After the blood moon in July my Instagram feed was full of recharged souls gloating about how the skies hosted the longest full lunar eclipse. The power from this rare magical moon was meant to cause emotions to run wild – I used this as an excuse to binge snack, I felt the universe was telling me it was okay. But after said day was done and dusted, I couldn’t help feeling like I’d missed an opportunity to put my colourful rocks which I had on display (turns out they’re moonstones) to reap their benefits.

I’d heard rumours they needed charging (I was hoping their battery life was better than my iPhone), and that you could bathe with them (my apartment only has a shower), so I got in touch with Chey from Bodhifit studio to give me the crystal 411. She hosts regular full moon gatherings for those looking to delve deeper into astrology so keep an eye out on her Facebook page! Chey’s brief was basically to explain WTF I do with my moonstones/ crystals?

Chey shares everything we need to know before Sunday’s (26 August) full moon. She starts with some whacky comments she receives around this time of month (probably from morons like myself):

A full moon is coming, get ready for the madness.

My friend’s cousin’s psychic said the word “lunatic” is derived from the word “luna”, because everyone is chaotic around the full moon.

It’s a full moon, time to charge your crystals people.

Firstly, let’s keep in mind we’re condensing a whole heap of information here, let’s break it down a little.

Basically, the theory is that if the moon’s gravitational pull can affect the tides, it can also affect the human body and human emotions. We are 80 per cent water, after all. There is also a heap of astrological research around how the moon affects our zodiac and influences our natal chart. Let’s not get into that now though.

What I’m saying is a full moon can send us all super loopy – even hospitals have reported more chaotic periods around the full moon. So, what we really want to look at today is how we can use the moon in a more positive, less looney way. Our conclusion is crystals.

HOLD UP, WTF IS THIS CRYSTAL BUSINESS?

For a really, really long time, people have believed that crystals have beneficial health properties. They’re thought to promote physical, emotional and spiritual healing by positively interacting with the body’s energy field or “chakra.” Different crystals have different healing powers.

The thing is, crystals are affected by all energy around them, be it positive or negative. It’s important to cleanse and recharge your crystals regularly to help optimise their healing performance.

Crystal cleansing means getting rid of all the negative energy that’s gotten caught up in your crystal. You can do this by burning sage around the crystal or using a sound bowl.

Crystal recharging is powering the crystal back up again (like charging a battery). You can do this by running the crystal underwater, using a sound bowl, or put your crystal in direct sunlight. Although be careful, as some crystals don’t like water or sunlight, so check with our good friend Google before doing this.

Alternatively, the best and most effective way to cleanse and recharge your crystals is under the full moon.

COOL…BUT HOW?

It is widely believed that a full moon possesses the most potent and powerful energy to both cleanse and recharge your crystals.

All you have to do is place your crystals somewhere safe outside or on the windowsill overnight. Don’t worry if it’s raining or overcast – they don’t need to be in the direct moonlight to reap all the magical benefits. Just make sure you collect your crystals first thing in the morning as some can be affected by the residue.

It’s also worth noting that you can use your crystals and a full moon to set new intentions and open a new chapter in your life.

You see, full moons are a time for change – a time to reevaluate your life and let go of things that might be holding you back, rid yourself of what doesn’t serve you and open yourself up to new energies and a new chapter in your life. This Sunday morning (26 August), the moon heads into Pisces, which is all about releasing past hurts and trauma, healing ourselves and moving forward in a positive way.

After you have cleansed and recharged your crystals under the full moon, hold them close and in your mind, set your intentions for the next month – that is, what you want to manifest. Write it down even. It’s said that the full moon helps to intensify your intentions and bring them to fruition.

While you’re at it, we also recommend you write down the things you want to let go of or anything that no longer serves you, then rip up the piece of paper, throw it out or burn it. This will help you let go of any negativity in your life.

And that’s it! Easy as pie (easier even).

SO HOW DO I CHOOSE A CRYSTAL?

While there are countless crystals that have different healing benefits, here are some of our favourites that are easy to gauge if you’re a crystal newbie.

  • Clear quartz: the master healing crystal. Used for emotional, mental and physical healing. Great for stress and anxiety
  • Rose quartz: used to give yourself some much-needed love
  • Citron: used for prosperity, abundance and manifestation
  • Black tourmaline: used to fill the self with positive energy and rid negative vibrations from others. A great one for staying grounded
  • Amethyst: the perfect all-purpose stone

It’s also worth noting that if you’re drawn to a particular crystal, for whatever reason, it might be your subconscious picking that crystal for you. So, get it.