New Age store Mystical Horizons turns 25
Mystic — Maureen Pavelski and Lynn Merritt met 27 years ago at a Norwich fair as they both stood waiting for a psychic to come and give them readings.
The psychic never arrived, but Merritt and Pavelski made a connection and two years later opened Mystical Horizons, the New Age store they have successfully operated for the past 25 years.
"We started talking and we just clicked," said Pavelski, explaining the two hatched their idea of creating a business where other like-minded people could come to shop, for readings, and to find inspiration.
In 1990, they opened Mystical Horizons off Route 27 in Old Mystic, which is still their "mothership" business, and in 2003 added a second location at 313 Flanders Road in East Lyme.
For the uninitiated, psychic readings are an attempt to discern information through the use of heightened perceptive abilities, and at Mystical Horizons, Merritt, who uses tarot cards, is one of the primary readers.
In addition to her teaching classes, and offering readings, the shop sells a variety of books, candles, oils, crystals, gemstones, incense, jewelry and other items.
"We are a New Age metaphysical bookstore with gifts and jewelry," said Merritt.
But in reality, Mystical Horizons is much more. It is a niche business in a unique location that the owners believe has been able to survive because of its satisfied and dedicated repeat customers.
"Some people tell us that whenever they visit the area they make us part of their ritual," said Pavelski.
"I have one customer who told me she's been through a divorce, her family has disowned her, and boyfriends come and go, but I have been the one constant in her life," said Merritt, a licensed clinical social worker who said regardless of whether she sees people in a clinical setting, at Mystical Horizons, or somewhere else, they have the same issues and problems.
"With cards, and psychic intuition, I can still help people," she said, adding that she's long been aware of her special abilities.
"I've known I was a psychic ever since I was a child," she said.
Pavelski still works as a wig stylist, in addition to her time at Mystical Horizons, and said the New Age business has allowed the women to meet many authors, musicians and interesting people.
"When I first met Lynn, I told her, I work on the outside of heads and you work on the inside," said Pavelski.
Once or twice a year, Mystic Horizons leads a small-group trip to someplace like the Sedona vortexes, or to Mount Shasta in California, which New Age followers believe is a sacred source of harmony and peace.
They will go to a home party for group readings, to corporate gatherings, and four times a year host two-day events featuring dozens of the per-diem readers that they use.
"We treat all of our customers with respect, empathy and compassion," said Merritt, who added that over the years she has done readings for everyone from a chambermaid to congressional aides.
"We live the New Age lifestyle," she said. "We believe in the concepts that we have here. We believe in the crystals, and the pendulums and the higher power."
Both women said the Old Mystic location, set back off the road and across the street from the Old Mystic General Store, is a quiet and peaceful location, and an oasis of sorts.
"We thought it was a perfect location," said Merritt.
Not long after they opened Mystical Horizons, Merritt said the owners helped to convince the then-state legislature to repeal an old blue law outlawing fortune telling. And they overcame another hurdle in 2010, when severe flooding closed their business for about a month, when 18 inches of water invaded the Old Mystic store.
Now, the two owners focus on their retail sales, the readings, trips, classes and whatever else they can offer to customers to enhance their sense of well-being.
"We offer personal service. We really care about our customers," said Pavelski. And Merritt added, "We've been serving three generations now."
What: Mystical Horizons
Who: Lynn Merritt and Maureen Pavelski
Where: Two locations, the original, off Route 27 in Old Mystic, and another store, at 313 Flanders Road in East Lyme.
Employees: In addition to the owners, one full-time and one part-time worker
Phone: (860) 572-9191 (Mystic) and (860) 691-2627 (East Lyme)
Website: www.mysticalhorizons.com
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