#hippie surrender

The shop assistant, dangle earrings and silver curls, is sorting through salt crystals on the counter as I walk up. 

"Hi sweetheart," she says and smiles, warm, motherly. "How can I help you?"

"Um," I start, at one percent of her at-home-in-the-worldness, "I'd like some of those, uh, reiki oils?"

"The Kate's Magik ones?" she asks and turns to a wall of small, round, brown-glass bottles."Sure! Which one would you like?"

"I'd like 'Healing,' and, uh..." I look around the shop. Its denizens are engrossed in choosing spirit animals guides, smelling aromatherapy candles, not eavesdropping on the tarot reading going on at the top of the stairs. "And 'Moon Goddess,' please."

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