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How to Cleanse Crystals with Sage Download ArticleExplore this Article methods 1 Smudging Crystals with Sage 2 Smoke-Free Alternatives for Cleansing Crystals Other Sections Expert Q&A Related Articles References Co-authored by Emily Christensen and Amy Bobinger, BA
Last Updated: May 27, 2025 References
Download Article X
This article was co-authored by Emily Christensen and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Emily Christensen is an award-winning Holistic Medicine Practitioner, Shamanic Spiritual Advisor, Reiki Master, and Founder of Rainbow Raaja and the internationally acclaimed "Rainbows Rising" Podcast based out of Southern California and Pierce County, Washington. Emily has over ten years of experience as a Massage Therapist and Shaman using life coaching, tarot cards, crystal therapy, light work (reiki, light codes, energy therapy), sound healing and shamanic healing. She received her Reiki Master training from the Hands on Healing Institute. Emily is also a certified Bodywork Therapist by the California Massage Therapy Council and an Ordained Shamanic Minister with the Universal Life Church. She specializes in one on one virtual sessions focused on personal transformation, spiritual ascension and self empowerment. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 42,234 times.
Crystals channel energy, which can make them an important part of your spiritual or healing practices. However, the stones can then hold onto that energy, which can impact how they work. Luckily, you can cleanse crystals with sage to help purge any remnants of that energy!
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Smudging Crystals with Sage
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1 Open a window or door to ventilate the room. Breathing in smoke can be bad for your lungs, so it's always a good idea to make sure you're working in a well-ventilated space. However, this can serve another purpose—having an open window or door will allow any negative energy to escape the room after you cleanse the crystal.[1]XResearch source
If you're especially sensitive to smoke, you can also work outside.
2 Place the crystal in a heatproof container. Falling embers or ash from the sage can create a fire hazard. If you have a ceremonial bowl, you can use that as long as it's fire-proof, but if you don't, any glass, ceramic, or metal bowl will work. [2]XResearch source
Abalone shells are a common vessel for smudging rituals. Many practitioners like them because they add a water element, and the ceremony already includes the elements fire, earth (sage), and air.[3]XResearch source
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3 Light the sage, then blow out the flame. You can use either loose-leaf sage or a dried sage bundle for this.[4]XResearch source Hold one end of the sage in your hand and light the other end with a match or lighter. Once the sage catches on fire, blow or fan out the flame so it's just left smoldering.[5]XResearch source
If you're using loose-leaf sage, consider using tongs to hold leaves so you don't singe your fingers.[6]XResearch source
4 Pass the crystal through the smoke for about 30 seconds. The smoke will purify the crystal by driving out any lingering energy. You may find it easiest to do this by moving the bowl through the smoke, rather than trying to wave the sage across the crystal. You can also use your hand or a feather to wave the smoke over the crystal if you prefer.[7]XResearch source [8]X Expert Source Emily ChristensenSpiritual Advisor & Founder of Rainbow RaajaExpert Interview
As you do this, keep your attention on the cleansing process. Your intention is what makes this ritual effective.[9]X Expert Source Emily ChristensenSpiritual Advisor & Founder of Rainbow RaajaExpert Interview
5 Consider smudging the rest of the room to clear out negative energy. Once you drive the energy out of the crystal, it could linger in your space. Wave the sage in the 4 corners of the room, speaking your intention to cleanse the space as you do so. [10]XResearch source
For instance, you might say something like, "I command any negativity to leave this space, and I open this space to love and light."[11]XResearch source
It's especially important to have an open door or window during this process so the energy can escape.
6 Keep the sage in a heatproof container until it's extinguished. Sage will smolder for a while, especially if it's a sage stick. Make sure you keep it away from anything flammable long after the smudging ceremony, even if it isn't smoking anymore.
If you'd like, you can extinguish the sage in sand to make sure it's completely out.[12]XResearch source
7 Repeat the smudging process at least once a month. Even if you're not using them, your crystals can pick up vibrational energy from your home over time. Cleanse them once a month, or after any type of healing or energy ritual.[13]XResearch source
If you feel like your crystal is dull or that it doesn't resonate the way it used to, it probably needs to be cleansed.[14]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Smoke-Free Alternatives for Cleansing Crystals
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1 Spritz your crystals with sage oil spray. If you love the energy-cleansing aspect of sage but you don't want to deal with the smoke, try making your own smudge spray. Just mix about 30 drops of white sage essential oil in 2 fl oz (59 ml) of 91% isopropyl alcohol. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle so you can easily apply it to your crystals.[15]XResearch source
It's best to use rubbing alcohol because it will evaporate quickly, so you won't saturate the stones. However, it's still probably best to avoid spraying very soft crystals like calcite, coral, amber, pearl, and angelite.[16]XResearch source
You can find white sage essential oil online or wherever essential oils are sold.
You could also place the sage oil in a diffuser instead of making your own spray.
2 Bury the crystals in loose-leaf sage to cleanse them. Put a layer of dried sage leaves in a box or bowl, then place your crystal on top of that. Fill the rest of the container with sage leaves so the crystal is completely covered. Leave the crystal in the sage for several hours to drive out that lingering energy.
For even more cleansing power, place the container on a windowsill to bathe in the moonlight overnight.
3 Sprinkle hard crystals with sage tea. Bring 1 cup (240 ml) of water to a boil, then add 1 tsp (0.7 g) of dried ground sage to the water. Let it steep for about 5 minutes, add a pinch of salt, then strain the liquid. You now have a sage tea that you can use to purify any crystals that are hard enough to get wet.
Crystals need to be a 6 or higher on the Mohs Hardness scale to safely be treated with sage tea.
This includes crystals like diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, tigers eye, onyx, carnelian, jade, and tourmaline.[17]XResearch source
4 Place the crystal on the leaves of a sage plant. Get back to nature with this simple purification ritual. If you grow your own sage, simply leave a crystal on your sage plant for a few hours, ideally resting on a leaf. This will help get rid of any energy in the stone.
5 Use a sage bundle to sprinkle sanctified water onto the crystal. Salt is thought to drive out negative spirits, so make your own saltwater by mixing 1 tsp (5.9 g) of salt into 16 fl oz (470 ml) of water. Dip a sage bundle into the saltwater, then sprinkle that onto your crystals for extra cleansing power.[18]XResearch source
If you have access to holy water or seawater, you can use that, instead.
This should also only be used on stones that can safely get wet.
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Expert Q&A
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Question Can you cleanse with incense? Emily Christensen Crystal Healing Therapist & Founder of Rainbow Raaja Emily Christensen is an award-winning Holistic Medicine Practitioner, Shamanic Spiritual Advisor, Reiki Master, and Founder of Rainbow Raaja and the internationally acclaimed "Rainbows Rising" Podcast based out of Southern California and Pierce County, Washington. Emily has over ten years of experience as a Massage Therapist and Shaman using life coaching, tarot cards, crystal therapy, light work (reiki, light codes, energy therapy), sound healing and shamanic healing. She received her Reiki Master training from the Hands on Healing Institute. Emily is also a certified Bodywork Therapist by the California Massage Therapy Council and an Ordained Shamanic Minister with the Universal Life Church. She specializes in one on one virtual sessions focused on personal transformation, spiritual ascension and self empowerment. Emily Christensen Crystal Healing Therapist & Founder of Rainbow Raaja Expert Answer Definitely! Gently fan incense smoke over your crystals to cleanse them. Make sure you're focusing with an intention of cleansing and clearing! Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 8
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Co-authored by: Emily Christensen Crystal Healing Therapist & Founder of Rainbow Raaja This article was co-authored by Emily Christensen and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Emily Christensen is an award-winning Holistic Medicine Practitioner, Shamanic Spiritual Advisor, Reiki Master, and Founder of Rainbow Raaja and the internationally acclaimed "Rainbows Rising" Podcast based out of Southern California and Pierce County, Washington. Emily has over ten years of experience as a Massage Therapist and Shaman using life coaching, tarot cards, crystal therapy, light work (reiki, light codes, energy therapy), sound healing and shamanic healing. She received her Reiki Master training from the Hands on Healing Institute. Emily is also a certified Bodywork Therapist by the California Massage Therapy Council and an Ordained Shamanic Minister with the Universal Life Church. She specializes in one on one virtual sessions focused on personal transformation, spiritual ascension and self empowerment. This article has been viewed 42,234 times. 5 votes - 96% Co-authors: 4Updated: May 27, 2025 Views: 42,234 Categories: Alternative Health
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The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Emily Christensen Crystal Healing Therapist & Founder of Rainbow Raaja Co-authors: 4Updated: May 27, 2025 Views: 42,23496% of readers found this article helpful. 5 votes - 96% Click a star to add your vote
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Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Smudging Crystals with Sage 2 Smoke-Free Alternatives for Cleansing Crystals Other Sections Expert Q&A Related Articles References Co-authored by Emily Christensen and Amy Bobinger, BA 
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Co-authored by: Emily Christensen Crystal Healing Therapist & Founder of Rainbow Raaja This article was co-authored by Emily Christensen and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Emily Christensen is an award-winning Holistic Medicine Practitioner, Shamanic Spiritual Advisor, Reiki Master, and Founder of Rainbow Raaja and the internationally acclaimed "Rainbows Rising" Podcast based out of Southern California and Pierce County, Washington. Emily has over ten years of experience as a Massage Therapist and Shaman using life coaching, tarot cards, crystal therapy, light work (reiki, light codes, energy therapy), sound healing and shamanic healing. She received her Reiki Master training from the Hands on Healing Institute. Emily is also a certified Bodywork Therapist by the California Massage Therapy Council and an Ordained Shamanic Minister with the Universal Life Church. She specializes in one on one virtual sessions focused on personal transformation, spiritual ascension and self empowerment. This article has been viewed 42,234 times. 5 votes - 96% Co-authors: 4 Updated: May 27, 2025 Views: 42,234 Categories: Alternative Health 
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1 Open a window or door to ventilate the room. Breathing in smoke can be bad for your lungs, so it's always a good idea to make sure you're working in a well-ventilated space. However, this can serve another purpose—having an open window or door will allow any negative energy to escape the room after you cleanse the crystal.[1] 
2 Place the crystal in a heatproof container. Falling embers or ash from the sage can create a fire hazard. If you have a ceremonial bowl, you can use that as long as it's fire-proof, but if you don't, any glass, ceramic, or metal bowl will work. [2] 
3 Light the sage, then blow out the flame. You can use either loose-leaf sage or a dried sage bundle for this.[4] Hold one end of the sage in your hand and light the other end with a match or lighter. Once the sage catches on fire, blow or fan out the flame so it's just left smoldering.[5] 
4 Pass the crystal through the smoke for about 30 seconds. The smoke will purify the crystal by driving out any lingering energy. You may find it easiest to do this by moving the bowl through the smoke, rather than trying to wave the sage across the crystal. You can also use your hand or a feather to wave the smoke over the crystal if you prefer.[7] [8] 
5 Consider smudging the rest of the room to clear out negative energy. Once you drive the energy out of the crystal, it could linger in your space. Wave the sage in the 4 corners of the room, speaking your intention to cleanse the space as you do so. [10] 
6 Keep the sage in a heatproof container until it's extinguished. Sage will smolder for a while, especially if it's a sage stick. Make sure you keep it away from anything flammable long after the smudging ceremony, even if it isn't smoking anymore. 
7 Repeat the smudging process at least once a month. Even if you're not using them, your crystals can pick up vibrational energy from your home over time. Cleanse them once a month, or after any type of healing or energy ritual.[13] 
1 Spritz your crystals with sage oil spray. If you love the energy-cleansing aspect of sage but you don't want to deal with the smoke, try making your own smudge spray. Just mix about 30 drops of white sage essential oil in 2 fl oz (59 ml) of 91% isopropyl alcohol. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle so you can easily apply it to your crystals.[15] 
2 Bury the crystals in loose-leaf sage to cleanse them. Put a layer of dried sage leaves in a box or bowl, then place your crystal on top of that. Fill the rest of the container with sage leaves so the crystal is completely covered. Leave the crystal in the sage for several hours to drive out that lingering energy. 
3 Sprinkle hard crystals with sage tea. Bring 1 cup (240 ml) of water to a boil, then add 1 tsp (0.7 g) of dried ground sage to the water. Let it steep for about 5 minutes, add a pinch of salt, then strain the liquid. You now have a sage tea that you can use to purify any crystals that are hard enough to get wet. 
4 Place the crystal on the leaves of a sage plant. Get back to nature with this simple purification ritual. If you grow your own sage, simply leave a crystal on your sage plant for a few hours, ideally resting on a leaf. This will help get rid of any energy in the stone. 
5 Use a sage bundle to sprinkle sanctified water onto the crystal. Salt is thought to drive out negative spirits, so make your own saltwater by mixing 1 tsp (5.9 g) of salt into 16 fl oz (470 ml) of water. Dip a sage bundle into the saltwater, then sprinkle that onto your crystals for extra cleansing power.[18] 
Emily Christensen Crystal Healing Therapist & Founder of Rainbow Raaja Emily Christensen is an award-winning Holistic Medicine Practitioner, Shamanic Spiritual Advisor, Reiki Master, and Founder of Rainbow Raaja and the internationally acclaimed "Rainbows Rising" Podcast based out of Southern California and Pierce County, Washington. Emily has over ten years of experience as a Massage Therapist and Shaman using life coaching, tarot cards, crystal therapy, light work (reiki, light codes, energy therapy), sound healing and shamanic healing. She received her Reiki Master training from the Hands on Healing Institute. Emily is also a certified Bodywork Therapist by the California Massage Therapy Council and an Ordained Shamanic Minister with the Universal Life Church. She specializes in one on one virtual sessions focused on personal transformation, spiritual ascension and self empowerment.