Solstice is home on the wild west coast of British Columbia, Canada on the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Tla'amin, Klahoose, and Homalco Nations. Our studio is nestled in a grove of majestic cedars and twisting arbutus where we are visited by the occasional black bear and serenaded by the boisterous calls of our resident ravens. Respect for the land and connection to its spirit forces is at the heart of everything we do.

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Solstice began in 2012 as a celebration of the magic of stone. Over the years, Solstice has had the honour of being featured in a number of articles about ethical sourcing. It is perhaps what we've been most well known for, and we're proud to have contributed to meaningful discussions around transparency and traceability in the crystal industry. Navigating passage through the secretive world of gemstone mining is not for the faint of heart. Our work uncovering the often devastating realities of the crystal trade has led us to develop our own set of protocols for the responsible sourcing of stones (you can read more about that journey here).

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Solstice founder Michelle Cunningham is a queer witch, passionate maker, history lover, and mineral enthusiast. Michelle weaves the threads of geology and the esoteric in her practice, ever drawing new connections between the lithic and spiritual realms. While researching ethical sources, Michelle has travelled to investigate illegal gem trafficking at the Myanmar border, observe precious gem dealings at the markets of Chanthaburi, and inspect conditions at jewellery production facilities in Indonesia. Her love of stones has also resulted in time spent fossil hunting on the beaches of Dorset, learning about opals in South Australia, and rockhounding in the Pacific Northwest. Recently Michelle had the opportunity to collaborate with Llewellyn author Danielle Blackwood for the crystals in her books The Twelve Faces of the Goddess and A Lantern in the Dark. Michelle currently teaches classes on fossil folklore and mineral magic at Old Stone Ways (oldstoneways.com or @oldstoneways on Instagram).