Incense/Herbs

Crystals absorb and carry energy even before they arrived at our doorsteps. Therefore, it’s important to cleanse them as often as necessary to release the negative energy that may have accumulated in them. Smoking incense and herbs is one of the most effective, easiest, and safest ways to do it.

Simply put, smudging is the act of cleansing, purifying, and blessing people, objects, or surroundings through burning herbs. Smoking incense is done in the same way, except with the use of incense which is an aromatic material made from various fragrant natural ingredients. The herb or incense smoke is believed to neutralize the energy.

Incense sticks, cones, herb bundles, resins, and wood are the most commonly used smudging tools out there. While you may usually see it being done to cleanse the space or one’s aura, they are also highly effective in getting rid of negative energies from a crystal.

Because not all crystals are safe in water, being buried in the ground, or placed under the heat of the sun, smudging or smoking incense might be your safest bet to cleanse crystals. Moreover, even beginners in spiritual healing can do them without much fuss.

If you have a bundle of choice herbs or incense, you can use it to cleanse crystals and stones. You can even do a batch cleansing if you want.

Crystal smoke cleansing can be done by doing these steps:

1. Prepare your crystals for cleansing.
2. Gather your smudging tools.
3. Meditate and say your intentions.
4. Hold the crystal over the smoke.
5. Complete the ritual by saying affirmations.

1. Prepare your crystals for cleansing

   When cleansing crystals, pick ones that seem energetically heavier than usual. If you have crystals that haven’t been cleansed in a while, include them, too. As for the ones you use often (like rose quartz), it’s recommended to cleanse them cyclically, like once in every full moon or new moon.

   Suggestion: Do the cleansing in an open space so the negative energy won’t get stuck. If you’re indoors, you can also open the windows to achieve the same effect.

2. Gather your smudging tools

   Next is to get the tools you need for smudging. You can either use bundled herbs like rosemary and white sage, sacred wood like palo santo sticks, or incense cones and sticks.

   Then, get a fire-proof bowl for smudging. While bowls or plates made from cast iron are great, not everyone has it, so you can use ceramic, clay, or earthenware containers as a substitute. Still, be careful in handling these as they aren’t usually heat-resistant.

3. Meditate and say your intentions

   Meditation isn’t strictly required, but it’s recommended.

4. Hold the crystal over the smoke

   Place the crystals over the smoke for a minute or so, depending on how energetically heavy they are. If you cleansing several other crystals at a time, use your hand or a fan to waft the smoke towards them.

   As you do, fill your mind with positive thoughts. You can think or say out loud things like:

   • I am smudging to cleanse these crystals with negative energy, allowing only positive vibrations to remain.
   • I invite positive energy to fill these crystals.
   • I command any negativity to leave these crystals and go into the light.

5. Complete the ritual by saying affirmations

   Once the cleansing is complete, finish the ritual by saying affirmations and blessings. You can also declare your gratitude for the positive energy and light filling your life through your crystals.

   Put your crystals in a safe and sacred space.

There are different kinds of incense and herbs that can help purify your crystals. Some people prefer to use one over the other, but did you know that each incense stick or herb has its own meaning? They also have varying benefits and effects.

A word of caution, though. If possible, buy only from reputable sellers that source these materials ethically and sustainably.

Here are some of the most common incense and herbs, plus a brief description of each:

• Palo Santo

  One of the most popular smudging tools, palo santo is a wood taken from a tree called Bursera graveolens from Peru. Its Spanish name literally translates to “holy wood” in English. Widely used in healing rituals and spiritual work, smoking palo santo can help remove negative energy and encourage deep healing.

• White Sage

  Another common smudging tool, white sage is a shrub native to the Americas. Smoking white sage has plenty of benefits, such as fighting microbes, connecting to the spiritual realm, and dispelling negative energy. It also empowers crystals.

• Rosemary

  Rosemary isn’t only lovely to look at (and a fantastic cooking ingredient), but it also has tons of benefits. It removes negativity, instills positive natural energy, and calms the mind.

• Mugwort

  Harry Potter fans may be familiar with this well-known potion ingredient, but did you know that smudging mugwort helps purify your crystals? It also enhances their protective powers.

• Juniper

  Ever since the time of the Ancient Norse, juniper has been used for cleansing rituals. When smoked, the sacred wood removes harmful energies from your crystals.

• Myrrh

  This fragrant resin clears negative energy and provides healing. It’s not surprising since myrrh has been used since the Biblical times.

• Frankincense

  Along with myrrh, frankincense is another popular resin from ancient times that can be smoked to cleanse crystals. It’s also known to relieve emotional or physical stress.

• Copal

  Copal is another resin that can help purify crystals when smoked. It also provides spiritual cleansing and establishes a connection with the higher realms.

• Labdanum

  Labdanum is a resin from the Cistus plant. Smudging can help clear negative energies from your crystals.

• Patchouli

  Smoking a patchouli bundle is also a great way to clear your crystals of negative vibrations. It also helps in relieving stress.

• Lavender

  Lavender helps cleanse crystals and relax the mind. It may be especially helpful to heart chakra stones as it’s also known to open this particular chakra point.

• Sandalwood

  Sandalwood is also effective for cleansing as it removes the negative energy that has been absorbed by your crystals. It’s also perfect for meditation and healing.

• Sweetgrass

  Sweetgrass can be braided or tied into a bundle for smudging. It’s known to drive out evil and invite benevolent spirits to your home.

• Dragon’s Blood

  Dragon’s Blood is another resin that is perfect for smudging. It’s helpful for removing negative energies and ions while providing protection and increasing productivity.

There you have it. Those are the most common herbs and incense used to cleanse crystals, but there may be more others. Apart from crystal cleansing, burning sage, palo santo, or any of the above can also be used in a few different ways such as space clearing.

How do you know which one to use will depend on your purpose and preference? The best way to go about it is to do a trial and error to see which herb or incense works best for you.

While essential oils can be sometimes used for cleansing, keep in mind that oils may contain substances that could negatively affect your crystals. A lot of crystals are soft or porous. Liquid of any kind can damage it. If you decide to cleanse crystals using essential oils, make sure to do your research first to see if it’s safe with the particular substance.

Anointing is a common method when cleansing crystals with essential oils. Alternatively, they can also be mixed with water.

Still, there are other, better alternatives to this method like the smudging we discussed in this post. We recommend trying them out first. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

How Long Does It Take to Charge Crystals with Insense or Herbs?

Cleansing and charging crystals with incense and herbs only take a few minutes. Some even hold their crystals for approximately one minute or so. If your intuition tells you that your crystals could benefit from a much longer cleansing or charging time, you can leave them for a while.

How Do You Know Which Herbs Charge Which Stones?

Herbs that are traditionally used for energy clearing and healing rituals can also be used on crystals. Palo santo, white sage, and frankincense are some of the most popular herbs and incense that are used for cleansing and charging.

Is Cleansing Your Crystals Essential to Crystal Therapy?

Yes. Crystals absorb a lot of negative energy for you, thus it’s important to get rid of these excess energies. Cleansing your crystals will restore them to their natural state, so they can be used for healing and meditation again.

Conclusion

Smoking incense and herbs doesn’t only benefit an individual, but they can also cleanse and charge crystals as well. Knowing which plants and wood can be used for smudging rituals is essential if you are doing crystal work.