About Us
Psychic's Thyme: The
Fool's Journey
Charlene Hacker
I taught
meditation at Greece Continuing Education from 1993 until 1997.
I used a Chakra meditation video that has you visualize something
using your third eye Chakra, the video says "see it, feel it, smell it,
taste it, touch it, make it as real as you can."
Each time I would visualize a store with cool New Age things in
it. The only shop sort of
like what I wanted was Aquagenesis on Edmonds Street, so I would
visualize an Aquagenesis, but with more merchandise! At that time
I was also taking Wise Woman classes for my High Priestess Certification
from my HP Deb Guite. She was working at Aquagenesis part time
when the owner decided to move her business out to Fairport closer to
her home closing her Edmonds Street shop.
For two years that shop was empty. One day Deb dropped by the
Edmonds Street building to visit the “Shoe” man next door.
He asked her if she knew anyone interested in opening a New Age
type place where Aquagenesis had been as people were still looking for a
place like that after two years!
She said maybe and called me.
I had just spent a
small inheritance my Grandmother had left me to remodel my basement.
I was pretty upset. That
money would have been great seed money.
I was sadly telling my parents about this and my Dad says "I
can't give you very much but I will loan you $2,000 to use for a shop." I said "cool thanks!"
Now anyone will tell you that $2,000 is not enough to pay rent,
buy stock, buy fixtures or start anything but I didn't know that and I
trusted that the Goddess and God would provide. I ordered two each of
five Tarot decks that my readers used, a couple of beginner books, a few
stones, got some consignment jewelry from local artists and some
incense. My son's
girlfriend worked at J.C. Penneys at the time and was in charge of
displays. Stores like J.C.
Penneys throw out fixtures every season, they can give the stuff away
but can't sell it. So I
took whatever she had that would hold books.
I couldn't pay help and I knew a lot of psychics that read out of
their homes, not a very good idea. So I decided to ask them to rent
space at the shop and help out at the counter when they weren't reading.
Five women said yes.
Of them all, that was probably my best idea.
What better staff to have advise customers on purchases of Tarot,
herbs, and crystals than the very people that use them everyday?
We opened
Psychic’s Thyme on April 1st, 1996.
That fall during my meditation class in Greece I stopped dead
while I was explaining the Chakra meditation to my students.
I suddenly realized I had done it.
I had materialized the shop in the EXACT location I had meditated
on for three years!
When we opened in
1996, New Voyage a large New Age shop, was still on Monroe. We were not
nearly big enough to worry them.
By 1997 they had closed for various reasons and we were the only
tiny New Age shop left in Rochester. In 1997 Psychic’s Thyme was
asked to take New Voyages place at the biggest Psychic Fair in
Rochester. That was the year of expansion.
We doubled our meager stock, did very well at the fair, and
really got our name out there. We also did lectures at Barnes &
Noble in Brighton. We were their most popular speakers and drew crowds
of well over 40 people every time.
More free publicity!
Psychic's Thyme just took off!
Because my HP was
a founder of Northeast Council of W.I.C.C.A., we wanted to do open
rituals and teach Wicca at the shop.
It was a great way to safely network.
We became a haven for many solitaries and we helped several new
groups form and grow. We
wanted people of all paths have a place to ask questions without being
judged or led in any direction. We wanted to empower people and I feel
we have in many ways. We now have new readers, the original women have
moved on, but the dream is the same…a safe, nonjudgmental place to be
who you are and get the information you need to grow and heal
spiritually, a place to meet like minded people and form a community of
enlightenment.
Because I didn't
know I couldn't do this, WE did it!
All of us! The
readers, myself, and our community.
And the Fool's Journey goes on today, back in our old
neighborhood with our old and new friends. As we continue to grow and evolve my hope is you will allow
us continue to serve as your New Age shop.
Brightest Blessings and Thanks for 12 years of your love and support.
Char
