A year ago, Sasha Barrie gave it all up: A secure job, its great hours, a pension and a cool workplace.
She was employed in administration at the Port Moody recreation complex for 15 years and, as a front-desk clerk, she knew — just about everyone — by their first name.
But it wasn’t enough.
Like many people in their 50s, Barrie looked around and asked herself, “Is this it?”
She had passion she wanted to pursue but couldn’t make the jump.
Her partner, Lynn Oldenburg, a facilities supervisor at the Port Moody rec centre, finally gave her the push.
Together, they opened White Lotus Divine Healing, an exclusive metaphysical store offering holistic healing products and therapies — a first of its kind in the Tri-Cities.
Because Barrie had practised alternative forms of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual insight for years, she recognized there was a demand locally.
“There are a lot of people who, like me, are looking for something more because they’re not finding the answers they need through traditional means,” Barrie said.
In their St. Johns Street business — a former chiropractor’s office — they sell locally sourced goods such as stone and crystal jewellery, teas, herbs, aromatherapy and books. The mini precious rocks take the centre spot — a favourite with the kids, Barrie said.
On the sides, there are rooms for their nine practitioners, all of whom bring their own skill sets and customer base as well as lead workshops on site.
The practitioners — Christine Constance, Lea Ceri, Maric Bajric, Kelly Delbianco, Christine Brian, Diane MacDonald, Rosemary King, Zoey Wren and Mette Joy Drager — work in a range of mediums: energy kinesiology, intuitive readers, energy/sound healing, hypnotherapy, meditation, shamanic healing, counselling, tarot reading, reflexology and akashic records reading. “We have got everything you need here,” Barrie said while scanning the store.
Educators and healers will demonstrate at White Lotus Divine Healing for its first-year celebration at an open house on Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m. Visit whitelotusdivinehealing.ca for more details.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
