‘Wellness felt inaccessible’: Pop-up shop gives community access to the power of crystals

Emily Richardson, Staff Writer

For 10 days in the serene space belonging to The Well Collective, crystals lined the shelves, each one as unique as the individual that would possess them.

A pop-up shop featuring crystals and crystal-infused products occupied The Well Collective last week, part of an ongoing initiative by the wellness center to feature small businesses in its retail space.

The “Crystal Pop-Up with Vee Cowles” was an opportunity for the community to experience what crystals can be used for and learn about the properties different varieties of crystals hold, Cowles said.

The Well Collective is a public space in Shockoe Bottom offering wellness-related classes and appointments, such as yoga, meditation and tarot card readings, as well as a retail space for various health and wellness-related products, according to its website. 

Vanessa “Vee” Cowels is The Well Collective’s retail lead as well as the owner of The Hummynbirds, an apothecary offering candles, body butters, scrubs and sprays, all with the goal of making crystal energy easy to use for people new to the practice, Cowles said.

Cowles got into wellness after she experienced a loss in her life, which led to the creation of The Hummynbirds, she said.

“I was asking questions and trying to go through my own grieving process,” Cowles said. “It’s really what landed me with the Hummynbirds. My own journey, and seeing how sometimes wellness felt inaccessible.”

Crystals can represent an intentional change or a direction you would like to go in your life, Cowles said. For example, a Carnelian gemstone is a popular choice for those who want to speak more courageously, she said.

“It reminds you, ‘I made a commitment to myself to speak up when I know that I want to speak up,’” Cowles said. “It’s like a physical reminder, and that’s how I explain it to skeptics before we get into all the energy work. Use it as a reminder of the commitment that you’re making to yourself.”

The Crystal Pop-Up was part of the Well Collective’s ongoing initiative, The Freedom Market. The Freedom Market aims to highlight local businesses by offering space for their products to be sold while ensuring vendors get to keep as much of their profits as possible, according to Cowles.

“I thought, ‘what if there was a place where everyone could share their passions without any limits?’” said Kiran Bhagat, creator of The Freedom Market and yoga teacher at The Well Collective.

The ultimate goal of The Freedom Market is to offer a platform for creatives to raise awareness for their products, causes and beliefs. The pop-up illustrates the type of unique experiences The Freedom Market aims to provide, Bhagat said.

“Creating The Freedom Market allowed me to let my creativity flow freely, while empowering others to do the same,” Bhagat said. “It’s all about embracing everyone’s uniqueness and creating a platform for self-expression.”

Crystals align with The Well Collective’s intention of being a space for people to explore various healing modalities, said Ashley Williams, CEO and founder of The Well Collective.

“Crystals are ancient tools used by indigenous people for healing purposes, ceremonial rituals and storytelling,” Williams said. “Creating space for others to learn about the history, healing benefits and present day ways to use individually and collectively is key to The Well Collective’s vision.”

The Freedom Market is a space for local entrepreneurs to sell their products and share their story in a city with a complicated history with freedom, Williams said.

“Historically, our city, and specifically the Shockoe Bottom area, is the epicenter of oppression and the birthplace of America’s economic development system,” Williams said. “It’s important to restore the freedom to create, own and share our gifts through removing barriers and creating access to space, community and education.”