Unraveling the Resurgence of Spirituality Through Crystals
“Would you like to learn about your fortune?” a Chinese man in his mid-50s asks, lounging on a red plastic chair beneath a New Moon abalone umbrella, trying to escape the blazing sun. His creased, loosely-buttoned checkered shirt and carefree demeanor seem ill-suited for what one might expect from a life-altering consultation.
Anyone who has traversed the intersections of Rochor Road and Waterloo Street would recognize this scene. Along this stretch lies a cluster of fortune-telling street vendors who claim to foresee the future. This area, known as Singapore’s spiritual haven, offers myriad ways for individuals to seek solutions to their dilemmas, whether through religious places, lottery predictions, or palmistry consultations.
In this space, fate trumps the principles of science, with astrological references underpinning fortune predictions. Vendors position themselves as experts in pseudoscience, touting phrases like “financial pursuit,” “lucky directions,” and “future predictions,” enticing passersby with seemingly concrete solutions for a brighter tomorrow.
Despite the ongoing waves of the pandemic reducing the number of peddlers at Rochor, the allure of new age spirituality—sustained by the metaphysical community—remains vibrant within the Fu Lu Shou Complex, a mall famous for selling sacred objects like protective amulets and lucky charms. These items, revered for their supposed healing properties, offer hope to those searching for solace and stability in turbulent times, inviting positive energies while warding off bad luck.
While many may dismiss these objects as mythical, scientific criticism has done little to dampen interest in their alleged powers. They have woven themselves into the fabric of daily life for many Singaporeans, providing reliable conduits for comfort and reassurance. Initially, they may attract a niche community of older fortune-seeking individuals, typically looking for tangible sources of luck and protection, such as a 49-centimeter-tall amethyst geode for blessing a new home or a green aventurine necklace for lasting prosperity.
In a period marked by heightened anxiety, individuals of all ages are gravitating toward these objects, desperately seeking ways to enhance their well-being. Crystals become tools for respite, offering a sense of connection to something meaningful and the belief that they can exert control over their lives.
Treasured for their healing qualities as well as their enchanting appearances, these enigmatic stones are said to have energy-altering benefits ideal for alleviating issues within the home environment or one’s mental state. For example, clear quartz is believed to enhance concentration, obsidian is thought to clear emotional blockages, and rose quartz is said to provide comfort during grief.
However, the quest for the ideal crystal often feels like a journey of fate, according to a sales executive at Kang Li Mineral Kingdom. With 26 years of experience recommending crystal products to countless customers, she explains that the right crystal chooses its owner. “It typically depends on what properties our customers are seeking. We need to understand their needs to introduce the appropriate crystals,” she says, as she prepares a stack of well-thumbed manuals for the anticipated questions.
Kang Li Mineral Kingdom seems to stand out among its competitors on the ground floor, as evidenced by its steady stream of customers. The shop, now 33 years old, showcases bohemian interiors adorned with yellowed newspaper clippings documenting past events, set against a backdrop of classic Mandarin trot music. Crystals of all types and colors fill every corner, with some priced as low as S$2 each, while necklaces and bracelets retail for around S$30.
“You see, we cannot change our lives or our bodies, but we can use crystals to adjust our feng shui and find the best alternatives for ourselves,” she explains. Each type of crystal is believed to interact differently based on individual physical energies, highlighting the importance of finding a crystal that meets specific needs.
To experience positive effects, believers are advised to place crystals in strategic locations within their living spaces or carry them for constant access to good energy, or Qi, which represents the energetic connection between an individual and their surroundings. But for these healing powers to be effective, believers must trust in the energies that crystals provide and rely on their intuition when selecting a crystal that resonates with them. “Crystals provide us energy. It’s not like any ordinary object. It’s about finding what’s most suitable for you, so you must follow your instincts,” she adds.
Not Just for the Aunties Anymore
Crystal healing is not a new concept in Singapore. Having emerged in the 1960s, it has often been stereotyped as an “auntie hobby.” However, the sales executive insists that people of all ages are embracing crystals now, with many young adults drawn to their uniqueness as one-of-a-kind objects.
What was once considered a pastime for free-spirited individuals is slowly becoming mainstream as more people are captivated by the mysterious attributes of crystals. Moreover, integrating crystals into everyday life has become more accessible, with a wealth of resources on new age spirituality available both online and offline. This proliferation encourages individuals to curate a spiritual experience tailored to their immediate needs, according to researchers from the University of Stirling.
No longer confined to physical stores, the magic of crystals extends beyond traditional shops. Buyers can now easily find and purchase crystals online via platforms like Etsy and Carousell, catering to a growing community of crystal enthusiasts who buy and trade these precious stones digitally.
“It was quite intense when I first started. I saw how the pandemic attracted many new crystal seekers, likely because they were unable to travel,” says crystal collector Yolee Wong, reflecting on the surge of online crystal shops that emerged during the circuit breaker. At 27, Yolee began her collection then, recalling her first experience at a physical crystal shop when she was 15. “I still vividly remember choosing my first crystal. The shopkeeper told me to look for one that resonated with me, and I’d know it when I saw it,” she recalls.
However, Yolee finds physical crystal shops intimidating and prefers online shopping, albeit with thorough research. “Some sellers genuinely try to educate their customers online, but over time, I’ve learned to differentiate between those who simply copy information from the internet and those who truly understand their products. It’s a lot of trial and error,” she admits.
Another crystal enthusiast, Chew Jing Yi, was introduced to crystals as a child when her parents collected and displayed them at home. At 21, she remembers attending an Instagram Live session where a seller used a pendulum to determine whether a crystal was right for a buyer. “The seller would ask the buyer to choose a crystal, and then use her pendulum to see if it suited them. If it didn’t, she’d ask them to select another,” she explains.
Magic Based on Trust
Skeptics are quick to dismiss crystal healing due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. Nevertheless, experts contend that magical objects like crystals can benefit individuals as long as they serve to enhance their spiritual well-being. Dr. Edzard Ernst, a German physician and alternative medicine scholar, discusses the phenomenon of new age healing in his writings, emphasizing the self-evaluated effects on individual well-being. Because these practices focus on healing rather than curing, they resonate intuitively with people rather than scientifically.
This opens the door for subjective interpretations, allowing the explanations of unexplainable phenomena to vary widely. With the healing narrative of crystals revolving around abstract notions of vibrational frequencies, the responsibility lies with sellers to share their knowledge with customers. Ultimately, it is up to the buyers to determine the validity of these claims.
“There are certain phenomena that science can’t explain, so I always encourage my customers to form their own opinions,” says Belicia Sun, the founder of the online crystal shop Illa Nocte. She conducts informational webinars to teach customers how to care for their crystals, whether physically or energetically, drawing from her own resources, which include methods like charging crystals with moonlight or burying them in soil.
Despite the lack of scientific validation, many customers assert that they are sensitive to ambient energies and experience unique sensations when interacting with crystals. Jing Yi recalls feeling a “tingling, vibrating sensation” in her fingers when she first touched an amethyst cave, an experience so profound that her family decided to bring it home the same day.
“I can’t quite explain it, but there’s a feeling you get when you hold a crystal that resonates with you. You’ll know it when it feels right. It’s like a gut feeling,” she states.
These uplifting experiences are the cornerstone of crystal healing, even in the absence of scientific backing, and believers remain steadfast in their conviction, even as these mystical narratives challenge rational thought. Ultimately, the allure of new age spirituality highlights the power of human desire and the lengths individuals will go to find clarity in chaotic times.
Whether myth or fact, individuals yearn for the belief that a greater force governs their lives and that they possess the power to influence their paths. This search for magic grants them a semblance of control, fostering a desire for order amidst the chaos. As Belicia aptly puts it, “People want to believe in some form of magic in this world. They long for something intangible that helps them find purpose in life and their identities. If crystals can provide that sense of purpose, then what’s wrong with that? Even without scientific validation, you can never know unless you experience the magic for yourself.”
