Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Jimenez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cristina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started three years ago with two friends who partnered up, one was already into spirituality and myself who was just beginning. I knew I wanted to help people and that I was going to have my own business one day and she knew she wanted to do something in Downey so we came together. But let me backtrack a bit, what led me to this in the first place was the fact that I was tired of working an 8-5 job. So I basically quit my job not knowing this was the path it would lead me to.
We decided to open a Metaphysical store in Downey primarily to provide Chakra energy healing for people and also spread the light and knowledge to our community.
We started small and simple. Our vision was to bring peace, tranquility, provide the best customer service possible and above all help those who need it. I think so far we have done that! We hear it from our customers when they come in, The calls we receive thanking us for how great they’ve felt after they received energy healing and from the reviews online. Our customers have become our friends and we have created a small community. We receive compliments in our prices, products, services and classes.
We have grown slowly and steady over the last three years but realized we needed to expand. So we decided to branch off and spread the light. Now there’s a sister store in LA (Starlight Crystal Center) ran by Maria where we continue to do our service and spread the light.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have to say it was not easy getting started at all. Right from the start, we were hitting obstacles left and right. We didn’t have much working capital to begin with! At the time we started looking for a location, we found out there were not that many places available. And when we finally did, the landlord requested two months of down payment on top of the first month’s rent. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining because I understand life is not always easy, but it made me a bit worried.
We also had to write a report for the city in order to get the business license approved because this was the first metaphysical store in the city and they had no idea what it was. (On the bright side, I learned that energy healing was also being used in hospitals 🙂 ) We then had to clear the energy of the building and bring it up to date. The inside had wallpaper all around and mini bathroom sinks, which were cute but not so comfortable.
Then came I, who was just starting on the spiritual path, was doubting my healing abilities and questioning whether healing crystals really worked. Here I was opening a metaphysical store with very little knowledge. I basically threw myself in the water without knowing how to swim. Haha… that’s the best way I can describe it and oh boy did I learn fast! Everything seemed to be happening so fast, my head was spinning. I was so excited to learn how to do energy healing that I was going full speed regardless of my insecurities. My confidence was building little by little though. I was really happy to hear people say they really liked my healing. It was gratifying to hear someone tell you they felt really calmed and good after a session. They gave me the positive feedback I needed to hear to believe in myself. I know better now and had to work and continue to work on myself. We are all work in progress.
While I was working through my insecurities and doubts, I also had to wear the manager hat and every other hat for that matter. Finding the right people to work with, the events we wanted to host and products we wanted to carry all added to the load. What also added to the challenge was the fact that we were not earning income for the first couple of months and that alone is stressful. Luckily we had friends for support, which in my opinion kept us going. They would literally come in and help us out. I have to give them a lot of credit because it weren’t for them it would have been a whole lot tougher.
Please tell us about Solar Lotus Healing Center.
We provide Chakra energy healing, Crystal healing, tarot card readings, psychic & mediumship readings and shamanic healing, most are by appointment, and we also sell crystals and novelties.
I basically wear all the hats for now haha… but I specialize on Chakra energy healing and crystal healing.
We are best known for our customer service, down to earth attitude and affordable prices. Our customers know we care for them and we try to help everyone that comes in which is what I am most proud of.
We spread the light by holding prayer circles on Sundays at 5:30 pm (open to the community) as well as sending healing energy to different focal points around the world in times of need such as now and the COVID 19 situation. We also hold Chakra healings by donation once a month and participate in homeless outreaches as much as possible.
I am proud to be of service to humanity and that is one of the things that also sets us apart from being just a metaphysical store. We also do cleansings on the spot for our customers before they leave and energize their crystals which is another thing that really sets us apart from the rest. Yes, we have to pay bills, but the real reason why we started Solar Lotus Healing Center and Starlight Crystal Center was to serve and be channels of white light to those who need it.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favor childhood memory is playing adventures in our block. All the kids from the block that were around my age would gather around and pretend the whole neighborhood was our playground. We would pretend we were going to unknown places venturing to see what we would find. So we would jump over fences, run through the grass of the neighborhood, climb trees, run through abandoned lots, etc. Those were fun times!
Contact Info:
- Address: 11016 Myrtle St Downey CA 90241
- Website: solarlotus.net
- Phone: 562.622.1155
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: _solar_lotus_
- Facebook: Solar Lotus Healing Center
- Yelp: Solar Lotus Healing Center
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