 | | | Goddess Gatherings co-owners Jen Grossi (left) and Amy Miller Photo Vera Kochan | | | | | | Unlike anything in the Lamorinda area, Goddess Gatherings (3534 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette) has arrived to offer a space where according to their website, "anyone wishing to honor the reawakening energy of the Divine Feminine can join in celebration, ceremony and stillness."
With a soft opening on Oct. 1, 2022, followed by an official ribbon cutting on March 22, co-owners Amy Miller and Jen Grossi, who have known each other for seven years, describe Goddess Gatherings as a small hybrid retail/gathering/art gallery center.
Don't let the name fool you, gentlemen. All are welcome; male and female, young and old, and the first reaction from anyone entering the room is "Wow!" An explosion of color in the form of paintings by local artists, new-to-you clothing, new clothing by the Karma Highway label, jewelry, home décor, wellness products, candles, crystals, furniture, ceramics and more are all for sale. But, the fun doesn't stop there.
The retail space turns into a participation venue with upcoming events such as "Freedom Flow Movement & Dance," "Sound Sensations - A Sound Bath," and "Energy Movement Yoga" when tables and chairs are pushed to the side to allow for spreading out.
Gathering Goddesses began as Miller's brain child. "It's the culmination of all my passions. I was a fine arts major and loved to create." Miller crafts a lot of the jewelry for sale calling it "Peace and Magic," exhibits her paintings on the walls, and describes the furniture for purchase as a "Bohemian wanderlust of found, vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces."
Grossi describes Miller as a "curator of magical things. She believes in putting forth positivity, and she keeps changing things in the shop so that it's always different."
Before the concept of a retail space struck her, Miller and five other women started meeting within the small circle of friends. "We called it Goddess Gatherings and celebrated our femininity. It was so powerful. I tried doing pop-ups in different locations, and eventually was ready to bring this to a larger group." In the meantime, Grossi was considering opening a yoga studio, so the two joined forces to open their Lafayette location.
The company logo is a Vesica Pisces surrounded by six rays of light. A Vesica Pisces is a mathematical shape formed by the intersection of two discs with the same radius, intersecting in such a way that the center of each disc lies on the perimeter of the other. It can be interpreted as the blending of masculine and feminine, and it is also believed to be an ancient symbol of the Divine Feminine. The six rays of light represent the original six members of the Goddess Gatherings who, by the way, help conduct the various events offered.
"We're grateful to be here," said Grossi, "and grateful that the community has been open to us."
For more information visit: www.goddessgatherings.com. |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA