WINDSOR CLINIC

How do you select the crystals for your shop?

At Solstice Stones, selecting all of the beautiful and exciting crystals we carry in the shop is one of our great joys! We have refined our collection over the years to offer unique and hard to find crystals with only the highest aesthetics and energetics. Our carefully curated shop offerings are individually hand-selected from thousands of other pieces, in alignment with our strict quality and ethical sourcing requirements (read about our responsible approach to sourcing here). Thank you so much for supporting our small business! We are so pleased to be able to share our passion with you.

How do I choose a crystal?

Choosing a crystal is a matter of listening within and allowing your intuition to be your guide. You may want to spend some time browsing through the selection in our shop, paying special attention to any pieces that feel like they are 'leaping' out at you - these may be calling to you for a reason! It can be helpful to read up on a crystal's properties to see if its meaning resonates for you, or you may also want to shop 'by chakra' if you have a particular focus or healing intention. Quieting your mind and spending a few moments in meditation on one of your selections may also offer further clarity. Choosing a crystal for a friend can be done in the same manner, holding them in your heart and mind as you browse.

Are your crystals natural?

This is such an important question and one that we always appreciate being asked by our customers! Before making any crystal purchase, it is a good idea to find out whether the stone has undergone any artificial treatments. Many treatments exist within the crystal and gemstone industry, including dying, heat-treating, irradiating, and coating - and any reputable crystal seller should be able to tell you exactly what kind of manmade alterations a stone has been subjected to, if any. At Solstice Stones, our true love is for crystals as they have been created within the earth without any artificial colourations. All of the crystals and minerals in our shop are 100% natural - with the sole exceptions of our heated Carnelian, Red Tiger's Eye & Onyx bead bracelets, and our Turquoise collection which has been stabilized (a widely accepted necessary practice to improve the stability of what would otherwise be a very crumbly stone unfit for handling or wearing). You can find more information about gemstone treatments in our Articles & Resources section.

How do I cleanse my crystals, and how often?

Cleansing your crystals regularly will ensure that they are cleared of any residual or unwanted energy whilst restoring them to their full brilliance for use in healing and spiritual work. How often you cleanse your crystals is as often as your intuition guides you. Performing a cleansing ritual each month on the new moon can be a wonderful practice, or if you find you are working with a specific crystal more regularly you may wish to cleanse it weekly, or even daily as you feel it needs. Crystals in need of cleansing will feel 'fuzzy', 'muted', or less vibrant energetically. There are many different methods by which you can cleanse your crystals, and certain methods lend themselves better to particular crystal types. Learning about your crystal's physical composition and structure is essential to avoid causing any damage to your stones. For instance, cleansing with water can be an excellent way to clear many types of crystals, however it is important to note that some crystals are soluble and should never come in contact with water. Likewise, cleansing or charging crystals in sunlight is often recommended, however many mineral types are photosensitive and will fade in colour when exposed to UV light. Salt or salt water should never be used due to its abrasive and corrosive qualities. Smudging with sage, palo santo, sacred herbs, or resins on the other hand is a very safe and effective cleansing method all crystal varieties. For more details about how to cleanse your crystals as well as information on sensitive stones, please refer to our Articles & Resources section.

What's the difference between cleansing & cleaning?

Cleansing is often referred to as the process of energetically clearing a crystal to remove any unwanted or stagnant energy (see next question below). Cleaning, on the other hand, refers to the actual physical process of gently removing any dust or debris from a specimen as may be necessary from time to time. Both cleansing and cleaning require an awareness of the crystal's physical makeup and structural qualities to avoid damaging the stone (you can find more information on crystal care in our Articles & Resources section). Never use detergents or any other cleaning products on your crystals, as they may erode the stone's surface or compromise its structure. We do not put any price stickers directly on our crystals, however if you need to remove sticky residue from other pieces in your collection, a little drop of lavender oil works wonders on most polished stones. A soft, dry paintbrush kept for the purpose of dusting small cervices in geodes or clusters can also be very handy!

Does the size of a crystal affect its energy?

The vibrational qualities of any crystal type will remain the same no matter its size. However, if you are wanting to work on the energy of a larger space, a larger crystal may have a further-reaching effect. Small crystals are wonderful for personal use, and even a small sized crystal within the proximity of your energy field can have positive influence (likewise, a crystal does not need to be touching your skin when worn in jewellery to receive its benefit).

How do I store my crystals?

Having crystals around you in your home or workplace is a lovely way to appreciate them during the day. Crystals are all compatible energetically (use your intuition to sense which combinations might work best in different situations), and the only real consideration when storing or displaying them is to be aware of their individual crystal structures and hardnesses. Tumbled stones are generally fine to be stored together in a bowl or cloth pouch, however raw crystal points and rough specimens should be kept separately to avoid scratching softer stones. Incorporating crystals into your altar or sacred space is a beautiful idea, as is designating a special cabinet or shelf to show off your collection!

What does it mean if a crystal is said to be toxic or sensitive?

Over 4,000 naturally occurring crystals and minerals have been discovered on our planet, each with its own distinct chemical composition. Even some commonly available crystals contain high concentrations of elements known to be toxic to the human body (Malachite, Azurite, Galena, and Realgar to name a few). Many crystals are considered safe for general handling, but please use common sense at all times and exercise caution if you are unaware of a crystal's chemical makeup. While other sources may speak about the merits of gem essences or elixirs for healing, at Solstice Stones we would explicitly advise against any 'direct method' solution - even for crystals that may be regarded as more benign. Under no circumstance should crystals be taken internally. With such variation in mineral composition and chemical stability, as well as the potential friability or solubility of many stones, only elixirs created by the indirect method are recommended. Sensitive crystals are those that need a bit of extra care, especially when cleansing. Some crystals should avoid contact with water, while others may lose their amazing vibrant colours if left out for prolonged periods in the sun. Additionally, certain crystals require gentle handling due to their inherent softness or delicate crystalline structure. You can find more details about how to care for sensitive stones - as well as information on toxic crystals - in our Articles & Resources section.

Do I need to do anything when my crystals arrive?

All of our crystals are cleansed and tended to with great love and care before they begin their journey to you. However, we would always recommend taking the time to cleanse your crystals again when they do arrive, to put your own energy into them and ready them for any healing or metaphysical work. Once cleansed, entering into a simple meditation with your new crystal is a lovely practice to begin acquainting yourself with its energy. You can find more information on crystal cleansing in our Articles & Resources section.

Why are some crystals known by different names?

Names! There are so many. Learning the nomenclature of crystal species and subspecies is a big job. Trade names, metaphysical names, and pure misnomers abound. Many names were developed over the last 100 years by the fine jewellery industry to create more 'romance' around a stone, and the same is true for many metaphysical and marketing names today. Water Sapphire for instance is not a Sapphire at all, but a trade name for Iolite - which conversely is also known as Cordierite. Anandalite is a metaphysical name for a variety of Quartz with subparallel Brazil-law twinning, also known as Iris Quartz or Aurora Quartz. Lemurian Aquatine is a fancy marketing name for blue Calcite from Argentina. There are quite literally hundreds of other examples. Mineralogical names, however, are considered preferable when it comes to crystal identification; often they will relate to the name of the mineral's type-locality, the geologist credited with its discovery, or a Greek or Latin root describing the stone's classical properties. In most cases, we prefer to use the crystal's mineralogical name in our shop for clarity - with the exception of some Quartz varieties when it may be helpful to distinquish subtle differences in formation or inclusions. For more on crystal marketing names and misnomers, please refer to our Articles & Resources section.

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What makes your crystals 'ethical'?

The truth is, not all crystals come from a good place. At Solstice Stones, we take responsible sourcing seriously. We provide detailed information about each and every crystal in our shop, and carry out deep investigations in pursuit of the highest integrity in our offerings. We believe that the special crystals in your healing practice and collection deserve to come from the best place. You can read more about our ethical approach to sourcing here!

Which countries do you ship to?

We ship to most countries worldwide! We regularly send parcels to the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Asia, and beyond. All orders are shipped from our location on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.

How much is the cost of shipping?

Your shipping cost will be automatically calculated during the checkout process depending on your location and the total combined weight of your order. If you are ordering from outside Canada, you may also wish to purchase a shipping upgrade at checkout to add a tracking number and insurance to your parcel. If you place multiple individual orders with us over a short period, there is a chance that we may be able to combine your orders into one parcel and issue any postage discounts to you if it falls within our usual shipping schedule.

Will my parcel include a tracking number?

All Canadian orders include tracking and insurance. If you are ordering from within Canada, we will send you the details of your tracking number as soon as your parcel has been shipped. Please note that international orders do not include a tracking number or insurance unless you have chosen one of the tracking upgrades at checkout. We continue to offer this standard untracked shipping service as a more economical option for our international customers, however we do recommend upgrading your order to include tracking if you are able. Unless you have chosen an upgrade during checkout, unfortunately we will not have any means to check on the status or whereabouts of your order once it has been accepted by the postal system. For more information, please refer to our Shipping & Returns policy.

How long will my order take to reach me?

The effects of Covid-19 have created substantial shipping delays in many parts of the world. As such, it is incredibly difficult to give any kind of a real estimate with regards to delivery at this time. The following is a list of approximate shipping times for regular parcels as designated by Canada Post before the Covid-19 outbreak. These timeframes are intended now only as a very rough guide: Canada 1-2 weeks, United States 2-3 weeks, Europe 2-4 weeks, Asia & Australasia 3-4 weeks. We will make every effort to ensure that your order is carefully sent off for you within our usual processing time, however please note that once your order has been shipped we have no control over how quickly any mail service is able to deliver the parcel in your home country. Tracked and expedited delivery services are also still experiencing delays. Please allow extra time for delivery. Thank you for your patience!

How is COVID-19 affecting orders?

Under normal circumstances, our usual processing time for orders is between 1-3 business days, with shipments sent out twice weekly. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, we are choosing to limit our visits to the post office to only once per week. Therefore, please allow between 1-5 business days for the processing and shipment of your order during this time. Covid-19 has also created significant shipping delays in many parts of the world. It is incredibly difficult to give any kind of a clear delivery estimate at the moment. For international customers, you may wish to add a tracking upgrade during checkout for peace of mind, so that in the event of a delay you will still be able to check on your parcel's whereabouts. In general, please allow extra time for delivery.

Help!  How do I cancel / change / add to my order?

Please send us a message immediately at inquiries@solsticestones.com if you have any issues or concerns about an order you have recently placed. We will do everything we can to work with your requests! If you would like to add to your order, please feel free to go ahead and make another purchase and we will automatically combine and refund any shipping overages to you wherever possible. Please note that depending on our shipping schedule, changing or cancelling an order may not always be possible unless it is addressed right away.

Do you accept returns?

We understand that you may change your mind from time to time, and we want you to love the crystals and jewellery you purchase from us as much as we do. If for some reason you are not satisfied with your order, you may ship it back to us for return or exchange. Please send us a message at inquiries@solsticestones.com within 7 days of the receipt of your items so that we can make the necessary arrangements. Do not send a parcel back to us without prior confirmation. Please note that discounted items, sale items, and custom or special orders are considered final sales and are not eligible for returns. For more information, please refer to our Shipping & Returns policy.

Do you offer combined shipping?

When placing an order on this website, combined shipping for multiple items will automatically be calculated at checkout. If you choose to place more than one order with us within a short period, there may be a chance that we can combine your orders into one parcel and issue any postage discounts to you if it falls within our usual shipping schedule. While we are gradually transitioning away from our Etsy shop to bring more focus to sales through this website, we are still offering to combine orders placed on both platforms if purchased within the same short time period mentioned above, or with other prior arrangement. Finally, we are also happy to try to save our customers extra shipping costs wherever we can! If you would like to combine multiple orders over a longer period of up to two weeks, please send us a message at inquiries@solsticestones.com or leave a comments field at checkout indicating that you would like to keep your order 'open'. In such instances, all shipping costs would be paid up front, and then you would be issued the final postage discount in the form of a refund at the end of the two week window when your combined order is finally shipped.

Can I place an item on hold?

Unfortunately we are not currently offering holds or layaways on regular shop items at this time. Custom orders that have been prearranged will say 'reserved' in the title to indicate that an item is being held for the original customer to make their purchase.

Will I receive the exact crystal in the photo?

In most instances, yes! Unless otherwise clearly stated in the product description, you will receive the exact crystal shown. The vast majority of our listings are for individual crystals or jewellery pieces, with various photos showing different sides or angles of the same item. Only listings that show multiple crystals in the main photo will state that you will recieve 'one crystal from those shown'. In those cases, we will intuitively select one crystal for you from the lot remaining.

How can I follow your updates?

Join our community! The best way to stay tuned with our updates is by signing up for our email list at the bottom of this page. We also recommend creating a customer account with us at the top of the page to save all of your favourites and keep up to date with any new product releases. You can, of course, also follow our Facebook and Instagram @SolsticeStones for the latest!

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