THE CRYSTAL CONTROVERSY

Over the last couple af months there has been an increasing debate on whether or not ‘healing crystals’ are the new ‘blood diamonds’.

As a crystal seller I feel obligated to join the discussion and share a little bit of information about this topic and my point of view. 

IS CRYSTAL COLLECTING A NEW TREND?

Healing crystals have gained popularity for a while now, perhaps for their spiritual link, instagramable appeal or endorsement from celebrities. But the human interest in crystals is nothing new. Visit a museum of history and it is clear that mining and collecting stones for their beauty and spiritual properties is wide spread phenomenon throughout human history all over the world. What is new however is the availability and risk of blind overconsumption that we face in most industries right now. At the same time there is a strong tendency of more conscious consumption and a rising interest in humanitarian and environmental issues in regards to what we buy. 

MINING

Crystals are mined and all mines have an impact on the environment - the big question is to what degree. Some of the main environmental issues are deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water pollution and air pollution. Add to that a history of human rights violations such as slavery, child labour and unsafe working conditions. We can all agree that we don’t want to associate with that. Right?

RELATIVITY AND PERSPECTIVE

In the conversation on crystals such as the ones we sell, I find that there has been a bit of confusion.

For some it may be appealing to blame the problem on Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift and Gwyneth Paltrow, irrational new age hippies, spoiled millennials or spiritual con artists. Unfortunately it is not that simple. 

When you start exploring how big of an impact the mining industry has on your everyday life it may feel like a punch in the gut - it did to me. 

Let me just give you a few examples.

For us who live in the city we are surrounded by iron, aluminum and titanium all the time, and have copper wires to receive electricity in our homes and workplaces. That was all mined.

Electronics we love and value such as our smartphones that provide us with the ability to communicate with people we love, and our computers that enable us to find knowledge, they too consist of a lot of different metals and minerals that were all mined. 

Here in Denmark we are very pleased with our bicycles and windmills - they came to be through mining too. 

There are so many wonderful things that we take for granted in our everyday life that exists because of mining: windows, water pipes, roads, vitamins, lifesaving medicine, and the list goes on and on. 

So why haven’t crystal consumers asked where their crystals come from, how they were mined, by whom, how they were processed and the methods of transportation that were used? Perhaps for the same reason that most people don’t ask those question about the pots and pans in their kitchen. 

THE MORAL CODE OF CRYSTALS

In this conversation it seems that there are higher expectations of morality for those who collect crystals for healing than for others, and I get the hypocrisy: You want to commune with nature while you are contributing to its destruction, and you want peace and prosperity but you are taking it away from others. Unfortunately the issue is much much deeper than that, and healing crystals are not even the tip of the iceberg - perhaps more like a chip that fell off. So much in our everyday life has a trail of human despair and environmental destruction, but hopefully healing crystals can be a gateway into that conversation too.

Crystals most often are a byproduct of the mining industry, and only have an indirect impact on the human and environmental issues, which most crystal sellers and collectors seem somewhat satisfied with. So far it is probably the most justifying answer I can give you. However the logic of “something kind of bad being OK because it is a byproduct of something much much worse” has a tendency fade off pretty quickly, and we need a better answer. This is where we are at.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

When I got into collecting and selling crystals about a year go, it was initially because I was trying to find eco friendly supplies for my jewellery line for ADHIAKARA. I had no previous knowledge of the metaphysical aspect of crystals but simply fell in love with the natural beauty of raw crystals. 

When I decided to buy bigger crystals with home decor in mind, the humanitarian and environmental impact was a big factor in my decision making. I wanted my supplier provide me with information on origin, the specific mines, working conditions, transportation methods and so on. However I honestly have to say that it was and still is a challenge. 

There is at the moment no official certificate that insures you as a crystal seller or buyer that human and environmental considerations have been taken. That is something that I would absolutely love to see happening. 

My background is in the fashion industry where I have seen an amazing development over the last 10 years, and it would be wonderful to see the same change in both the crystal industry and the mining industry in gereral. As a clothing designer I have had to self correct numerous times to keep up the new avenues of sourcing materials and labour - not because there was a demand or lucrative opportunity in it for me, but because I had an ambition of creating something that was always on the idealistic edge of what was possible. From a traditional business perspective that was not a wise decision, but from a personal one it most definitely was. And that is exactly how I’m going to run AVIUVI. 

It is not enough that there is a consumer push for industries to change - the entire supply chain has to step it up. And these things take time - just think about how far we have come with organic food in 10 years. 

Now hopefully the time has come to elevate the mining industry, and I look forward to sharing my findings with you. 

For whatever reason healing crystals has become the center of attention in the mining debate, and I personally believe that there is a fantastic opportunity in that. As crystal sellers and buyers, remember that this is not something that has happened to us but rather for us, and the time has come to expand our consciousness. I understand that many feel under attack, but how about we pick ourselves up and find new ways to evolve at make it better step by step. 

WHAT CAN I DO?

Swapping or buying used crystals is a great way of getting your crystals in a sustainable manner. Energetically I don’t see a problem with doing that, and I might elaborate on that in another post. 

Another way is to go mining yourself, or buy from a ‘hobby miner’ that you trust.

Below I have listed some of the questions that I focused on when I started collecting and selling new crystals, and some tips that might be of use to you:

Where does the crystal come from? 

That tells you a lot about the working conditions, but also the environmental impact of transportation.

Can you get the name of the specific mine? 

Crystals are typically a byproduct of industrial mining, so you might be able to find out what the primary reason for the mining is, and evaluate if that is something you find ethical resonance with. 

Has the crystal been altered? 

Cutting, polishing and tumbling crystals can be a long, energy consuming and environmentally harmful process, so that is something to take into concideration.

Some other processes to have in mind is whether it is coated with metal, artificially colored or baked to make it more appealing. 

My best advise for you as a buyer is to do your research and not just look into the metaphysical aspects. 

Being a conscious consumer in this case means researching the geology, geography, and politics that are associated with the particular crystal. 

If you are interested in knowing more about human and environmental exploration in regards to mining and how you can avoid contributing, I strongly encourage you to look up ‘conflict minerals’, industrial ore mining such as iron, aluminum, copper, tin, gold and silver, and mining of precious gemstones such as diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 

If you have any questions about the crystal for sale on this shop I am happy to answer and elaborate, just write me at mail.aviuvi@gmail.com - and if you have useful information on this topic please share. 

Okay. That was a long rant. Obviously I haven’t covered everything, but I hope you got a quick overview of the issue, some perspective, and perhaps a little inspiration and hope for the future.

Lots of love

AM