“[Today], I purchased some black tourmaline, which is really good for taking negative energy and turning it into positive energy, a couple pieces of amethyst, which everybody knows is a good healer, and some blue lace agate which is kind of like a spiritual stone — or it is for me.

“I lost my dad a little while ago to cancer, and during my last 48 hours with him, I had a blue lace agate. It totally opened himself up to something higher and better. I saw a piece that resembled the kind I used with my dad when he passed away. I put a piece of the stone with him when he got cremated and I feel like today I found the stone that looked just like that again. It was nice to see the same shape and style of stone that I sent my dad off with. I think it’s really important to find something higher than ourselves to connect us. It doesn’t have to be a magical god or whatever.

“I’ve been coming to Amethyst Creations for 12 years. In terms of its look — and you can even tell from its upkeep — nothing’s really changed. In terms of the consistent level of care and crystals and knowledge that the owner provides, I think that only increases as the business gets older. The owner [is] a really nice guy and the crystals he sells — I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect or there’s actually something there — but I think it makes people feel really nice in a time like COVID.”