The March 20 spring equinox was more than just the start of the season. It also was the reopening of October Embers, which was closed for most of February and all of January.

Owner Amber Devick called the reopening event Seeds of Spirit, a phrase which she said was meant to encapsulate the core mission of the day – planting intentions and fostering growth. She chose March 20 because it was the ultimate day for beginnings.

“The event was created to serve as a ‘Cosmic Green Light’ for our community to gather, soak in the high-vibrational energy and find tools that help bridge the gap between their current self and their future goals,” she said.

According to Devick, the reopening functioned like an open house for her personal sanctuary where the act of shopping was treated as a ritual for the new season.

“As guests arrived at our property, the focus was on the community,” she said. “If a guest brought a friend who inspires their growth, they didn’t just walk in – they were greeted with a complimentary manifestation herb and crystal sachet and special discounts. This set the tone that the day was about more than just commerce. It was about the energy of the people you surround yourself with. Throughout the day, the shop acted as a high-vibrational gathering space. There was a collective planting of intentions where guests soaked in the atmosphere, met like-minded seekers and foraged for the tools they needed to help their personal lives bloom alongside the earth.”

The spring equinox celebration is called Ostara. Devick said it is a turning point in the year when day and night are in perfect balance, and is the earth’s grand reopening.

“It marks the arrival of spring – the moment the earth truly stirs from its winter slumber and the energy of the new reaches its peak,” she said. “. . . It’s the day we stop dreaming about what we want to build and start planting actual seeds – spiritual and physical – to make it happen.”

Devick explained that her store, October Embers, slows down during the winter months for a time of “wintering.”

“Wintering is the practice of resting and retreating from the busyness of the world and intentionally living in alignment with the seasons,” she said.

At the heart of the Seeds of Spirit was a manifestation market, a curated, uplifting experience designed to help people transition from quiet preparation into active growth.

“It provided a dedicated space for people to find the physical tools – the seeds – they needed to manifest their goals for the upcoming season,” Devick said. “It was a collective planting of intentions where the atmosphere was just as important as the inventory.”

Devick created October Embers as a Facebook business in August 2018. It became a brick and mortar shop and officially opened its doors to the public in October 2022. Open two to five times each month, the wares of the store include holistic health items, divination tools, crystals, oddities, vintage goods, organic tea blends, Tibetan singing bowls, pendulums, tarot decks and spiritual books and more.

The store does host events during the season. The next is today from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Kayleen Wills will offer Human Design Journey & Mini Activation readings.

“This will be her second time hosted at October Embers,” Devick said. “Her event is being offered as a tool for self discovery. She will be offering a personalized printout of each client’s Human Design Chart and take-home resources to support their integration. Each session is guided by intuition, energy and an oracle card message to help anchor them into their next evolution. She is almost booked up for this event.”

If anyone wishes to sign up, the event is on the October Embers Facebook page with more details and a calendar link to reserve time with Wills. October Embers will be open throughout the duration of the Human Design Event.

“At the end of the day, October Embers isn’t just a shop; it’s a sanctuary,” Devick said. “I wanted this space where the community could feel safe and welcome to forage for the tools, the wisdom and the connections they need to truly bloom this year.”

BUSINESS INFORMATION:

Name: October Embers

Address: 2125B Three Bridges Rd.

Hours: Varied. Open days and hours are determined at the beginning of each month and posted to social media.

Email: amberdevick@gmail.com

Website: Facebook

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.