#ethical crystals

[the-witch-with-the-raven-tattoo]

After about a decade of building up my crystal collection, I can no longer close my eyes to what I've been supporting. Far from the good vibes that crystals are purported to have, I need to be honest that their trade funds the same human rights abuses and environmental destruction that I've spent most of my life decrying. I need to address this cognitive dissonance within myself, and can no longer endorse buying mass-market crystals anymore. I call myself an earth-worshipper, or nature-worshipper, yet I'm contributing to the destruction of the Earth and her people. This no longer sits right with me. Yes, there are likely minerals in my phone that were mined using less-than-ethical practices, however a cell phone in this day and age is kind of a necessity. Decorative crystals and fossils, though, are more difficult to justify in this way.

I'm still going to keep the ones I have for now, because, welp, the damage has already been done, and getting rid of them now won't undo what I've been endorsing with my dollar. I still have a box of gems that I bought to make wire-wrapped jewelery with, and I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with those, so they're tucked away until I can decide.

If there's interest, I may make some pieces with them and put them up for sale as a Crystal Clearout sale, since I did spend a lot of money on those supplies. Or I might wear or gift them. We will see.

Back to my spiritual practice. What am I going to use instead?

River rocks!

Or lake rocks. Park rocks. Parking lot rocks. Farm rocks. Forest Rocks. Anything except store-bought is fine. Look at these cool rocks I've found in my city so far! These are geologically tied to the place I live, they carry the history on the land I'm on, which is not mine to live on. It is Treaty 6 territory—the traditional and ancestral territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux. This territory is home to the Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 2, 3 and 4 within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland.

These stones carry the memory of the people who were here before me, and that of a not-so-distant history I need to address time and time again, examine my own biases, and do what I can to address inequalities right here, right now. They are a connection to this land, and those who live on it.

These stones can also hold my own memories, for instance this petrified wood reminds me of a day a friend and I went rock-hunting by the river, and on a trip to Ontario with this same friend, we found some jade (I think). Which brings me to another point. I am not a geologist. I plan to learn about minerals local to me, but I'll never have the assurance of some shopkeeper (whatever that's worth) that what I'm holding is 100% a piece of pure amethyst, and here is a list of its properties. Instead, I'll be able to find my own meaning in the stones, feathers and flowers I find while walking in the world, and use them in my practices the way I feel intuitively guided to.

In spiritual practices, what we are working with is energy and intention. The rest are simply tools, symbols for our brain to understand what we are channeling towards or away from. The most important quality you can develop as a witch, a pagan, a yogi, a spiritualist, whatever you wish to call yourself, is self-trust. Trust that you are enough. Trust that this stone made its way to you so that you would find it exactly when you did. Trust that the herbs you lovingly grew, watered, bundled and dried are sufficient for clearing any stale energies. Learn from those who came before you, but at a certain point, you have to free yourself from reliance on corporations, merchants, readers, authors, course creators, and anyone else looking to make a buck off your lack of experience and confidence.

When you have a true need, harken not to others' greed. (the Wiccan Rede)

Consumerism has its hooks in us to such a point where we feel like we have to buy our way out of all of our real or perceived inadequacies.

Feeling down? Buy this sun lamp!

Tummy hurts? It's this scary new syndrome I just made up! Peer review, what's that? Nevermind. Buy this supplement!

Want to feel really cool and attractive? Buy this new outfit!

Want to make friends? Learn a new hobby! Oh, but this hobby requires you to buy all this gear before anyone thinks you're serious about it! And make sure you buy a t-shirt that says you're into this hobby while you're at it, so you can talk about it to everyone!

McSpirituality works the same way. Feel like you don't belong? It's definitely a past life thing, buy a reading with me to find out! Looking for love? Make sure you buy a rose quartz to send a lover your way within 24 hours. Hmm, it didn't work? It must not be big enough. Make sure you buy this one instead! Trying to get into meditation? You'll need to buy a zafu, some mala beads, and a buddha head with some very questionable history Are you broke after all these purchases? You can just buy this abundance generating spell kit, and this $10K course (I have seen this price point, it's not hyperbole) on dissolving your subconscious blocks to abundance!

It's not your fault, it's the system we all live in. I was, and still am, immersed in it too. If you're in a tough place, it can be so easy to be swept up by the promise of a quick fix, because spiritual work is hard. You'll have to confront yourself in some tough ways, work through traumatic experiences and spend years building discipline and focus.

It's a lot easier to just walk into a crystal shop and pick the one you like, isn't it? But I want to remind myself that life doesn't work that way.

Do you just walk into a store and pick out the partner, the job, the house, the experiences, the circumstances that look prettiest?

Okay, maybe some of you do if you're very lucky or have certain privileges, but these choices aren't always the ones that guarantee long-term compatibility or happiness.

In real life, it's a lot more like walking down a riverbank with a friend, catching up on life, and showing each other the cool thing you found, maybe deliberating on what it might be. Your rock might look different than hers, but you found it and it feels good to you. Maybe the shape feels satisfying and built just for your hand. You feel like it was waiting for you all this time.

Or maybe it's like walking home after a difficult day, and seeing the little sparkle of something glimmering in the sunlight. Maybe this represents hope and silver linings. Maybe a bird eyes you as you examine your rock, offering you company and understanding in a way that words fail to.

That feeling certainly isn't for sale in stores, or online. If I find it at a garage sale, I'll let you know.

[honoringthor]

The Environmental Impact of Crystals | How to Ethically Source Crystals

[mothernatureminerals]

Gorgeous Handmade Amethyst necklaces are available in my shop! Made by me using ethically sourced Amethyst crystals from Brazil and high-quality thick stainless steel and brass!🥰

Available in my shop: Mothernatureminerals.com 🛍

[littlealienproducts]

Funky little stickers have dropped at CPRProductions

[cherryvampyre]

I emailed my local witchcraft store where they got their crystals from & if it was ethical (did you know the taliban gets 300 million a year from lapis mining?), it’s been a week & they haven’t responded so i’m assuming it’s probably not very good … need to find new store lol

[branzinos]

sorry for not being super active on here anymore I've been doing intense therapy in the last few months and it consistently leaves me a dehydrated husk of a person who can just about handle doing one task per day and all I've done recently is watch YouTube videos with my girlfriend every night and dissociate while staring at my shrimp tank. the soul wants to gif and post but the body says be horizontal and play PowerWash Simulator (2022). but I am very excited that Abbott is back and that they are all back to sharing one brain cell like one of those partial best friend necklaces

[669ratz]

passionate highs by snow strippers but agent 8

[thechaoticgingers]

Sunwheel ✨☀️✨

[kazsoddities]

This giant crystal fox tail I’ve been holding onto for quite awhile, thinking I’d probably keep it for myself, but I’ve decided to list it after all 🦊

[ohmboho]

✨May Sale Continues!✨ 25% off everything when you use the code- MAYDAY

𖤓 www.ohmboho.com 𖤓

[handmadebyz]

I spend a lot of time digging crystals. There’s something very special about this specimen that I found in Arkansas dirt. Thanks for looking! 💚

[ouroborostaxidermy]

Prepping our displays for show season!

Come see us at our first show of the season April 29th at the National Trout Festival Craft Show in the Kaliseum from 10am until 5pm!

[eclecticcollectics]

Can’t believe no one has scooped this stunning Sunset moth pendant yet!

Check out the gorgeous, faceted cabochon cut from real Abalone shell 🐚 along with the perfect Opal teardrop 💧 chosen to accentuate all the blues & greens of this beauty’s dazzling wings (2nd photo shows the underside!) 🦋✨

Available in the shop or ~as always~ feel free to reach out in a message to adopt an Eclectic Collectic of your own! 🙏

[littlealienproducts]

Ain’t that just the way Over the Garden Wall art print. More spooky prints at CPR Productions

[sorcerous-caress]

Not a day goes by where I don't miss my pet snail

[hallucinogeniusvmjp]

Cute and ethical bumblebee (found deceased in nature 🥲) terrarium necklace with desert rose crystal. 🐝✨🌿

Available in my online shop: (copy/paste into browser)

linktr.ee/hallucinogeniusvmjp