Selenite Altar Bowl, 4-5 Inches

Natural satin spar selenite. Each bowl is carved from a single piece of fibrous gypsum, so the lines and translucence vary; no two are alike and the variation is part of its beauty.

A 4 to 5 inch charging bowl. Large enough for a full set of tumbled stones, a bracelet stack, or a deck's worth of crystal companions to cleanse at once.

Cleansing built into the stone. Selenite is the crystal practitioners reach for to clear other crystals, which makes the bowl itself the working: fill it, walk away, come back to cleansed stones.

• Size: approximately 4 to 5 inches across (natural variation)
• Material: natural selenite (satin spar gypsum), carved with unique lines and translucence
• Weight: about 1 lb
• Care: keep dry; selenite dissolves in water. Selenite is fragile, natural lines through the stone are normal, and shape and thickness vary

Selenite is used for cleansing and purification in Wiccan and eclectic crystal practice, where it is the stone that clears other stones and never needs clearing itself. A selenite bowl is used as a charging bowl for tumbled stones, jewelry, pendulums, and small tools, and as an altar dish for dry offerings. Cunningham assigns selenite to the Moon and Water, and Judy Hall links it to the crown chakra, which is why it sits so naturally at the top of the altar or in a meditation space.

The name comes from the Greek selene, moon, given to the mineral for its soft glow, and satin spar is the fibrous form that carves into bowls, wands, and towers. You can use this bowl to cleanse stones overnight, to hold a crystal grid's center, or to rest a pendulum between readings. Keep it out of water and away from the bath; the moon stone that dissolves in rain is a lesson about tending what you love.

1. Set the selenite bowl on the altar, a shelf, or a windowsill where it will catch morning or moonlight.
2. Place tumbled stones, crystal jewelry, or a pendulum in the bowl after use and leave them overnight, or for a full day if they have done heavy work.
3. On the full moon, set the whole bowl in the window with its contents to charge everything at once.
4. Dust the bowl with a soft dry brush or cloth. Never rinse it; selenite softens and dissolves in water.

Some practitioners keep the bowl only for stones; others rest their rings in it every night. Either way it is doing its job.

• White Selenite Wand: A selenite wand to sweep over stones, tools, and the body between bowl cleansings.
• 7 Chakra Tumbled Stones, Set of 7: Seven tumbled stones that fit the bowl exactly and come out cleared.
• Black Tourmaline Heart, 3": A protective stone to rest in the bowl after heavy work.
• Rainbow Moonstone Palm Stone: A moon stone companion for the moon-named bowl on full moon nights.
• Moon Smudge Kit with 2 oz Moon Water: A moon-themed cleansing kit for the space around the bowl on the same night you charge it.

Can a selenite bowl get wet?

No, a selenite bowl should never get wet. Selenite is a form of gypsum and it softens, clouds, and eventually dissolves in water, so keep it away from sinks, baths, and rain, and never use it to hold water or salt water. Dust it with a dry cloth or soft brush instead.

How do I cleanse crystals with a selenite bowl?

Cleanse crystals with a selenite bowl by placing them inside after use and leaving them overnight. Selenite is used in crystal practice as the stone that clears other stones, so the bowl does the work while you sleep. For a stronger reset, set the full bowl in the window on the full moon.

Does selenite need to be cleansed?

Selenite is traditionally said to be self-cleansing and to clear other stones, so most practitioners never cleanse it. If you want to, a night in moonlight or a pass of incense smoke is enough. Never use water, salt water, or a salt bath, all of which damage selenite.

What fits in a 4 to 5 inch selenite bowl?

A 4 to 5 inch selenite bowl holds a full set of seven chakra stones, several bracelets, a few rings and pendants, or a pendulum with room to spare. It also works as the center of a small crystal grid or as a dry offering dish for herbs, petals, and petitions on the altar.

Is this bowl natural selenite or resin?

This bowl is carved from natural satin spar selenite, the fibrous form of gypsum, with the lines and soft translucence that only the real stone has. Because it is natural, size varies between 4 and 5 inches and the pattern differs from bowl to bowl. Handle it gently; selenite is a soft stone.

Is selenite the same as moonstone?

No, selenite and moonstone are different minerals. Selenite is a gypsum crystal named for the Greek moon goddess Selene because of its glow; moonstone is a feldspar with a shifting blue sheen. Both are worked with the moon in crystal practice, and they pair well, but only selenite dissolves in water.