We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria Zakariasen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Taking risks has always been part of my DNA. Being the youngest of five kids in my family, I learned young that if I wanted something, I was going to have to work for it, and I knew it was going to take time. As I matured and got into life, I realized that taking calculated risks was the only way to move the needle toward the life I wanted. I tip-toed into becoming a jeweler, never truly diving in, having a hard time figuring out what kind of jeweler I wanted to be, and how I wanted to show up with my gifts. But sound healing… that grabbed me deep down in my roots and catapulted me into the space. It was love at first sound and my spirit marched fast and hard toward it. When I realized I wanted to start a business around sound healing, I knew I was going to need a dedicated space, and I wasn’t sure how to get there. People heard I was offering this and started hiring me for events, and I could not believe how fast things started moving! 10 months into the launch of my business and I was signing a lease on a small studio where I had been renting a room for my monthly sound baths. I stored my equipment there, and gave private sound baths once in a while. Business started picking up, and four months later I had an opportunity to move into a bigger space. I had just been laid off of my day job and I no longer had financial back-up. But something was tugging at me to jump! It was a 48 hour decision, and I signed my new lease. This new studio allows me to schedule more sound baths and teach jewelry classes anytime I want. Having a dedicated space that I am able to curate to my personality, and create the environment and comforts for my clients has been a game changer! When you get quiet with yourself, you can hear the answers you are looking for loud and clear!

Maria, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Ive always been a creative person, interested in creating…anything! I had a love for jewelry pretty much since birth. After years of making beaded jewelry, I wanted to take it to the next level. So I became a silversmith in 2011. I wanted to make affordable jewelry that was made with real materials, real metal, real crystals. I was not the person who wanted to make a ton of jewelry and sit at a table to sell it at fairs. Even though I started a business, and I did make some pieces, I never found my way, I never found what felt right. After many years of floating around and making custom pieces here and there, I realized that is where my passion was. I wanted to put intention into the pieces I make, and I wanted to know the people I was making them for, why they wanted it, and pour some of my own energetic magic into it.

Then in 2020 I embarked on Yoga Teacher Training. I always loved how the instructors held space for us as we challenged ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally, and felt a calling in my spirit to hold space for others. At the end of training, a classmate sent me a link to an IG live sound healing, and from that moment on, I couldn’t think of anything else. So I dove in head first, almost as if something else was driving me, guiding me. I have felt divinely supported from the moment I heard those bowls and throughout this entire process of building a business and even up to today!

Combining these two passions of mine is what created The Crystal Effect. Crystals and stones have always called my attention, and it was only fitting to combine these two. The Crystal Effect offers lunar cycle sound baths (New/Full moon), special sound bath events, private sound baths for individuals, groups, couples, families, team building, birthday celebrations and more. I currently offer jewelry classes to learn how to make a Mala bead necklace, beaded boho earrings and beaded bracelets, as well as sound healer training for anyone wanting to learn the foundation of sound healing.

I am most proud of the comfortable environment I have created. My clients comfort during a sound bath is essential to me, and I have invested a lot so they are able to just show up and melt into the carefully curated space created for them.

My overall goal at The Crystal Effect is to create a soft, secure, and inclusive space where individuals can find a sense of community, remove their armor, and unwind. Here, they can relax, recharge, and enjoy themselves, ultimately leaving feeling valued, cared for, and encouraged.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

With The Crystal Effect, my mission is to provide affordable luxury on both sides of my business. When I was younger, I was not able to afford to buy that pretty ring, or take that yoga class. I have made it my mission to keep my prices affordable, so people are able to reach what I am offering. This is a controversial topic, because on one hand you have to “know your worth”, many creatives struggle with this topic. People tell me time and time again that I need to charge more for my offerings. I see it differently. I price my offerings so I am able offer an affordable quality luxury product, at a price that allows me to maintain and grow my business. My overall focus is not on the dollar, the focus is on sharing my gifts with the world in a sustainable way.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I learned form another influencer that the number of followers you have does not determine your reach or success. She shared her journey of how she created a thriving business without a ton of followers, and I needed to hear that because I felt caught up in the mindset of followers=success.

The Crystal Effect was launched in November of 2022, and even today in April of 2024, I still don’t have a large social media audience, but I am still able to build a business. I am still able to reach people, and share my gifts.

My advise to anyone out there is SHARE YOURSELF! Be your authentic self and share what you are passionate about, in your own creative way, and your people will find you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thecrystaleffectmn.com/
• Instagram: @thecrystaleffectmn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091224671573&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Adam Meyer Tanner Kandor