The Practice of Wearing Crystals in Contemporary New Spirituality in Estonia: Supporting Oneself in Everyday Life

Abstract

This article concentrates on the practice of wearing crystals in Estonia. The practice is currently a popular phenomenon in New Spirituality on a global scale, although it is not an entirely novel trend. Crystals are part of the materiality of New Spirituality and so the aim of the article is to emphasize the meaning-making process of this materiality and of vernacular interpretations in the practice. Following the methodology of material culture studies, I focus on mutual relationships and interaction between humans and crystals and the significances gained through practice. Based on the perspectives of vernacular religion, the practice is embedded in people’s everyday lives. People wear crystals to support their human qualities and daily activities, and in practice crystals as material objects evolve intimate and profound relationship with people.

Material Agency of Crystals in New Spirituality

“…Crystals 2 are currently widespread and popular objects in Estonian New Spirituality, 3 as well as in European and Anglo-American New Spirituality in general. People most often wear them as jewellery or accessories that have esoteric 4 and supportive qualities (see Teidearu 2019). They have gone from being part of a strictly spiritual subculture to becoming more visible, or a matter of discussion, in mainstream culture and media.…”

“…with them in a pocket or bag. As I have discussed it in a previous paper (see Teidearu 2019), people generally use crystals to solve personal problems and to bring change to their lives by supporting their human capacities and qualities. In esoteric interpretations, crystals have energetic qualities that support people by affecting the chakras of their subtle body.…”

“…By using crystals, people develop, enhance and (re)construct themselves (Teidearu 2019, 137-145). My informants wear stones every day, often the same stone every day, which they perceive as a mutual relationship having a supportive effect on humans that affects the crystals as well (Teidearu 2019), a relationship that shows bodily intimacy with stones (Teidearu 2022). Therefore, it is a particularly material and interactive practice.…”