Paper short abstract:

In research on the practice of wearing crystals in ontological and new animist perspective, crystals as material objects are rather other-than-human persons, and actively involved in human existence. Ontological questions about objects can reveal their significance and non-human agency.

Paper long abstract:

Crystals spread in New Spirituality are natural minerals, that are mined globally, sold in esoteric shops and used in various practices. I have researched the practice of wearing crystals in Estonia. Most often, people wear crystals daily, and develop intimate relationships with them. My theoretical and methodological perspective on crystals as material religion derives from material culture studies that focuses on human-thing mutual relationship and interaction. Still, posthuman methodology, especially ontological and new animist perspective is needed to understand objects as my informants do. I will argue that through asking ontological questions about objects, we can reach their significance and non-human agency.

Ontological perspective on material culture aims to overcome object/concept dichotomy by think through things as people do. As a result, things are identical to concepts, and crystals, for my informants, are different kind of objects. My informants claim that crystals emit spiritual energy and they have consciousness, or they are alive in some sense. For new animist approach, the key question is not, is it alive, but how should we relate. In new animist terms, crystals are other-than-human entities, as they are engaged in mutual communication with people, and they have agency to act towards people. Moreover, as people use crystals to support themselves in everyday life, they are involved in human life as active companions.

Through ontological and new animist perspective in methodology, objects can become other-than-human persons, which are actively involved in human existence, and have an agency of their own.