The Purple Door in Rochester, NY, owned by Connie Wake and Susan Fiandach, focuses on connection and empowerment. Their mission is to provide excellence and integrity in psychic-medium readings, fun classes, and inspirational products. With a foundation of psychic and holistic health services, Connie and Susan aim to help individuals live their best lives, intending their days with joy and fulfillment. Founded in 2007, The Purple Door offers a welcoming space for personal growth and exploration. MysticMag finds out more.
Connie and Susan, what inspired you to found The Purple Door, and how has the vision for the center evolved since its inception?
About 17 years ago, at the end of one career and searching for another, I was also on a spiritual journey. The shops in my hometown didn’t resonate with me, so I envisioned a simple place where people could enjoy shopping, attend classes, and have fun. I wanted to create a space that was open, accommodating, and non-judgmental, without being tied to any specific spiritual belief system. This vision inspired me to open the shop, and it has beautifully evolved since then. Susan joined me two years later, and together, we have continued to nurture this vision. Today, I believe we have successfully created a space where people can safely explore and express their authentic selves. This initial idea has grown into something much bigger than we ever expected. The idea of providing a safe and free space for people to explore themselves has truly blossomed into something remarkable.
How do your programs facilitate participants’ ‘a-ha’ moments, and can you describe a particularly impactful transformation you’ve witnessed?
Connie: We like to say that we allow people to walk into their own “a-ha” moments, and I think that aligns perfectly with our approach. We don’t tell people what to do or how to do it; we simply offer different perspectives within an open framework. This allows individuals to take what resonates with them and continue on their personal journeys. We see many transformations and light bulb moments.
Susan, who teaches psychic studies, experiences these moments dramatically. She regularly witnesses people discovering that they already have the intuitive knowledge within them. Whether it’s through a long workshop or a brief one-hour introduction, our exercises help people access the information in their brains that they haven’t been tapping into. It’s amazing to watch them realize that what they thought was just their imagination is actually their intuitive ability.
Susan: I often say, “Just trust what you know and let it flow.” This approach allows people to see that they don’t need to memorize steps or delve deeply into something for it to manifest. It’s already within them. Our premise has always been that it’s our nature, our biology and physiology, that allows us to access this intuitive knowledge. And that’s what we show people.
What advice do you give to individuals about celebrating their moments of growth and how to sustain that positive momentum in their daily lives?
It’s all about being aware of your surroundings, noticing the little things, and embracing the freedom that comes with that. In our everyday lives, we often hear people talk about signs and symbols from their loved ones. They wonder, “Are these signs from my loved ones?” For example, someone might say, “Every time I see this or hear this song, I think of my father. Is that my father reaching out to me?” My response to them is this: when you have a moment that reminds you of that person, just accept it. Don’t question whether it’s a sign or not. Just accept that the thought of that person came to you, and embrace the freedom that comes with it. This acceptance allows people to continue growing in their lives. It’s a part of my life philosophy to acknowledge that this journey isn’t about reaching a specific endpoint; it’s about enjoying the journey itself. The journey has its ups and downs, but as you experience joy and blessings in the moment, just keep moving forward. I find this approach to be inspirational without relying on false hopes or a glorified endpoint. It’s about finding joy in the journey, even during challenging times like grief. It’s a step-by-step process, and we’ve seen people gradually come out of their grief and start loving life again. Our goal is to provide them with moments of inspiration or something to hold onto for the day, helping them take one step at a time.
In what ways do you integrate different modalities (like meditation, mediumship, or energy healing) to help people explore and connect with their inner selves and the world around them?
In our store, we offer a variety of programs aimed at promoting well-being and personal growth. We hold bi-weekly and, at certain times of the year, weekly meditations, along with other types of meditative practices such as journaling, sound baths, and various healing modalities. However, while meditation is a key component of many of our programs, it is not utilized in our mediumship programs.
For us, meditation is primarily about health and well-being, and is not directly related to psychic or medium information. This distinction can sometimes be challenging for people, as meditation is often seen as a part of ceremonial or spiritual practices. Nevertheless, we acknowledge its benefits for overall health and include it in our healing classes and services.
We also offer internationally recognized Reiki courses, along with our own unique healing modalities, massage therapy, and reflexology. In our psychic medium studies, we emphasize tapping into one’s natural, innate senses. Additionally, we provide divination tools such as card readings, pendulum work, and crystal practices.
Our aim is to introduce people to these practices in a natural and accessible way. If individuals wish to pursue these practices further, either personally or professionally, they can choose to continue with our programs.
How do your classes and events create a sense of community among participants, and why do you believe this is important for personal empowerment and growth?
We have a welcoming community at our store, where people often feel a sense of connection with like-minded individuals. Many of our visitors return for our classes, enjoying the camaraderie and interaction with others. Our community is grassroots in nature, and people can feel the warmth and inclusivity as soon as they walk in.
While we are increasingly incorporating online platforms like Zoom, we still value the in-person connections and group events that our physical space provides. As we become more recognized in Rochester, our group events are growing, creating a vibrant community hub.
Creating a safe and trusting environment is fundamental to our ethos. We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel accepted, regardless of their beliefs or background. Our focus is on fostering a sense of community where people can share and learn from each other.
Unlike traditional spiritual or ceremonial spaces, we emphasize a casual and fun atmosphere. Our space is a place to relax, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy the company of others. It’s not uncommon for people to reconnect or meet new friends while visiting our store, adding to the sense of community and camaraderie. Community is at the heart of what we do, and we cherish the connections we’ve built with our visitors.
If you would like to find out more about The Purple Door, please visit
https://purpledoorsoulsource.com/
