Storing your Stones
Storing your crystals and stones can be as personal as the gems themselves. However here are a few hints and tips:
- Store them in or on something natural, silk, linen, wool or wood. Not plastic
- Avoid keeping harder gems where they can knock against or damage softer gems. Soft gems include: Opal, Selenite, Fluorite, Turquoise, Amber
- Avoid direct sunlight. Sunlight can fade some gems. In particular the following should not be left in direct sun: Aventurine, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Beryl, Citrine, Kunzite, Sapphires, Fluorite, Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz
- Never use a harsh cleaner or ammonia on your crystals
- Select a location that is clean and dry. If you live near the beach avoid storing your crystals where they may be exposed to salt spray
- Avoid extreme temperatures as these could cause some crystals to crack or break
Moving with your Stones
Stones are best wrapped individually in acid free paper or placed in separate pouches so they do not knock against each other. Pack your stones according to their colour, properties, size.
Use your common sense, do not pack your most fragile crystals under larger, heavier crystals.
If Your Crystal Breaks
If the crystal is part of an item of jewellery, it may be as simple as repairing a claw or repairing the setting, these can be achieved easily. Sometimes crystals break. This could be simple physics: Extremes to temperature, a knock, or dropping it may cause it to fracture. Some crystals have flaws or fractures which may be a weak point that makes that particular crystal more vulnerable to breaking. And occasionally they just break.
THIS IS NOT A BAD THING
It simply means that the crystal as changed. You can cleanse the crystal and continue to use it if you feel compfortable doing so. Trust your intuition in this.
- Some people feel that a broken crystal is a sign that it wishes to move on – gift the pieces as seperate crystals.
- You could bury the pieces in the garden near a favourite or special tree.
- Put the broken pieces in a glass jar or a bottle and place on a windowsill as a ornament.
The uses are limitless, what is important to know is that a broken crystal is not a negative thing, rather it can lead to better, more positive things.