THE AGE OF AQUARIUS “M
y family were very spiritual,” reveals Robert Watson, proprietor of Aquarius Crystals & Gifts in Paisley. “My aunt was a seer and she was well-known for having second sight. A lot of that relates to what the business is about, although we don’t sell that service to the public.” Robert’s interest in crystals and geology has been a lifelong pursuit. “My mother’s family grew up in the Western Isles,” he reveals, “where the stones our house was built from were three billion years old, the same rock that the world famous Callanish Stones are made from. So it’s in the blood. I’ve always collected stones 18 MILL
from whatever part of the world I’ve visited. Normal people would bring back maybe a stick of rock or a sombrero, I’ve always brought stones home.” When the shop opened in 1989, as Scotmed, it was a conventional medical business supplying products such as wheelchairs to the public. A few years ago, however, Robert gradually introduced crystals into their stock. “That’s now taken over the whole shop.” So what does it provide for alternative-minded customers? “Everyone here is trained in crystals,” he explains. “We’re one of the largest suppliers of crystals in the west of
Scotland. We purchase from all over the world, from the Outer Hebrides to the mines of Brazil. We also stock some of the oldest rocks in the world, and from other worlds. We have petrified trees and even a tiny piece of meteorite from Mars, things people have never seen in their lives. The other side of the business is a bit more fun, we have dragons, skulls and Game of Thrones items.” Robert is quick to point out that all are welcome at Aquarius, regardless of religion or faith. “We have a very eclectic mix covering all sorts of things,” he says. “We’re not here to decide what’s right for people to believe or not, we give them access
Photos by James Stevenson, insta: jablesphotography
When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, hurry down to Renfrewshire’s leading purveyor of crystals and semi-precious stones.
