This is a post I’ve been meaning to write for a while now, but I’ve hesitated because I’ve worried about sounding elitist or snobbish. Hopefully though for those that read through the entire post, they’ll see that that is not the case at all.
There are different ways to take seeing a product like this for sale. I live in a very conservative rural area in the South, so on the one hand, it’s nice to see that mysticism and alternative spirituality have become accepted enough to make it into a major retailer in this part of the country. I will also often see oracle decks for sale here as well, although I did not on this particular shopping trip.
One could argue that another thing that is great about this is that it’s making spirituality more accessible to the general public. I do want to point out though that you do not need any products to practice spirituality. One can manifest without a “crystal manifestation candle”. One can experience angel numbers without purchasing a bracelet or necklace.
Let me just say that I totally understand the appeal of these products! They are pretty and very inexpensive! If one’s going to buy a candle anyways, why not buy one that also has a chunk of rose quartz in it? I definitely get it and I definitely would not judge anyone for buying these products.
All that being said, a few years ago I started to really think about my purchases and the impact these purchases were having both on myself at an individual level as well as at a global level. I found that having so much “stuff”, I didn’t really value it. I also worried about the environmental impact of buying mass-produced goods.
This video from CNBC shows the impact of mass-produced goods. Typically, the shelf-life of an item at a retailer is max 90 days. After that it needs to be cleared out to make room for new fresh items. The old items are typically then dumped en masse at the landfill. This is especially true for items that get returned. Once I discovered all of this, I started to worry about the negative karma of continuing to support these practices through my purchases.
It’s normal to see something pretty and to want to buy it, especially if it’s only $7.99! I’m someone that enjoys shopping and I still buy things. My intention is not to shame people for enjoying shopping. What I do, and something to simply consider, is to be more mindful of your purchases.
Once I decided that I wanted to support local small businesses instead, I worried that it would be more expensive than shopping from a major retailer like Amazon or Walmart. I’ve been repeated shocked to find that I can often get things for around the same price or LESS from the little guys. Not only is it good for your budget, you’ll also receive a higher quality product. I recently tried out Moonflower Remedy and was very impressed with the quality of her incense and candles. I am not at all affiliated with them, I simply wanted to give an example of a small local seller. Feel free to find someone local to you!
Slowly acquiring items over a lifetime allows you to craft a collection that is affordable, authentic, and has special meaning to you. It is part of my spiritual practice to appreciate and savor the items I am fortunate to have in my life. I find that I am able to appreciate things more when I have a few special items on display, as opposed to having a closet full of boxes.
There were a lot of things I bought before I realized the real impact of my purchases. I bought a lot of crystals that I am now thinking were probably unethically harvested. So I am definitely guilty here too. I simply didn’t know at the time and naively assumed that if something was for sale that it must be okay to buy it. But as the saying goes, once you know better you can do better 🙂
And that’s really all that spiritually and mysticism is about; slowly becoming more conscious and aware. Becoming more conscious and aware with our purchases is a way of putting that into action.
