Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaylee Sorensen.
Hi Shaylee, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Utah, and when I was 11 years old my world completely shattered . I witnessed my father murder my mother. Not exactly the childhood story you share during icebreakers. For years, I carried the weight of grief, anger, and questions that felt impossible to sort out.
But here’s the unexpected part: I found healing, and eventually even forgiveness. I actually have a relationship with my dad now after he was in prison for 22 years he got out 2 years ago. Which usually makes people blink twice when they hear it. But forgiveness wasn’t about excusing what happened; it was about setting myself free. Carrying the pain forever would’ve only kept me stuck in it.
Somewhere along that journey, I stumbled into crystals, energy work, and spirituality. Crystals went from being “just pretty rocks” to becoming tools that helped me ground, protect myself, and remember I wasn’t broken. I started making crystal jewelry and woodburn art partly as therapy, partly because apparently fire and shiny stones are cheaper than lifelong therapy. What started as a personal outlet grew into The Burnt Crystal.
Today, I create intentional jewelry, art, and healing gatherings, but my work has grown into so much more. I speak on stages, share my story on my podcast, and build courses about healing, mindset, and self-discovery. My work is about proving that even the darkest pain can be transformed into light and purpose. If I can turn my trauma into something that builds community and helps others heal, then I know I’m right where I’m supposed to be, walking proof that your past doesn’t get the final say in your story.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, more like a rollercoaster with missing tracks, honestly. Healing from something as big as witnessing my mom’s murder wasn’t linear. There were years where I felt stuck in anger, years where I just tried to survive and not feel anything, and years where I was rebuilding piece by piece.
One of the biggest struggles was learning to actually face my pain instead of burying it. Forgiveness, especially with my dad, wasn’t a light switch. It was a long process of therapy, tears, trial and error, and more than a few “I’m done with this” moments.
Another challenge was starting my business. In the beginning, I was making jewelry at my kitchen table in between raising three kids, doubting myself every step of the way. Imposter syndrome showed up often: “Who am I to help others heal when I’m still figuring it out myself?” But I kept creating, and slowly realized that my imperfections were actually my strength, people don’t want a perfect healer, they want a real one.
Even now, there are bumps, running a small business means wearing every hat, from creator to accountant to social media manager. Some days I nail it, and some days I’m eating cereal for dinner because life got messy. But every struggle has been part of shaping me, my business, and the way I connect with people.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At The Burnt Crystal, I create intentional crystal jewelry and woodburn art, host healing gatherings, and teach tools that help people reconnect with themselves. But my work has expanded beyond just handmade products. I also speak on stages, share my story on podcasts, and build courses on healing, mindset, and self-discovery. Everything I do is infused with energy, intention, and the belief that even the hardest pain can become a source of power.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t just “sell crystals”, I live this work. Every piece I make, every gathering I host, carries the energy of my own healing journey. I’ve lived through deep trauma and found my way back to wholeness, so when I talk about transformation, I’m not repeating something I read in a book. I’ve done the work, and I continue to do it every day.
What I’m most proud of is turning my story into something that empowers others. People tell me that when they come to a gathering or wear one of my pieces, they feel seen, supported, and stronger. That’s the biggest compliment I could ever receive.
At the end of the day, my work isn’t just about crystals or art. It’s about creating spaces of no judgment, where people can feel safe to heal and grow. My past doesn’t define me, but it does fuel my purpose. And I think that authenticity, being both witchy and grounded, funny and deep, messy and magical, is what makes The Burnt Crystal stand out.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy are the little sacred things in everyday life. I feel the most joy when I’m out in nature, barefoot in the grass, watching the sky change colors, or sitting under the full moon. Those simple moments make me feel alive and connected.
And then there’s my family. They’re a huge source of my happiness (and let’s be honest, my exhaustion too). My kids make me laugh daily with their wild imaginations and ridiculous one-liners, and I love the little things , like dance parties in the kitchen, movie nights with too much popcorn. My husband is my best friend, and we’ve built this life together where we can laugh through the chaos and still find time to just enjoy each other’s company.
And honestly, I’m happiest when I get to just be unapologetically me. Which usually means weird, witchy, and never pretending to be “normal.” Between crystals, full moon rituals, family chaos, and laughing at my own jokes, happiness for me is equal parts sacred and silly.
Pricing:
- Jewlery $5-$100
- Woodburn art $2-$100
- Courses & Workshops: Introductory self-paced courses: $97 – $197 Live group courses & workshops: $250 – $500
- Healing Gatherings / Circles: $20 – $40 per person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theburntcrystal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_burnt_crystal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087366253626
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mGzahh8L9kFLA5xd7rtCE?si=fa9dbf4def524523
