LOCAL BUSINESSES
The Purple Toad offers resources to heighten spiritual practices
A new shop just opened near campus, and it’s got everything one could need to strengthen their spiritual practices. The Purple Toad, located at 306 North Edward Gary Street St. B, has journals, crystals, candles and educational books, as well as tarot cards and readers among many other wares. On top of that, store owner Trena Labowski has ensured that the atmosphere in the store is inviting and beautiful.
Labowski’s connection to the metaphysical has gone back through generations of her family.
“My great grandfather was what is most commonly known in the Appalachian Hills, which is where my family’s from, as a water witch. … [which involves taking an] apple branch and looking for water or using divining rods and looking for water. People came looking to him to help them find water,” she said. “My great grandmother, his wife, she was known amongst the community as a granny witch; although she didn’t like that title because she was actually a church going woman. But she helped with birthing; she was a midwife and helped people heal, like with poultices and different types of teas and things like that.”
Her great grandmother is also the source of the shop’s name.
“When I was being obnoxious and giving her nasty faces, she would tell me, ‘Stop being such a purple toad,’” Labowski said.
Among the store’s many wares is a robust tarot card collection.
“I have an extensive tarot deck collection that was my personal collection. Every deck that you see in here … I have collected over the past 30 years,” she said. “We have oracle cards. We have books to help people to learn tarot and Oracle — reading spiritually, even if it’s just for yourself, doing daily affirmations. How’s my day supposed to go? What should I do today to prevent something? What would be my best move for today? Things like that.”
There are plenty of educational reading materials among other books as well as journals. The shop offers incense, and Labowski said she can find a scent that will appeal to anyone, even those that say they don’t typically like them. She also has any items one could need to set up an altar.
“Then I have altar supplies that’s for someone who is already on their spiritual path, already has a god or a goddess that they have resonated with and they are connected to,” she said. “That helps with their prayers. … Instead of going to church, they go to their altar.”
The Purple Toad also has a lot of crystals and stones, both on jewelry and alone, that serve various purposes.
“There are people who are going through life that are just stressed and maxed out, and they feel exhausted all the time. And sometimes a good piece of Tourmaline helps them as just a reminder to take a deep breath,” Labowski said. “I do have a couple of quartz skulls out there that are what is known as resonators. They amplify the energies in the room.”
Unlike a lot of stores, one is encouraged to open up an item and get acquainted with it.
“If you see a tarot deck that you like, don’t be afraid to touch it, open it, connect with it,” Labowski said. “You can’t do that in most stores; They don’t want you breaking the seal.”
Not only is the product selection expansive, but it’s inexpensive too.
“I wanted some place where they could … find things that maybe can help them at an affordable rate,” Labowski said. “And if I don’t have it, I want to find it for them, because I love doing research, and I love shopping.”
Though the majority of the items are born out of pagan practices, Labowski said any spiritual or religious practice can be heightened using these tools.
“They can find the things that they need, or if they’re curious, they can read about things. Plus, we have a few oddities here and there. They can learn trades. They can learn how to do Tarot reading if they want to. We’re going to have classes on that. They can learn pendulum reading. We’re going to do classes on that. [They can learn] Meditation to help you sleep, to help you focus on your school work, things like that. I want to be able to help people.”
She has envisioned the Purple Toad as a safe place for diverse people to explore their spiritual beliefs.
“All my life, I have wanted to own my own metaphysical store that was a comfort place, some place that people could come to to feel safe in their beliefs no matter what it is,” Labowski said. “[A place where they could] not feel criticized, not feel like they can’t talk about it, not ask questions. A place that has respect for all religions, all colors, all races. All I want is a safe space.”
Since the store is located right by Texas State University, Labowski gets many student customers and is hoping to create partnerships with them in the future.
“The college kids have been a blast. I love talking with them, and I’m wanting to do some stuff with some of the college art kids,” Labowski said. “I want to do some commission stuff. I want some of their paintings, and I’m going to get some of the most Baroque, bodacious, gaudy gold frames, and hang them up and try to sell their stuff for them.”
Hop in to The Purple Toad to learn more about metaphysical practices and bolster supplies or take one of their classes. The next class is the Divination Class, which involves learning how to use a pendulum to “unlock the wisdom of your highest self,” according to the flyer. It will be held at the store from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April 7.
