Life and Work with Ruby Wayward

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruby Wayward.

Ruby, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I went to school for Metal Working or Jewelry Making at Western Illinois University from 2007-2009 but didn’t finish because I started a photography business and studio. The business didn’t last in the recession, and I moved on with my life working retail.

After my best friend passed away, I moved to Colorado to live my life with no regrets. I discovered the art of wirewrap amongst the cannabis community fashion and realized I could do jewelry making again with this technique.

My best friend’s death also led me to a spiritual awakening. Before her death, I was a devout atheist. After she passed, I was finding dimes more than pennies, and still do, five years later. I didn’t believe in Astrology either, but my time in 3rd shift retail led me to dreading working on a full moon. Things were changing for me from within.
My jewelry making and spiritual path aligned a few years ago, and since then, I’ve been making meaningful jewelry and working on my Lightworker journey. I started a Facebook page to share all I was learning about crystals and oracle, and it’s taken off from there!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve definitely had a hard time with my business. Last winter, when I was on a roll with making jewelry and had a huge list of orders, my husband was in a terrible car accident which left him with a broken neck, severe nerve damage, and a traumatic brain injury. I wasn’t able to wirewrap again until April/May. Taking care of my husband was the most important thing, and my business had to take the back burner.

I didn’t mean I completely stopped though. While he was in bedridden, I’d lay by his side studying and reading as much as I could. I was scheming and planning for the day when I’d be ready to get back to work, while also building up my knowledge of tarot, astrology, and the angelic realm.

It’s much more common for women to give up their career or future plans to be a caregiver. If you are faced with that responsibility, just know that it is possible to attain your career goals. However, it will take much more planning and working smarter than harder. It also takes mastering time management and making sure you don’t overload yourself. It may take longer to get where you want to be, but the careful planning will make it all fall into place more easily once it goes into action.

Please tell us about Message In The Crystal.
Wirewrap is a cold fusion jewelry-making technique, using wire weaving to hold other wires and stones in place. It’s a very tedious technique, taking 16 inches of wire to create one single inch of wrapped wire.

Wirewrap jewelry is known for being very big, eclectic, and heavy, or they can look really casual and look more like a hobby piece. I sleekly design my pendants to focus on one stone and can be worn in the office or on a date.
I put the energies of love, harmony, and empowerment into every piece, which has led to many interesting stories around my jewelry. The first day one client wore her pendant to work, she got the promotion she applied for six months prior.

Some pieces are specially made for clients, including a consultation so that I become a “crystal matchmaker”. My client will tell me their needs and I’ll match them to a stone based on their energy, zodiac, and situation. This process creates meaningful pieces of jewelry that people do not want to take off.

I also mineral hunt and source as many of my stones as possible. I’ve dug for geodes in Missouri, found quartz around Colorado. I have many digs across the country planned!

My spiritual journey and astrological studies are building up to turning my jewelry into talismans. Fashion that is literally magic!

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I found a community on Twitter of other spiritual business owners across the country, it’s been so helpful to bounce ideas off of them. I also try to make it to local meetups or classes at metaphysical bookstores so I can meet like-minded people.

I haven’t found a mentor yet, but I know it’s only a matter of time!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.messageinthecrystal.storenvy.com
• Email: messageinacrystal@gmail.com
• Instagram: messageinthecrystal
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/messageinthecrystal
• Twitter: @RubyWayward
• Other: www.messageinthecrystal.tumblr.com

Image Credit:
Ruby Wayward

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