How to Cleanse and Charge Your Obsidian

Cleansing or charging: what's the difference?

They are two complementary gestures. To cleanse is to "discharge" the stone of whatever it is said to have picked up; to charge is to give it energy back. You generally cleanse first, then charge, rather as you'd empty a glass before filling it with fresh water.

Not to be confused, finally, with physical cleaning (removing dust and bringing back the shine), which is a separate matter: I go through it in the article on cleaning your obsidian.

Why cleanse your obsidian?

Because obsidian is so often described as a stone of protection, it's said to "work" hard and to fill up quickly. That's why, by tradition, it is cleansed:

• as soon as it arrives, after buying it, to start from a neutral base;
• regularly, if you wear it often;
• after an intense spell, or simply when it feels "heavy" to you.

How to cleanse your obsidian

Several gentle methods work, pick the one that speaks to you:

• smoke cleansing: pass the stone through the smoke of white sage, palo santo or a natural incense;
• clear water: a brief rinse, then dry it well (never salt water);
• a quartz or amethyst cluster: rest the obsidian on it for a few hours;
• sound: a singing bowl or a tuning fork, whose vibrations are said to "clear" the stone.

Smoke cleansing and a quartz cluster are the gentlest methods, and they suit obsidian particularly well.

How to charge your obsidian

Once cleansed, you give the stone its energy back. For obsidian, the favourites are:

• moonlight: leave it out for a night near a window or outdoors; the full moon is said to be ideal;
• an amethyst geode or a quartz cluster: they are said to both cleanse and charge;
• contact with the earth: in a plant pot or directly in the ground, fitting for such a grounding stone.

Do avoid prolonged sunlight: unlike some stones, obsidian charges perfectly well by moonlight, and a long spell in the sun isn't needed.

How often?

There's no fixed rule. Many people simply follow the rhythm of the full moons, roughly once a month, using the full moon night to charge all their stones at once.

Beyond the calendar, trust how it feels: a cleanse after buying it, then whenever the stone seems "tired" to you or you've been wearing it a lot. Being consistent matters more than being frequent.

Mistakes to avoid

• salt and salt water: often mentioned for other stones, but not advised for obsidian, which they can damage;
• prolonged sunlight: unnecessary here, and sometimes harmful to settings and threads;
• long soaks: a quick rinse is always enough;
• forgetting the first cleanse: the most recommended gesture in the tradition, right after buying the stone.

What about "physical" cleaning?

Cleansing a stone's energy and physically cleaning a piece of jewellery are two different things. To remove dust and skin oils and bring back obsidian's deep black, see my dedicated guide to cleaning and care. And to learn everything about this stone, its complete guide is waiting for you. If you find yourself wanting a new stone, have a browse through my obsidian bracelets, pendants, necklaces and rings.

Frequently asked questions