Opal Dreams

In contemporary society, the boundaries of religious influence are gradually fading. For many young people, traditional faith is no longer the only source of spiritual support. Faced with psychological pressure, information overload, and emotional isolation, they have begun to seek a form of comfort that is “spiritual but not religious.” Crystal culture, with its gentle and non-institutional nature, has emerged as a representative of this “light belief.” While it does not belong to any religious system, it offers similar emotional solace and a sense of personal ritual. Especially among urban youth, crystals are gradually becoming an aestheticized system of inner support. Among the many crystals, I chose opal as the core inspiration for the following reasons: Opal is a crystal that appears “blue” but contains countless microscopic spherical structures that diffract light within, revealing a shifting rainbow-like sheen. It is not confined to a single color but flows with multicolored brilliance within its blue, much like our layered and complex emotional states. Blue represents a protective disguise, while the rainbow hues resemble the spontaneous shimmer of the inner soul. Opal possesses this unique quality: within what seems to be a singular tone, it releases delicate, intimate, and continuously flowing colors—both a metaphor for spirituality and an awakening of aesthetics.