A place for 'spiritual healing:' The Bluegrass Witch opens on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville

For the past 20 years, Simpsonville native Kristen Zoeller has been interested in spiritual healing.

"I found I just liked to be out in the woods and collect rocks and different organics," Zoeller said. "I was 15 years old when this big transition happened. I started learning yoga and meeting more mentors who were teaching me about this sort of spiritual life."

At 16, Zoeller began selling crystal jewelry. Years passed and she eventually found herself as a vendor at Logan Street Market , where she stayed for four years.

Now she's opening a brick-and-mortar shop in the hope she can bring spiritual healing to the masses.

The Bluegrass Witch , 2040 Frankfort Ave., is a metaphysical shop that sells crystals, jewelry, aromatherapy, herbs, burn bundles, and other items for the "spiritually inclined." The store, which soft-launched in May, officially opened on June 28.

"I'm very lucky," Zoeller, 35, told the Courier Journal of the success she's found in her new space so far . But that success isn't without some struggles.

"When I first opened my business, a lot of people were like 'oh I don't know if you should put witch in the name.' Some people really are fearful," Zoeller said. "Some people, because of the name of the shop, assume I identify as Pagan or Wiccan , but that's not the case either."

Zoeller defines a "witch" as someone who doesn't have a set definition of their beliefs but keeps an open mind as life continues and adapts to those changes spiritually through a connection with the Earth.

Zoeller wants her store to help people heal and feel "light and love" within their communities.

To Zoeller, this healing is characterized by "connecting with your inner soul and allowing yourself to be open and let your heart decide what feels best instead of somebody else's opinion or idea of what you should or shouldn't be."

One of the most popular items sold at The Bluegrass Witch is a burn bundle, which is a small collection of natural products tied together with the purpose of burning to create a specific feeling.

For example, a lavender burn bundle is meant to help manifest peace and calmness, Zoeller said.

The store has also seen success in the way of its classes and events, which have all sold out since the store soft-opened in May.

"It's been really cool to have a lot of people. We just had a lady from Norway come in. She was in town for work, but came in to explore," Zoeller said.

Zoeller hopes people give her shop a chance and come out to explore, even if they've never had any experience with crystals, sage, or other metaphysical items.

"Explore and see what connects," Zoeller said. "Every single person who comes into the shop, I feel like they're all looking for something different at that point in their life. Just kind of depending on where they are and how they are feeling, I would direct them in different ways."

The Bluegrass Witch is open Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Reach business reporter Bailey Reed at breed1@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: A place for 'spiritual healing:' The Bluegrass Witch opens on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville