Do Crystals Need To Be In Direct Moonlight?

Charging and cleaning your crystals is an important part of using them. They can absorb energies, both good and bad, and need to be cared for accordingly.

A lot of people like to use the moon to change their crystals. This can bring up a lot of questions to anyone new to the scene.

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You might be wondering if crystals need to be in direct moonlight to be charged or cleaned, or if it will still work in indirect light. We will cover the answer to this question in this article.

We will also cover other ways of charging crystals that you might find helpful. If you would like to learn about this, just keep reading.

Do Crystals Need To Be In Direct Moonlight?

No, crystals don’t need to be in direct moonlight in order to change. Lucky for us, the power of the moon can’t be stopped by clouds and fog, or even glass, for that matter.

The lunar energy is gentle, but powerful, so you never have to worry about your crystals not being cleansed on a cloudy night.

How Can You Charge Your Crystals Using The Moon?

To charge and cleanse your crystals using the moon, all you need to do is leave it in a spot where it will see moonlight. This is usually a window, but you might also be able to let your crystal charge outside. You can follow these instructions to charge your crystals:

  1. Find a suitable area to allow the crystal to charge. Ideally, this should be on a natural mineral in order to keep it grounded, or even outside.Always check to see if your crystal can be left outdoors, as some should never come into contact with water.
  2. Set your intention. You need to ask the moon and its energy to charge and cleanse your crystals. Always make sure the universe knows your intention.
  3. Leave your crystal in a safe spot overnight to charge.
  4. Collect your charged and cleansed crystal as soon as you can in the morning. Avoid leaving your crystal out in the intense sunlight.
  5. Thank the moon and the universe for allowing you to use the healing powers bestowed by the moon.

Keeping Your Crystal Safe

As we briefly mentioned above, it is crucial to keep your crystals safe when you are charging them. Some crystals shouldn’t come into direct contact with water or strong light (see also ‘What Crystals Cannot go in Water‘).

If you insist on charging your crystals outside, and they aren’t water safe, you need to take precautions. Placing your crystal in a glass bowl that you can cover will protect your crystal from any moisture that may develop over the course of the night.

Please refer to our post on which common crystals are not water safe. If you have a crystal that you know is rarer, please do your research before putting it at risk.

When Is The Best Time To Change And Cleanse Crystals?

The best time to charge your crystals is during the full moon (see also ‘What Happens When You Charge Your Crystals Under the Full Moon‘). This is when the moon’s energy and healing powers are the strongest. During this time, charging will also happen faster, but it’s still recommended to give your crystal all night to cleanse and charge.

This isn’t to say that you should not try to charge your crystals throughout the month. Even during the new moon, a crystal can be charged.

How Long Does It Take To Charge Or Cleanse Crystals With Moonlight?

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Because the moon is a gentle light source, any crystal can be charged by it. However, this gentle nature also means that crystals will charge and cleanse slower compared to other methods. Generally, you should aim to leave your crystals out all night to charge and cleanse adequately.

This allows your crystals to change while you sleep. Just make sure that they are in a spot where they won’t come into contact with moisture. Although charging and cleansing will happen faster during a full moon, you can still leave it out to charge all night.

In the event of a supermoon, you should always take the opportunity to change your crystals. This is especially the case for crystals that are used for warding off negativity, as they work hard.

During this time, your crystals will charge quickly, and they will be ready to go in the morning after you express your gratitude.

Are There Any Other Ways To Charge Your Crystals?

There are other ways to charge your crystals without the moon. These include using the power of the sun, burying it, burning herbs or incense, immersing them in salt, using your breath, connecting them to your spirit guides, and a cleansing visualization.

These are all potent methods that you can use if you want to try something different. The method you choose will also depend on the type of crystal you have. Some stones shouldn’t be charged in salt, as they can scratch easily and be damaged.

Similarly, if you have a crystal that is very sensitive to water, burying it could be dangerous to it and cause damage. You could also soak your crystals in moon water. However, this should only ever be done with stones that are water safe for long periods of time.

Depending on the charging method you use, the time it takes for your crystal to charge will change, too. While charging with moonlight only takes a few hours, burying your crystal can take up to a week to fully charge.

If you charge it using incense or herbs, it will only take a few minutes. As such, be mindful of which method you use, and time it accordingly.

Final Thoughts 

While charging your crystal with the power of the moon is a popular choice, this does not need to be done with direct moonlight. Your crystal will charge no matter how cloudy or rainy the night is, and glass won’t stop it, either.

Andrea Daehma