt is a good technique for cleaning sturdier crystals. Leave for 36-70 hours.
• Breathwork. Another way of cleansing is with the breath. Take a moment to ground and attune yourself to your higher consciousness by directing your energy to your crown chakra (located at the top of your head). An effective technique is to imagine a candle flame there and then, visualise it descending into your mouth and breathe out, exhaling sharply and emphatically into the crystal while mentally affirming something like "I cleanse this crystal in the light and love of (God/Krishna/The Divine/The Universe/Whatever you connect with)".
• Selenite. A flat piece of selenite can be used to cleanse your crystals thanks to its powerful purifying energy. Place the crystals on top for a few hours and let the selenite work its magic.

Charging Crystals is essential to ensure they remain activated and to get the best of their unique frequencies. If you wish to use your crystals in rituals, programming them is vital in order for them to work towards the outcome you are asking for. Programming simply requires to to speak your intention into the crystal, but making sure it comes from the deepest, most integral part of your being. Outside of specific ritual work, charging your crystals is important after cleansing to reignite and recalibrate their energies.

Here are the some of the best ways to do this:

• Sunlight. What greater source of energy than the sun? Place your crystals out in the sun on a windowsill for a few hours. Don't leave them for much longer than this, many darker coloured crystals, such as amethysts may fade if left too long.
• Moonlight. Moonlight is a potent yet gentle cleansing energy and is totally safe for all crystals. For best effect, lay out during a full moon overnight. 
• Earth. Earthing or grounding is a time old method used by many practitioners. Simply bury your crystals in soil or sand and leave overnight.
• Sound. The vibrational waves of a sound bath with harmonise your crystals and supercharge them with he frequency of the intention of the music you pour into them. Chant mantra, use a singing bowl, bell or gong or, simply hum.
• Visualisation. Power up your crystal by connecting to your higher consciousness in meditation and ask the crystal to activate its divine healing powers and fill with your purest and truest intentions. Always give thanks.