Articles
Review: Super-Useful Selenite Plates & Bowls From Temu -- Super-Convenient Crystal Cleansers & Chargers
By The Treasure-Sharer
I'd known that selenite was good for cleansing and charging crystals, but the ones I'd encountered before were too small to be able to use on a big quantity of crystals at once. I tried buying a crescent-moon-shaped selenite bowl of the smallest size I could find, because I thought that the selenite bowl options available seemed really pricey, and it was the cheapest selenite bowl I could find at the time (and because I thought that the moon-shaped selenite bowls looked pretty), but when it arrived, the selenite crystal bowl was only big enough to hold maybe one crystal, or maaaybe two, if I tried to balance two small crystals so that they sat on the edges of the bowl, rather than in the middle.
I didn't bother using it for anything, and just kept it because I thought it was pretty, because I couldn't be bothered to try cleansing and charging only one or two crystals at a time on it. See to the side for a promo photo of a leaf-shaped large selenite plate, and below for promo photos of moon-shaped selenite crystal bowls, taken from Temu promo ads.
I thought that it was probably worth it to pay more to buy a selenite bowl or plate that would be able to fit way more crystals, rather than having to try to cleanse or charge one crystal at a time -- which would have been crazy to try to do, with the amount of crystals and crystal bracelets I have accumulated over the years.
It was possible to buy sticks of selenite of various sizes for crystal cleansing and charging (and to double as selenite wands), but I preferred to buy something that would better contain my crystals, and better protect them from falling off/out. That's why I chose to look for something selenite with a groove carved into it, that would hold my crystals in more securely.
My man and I personally think that the selenite options that we bought look more like plates than bowls, but they are referred to as both in the ads that I saw for them, so we will refer to them as both selenite plates and bowls in this article.
I really wanted to try using selenite for crystal cleansing and charging because, while there are lots of other crystal cleansing methods and crystal charging methods, they require effort, and require keeping track of which methods work with which crystals, while using a selenite bowl just requires placing crystals on/in it for a certain period of time. As well, if you use the wrong crystal cleansing method on the wrong crystal, you can end up damaging it.
For example, I put a piece of what the person who had sold the crystal to me had identified to me as mookaite jasper, and a black tourmaline crystal, out in the soil one time while I was picking herbs in my family's garden, forgot about them, and left them out overnight, and when I finally remembered to bring them back in, the mookaite had shrunken considerable, and was no longer the original shape it had been when I had bought it. Where it had been cube-shaped, and was cut like my man described as looking like a cute piece of candy, it became funny-shaped and way smaller after sitting out in the wet earth for some time. I was so sad, and didn't put crystals out into the earth to charge anymore, after that. Thankfully, the black tourmaline was still okay.
I realize now that the crystal probably wasn't a type of jasper, since jasper is supposed to be safe to bury and charge in earth/soil -- but that's another reason why it's so hard to try to determine which crystal-cleansing methods to use on which crystals: misidentifying a crystal and using the wrong method to try to cleanse it can end up damaging it very badly.
I also experienced situations that turned me off from using salt water to cleanse crystals. For example, I drink crystal water every day by putting a mix of crystals that are safe to put in drinking water into a mug and letting them sit for the day, before drinking the water the crystals are submerged in the next day. One day, I accidentally added salt to the water, and maybe lime, and left the crystals in the solution for several hours, not realizing at the time what a bad idea that was. When I came back to drink the water, the fluorite and angelite I had put in were considerable smaller, because the mixture I had added to the water had caused a big part of the crystals to dissolve into the water, and thus shrink. I felt so sad that my crystals were now so much smaller (especially as they weren't all that large to begin with), but drank the water anyway, thinking that, at least if I consumed the dissolved crystals, I hopefully might get something out of it, by actually taking the crystals into my system. Some crystal-cleansing methods call for cleansing crystals with salt water, but I didn't want to experience the mishap I'd had again by accidentally dissolving and shrinking more of my crystals, so I didn't want to use that method, either.
The method I ended up choosing was cleansing my crystals with moon water -- making full-moon-charged water every month, with one or two jars charged with crystal-cleansing and crystal-charging intentions, and pouring it over my crystals to cleanse them once a month. I don't think that it was the best method to use for crystal cleansing and crystal charging, since I'd usually wait until I was making a new batch of full moon water jars to actually use the old crystal-cleansing water I had made the month before, so that I'm pretty sure that many of the crystal cleansing and charging benefits were lost by the time I actually used the moon water.
I was thus super-excited to see natural selenite bowls and selenite plates for sale on Temu, that were quite large compared to other selenite offerings I had seen previously. The first one I saw was an almost-rectangular-shaped (with rounded edges) dish, and looked like it could hold a fair amount of crystals.
I liked the idea of getting a longer selenite dish, because I thought that it would have more surface area for holding crystals than a round selenite crystal bowl would.
I ultimately settled on ordering a large selenite cleansing bowl with a leaf shape, because it looked to me like it would be able to hold the biggest amount of crystals, out of the options for large selenite cleansing bowls and plates available.
See below for examples of the different large selenite cleansing and charging plates and bowls available, taken from Temu promo ads, with the first image showing the approximate dimensions one can expect to receive when ordering a certain style/shape, and the others showing close-ups of the rectangular-shaped and leaf-shaped selenite plate options that we ultimately ended up buying.
All the plates felt a bit pricey to me, since I'm not used to buying expensive crystals, but I was able to get one as a discount item with a Temu promo, and save a lot of money.
I actually waited a really long time to get the selenite bowl, waiting to get it at a better price.
I was pleased when I received the selenite cleansing bowl, and found it to be a reasonable size. I was happy, because it could hold considerably more than the first crescent-moon-shaped selenite bowl I had ordered. The new, bigger selenite plate I got still only held a few crystals at a time, but at least offered a convenient way to help cleanse and charge my crystals without damaging them.
My man started using my selenite cleansing and charging bowl daily to charge his crystals, and asked me to get him one, so I did. I got him the option that was more rectangular-shaped, because it had the best deal I could find to buy one, at the time.
I ended up feeling horrible, because I didn't know what it was when it arrived, and, as I was trying to cut through all the thick layers of packaging for it, it flew out, and crashed onto the wooden floor of my living room. When I opened the package, the selenite cleansing plate was broken in two. It's possible that it could have been broken already, since I hadn't seen it before it fell, but I'm pretty sure that it broke from the hard fall, while being partially unwrapped, and without the necessary padding to survive the fall.
It had actually been packed super-well, with multiple layers of bubble wrap, such that I couldn't even see what it was after cutting through the tape and unwrapping the first few layers, so I have to give the seller credit for recognizing the fragility of selenite, and doing what he/she could to make sure it arrived safely and undamaged. I'm pretty sure that the other selenite plates and bowls we ordered were packaged with just as much care, since they all arrived undamaged.
Selenite is a very fragile and delicate crystal to work with, with only a 2 (out of 10!) on the Moh's Hardness Scale (which measures a mineral's resistance to scratching and abrasion), so good packaging is very important for transporting selenite items, to prevent them from getting damaged during transport. See the International Gem Society's article The Mohs Hardness Scale and Chart for Select Gems, for an explanation of how the hardness scale works.
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Note: On Satin Spar vs. Selenite
I should note that the selenite plates are actually made of satin spar, rather than actual selenite. But, as the article Selenite/Satin Spar by Crystallography Gems explains, selenite and satin spar are both members of the Gypsum family, and are almost identical in chemical composition, but visually differ slightly, with selenite being plate-like and transparent, while satin spar is fibrous and milky white. It describes how true selenite is rare and expensive, while satin spar is plentiful and affordable, such that many in the crystal community have labeled satin spar as selenite to sell more crystals, leading to satin spar being commonly mislabeled as selenite. However, they both cleanse and charge crystals, and have similar properties and benefits, and I think that all selenite plates are probably made of satin spar rather than selenite, since satin spar can be carved into shapes that selenite cannot, so I don't think that the selenite plates we bought from Temu are different from any we could buy anywhere else, which are also referred to as selenite (with "satin spar" sometimes in brackets beside it) plates, so I'm comfortable with describing them as selenite plates here, since it feels more like a technical difference, and the satin spar plates still do the same job I need them for.
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I felt so bad, so I told my man that I could give him my unbroken selenite plate, and keep the broken selenite plate for myself, or try to buy him a new selenite charging plate, and he chose the latter option, so I bought a rectangular selenite plate again, from a different seller.
My man actually liked the look of the leaf-shaped selenite plate better, because he thought that the rectangle selenite plate was funny-shaped. I actully liked the rectangle shape, and didn't mind it.
Temu was kind enough to give me a refund for the selenite plate without needing to return it, which I was very grateful for.
Thankfully, the new selenite cleansing plate arrived unharmed, and I was ready and careful about opening it, so that my man finally got an unbroken selenite plate of his own to use.
While all of the selenite bowls we bought appear to be made of real selenite, and good-quality and smooth, we did notice that the two rectangular selenite plates we received had some kind of oily substance on the surface when they arrived. I can't remember whether or not the other selenite bowls and plates we bought did, since I'd bought them much earlier. We had no idea why the greasy substance was there, but it came off pretty easily from just wiping it with our fingers.
I checked the internet to see if anyone knew what it was, but I couldn't find an explanation. Some people responding to questions about this in threads suspect that the oil might help protect the selenite, or make it look nicer, with the sheen produced by it, but no one appears to know for sure.
My man actually still uses my selenite plate to charge his bracelets, and I assume his selenite plate to charge the other crystals he has.
I think it's worth having at least one selenite plate, if you use crystals for healing benefits, and wear a lot of crystal jewelry, like we do. There are other selenite options specifically for charging crystal bracelets (which we might review in the future), but the selenite charging plates are more multifunctional and versatile, if you're generally into crystals, and want something that will charge and cleanse multiple crystals.
Selenite Plate Benefits
An article from Crystal Divine does a great job of summarizing selenite plate benefits. As it states, "Crystal selenite plates are a must-have. Lay your stones on these miraculous slabs, and watch the selenite plate[s] act like energetic vacuum cleaners, boosting and cleansing their energy with their super-high levels. Give your crystals a spa day with selenite plates; they will return refreshed, renewed, and ready to shine." Charging and cleansing stones boosts their healing power. As well, "healers and crystal players alike swear by selenite crystal plates to create a positive, high-energy environment. They transform any spot into a refuge for great emotions and powerful energy."
It also goes on to say how "selenite plates are the Swiss Army knives of the crystal world, ready to boost your spiritual and relaxing practices in lots of ways. Once you get the hang of using a selenite plate for crystal[s], you'll see its power for cleansing, charging, and meditation."
Other benefits the article describes include the fact that, in energy healing practices, selenite plates can be used to enhance the overall energy flow, creating a high-energy environment when you place one near you during energy healing. It also describes how selenite plates help with meditation, with the relaxing, high-vibrational energy of selenite clearing your mind, removing energy blockages, and increasing your selenite plate spiritual experience when you put it in your hand; and also might give you more mental clarity and spiritual insights. As well, it explains how placing the selenite crystal plate at the center of a crystal grid can also amplify energy, boosting the grid's overall power and effectiveness, and benefiting mental clarity and spiritual intuition.
The article goes into other benefits, but because we use the selenite plates primarily for charging and cleansing our crystals, we'll stick to these areas.
As the article says, "selenite plates for charging crystals are the ultimate tools for keeping your stones at their best. These powerful plates, with their natural, high-vibration energy, actively eliminate negative energies, effortlessly restoring your crystals to their original, pure state. It's best to leave them overnight to maximize the benefits."
Convenient Crystal-Charging and Cleansing
Because selenite cleanses other crystals, I use my selenite plate to cleanse and charge other crystals that cleanse, like shungite, obsidian, and black tourmaline, to ensure that the crystals recharge, and retain their crystal healing benefits. I also like putting my small loose crystals on them, but also sometimes pile on the crystal bracelets I'd chosen to wear during the day, since it's easier to just slip off my crystal bracelets and charge them all at once, by placing them all in the large selenite charging bowl at once, since they mostly fit, if I pile the bracelets on top of one another. This is the way my man likes to do it.
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Selenite Cleansing and Charging Plates and Bowls We Bought
Below are the Temu listings for, and our personal photos of, the selenite bowls and plates we ended up buying and trying.
See below for images of the crescent-moon-shaped selenite plate I bought, with a shot of it on my hand, and with a big piece of obsidian on it, and a palm stone-sized piece of shungite on it, for size comparison.
1pc Selenite Bowl Plate Ornament, Natural Selenite bowl, Crystal bowl, Interior decoration plate
Below are photos of the leaf-shaped selenite plate I bought, taken of the top, bottom, and side of it, from various angles.
Below are photos of the leaf-shaped plate shown with crystal bracelets spread out on it and piled on top of it, as well as with various crystals on it.
1 Selenite Bowl Ornament, Natural Selenite Dish, Crystal Bowl, Indoor Decorative Plate
Below are photos of the rectangular-shaped selenite plate I bought that ended up breaking (that I still use, anyway), taken of the top, bottom, and side of it, from various angles, as well as a shot of the broken edge, and a shot of it with some crystals being charged on it.
Below are photos of the unbroken rectangular-shaped selenite plate I bought my man, that he took at his place (hence the different background), from various angles.
Comparisons Between the Rectangular and Leaf-Shaped Selenite Plates / Bowls
Below are images of the rectangular and leaf-shaped selenite plates shown side by side, and with one on top of the other, for size comparison.
I actually realized after taking photos of the different selenite bowls that the rectangular selenite bowl is actually bigger than, and holds more crystals than, the leaf-shaped selenite bowl, rather than what I had thought from looking at the pictures of the large selenite bowl options. So, if you don't mind the shape, going with the rectangle-shaped selenite bowl might be the better option, for those looking to maximize the surface area they can charge and cleanse their crystals on.
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Review:
Pros:
-larger than other selenite bowls and plates available
-good quality
-made with natural satin spar selenite
-can charge crystals placed on it
-can cleanse crystals placed on it
-very well-packaged, with multiple layers of bubble wrap
-comes polished, nice and smooth
Cons:
-some can come with a few scratches and small gouges in them
-could be larger
-at least some arrived with greasy/oily substance coating some of the surface
-break very easily, since selenite is very fragile, so you have to be very careful to not drop it or handle it roughly
Gem or Junk?
For Us: Gem (4 stars out of 5)
I like the selenite plates most for their versality and convenience -- I love that they can be used to cleanse and charge all different kinds of crystals, without me having to memorize protocols and worry that I might use the wrong crystal cleansing method on the wrong crystal. For forgetful or lazy people who love crystals, I think that this is a big benefit of the large selenite bowls and plates. While the large selenite plates and bowls are not massive, they're way bigger than most of the selenite crystal cleansing things I've found, so I'm happy that I can charge multiple crystals and crystal jewelry on them.
I didn't like that they came with a weird greasy/oily substance on them, for at least two of the selenite plates we bought (I can't remember if the first two I got did). I also don't like that they're so easy to break, but do like the extra care that each of the different sellers we bought the selenite cleansing plates from put into packaging the selenite plates.
I don't think that the large selenite plates are cheap, but considering the size of the selenite, the convenience of the shape, and the fact that you can use them regularly to charge so many different crystals, I think that it's easy to get your money's worth, fast. There are larger selenite plates available, but are even more costly, so I just alternate the crystals I charge on mine, when I remember to.
The quality is good, and I think that they're pretty -- even the rectangular ones that my man thinks look funny.
It's definitely worth buying one or more large selenite plates/bowls, if you're not already using selenite to charge and cleanse your crystals.
Gems For Who?
1) Crystal lovers.
2) Crystal collectors.
3) People who want an easy and effective way to cleanse and charge their crystals.
4) People who are too lazy or don't want to be bothered with keeping track of multiple ways to cleanse and charge their crystals.
5) People who want a "Swiss Army knife," super-multipurpose crystal.
6) People who like selenite.
7) People who want the crystal healing benefits of selenite.
8) People who want the energy, meditation, and spiritual benefits of selenite.
9) People who want a decent-sized piece of selenite to charge and cleanse their crystals with.
10) People who care about cleansing and charging their crystals.
11) People who want a more affordable selenite plate than can be found on more expensive selling platforms and crystal shops.
12) People who want natural satin spar selenite plates for a reasonable price.
Conclusion:
If you have crystals, and care at all about keeping them in a state that helps you derive the maximum benefit you can from them, then I think it's definitely worth buying a selenite bowl/plate from Temu. It's cheaper than I've seen selling elsewhere, and can be used for cleansing and charging all your other crystals that will fit on them (although I know that some crystals, like tektite, don't need to be cleansed).
Although my man and I don't use them for other purposes, they're also useful for cleansing your environment, for improving your medititation practice, and more.
Selenite plates are super-versatile, and super-awesome, and they're a total gem, in our books. My man even mentioned them as an item I should review, which is why I did.
If you want to try ordering a selenite plate from Temu, and haven't yet signed up for the platform, please use my referral link, to get a $100 coupon bundle after sign-up.
If you want to read more crystal-related reviews, you can read my review on crystal headbands, and my follow-up part 2 crystal headbands review, where I reviewed a different set of crystal headbands from Temu.
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