To make the most of your crystals, select them carefully for the task in hand, and cleanse and recharge them before use as described below. When you use crystals for mindfulness, keep your intention focused and let yourself feel unconditional love; this allows the energies of the crystals to flow and makes the best use of their potential. If your crystal is small and tumbled, keep it protected in a pouch when not in use; carry it with you if appropriate and touch it frequently. If the crystal is larger, place it where you will see it often.
One of the easiest ways to select your crystal for mindfulness is to flick through the crystal directory in Part 2 and see which one catches your eye. Otherwise, you can use the description to choose a crystal that fits your needs. If you are using actual crystals (rather than the photographs) and are faced with a choice of tumbled stones, close your eyes and ask your hand to be guided to the right crystal for you as you plunge your hand into the crystals. Whichever one sticks to your fingers is the crystal for you.
Pendulum or finger dowsing quickly locates the right crystal once you have established your ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘maybe’ answers. If you are using a pendulum, hold it with the chain wrapped loosely around your hand and about a hand’s breadth of chain hanging down. To establish ‘yes’, hold the pendulum over your knee and ask, ‘Is [say your name] my name?’ The pendulum usually swings in a circle (note the direction of swing) or backward and forward. This is your ‘yes’. Repeat using a false name; the pendulum’s response is your ‘no’ – it may swing in the opposite direction or backward and forward, if it has previously circled. For a ‘maybe’, the pendulum usually shimmies a little or moves sluggishly.
Once you have established your ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘maybe’ answers, select a crystal that you feel drawn to and then hold your pendulum over your chosen crystal and ask, ‘Is this the right crystal?’ If you get a yes, you have found your crystal, otherwise continue to dowse the crystals until you receive a ‘yes’ answer. If you receive a ‘maybe’ answer, ask ‘Is there a better crystal for me at this time?’
To finger dowse, loop the thumb and first finger of one hand together. Place the thumb and finger of the other hand through the loop and close. Pull firmly; if the loop holds the answer is yes, if it pulls apart the answer is no. As above, check the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ responses (which may vary) before you start dowsing, by asking ‘Is [say your name] my name?’ and then pulling, giving your real name for ‘yes’ and a false name for ‘no’. Once you have established your ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers, select a crystal that you feel drawn to and loop your thumb and first fingers together over your chosen crystal and ask, ‘Is this the right crystal?’ If you get a yes, you have found your crystal, otherwise continue to finger dowse the crystals until you receive a ‘yes’ answer.
You can ‘body dowse’ with your palm chakras – located in the centre of your palms – holding the crystal and sensing the energy, which will tingle as though a current is running up your arms. If you’re in a crystal shop and find yourself still carrying the crystal you picked up on first sight, that is the one for you.
All crystals need to be regularly cleansed and recharged. If your crystal is tumbled or a solid piece, you can cleanse it by simply placing it under running water for a few moments – use bottled water rather than tap water, if you don’t live close to a spring or running natural water. Dry it and place it in the sun or moonlight to recharge. Alternatively, add a couple of drops of proprietary crystal cleanser (see Resources, page 92) to bottled or natural spring water and immerse the crystal. However, if a crystal is fragile or friable, layered, water-soluble or composed of many tiny crystals, do not use a water-based cleansing method other than a light spray of spring water from a mist spray bottle. Add a drop or two of cleanser to the bottle first. You can also place the crystal overnight in brown rice (compost or throw away the rice after use). Salt can damage friable or layered crystals so is better avoided as a cleansing agent. Another method is to place the crystal in a bag with several pieces of Halite overnight. Note that Halite itself is composed of salt crystals and so is water-soluble, and does not need recharging before use. If you have cleansed your crystal with a water-based method, or using a Halite, leave it in sun or moonlight to recharge it, or use a proprietary recharger (see Resources, page 92) for the same purpose. Clear and Smoky Quartz, Carnelian or Citrine can also be used both to cleanse and recharge a crystal’s energies but will themselves require cleansing afterward.
If using a water-based cleansing method, add proprietary cleanser to the water before immersing the crystal.
Once the crystal is restored to its purest energetic vibration, it will be ready to be powered up so that it works for your greatest good. Hold your cleansed and recharged crystal in your hands for a few moments and ask it to always work with you for your highest good. Let your love and intention flow into the crystal and feel it returning energy to you.