Why do cloudy crystals turn clear?
First let’s revisit Fairy Frost.
What is the cloudy stuff? Tiny air bubbles and sometimes moisture that is trapped in the crystal when it grew. It is called Fairy Frost.
Fairy Frost looks like “fog” or “clouds” wisping inside the body of the crystal. This is the “stuff” that is fading to clear upon wearing or after lots of active use of the crystal (meditation, energy work), etc.
A crystal is called Feminine if it is dense and full of Fairy Frost. Feminine crystals are also sometimes called Milky. Very water clear crystals are called Masculine and have little or no Fairy Frost.
This week we’re going to talk about a question that I get a lot. I decided to make a short blog post out of the answer to help.
Here is the question:
Question:
“Hi, I have a question that no one seems to be able to answer.
I have had a few inexpensive beautiful crystals that are cloudy when I first get them then after I wear them close to my body for a bit, like a month or so. They then go clearer and the flash in them really shines.
I have asked around and no one seems to be able to help me know what it is that is happening.
A few examples are clear quartz, auralite 23, moonstone, and labradorite. I have been told it must be the oils from my hand that make it appear shiny or that it’s my imagination, and they haven’t even seen the crystals.
Any insight is very appreciated. Thank You in advance.” – S
My Answer:
Thanks for reaching out!
I have heard of this happening a lot, (why cloudy crystals turn clear) and I have seen it in my own crystals.
Caveat, my experience is with quartz. I can only speak definitively to the clear quartz stones.
However, I think we can safely apply the same logic to the colored stones like the labradorite, moonstone etc.
Back to the question of why cloudy crystals go clear.
I have had this crystal wand for about 10 years (see image). When I first got it, it was very dense with frost. It is much more clear now, even though I don’t use it often.
It lives in my bedroom near and with a lot of other crystals, and I look at it often, so it has probably been running energy for me.
Why Does It Happen
There is something about running energy through crystal that can clear them up.
Running energy might happen during meditation or active healing work. It can also happen when you wear them close to your body.
I am not a geologist and don’t know the mechanism of HOW this happens in a structural sense, but it DOES happen. It is not your imagination.
In my mind, I see the energy inside the crystal ramping up, the atoms and molecules becoming excited. As this occurs, it clears or diminishes the appearance of the Fairy Frost, leaving the crystal more clear and the energy more direct.
I would take it as a clue that whatever you are doing you are doing well.
It shows you are running energy through your crystals and they are responding and changing in response.
My Hypothesis on The Changes in Non-Quartz Crystals
To apply the same logic to your non-quartz gemstones: the “fairy frost” inside clears up, making the adularescence (shiny flashes) inside appear clearer and brighter.
I disagree that it is the oils on your hands doing it.
That might be a tiny bit of the reason but certainly not all of the reason. I think it is an internal/structural thing.
In Summary
I hope this discussion of why cloudy crystals turn clear helps!
You might find that your crystals become more clear or more frosty inside. Now that you know it is possible, start watching them for change!
If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.
I see this all the time, my sense is much like yours, a clearing of the negative energy they hold from creation.
As to the Smoky that, um changed i recently bought from two sources, one all the black puffed to the top, the other had little change. I believe the one that changed was irradiated or some how altered
Hi there!
I need some help, I’m still kind new to have a crystal, though I’m not sure what type of crystal I have but even though I’ve had it for a long time.
It some times glows it’s ariginal color for a split second the turns back to it’s ariginal see through look. But I’m stuck because it looked like aqua aura quartz but it now resembles aquamarine quartz.
It also had a rapid change on the inside. It user to only have in inner scares of when it was cut but it grew more markings and some you can only see whale rotating it.
If anyone can get me some closure that would be nice
Hey Cece! Thanks for your question. Let me preface this reply: I am not an expert on stones other than natural quartz. What I CAN offer is that sometimes crystals DO change inside with different energies running through them, or alternately, you might be in a different space so are able to see the changes differently when you are in the altered space… I wouldn’t be concerned … it is possible to work with/enjoy a stone without knowing the technical name (aqua aura versus aquamarine). “Concerned” might not be the right word… but you mention “closure” like not having a definitive answer is bothering you…Sometimes without being hemmed in by the label we attach you are more able to work with a stone unimpeded (without the expectations placed on a crystal being a certain way based on type or variety). Just some thoughts. Hope this helps!
I had a smoky quartz that turned clear. I have no idea how this happened. It originally had a brownish grey color in the beginning but it lost all the color. It never was in the sunlight since I keep it in my basement with no windows. Can someone figure out this phenomena?
Hey Jackie! Hmmm that IS a puzzle, isn’t it. Do you have lights on down there very often? I understand that even inside lights can fade some crystals. I don’t have any other possible suggestions. Anyone else have this happen and know what caused it with your faded crystal?
Love the blog, I have seen what I thought was “residue”or “frost” on the outside of my crystals that I didn’t think was there when purchased. I would be confused and think I’m either imagining it or somehow something got on it to cause a “chemical” reaction . Now I suppose it is something that they just do… at least I know I’m not imagining it ! I know this is different than it turning cloudy or clear, but same idea?
Also want to thank you for your amazing crystal reading and gorgeous quartz wand you intuitively sent me! I felt an immediate connection to this “ancient “ soul! I love reading your book too and recommend it highly !
Hey Lisa! ‘Residue” or ‘frost’ appearing on the outside is a different thing than what I am talking about with the changes in Fairy Frost (which is an internal feature). I’m not sure what might be causing this phenomenon. I do know that sometimes I have had crystals that didn’t get all the acid washed off thoroughly, and this left a dusty-white residue, but it was easily washed off. Again, I’m not sure what you are experiencing. Hmmmm! A mystery! I’m thrilled that you are happy with your reading, crystal and the book. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment (and for the recommendations)!
Thanks for another great article, Jenn. I have a little story about crystal changes that you might find interesting: I had to go into the hospital for surgery, so I took a crystal with me. It turned from totally clear to lightly cloudy & developed red spots that looked just like drops of blood! When I got home to recover, I found that the slower, quieter energy of that crystal in its new form was just what I needed to heal. Later, I took it out into the garden & buried it in with a lot of flowers growing there. When I dug it up about a week later – during a new moon – it had returned to its clear state. I just LOVE this stuff!
Hey Valerie! WOW! That is incredible, isn’t it!? I do find it interesting that the crystal brought you the healing you needed with the internal physical changes you observed in it. It is something I didn’t mention in the blog post but which has come more to the front of my mind to share since the writing. Meaning, when the crystals change, the energy with them changes (as does our relationship with them). For example: when the crystals go “clear” as you run intense energy, it is becoming more ‘masculine’ with the tendencies of: sharp/direct energy, help getting to the point, focused and linear action-oriented energy that projects rather than recedes. The crystals that cloud or become more ‘feminine’ carry the new energies of: getting in touch with our feminine nature, soft, deep, mysterious energy, intuition, nurturing and receptivity with more diffuse (less laser focused) energy. Thanks for sharing your incredible experience with all of us!
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this topic. I was led to your website and just ordered 3 crystals from you. Next time I want to order some crystals for grid work, your book, and also a crystal with multiple crystals on them. I forgot what they are called.
I’m just beginning with crystals and the ones I bought from you are my first, except for an amethyst druzy ring. It is what got me interested because the ring is somehow connected to me in a way I don’t quite understand. The ring initiated this process and journey.
I carefully read about each crystal on your website and looked at the pictures and let them call to me so I would know which ones to buy.
Hey Cindy! Thank you for taking the time to comment. I look forward to hearing how you and your new Crystal Friends get along (they’re going out in the mail today). Also looking forward to hearing from you again. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Ahhhh… I’d been wondering about this. Thank you, Genn.
Great post!
Thanks for weighing in, Jeanne-Marie! Also, I am happy that you made it through the recent storm (relatively) unscathed!! Big love your way
Thank you so much for your articles, dear Jenn!
They always bring deep inspiration…
Thanks for commenting, Vera! I’m glad they resonate!
Thanks for the information Genn. The ET crystal that i had shown you is really, really , cloudy. I am hoping with time and meditating with it, that the crystal starts to clear up! Is it better for the crystals to be more clear or cloudy? I didnt catch to part of why a crystal would turn cloudy if it was more clear. Could you explain that again, i would appreciate it. Also i am really enjoying reading your book.
Hey Donna! I didn’t really cover this, (I should have!). I kind of see it like coconut oil (but nothing like it, so don’t take me literally on this). Coconut oil is whitish and solid when cold, and as it warms, it becomes liquid and clear. So, although the crystal isn’t liquidifying (that’s a Genn word. lol), I see the energy as moving faster or slower, creating the different look (cloudy or clear). As the energy runs “hot” or fast, you might see a clearing, and as the energy slows (you stop working with it) then the Fairy Frost might return. This is WAY WAY WAY over-simplifying this, so it could easily be taken out of context and what I say here would look implausible and ill-informed. But if you apply the blog post, the information about running energy and include different frequencies, then it might help explain it to you the way I see it. Like I said in the blog post, I am not a geologist. I’m glad for that, really, because I don’t have the preconceived notions that this or that is impossible, geologically or scientifically (because I don’t think we have been taught the REAL science). And as to whether one is better than the other, no. Absolutely not. They each have their own specialties. Sometimes we are drawn more to one than the other, but one isn’t “better” than the other (cloudy versus clear). They both serve their purposes. Thanks for the excellent question!