All Aglow at Radiance Gifts

Hippy. Dippy. Trippy.

Thirteen years ago, Lisa Tjaden was not any of these things. Today, the owner of Radiance Gifts is happy to label herself as all three.

“The biggest transformation has been my own life,” she said. When she purchased the Corydon Avenue store from its original owner, she was starting out on her journey. “I’m happy. I’m following my bliss. It’s a cliché, but it is what our souls call us to do.”

Over the years, she has come to know the properties of the crystals she sells well, earning her customers’ trust. “They come into the store and say, ‘Lisa, what do I need?’”

Many customers begin their research online, including the store’s website, radiancegifts.com, but then arrive, phone in hand, to see the product in person. People also come in with crystals purchased from other online retailers and are disappointed to learn that what they’ve purchased elsewhere is not genuine.

The store is a place for people who are looking for answers. “The path starts here and includes all belief systems,” she said. When Radiance opened 24 years ago, it was a spiritual bookstore. As the landscape shifted, so has the shop’s offerings.

With classroom and presentation space, Radiance hosts nearly 100 events and workshops throughout the year. They include topics such as chakra balancing, crystal and Tarot card education, crystal sound healing, Reiki, and author signings and readings. The store’s wide selection of crystals, candles, art and aromatherapy includes local suppliers such as the Aromansse Essential Oils and Brie’s Botanicals.

Tjaden said the demographics of her customers have changed through the years, with men now making up nearly half of her customers, when previously the majority were women. She said though the years the stigma surrounding the exploration of the metaphysical has diminished.

All Photos by Claudine Gervais