The Rock Taking the Internet by Storm
Instead of living it up on a Friday night, I sat crying in a heap of tears on my living room floor, clutching an ugly green rock that was supposed to change my life. I had been wearing the infamous Moldavite crystal for two weeks. Nothing had happened. I was still single, still depressed and now out 30 bucks for one gram of green mineral. It was safe to say my Moldavite journey wasn’t going as planned.
What is Moldavite?
Moldavite sprang to fame on the all-knowing social media app, TikTok in August 2020 when several users began describing the crystal’s powerful effects. According to Google Trends, the term ‘crystals’ has been regularly searched since 2004. But when Moldavite took off in August 2020, crystal searches nearly doubled. Since then, thousands of crystal lovers claim to have had life-changing experiences because of Moldavite.
Molly Donlan, a yoga and meditation instructor, went viral in February 2021 for her TikTok video explaining its effects. “Moldavite removes obstacles that are between you and the path you are meant to be on,” Donlan said. “Any door that has a what-if behind it: closed or immediately opened. When these things happen, they can feel like major life shifts. But a year later, you will be in a much better place.”
Of course, there’s plenty of debate around the actual power of crystals. Some claim crystals can get rid of chronic pain and negative energy while others claim they’re just pretty minerals. According to a 2009 study on gemstone therapeutics published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, there’s a lack of valid information on the effectiveness of crystals, so their powers can’t be proven or denied.
Belle Rose, a 24-year-old graduate student from Destin, Florida, thought Moldavite was just another overhyped TikTok trend. But when Moldavite began showing up in conversations with friends and at work, Rose took it as a sign. Two months after purchasing Moldavite, Rose had three major life changes. She came out to her religious family as part of the LGBTQ+ community. She put graduate school on hold. Her family found her spiritual TikTok account.
“At the time, I was like, ‘This is just bad luck,’” Rose said. “I was never like, ‘This is because of the Moldavite.’ It wasn’t until halfway through February that I had an epiphany. I was like, ‘I guess that’s what everyone talks about.’ I was the best I’d ever been, and the worst I’d ever been, all because of the Moldavite.”
How to Use Moldavite
Before starting my Moldavite journey, I spoke with Donlan to figure out the safest and most effective way to work with the crystal. She said it was important to build a crystal tolerance.
According to Donlan, crystals work by changing energy. Each person has their own energy field, which impacts them on a physiological, psychological, and emotional level. If crystal users are not used to sensing energy, they may not recognize when shifts occur. Negative energy can build up and reveal itself in odd ways.
“I’ve heard of people with Moldavite, in particular feeling nausea, feeling dizzy,” Donlan said. “They might have funny dreams or sleep disturbances. It can come out in all these different sideways ways. So, one thing you want to do is start to sensitize to that pressurization of your energy field.”
Donlan suggested the best way to sensitize was to wear Moldavite in small increments and track mood, energy and thoughts through journaling.
“Working up to wearing it all day long, or using it all day long is the best bet,” Donlan said.
Her biggest piece of advice was to be patient. A lot of people start wearing Moldavite because they think it will change their relationship or get them out of a dead-end job. What Moldavite will do is put you on the path of your heart’s deepest desire. That may be different than what you envision.
My Experience
After several interviews, countless TikTok videos and a relentless curiosity, I bought Moldavite. But obtaining it was no small feat. I called five local crystal shops only to find one gram for $30. Because of its rareness and sudden popularity, a nickel size chunk costs $200. As a college student on a budget, one gram had to do.
Before holding it, I cleansed the crystal in brown rice to soak up unwanted energies and set intentions for how I wished my experience to go. “I have a clear mind with no expectations. I will let whatever happens happen.”
And boy something certainly did. My first experience with Moldavite lasted 10 minutes. Immediately upon holding the crystal, my stomach began to ache. I felt bloated, gassy and nauseous. Bile sat at the bottom of my throat and lingered long after I set the crystal aside. I spent the night curled in a ball, praying I didn’t vomit.
The pattern of sickness and pain persisted each time I held the Moldavite. After building my tolerance to an hour, a new phenomenon began to arise. A pulsating heat started to tingle my hand each time I held it. My apartment is 68 degrees. All I do is attend online class and sleep. The probability of a sudden heat wave was unlikely. Yet each time I held the crystal, I began to sweat.
Two days in a row, I forgot to pull out my Moldavite. To make up for lost time, I slept with it. This was a bad idea. I went from wearing it for three-hour increments to eight-hour periods with nothing in-between. The first night, I woke up at 2 a.m., covered in sweat, with an overwhelming sense of anxiety. My dream was lost, but the urge to run from something lingered. The next night, I couldn’t fall asleep. I was miserably tired, staring at my ceiling until 3:30 a.m.
Besides a few physical side effects, I was afraid my Moldavite journey was going to end in disappointment. Everything felt exactly the same. It worried me. But after breaking down on my living room floor and accepting my experience was a flop, something big happened.
I received word I had been chosen for a selective internship. I applied for the job a month before and was certain I wouldn’t get it. I didn’t think I had enough experience. When I read the award email, I was speechless. The big life shift Moldavite was known for had finally happened, and all I could think was it wasn’t related. Perhaps it was my skepticism, but the internship could’ve been the result of any number of things. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that a booger-like crystal could have that strong of an affect.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of Moldavite’s magical powers. But I can’t say it changed my life. I experienced some odd things I couldn’t always explain, but I’m not sure it was anything more than the right time and place. Would I like to tell you a small green crystal can transform your life? You bet. But you’ll have to try it for yourself. In the meantime, I’ll add it to my crystal collection and carry on.
