Updated July 19, 2023 by Alexandre Baillairge
Orgonite is a decorative material made from a roughly 50-50 blend of fiberglass resin and metal shavings, usually with quartz or other crystals set inside. Once the resin sets it has a glossy, layered finish, which makes it a popular ornament, pendant or pyramid. Its fans place it in a long-running tradition of ideas about a life energy, sometimes called orgone, chi or prana.
The resin sets hard and shiny, creating an attractive piece, but orgonite's appeal is more than skin-deep for the people who collect it.
The Origins of Orgonite
The idea behind orgonite goes back to the 1930s and the work of Dr. Wilhelm Reich. He proposed an omnipresent life energy he named "orgone energy" and built a layered box he called an orgone accumulator. His theory has not been accepted by mainstream science.
His design alternated layers of organic material, such as resin, with layers of metal, which he believed would attract and repel this energy.
Today's orgonite is a modern craft descendant of that idea. The key difference is that orgonite adds quartz crystals or other minerals inside the resin. Makers say the resin shrinks as it sets and presses on the quartz, but there is no scientific evidence that orgonite emits any special energy.
What People Believe About Orgonite
The concept of an omnipresent life energy appears in many cultures that predate Reich. In Chinese tradition this energy is called Qi, and in Indian tradition it is Prana. Orgonite fans believe the piece traps and redirects such energy, and they describe it as a decorative talisman for the home or desk.
The effects people attribute to orgonite include a lively mood, vivid dreams, protection from electromagnetic fields (EMF) and a lighter atmosphere in a room. These are personal beliefs, not scientific findings, and orgonite should be enjoyed as a decorative object.
Orgonite is often displayed alongside crystal practices such as meditation, Reiki and Quantum Touch. These are traditions of personal ritual, and orgonite has no proven effect on the body.
Applications of Orgonite
In orgone tradition, energy is believed to exist in two forms: a positive form called positive orgone (POR) and a negative form called deadly orgone (DOR). Orgonite's traditional role is to neutralize the negative form, a bit like the idea of removing stagnant qi in feng shui. Believers associate DOR with modern electronics, so orgonite pieces are often set near a computer, a router or a window.
Fans carry an orgonite piece or position it around the home as a symbol of a balanced, harmonious space. Think of it as a decorative piece and a personal talisman, and browse clear quartz points for crystals that pair well with it.
Stock this in your shop
Orgonite pyramids and pendants make good counter-top add-ons: see the orgone collection for shop-ready pieces.
Stonebridge Imports is a Canadian crystal wholesaler with no minimum order, shipping from Kitchener, Ontario. Open a wholesale account.
