Date published: 30 March 2022
Photo: Katie Haigh
Kimberley Goldie, The Lancashire Wellness Witch
A new independent holistic health shop has opened on Bridge Street in Heywood.
Run by Kimberley Goldie, The Lancashire Wellness Witch and Monkey Town Clothing provides a range of alternative clothing and giftware, as well as various holistic health services including aromatherapy massage and crystal healing.
Kim – who classes herself as a witch – is a qualified holistic practitioner and a senior level three health care assistant for the NHS, having worked for the health service for over a decade.
Wanting to use her skills to help people in a more ‘natural’ way, she could see there was interest after talking to people in the local community.
She said: “There are a lot of misconceptions about witchcraft, paganism etc., I feel there isn’t any darkness to it, no more than there is to Christianity or Buddhism.
“I myself don’t follow a specific Pagan or Wicca path; I would class myself as more of a witch.
“When some people come into the shop, they can be a little apprehensive, but they want a nosey to see what goes on. I am as welcoming as possible and everyone has left with a smile and a better understanding. I just want to educate people.”
Candles at The Lancashire Wellness Witch
Tarot readings at The Lancashire Wellness Witch
One of the services Kim provides is a Wicca library where customers can come in, sit down and read, as well as offering ritual workshops to let go of bad energy.
Participants come together as a group in a safe space, and can take home something they’ve made during the workshop, such as a ‘moon bottle’ containing crystals and herbs.
Kim added: “I really want to do these workshops to educate people, ritual can be a scary word because we’ve been taught by Hollywood that it involves goat sacrifices and things like that and that isn’t the case. A ritual can be something as simple as having your morning brew. We all partake in rituals without realizing it.”
The Lancashire Wellness Witch also provides ritual bath soaks, Kim’s own blends of herbal teas, cups, tea infusers, aromatherapy candles and homemade spell bags, plus Monkey Town Clothing, a range of personalized t-shirts, jumpers and accessories, mostly gothic or witch -themed.
