With an Om symbol on the front door, Crystals, Reiki, and Readings brings a different kind of energy to the Tops Plaza in Ellenville. The shop stands among restaurants and the now-vacant building that once housed Tops Friendly Markets, and features displays of crystals, colorful tapestries and decorative lights, all reflecting its spiritual focus.

Behind the front desk, surrounded by chakra imagery, her personal collection of crystals and a small Buddha figurine, Georgia Jackson burns incense. Its scent greets visitors as soon as they walk through the door.

Jackson grew up in a Southern Baptist family in Georgia, in the Bible Belt, where crystals and similar spiritual practices were considered a “no-no.” After her grandmother passed away, however, Jackson began exploring spirituality on her own. Although her business offers several services, she said her journey began with crystals.

“Crystals, I've been interested in since I was a kid,” Jackson said. “I just had started collecting crystals on a ridiculous level, and I had a collection that could have been a store because it was just a lot, and so over time, I just decided to make it a business.”

Jackson initially operated a studio in New Paltz, but said the venture did not work out. One day, while doing laundry at a nearby laundromat, she noticed a “for rent” sign on a vacant storefront at the Tops Plaza. After looking into the space, she opened Crystals, Reiki, and Readings in April.

Her interest in Reiki developed more gradually. Initially skeptical, Jackson eventually tried it herself and had a positive experience. Wanting to explore it further, she began attending “Reiki shares,” communal sessions she described as a more accessible alternative to individual treatments.

“I say that Reiki is everything. I've been saying that since my level two class,” Jackson said. “We all have the energy of Reiki. It is everywhere and it's everything. And the same thing with crystal healing energy.”

Jackson conducts Reiki and crystal healing sessions in a separate room, where the lighting is dimmer and the atmosphere quieter. A tapestry depicting zodiac signs, the moon and stars hangs above a treatment table lined with crystals. Customers lie on a bed covered with a tie-dye blanket, surrounded by spiritual imagery and soft pink LED lights.

During Reiki sessions, Jackson focuses on channeling energy without placing crystals on customers. For crystal healing, she selects stones based on what customers are seeking and may place or rub them against their bodies. She said the process is intuitive, much like her approach to Oracle card readings.

Unlike Tarot decks, which follow a standardized structure of 78 cards divided into the major and minor arcana, Oracle decks have fewer rules and can vary widely in their themes and designs. Jackson allows customers to choose a deck and select the cards they feel drawn to. From there, she said, the reader must “read from the heart.”

Jackson prefers when customers come in without a specific question, allowing the reading to provide broader guidance rather than focusing on one concern. She believes everyone has the intuition needed to interpret Oracle cards.

“I think more people come in and they just want to know, ‘Where am I going? What am I doing?’ And it's usually reassurance,” Jackson said.

Although Jackson does not follow one particular spiritual tradition, describing herself as “eclectic” and “spiritual,” the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism is visible throughout the shop. She said she is drawn to these traditions because of their association with peace, which also explains her connection to the Om symbol.

“I'm very big on protect your peace, and so the Om symbol is kind of like protect your peace for me,” Jackson said.

For Jackson and the other businesses at the Tops Plaza, however, maintaining that peace has become more difficult. The closure of Tops Friendly Markets earlier this year reduced foot traffic and left the plaza's remaining businesses hoping another grocery store will eventually take its place.

“We still have people sometimes, but it is definitely quieter for sure. I'm hoping that something comes soon,” Jackson said. “We keep hearing all this ‘Aldi, Aldi, Aldi.’ So hopefully it's an Aldi. I don't know, something.”

Despite the slowdown, Jackson continues to build connections with the community. Her customers range from her daughter's school friends to senior citizens living in nearby Ellenville Senior Housing. She also participates in craft fairs and carnivals, is working to start a circle in Lake Katrine and volunteers at hospitals in Kingston. Through these activities, she reaches people who might not otherwise know the shop exists.

Once visitors arrive, Jackson hopes they leave with more than an appreciation for the store's colorful displays. She encourages newcomers to “ask the questions” and look beyond the crystals to learn about the practices behind them. She said her Oracle readings, which she initially conducted for herself and friends, have also become a way to help people open up.

“Everybody likes something shiny. They see the crystals, and then they start to read about the things that the crystals can do. And usually, it opens us up a little bit,” Jackson said.

Crystals, Reiki, and Readings is located at 106 Tops Markets Boulevard in Ellenville. The shop is open Tuesdays and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays from 1 to 7 p.m. More information is available here: www.crrwellness.com.