![]() ![]() “Mainly what I wanted was to provide a place for people on all types of paths of spirituality and religion to be able to get what that they need,” she says. McDermott sees the shop as more of a spiritual store. She also sells her popular Mama Izzy’s Hoodoo line of oils and candles at The Conjure Shop, and customers trek to her store to buy them. McDermott says The Conjure Shop technically qualifies as a New Age store, and she carries items like stones, crystals, incense, and chakra-related merchandise. She also notes that she is always happy to refer folks to Next Millennium for items she doesn’t carry. McDermott likes the increase of options for customers. ![]() Omaha has a tight-knit New Age community, so it was a big leap, but one she’s pleased she made. Nicki McDermott, owner of The Conjure Shop, opened her store in June 2014 after a decade working at Next Millennium. In addition to an array of paid classes and free meetups, Hearthside hosted its first Heartland Witches Gala, an event benefitting Heartland Family Service, in October 2017. “In addition to wanting a store to feature our products, we opened on the tenet of community-being a place where anybody can walk in the door, it doesn't matter where else they shop or who they’re friends with, everybody is welcomed, extended a hand, and given a chance to feel comfortable,” he says. “There’s a lot more acceptance these days, so more people are aware of, and seeking out, alternate spiritualities,” says Fernandez.įernandez says another major focus for Hearthside is community. “We have a little something for everyone-Wiccans, Pagans, saint medals, angel items-our slogan is ‘Your friendly neighborhood magic shop,’” says Fernandez.įernandez, along with co-owners Kim Hinnenkamp and Chris Dishaw, opened Hearthside in October 2016 as a space to sell the owners’ handmade products and other handcrafted goods, but also to address a growing demand. That desire for connection is one reason why Alex Fernandez defines Hearthside Candles and Curios as “New Age/metaphysical.” “That’s one of the main reasons I became a psychic medium, because I saw so many people in need of that connection-and that’s the point of opening the store, helping people out.” “With all the chaos in the world, it seems like people are going inward and really trying to figure out who they are and their connection to god-source energy,” says Miller. Miller believes more people are beginning to expand their personal spiritual journeys. If people have questions, we have answers,” says Miller. “We want people to understand what they’re buying and the point of them buying it how various pendulums, rocks, stones, and candles can help us enhance our own intuitive abilities or spiritual connection. ![]() Miller says a big focus at Awakenings is educating clients about the various tools and traditions they sell. “Metaphysical encompasses more Wiccan, Pagan, conjuring…We don’t do that, because we don’t fully understand it.” “I like the term ‘New Age’ because we’re not necessarily metaphysical,” she says. “New Age” is an umbrella term describing a range of alternative approaches to traditional Western culture and spirituality, and Miller says it’s a good descriptor for Awakenings. “It started very small, very organic…and slowly evolved into me growing out of that space and us opening Awakenings,” says Miller. The product requests gradually increased-some selenite (crystal) here, a Himalayan salt lamp there-ultimately leading Miller and fiancé Eric Abts to partner and open a full-fledged shop offering wares, workshops, and readings. One person asked to buy Miller’s homemade bath salts, which turned into another person asking to buy them, then another. The professional psychic medium had an office in Elkhorn for about three years. “Between online and in-store sales, it’s been more than we were expecting,” says Kelli Miller, co-owner of Awakenings, a New Age store that opened in October 2017. Local shop owners in the niche say the spurt is a direct result of consumer demand. But recently, the crystal pendulum has swung, and Omaha’s seen a boom of New Age/metaphysical/spiritual stores open their doors. Local stalwart The Next Millennium has operated for 20-plus years, and there have been a few others, such as New Realities, which closed when their lease expired in 2012. ![]() It’s a golden time for New Age shops in Omaha. ![]()
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