What does a broken crystal mean? Why did it break, chip or crack? Has it lost its healing properties? Is there really a meaning or message and what should you do with the broken pieces?

So why do crystals break?

This is a question that I am often asked and there are a number of reasons why a crystal can break or crack. Before we look at any of the spiritual meanings behind this I think it is important to look at how and why crystals can break from a physical and scientific perspective.

Crystals are fragile items so I think it is important to remember this before jumping to any conclusions. I have lost a few crystals over the years, mostly through dropping them or my cat knocking them over.

Sometimes no matter how careful you are, a crystal breaks. It can be deeply upsetting, especially if the piece was sentimental or a special gift. 

If you find you often drop things or bump into things, it could be a sign that you are ungrounded. Perhaps breaking something physical is a message to be more present and centred in your physical body. 

 If your crystal has been exposed to extremes of hot and cold it can appear to break or crack for no apparent reason. The heating and cooling can cause a split in the internal flaws. It is important to look where you kept the crystal. Crystals near doors to outside your home, near a window, radiator, AC unit are at high risk of this. Or putting them into a hot bath when cool, or vice versa, putting a crystal into cold water when its warm.

Many crystals contain natural flaws and fractures which are weak. This is common with crystal Clusters, where crystals can come loose. You will not often be able to see these, they are also very common. These crystals can break, chip or crack over a period of time just through regular use and movement or any of the above reasons. Raw unpolished stones are the most likely to be affected but even tumbled stones can be affected especially if made from fragile crystals (see below).

There are many crystals which are very fragile. They crumble, shed, pieces fall away with touch, movement or water cleansing. Common fragile crystals are Celestite, Tourmaline, Kyanite, Selenite/Satin Spar, Desert Rose, Aragonite, Apopholite and many Quartz crystal clusters with small crystals. This is the nature of the mineral and has no mystical significance. The only way to avoid this is to have then sat in a glass display box like a mineral specimen and never touch them…

There is no way for me to know exactly why this happened to your crystal, there are natural reasons I have given above. Only you know the condition of your stone and how it has been treated. The purpose of this article is to help YOU decide what caused it and if it may be a message for you. Please read the entire article and make your own mind.

I think that if a crystal breaks for no obvious reason there could be some significance to this. If your broken crystal is a protective stone such as Black Obsidian, Black Tourmaline, Lapis Lazuli or Smoky Quartz for example it may have just protected you from some strong negative energy.

There is no need to worry, just be grateful. Any negative energy has been cleared away. 

Perhaps it's simply not the right crystal for you, or its done everything it can for you and it needs to move on.  The crystal’s lifespan ~ in relation to its journey with you ~ may be at an end. Consider how your life and your journey has changed since you acquired the crystal.

Crystals absorb energies, and it's possible that they can absorb too much. This can result from not cleansing your crystal long enough or correctly. It is important to cleanse your crystal often so that it doesn't become overwhelmed by the excess energies. Sometimes it is not your energy that is harming the crystal, but that of others, or your environment. The vibrational frequency of the crystal may not be aligned with the frequencies of its environment. A toxic environment can cause your crystal (and you!) to absorb toxic energies, and that may be the cause of your crystal breaking.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself that may prove helpful in understanding this moment. Think back to when and where you obtained the crystal.

• Did you buy it yourself, did you find it, or did you receive it as a gift from someone?
• What was happening around that time? Were you working through something then? If so, how do things stand now?
• Have you gotten through some or all of what you were working through or healing at the time?
• Who were the people in your life then? And now?
• What job did you have or what role did you play in your life or in the lives of others? And now?

In essence, how has your life changed since then? The answers to these questions and other musings will likely give you an understanding of what you have released or the cycle of healing that you have just completed.

Sometimes a crystal breaking or cracking is simply because you dropped it,knocked it over, or banged it, I personally do not think there is much of a significance to this. The only message I think is here is that you need to be more careful with your crystals.

What should I do after it breaks?

There is no definitive right or wrong way to deal with a broken crystal. My suggestions below are provided to help you find what resonates best with you and your energy. The crystal will help you decide on the best course of action. Just because it is broken does not mean that it can’t continue to help you on your healing journey.

There are many possible options for what you can do with your crystal if it breaks. The most important first step is to give the crystal a break. Whether or not it broke from being overwhelmed, it is always good to let a broken crystal rest for about a month and then cleanse it using your preferred cleansing method.

The next step is to see how you connect to the crystal, whether it be in its full broken form or one of the new pieces. Try to see if the pieces hold the same energy for you. Sometimes they will still connect with your energy and be able to help you with the same intention. Sometimes you will be able to use them for a new intention or healing journey.

Sometimes a crystal breaking in two might signify that you need to give the other piece to someone who needs it. The crystal may sense someone in your life who could benefit from its energies. Always be sure to cleanse a crystal before you give it to someone, and ask them to cleanse it before using it as well.

If you find that you are still connecting with the crystal or the crystal jewelry’s energy, you can try to fix it. A stone can be glued back together if it has a clean break. Jewelry can also be glued or restrung. Be careful when you do this. Some believe that a stone glued back together does not work as well as it did before breaking. However, your personal experience may vary.

Another option is to place the pieces in different corners of a room or space. The crystal might want to spread its energies further than its original form allowed. Putting some distance between the pieces could possibly create a larger connection.

Sometimes a broken stone will no longer resonate with you. If you find that you feel like you won’t be able to use it, or its energies are too toxic to hand off to another person, you might have to dispose of the crystal. The correct way to do this is by returning it to the earth. Bury your crystal in your yard or garden. You can also put it in a house plant to cleanse it and give it a second life as a decoration.