We all know how much better we feel when we keep the focus on love, connection, growth, and beauty. At Dreaming Goddess in Poughkeepsie, owner Rhianna Mirabello has a bottomless treasure chest of ways to help you keep that focus, whether it be with the help of a piece of sterling jewelry or a crystal imbued with magic, the right essential oil or chakra candle, a sacred spray for the home, a reading or ritual, or even a whimsical gnome.
Rhianna is a well-traveled Hudson Valley native who’s found her calling in spiritual community building. “I have always walked to the beat of a different drummer,” she says. “My connection to the Earth and Her natural rhythms and cycles, along with the core belief that all things are spirit-filled, has led me to many wondrous and magical adventures. I knew early on that I would not be well-suited to the available 9 to 5 work options, so being creative about supporting myself was necessary.”
A nondenominational minister, shamanic practitioner, and reiki master teacher, Rhianna got her start in retail at festivals and craft fairs, selling jewelry that expressed her spiritual beliefs in the physical forms of crystal and stone and silver. “Selling at shows gave me an opportunity to generate an income, and to share the knowledge that I was gathering about the energy of the stones, and the power of the animal totems that were included in my designs,” she says. “I learned that consumers are attracted to a very specific energy and style. Those who like my particular vibe will find me. I learned to trust that all those years ago, and I still do now.”
It’s that emphasis on learning, interconnection, and loving-kindness that has made the Dreaming Goddess a unique blend of awareness center, cultural venue, and beyond-cool gift emporium.
In 1995, Rhianna opened her first brick-and-mortar shop—Call of the Wild Southwest Trading Post and Café in Beacon. “As the business grew, I was able to begin to incorporate more tools and items to support others on their spiritual journey,” she says. “It started off with a few crystals and herbs and a smattering of books. It was the natural ‘next thing,’ as it was what I knew and felt passionate about. I watched the healing that took place not only in my world, but in those around me. I wanted to share that healing and the profound difference these gifts could provide. Remember, this was 1995, with no internet—finding herbs and crystals was not easy! I was able to provide consumers with a commodity that was hard to come by and still carried a bit of stigma. We were pushing edges.”
“It is our mission to empower seekers to trust their own intuition as they search for tools that will support them on their journey.” –Rhianna Mirabello, owner
In 1998, she moved the shop from Beacon to Poughkeepsie’s Arlington neighborhood where it became Dreaming Goddess. “The shop needed a name that reflected our community-based foundation,” Rhianna says. “The Dreaming Goddess was an Oracle in Malta 6,000 years ago. She shared healing and wisdom not only with individuals, but her broader focus was on healing the community.
It was perfect for the energy I was fostering.” Sure enough, those who like her particular vibe continued to find her, and in 2011, Dreaming Goddess moved to a larger location just around the corner, eventually knocking out a wall and turning the space next door into a dedicated space for crystals and stones.
This is a store that’s more than a store. “We are in the business of supporting people on their journey toward healing, self-awareness, and spiritual connection. I am deeply invested in offering people an experience that can’t be recreated at the mall or via shopping online, and I work diligently to provide our customers with a magical, uplifting experience,”
Rhianna says. “And we all collaborate on that. As a team, we are all invested in giving each customer a positive experience, and we genuinely want to support them in finding the right items to help them on their journey. Each team member is experienced and educated in all things DG, which translates into delightfully supportive customer service.”
“We are in the business of supporting people on their journey toward healing, self-awareness, and spiritual connection.” –Rhianna Mirabello, owner
Rhianna may have established herself in retail (in fact, she took a “Best of Hudson Valley” award for Entrepreneur in 2019), but she’s still vagabonding and learning as she goes. “I travel to gift shows, festivals, craft fairs, and other events around the globe, searching for items that fit the vision of our shop and our customers,” she says. “I like to search out companies who are fair trade, giving back to communities, and working with families to better their lives. And whenever I travel, I look for and visit shops like my own.
“The Dreaming Goddess was an Oracle in Malta 6,000 years ago. She shared healing and wisdom, not only with individuals, but her broader focus was on healing the community. It was perfect for the energy I was fostering.”
I love to see how others are making it work. It’s inspiring. I am blessed to have a handful of women in my life that own metaphysical shops in the Northeast. We’re part of a networking group; we can ask questions and support each other personally. We all see each other once a year at a trade show and we always make the time to connect.”
It’s that emphasis on learning, interconnection, and loving-kindness that has made the Dreaming Goddess a unique blend of awareness center, cultural venue, and beyond-cool gift emporium. “My business philosophy is reflected in three words: experience, empowerment, and expression,” Rhianna says.
“To provide an environment that gifts each person who walks through the door with a curiously peaceful experience that allows them to explore and express their spiritual nature. It is our mission to empower seekers to trust their own intuition as they search for tools that will support them on their journey.” Since she first began her journey, the culture has shifted. “I’m super excited that there is growing acceptance of alternative spiritual modalities,” she says. “Many of the items I carry have become household words and wares.
Our competitors are now big box retail stores, jumping on trends which have been part of our business for decades. What sets us apart is our decades of experience, our knowledgeable team, and our commitment to customer service.” In spring 2020, Rhianna will be celebrating a quarter-century in business in the Hudson Valley with a 25th Anniversary Extravaganza.
The festivities will be “outside with local craft vendors, entertainment, and food,” says Rhianna. “And—as is the style of the DG—some fabulous surprises to celebrate and give back to the community that has supported us and made our enduring presence possible.”
dreaming goddess
44 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie
845-473-2206 | dreaminggoddess.com
