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If you’ve been working with crystals for a while, you’ve probably heard that they need to be charged—kind of like little energetic batteries that run out of juice. Traditionally, people believed that a crystal’s energy could get depleted over time, and charging was the way to refresh it. But over the years, I’ve come to see things a little differently. In this post, I’ll share my take on charging crystals, why I still do it (but for a different reason!), and how to charge crystals to align their energy with your intentions.
Traditional Thoughts on Charging Crystals:
Traditionally, the concept of charging crystals was taught because it was thought that a crystal’s energy could become depleted over time. Charging was the method used to replenish the crystal’s energy so that it could continue to work effectively. Basically, crystals were treated like batteries that were drained of their energy and then “re-charged” to energize them again. If a crystal didn’t feel the same or work quite the same any longer, then it was recommended to charge the stone. Some people also viewed this as a necessary step after cleansing, because they believed that the cleansing process removed ALL energy from the stone.
My View on Charging Crystals:
In my experience crystals don’t need to be charged the same way they need to be cleansed. A crystal doesn’t actually lose its energy over time just because you’ve worked with it – it’s not like a battery as we were made to think. If the energy of your stone feels “off” to you, it likely just needs a good cleansing. If that doesn’t help, it could just be that the stone is no longer needed – that it has served its purpose and it’s giving you a subtle hint to move on.
I still charge my crystals, but instead of doing this to replenish their energy, I think of it as a way to add to it…a way to further define and align the energy of the stone with your intention.
Each method of charging adds its own energetic imprint to the crystal, so you should decide which type of energy you would like to work with and then charge your stone using a corresponding method.
How to Charge Crystals: Common Methods
- Sunlight
- Wheel of the Year Holidays
- Solar and Lunar Eclipses
- Pyramids
- Quartz Crystal Charging Grids & Numerology
- Seeds
- Flowers
- Herbs
- Water
- Snow
- Rain & Storms
- Fog
How to Charge Crystals: My Top 3 Favorite Ways
1) Charging with the Sun:
When charging your crystals with the energy of the Sun, place your crystal outdoors or on the windowsill and leave them there all day (or a minimum of 2-3 hours). Many healers prefer to place their crystals outside on the ground (where they have direct contact with the earth), but if this isn’t possible, placing them in a windowsill is also acceptable. To assist the process further when working with the Solar holidays (Holy Days), you can set your stone atop a picture of the Wheel of the Year on the corresponding day. In general, this method of charging is connected with personal power, good luck, vitality, and with the fire element.
2) Charging with the Moon:
When charging your crystals with the energy of the Moon phases, place your crystal outdoors or on the windowsill and leave it in there overnight. Many healers prefer to place their crystals outside on the ground (where they have direct contact with the earth), but if this isn’t possible, placing them in a windowsill is also acceptable. To assist the process further, you can set your stone atop a picture of the corresponding moon phase.
3) Charging With Herbs (Fresh or Dried):
Place your crystal in a container (preferably wood, glass, or ceramic) filled with leaves (any type will do, but specific types will carry the energy of that plant) and leave it there overnight. It’s best to completely cover the stone with the leaves. When using fresh leaves, this method of charging is connected with the property of new beginnings and with spring season energy and the earth element. When using dried leaves, this method of charging is connected with solitude and with autumn season energy and the earth element.
Final thoughts on how to charge crystals:
At the end of the day, working with crystals is a deeply personal experience, and how you approach charging them should feel right for you. Whether you let them soak up the sunlight, bathe in moonlight, or rest in a bed of herbs, what matters most is the intention you put behind it. Crystals don’t need charging to work, but if it helps you connect more deeply with them, then go for it! Try different methods, see what resonates, and most importantly…trust your intuition.
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