There is a moment in everyone’s life when everything comes full circle. Launching the PRECIOUS campaign is that moment for me. I pondered for a while if this was the right time to launch this campaign with the global crisis we are all experiencing and I decided that there was never a better and much needed time. This project so dear to my heart is about giving hope and offering kindness and compassion to battered women. With all of the lockdowns in place right now, there is an alarming surge of domestic violence around the world. Many victims are now quarantined with their abuser and with all of the stress, layoffs, sickness, and financial hardships that this pandemic has brought on, many women and chidren are seeing the intensity and frequency of abuse escalate. The few hours of relief victims previously had when their abuser was at work or out of the home is now gone. Also, the accessibility to counsellors, support groups, and advocates has been reduced dramatically and the opportunities to escape to a shelter or call a domestic violence hotline is next to none. This global crisis is bringing a lot of fear, anxiety, sorrows, and hardships, but it can also motivate us to rise and shine our light on those who need it more than we do.
Here are a few personal questions I answered about domestic abuse and the PRECIOUS campaign…
What is PRECIOUS and how did it come about?
Precious was born out of a need to share my story and help victims of domestic abuse and family violence. PRECIOUS is about giving away luxury gemstone soaps to battered women to remind them how worthy and precious they are. I, myself, was a victim of family violence as a child and teenager, and my deepest wish is to help other victims find their light in the darkness.
What are the long term effects of domestic abuse and family violence?
I think that abuse has devastating long term effects on mental, physical, and emotional health. In the past 20 years, I personally have dealt with severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic attacks, OCD, disordered eating, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. I would have to say that the wounds that take the longest time to heal are the ones related to the victims' ability to truly believe in, trust, care for, and love themselves. This is where PRECIOUS comes in. Keep telling and reminding battered women and abused children how precious they are until they start believing it themselves. Treating mental and physical illnesses is a great start but it does not heal one's core. I am aware that giving a gemstone soap bar does not heal one's core but the offering of kindness, love, compassion, and hope can really help someone feel less alone. Another thing that is not very often discussed is how difficult living in a body that was abused can be. Most victims start living in their head and lose connection with their body. We have to wash ourselves every day and putting a luxury rose scented gemstone bar of soap on a bruised body and a broken heart can be a humble beginning for restoring the mind, heart, body, and soul connection.
What would you want to say to a victim of domestic abuse and family violence right now?
Actually, I have a note that I include with every soap. It says this:
With this gemstone soap,
Wash away the wounds of trauma and allow the scars to heal,
In time, transform the pain, suffering, and darkness,
by becoming a bright light for others in need,
Let this gemstone remind you always how so precious and worthy you are.
The definition of the word precious is: something of great value; not to be wasted, or treated carelessly. The thing that helped me the most in my healing journey was to understand that I am far more than my pain, my suffering, the abuse, and my circumstances. I was, I am, and I will always be Love and Light.
Tell us about the gemstone soaps and how the PRECIOUS campaign works...
Our gemstone soaps are all-natural and made with fresh sheep milk. They are colored with clays and herbs, and scented with pure essential oils. The first soap we are introducing today is Rose Hope, which has rose buds and a rose quartz gem on every bar. The soap is colored with rose kaolin clay and scented with rose absolute essential oil. Rose quartz is well known for helping heal trauma and for promoting feelings of self-love and self-worth. The PRECIOUS campaign is very simple: every time someone purchases a gemstone soap bar, we give one away to a shelter for battered women and abused children. We will also be introducing new gemstone soaps with different colors, scents, and gemstones and our hope is to be able to donate gemstone soaps to as many shelters for battered women and abused children as possible in Vermont and across the country.
Last question, do you feel precious now?
At 40 years old, I can say that for the first time in my life, I do feel precious. I also know that the greatest way to heal is to serve and I feel a responsibility to pay it forward and to shine my light on victims of domestic abuse and family violence.
HERE ARE TWO WAYS THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT THE PRECIOUS CAMPAIGN:
You can purchase a gemstone soap by clicking on the button below. For each bar of soap that you purchase, we will donate one bar of soap to a shelter for battered women and abused children.
You can make a donation to support the PRECIOUS campaign by clicking on the DONATE button below. Your contribution will enable us to handcraft more gemstone soaps and reach a greater number of shelters and victims of domestic abuse.
