A new shop, guided by angels
By Anya Tikka
PORT JERVIS — Barbara Hanick believes in serving "the whole person" through natural products and spiritual advice.
“I’m trying to teach people they don’t have to go buy cough syrup,” said Hanick, whose shop, Our Mother Earth, recently opened at 158 Pike Street in Port Jervis. "They can use, herbs, essential oils to get better, for healing.
“I just feel like a very old soul, and I’ve always been into the natural. It just came to me.”
The shop offers treatments that include raindrops detoxification therapy, the use of essential oils, reflexology, foot therapy, and oxygen therapy.
It sells distinctive gifts like crystals, locally produced honey and maple syrup, books, and essential oils. An organic facial line is also available.
To help people mentally and spiritually, the shop offers psychic, angel, and tarot card readings by appointment.
Hanick said her mission is to “make people more conscious of what healing naturally is, utilizing the earth, (what) God put on this earth.”
“I’m supposed to be here,” she said.
She'd heard that the shop was available while also learning that the building where her old shop was located was going to be sold.
“Everything fell into place," she said. "My son also told me about this location, and then another person, again, who knew the owner.”
But the road she's traveled on the way to this happy juncture wasn't easy.
“My husband passed away six years ago," she said. "I had had a shop similar to this years ago, but I was young, and it only lasted a few years. My husband always knew I wanted to have a shop of my own.”
The death of Jack, her husband, led to a spiritual journey guided by angels and by her husband from the other side.
“That’s why I do angel readings here,” Hanick said with a smile. “I’m trying to help people find their spiritual path. Angels have been guiding me, Jack has been guiding me."
She also has guest readers, including Robi Kay, a spiritual reader who recently moved from Michigan and felt guided to Hanick’s store.
“Robi walked into my store needing something for a headache," said Hanick. "She’d moved from Michigan, and found me on the Internet. She was also connected to a family friend. Robi felt Jack here. Everything comes guided to me.”
Kay was visiting the store.
“I’m a psychic spiritual counselor," said Kay. "I’ve been seeing things all my life. I’m very intuitive, and also use crystals and angel cards for readings.”
She said her mother, daughter, and grandparents all did the same, and that her great-great grandmother was a Gypsy/Roma from Russia.
“Everyone seems to be very welcoming," she said. “It’s been wonderful, just to see people waking by here," she said. "I was learning what I do, what my craft is. Here, now I feel I’m ready for that next step. Here the people are just wonderful, they walk in, and it’s drawing like-minded people. It’s taking off.”
She said she tries to keep prices affordable.
“Besides the essential oils, there are no expensive items in the store," she said. "Prices range from $5 going up to $150.”
She’s also planning to start giving classes in the spring
The shop's winter hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Monday and Wednesday. For more information call 845-649-9642, or visit mkt.com/our-mother-earth. You can also find the shop on Facebook.