There are several ways in which you can clear your crystals. Whichever way you choose is mostly a matter of personal preference and what feels right for you. Some prefer the simple method of immersing crystals in plain water or salt water for a brief period. Salt has long been considered a symbol of purification. If you choose to cleanse your crystals in salt water do not leave them immersed for any length of time as salt can be damaging to crystals. If you prefer you can sprinkle a few grains of salt over the crystals instead.

Smudging is an age-old practice of purification that has been used by Native Americans for centuries. Sage is most often used. You can cleanse your crystals by passing them through the smoke. You can also cleanse your crystals by passing them through the smoke of a candle. When doing this, be certain to use a new candle, one that has not been used for any other purpose. White candles work best since they symbolize purity.

Another method of cleansing is to bury your crystals. And I know of one witch that not only buries her crystals in a small flower pot, but also leaves the flower pot outside in the full moon. Trifle excessive in my view. But whatever floats your boat .

Anyhoo, Mother Earth (and the Salt variant) are excellent ways of cleansing crystals, as it is returning them to their natural state.

I have no idea who started the “soaking them in water”. This is not an acceptable method in my experience, as some crystals are porous and are damaged by this method. So I’d steer clear of this method personally.

As for candles… you are now utilising the element of fire. Given that the entire universe was initiated in a fiery beginning, I think your reasoning is sound. However, I personally wouldn’t use this method purely because some crystals are extremely “gentle” (for want of a better explanation), and I feel that candle light (and sunlight) would be far to aggressive means of cleansing certain crystals.

I think I’ll stick to my pot of soil. It is extremely effective in gently neutralising any unwanted energies the crystals have absorbed. And while I have never smudged my crystals, I think that would be a valid method also.

In the end though, it is entirely up to you. There is nothing to say that candle light is an inappropriate method of cleansing crystals. However, I would suggest that you only use this method on crystals such as amethyst or carnelian, jasper, apache tears, etc. I think even candle light (let alone sunlight) would be way too “powerful” for crystals like moonstone, selenite, rose quartz, etc. Sort of like putting your crystals through the “pot scrubber” option instead of the “rinse cycle”.

In lak’ech

YOUR QUESTION DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. WHY CLEAN A CRYSTAL ? THEY WORK THROUGH CHANGING PSYCHIC FREQUENCIES AND THEY CLEAR OUT ON THEIR OWN.