1.   SMUDGING- A quick way to cleanse your healing stones is to smudge them with burning cedar or sage.  Smudging is an excellent way to make sure your stones are purified.  Simply hold the burning sage or cedar stick while passing your stone through the smoke.  I usually do this a couple times to ensure cleansing.  I also like to cleanse my stones by smudging after every healing.

2.   MOONLIGHT-  Moonlight is another way of clearing your gemstones.  Simply place outside from the Full to the New Moon.  Waning Moons are good times to clear crystals, to dispel old energies, but any time works.  The amount of time used varies with the sensitivity of the healer and the amount of material from which the stone needs cleansing.  Try hanging your gemstone necklaces in a tree where the moonlight can cleanse them.
(I personally do not recommend ever placing your crystals and gemstones in the sunlight, many stones tend to fade their colors in the sun.  Also internal fractures may cause your stone to crack or break if placed in the sun.)

3. OTHER METHODS THAT WORK WELL-  Burying your crystal in a cupful of dried herbs will also clear it.  Suggested herbs for this are rose petals, sage, frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood.  You can usually find these at low cost at many co-ops or herb stores.  This is a gentle way to clear crystals, and a pleasant way, but it does take longer than sea salt.

Crystals may also be buried into the Earth.  This is especially helpful when you feel deep cleansing is needed.  Outdoors, simply dig a hole the size of your crystal into the Earth, place your crystal again point down, and cover with soil.  The amount of time needed is personal choice.  Be sure to place a Popsicle stick or some other marker to insure you fine your stone again!!! For apartment dwellers, use a flower pot to bury your stone in.

The Sacred Breath- Some like to use this method of 'blowing away' any negativity from the stone, simply hold the stone in your hand and blow on it, while blowing ask your higher self to cleanse the crystal.

Finally, if you are in a hurry and feel that your crystal needs to be cleared, you can easily run them under cool tap water.  Make sure the points are facing down the drain to run the negative energy right down the sink!!! NEVER USE WARM OR HOT WATER, THIS WILL FRACTURE OR BREAK YOUR CRYSTALS.  Visualize the crystal as sparkly, tingly, cold, and belonging to the healer.

PROGRAMMING AND DEDICATING STONES
After you choose and clear your gemstone or crystal, it is a good idea to dedicate it or program it.  The purpose of programming a crystal or gemstone is to focus its abilities on something you specifically need, thereby magnifying the stone's intent through your own.  The purpose of dedicating the stone to a high level healing energy or Goddess (God) is to protect it from negative energy.  A crystal or stone that is programmed  and dedicated in these ways becomes much more powerful and useful as a tool.

This is a very simple process.  Hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and sense its energy.  With the stone being newly cleared, the energy will feel stronger and even more appealing that before.  As you sense this energy and appreciate it, ask quietly to be connected to the deva of the crystal or gemstone.  Though not animate, stones are living things and the deva of the piece is the stone's life-force energy.  Once you feel you have sensed what you can from the energy, think of what you will be using the stone for.  Think of these uses, then quietly ask the gemstone if it is willing to act in the way you wish.  The crystals energy may increase with a yes or seem to disappear with a no.  If the stone accepts your intent, state in your mind that it be so.  Once a stone is programmed, it will hold its intent until you or someone else reprograms it.

To prevent any negative energy from attaching itself to your crystal you may wish to dedicate it.  To do this, simply hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and state clearly in your mind:  "Only the most positive high-level energy may work through this healing tool".  Focus on your intent for awhile, then end your sensing (meditation) with "SO BE IT".  The stone is now dedicated.

You may also choose to dedicate your gemstone or crystal to a specific healing energy, for example, to a Goddess of healing.  There are many healing goddesses, including Isis, Yemaya, Diana, and White Buffalo Calf Woman.  For stones programmed for protection, Hecate or Kali are strong protection Goddesses.