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Natural Awakenings Lehigh Valley

Metaphysical Store Owner Provides a Piece of Serenity

Jun 26, 2018 05:12PM ● By Sheila Julson

When Nanci Hummer was considering names for her new age metaphysical shop, she wanted a moniker that reflects how customers can experience a healing peace both in and out of her store. Creating the name The Loving Piece was an easy decision. “I spelled it ‘piece’ because whether a customer comes into the shop to purchase something, or if they just spend time mulling around or talking to me, I want them to walk out of the shop taking a piece of love with them,” she relates.

Hummer has personally found peace from the metaphysical arts. A native of Warren County, New Jersey, Hummer later moved the Nazareth area, proudly stating that she had lived on both sides of the Delaware River. She had always been curious about new age philosophies, but it wasn’t until after her divorce in 2005 that she really delved deep into those healing alternatives. “I started going to spiritual classes and working with a spiritual advisor, “ she reflects, “It helped me heal faster, and to look at things from a different perspective.”

For many years, Hummer began gathering items like crystals, stones, organic clothing—anything she felt would fit well into a metaphysical shop. She found many things during her travels to Venice Beach, California; Asheville, North Carolina; Hilton Head, South Carolina; and Sedona, Arizona. As she worked as a bartender to support herself and her four children, she often discussed with her spiritual counselor her plans to open a store.

“In November of 2014, my spiritual counselor pointed out that I kept saying ‘when I have a shop.’ She finally asked me ‘why don’t you start saying I am a shop owner?’” Hummer says. “In April of 2015, I signed my lease for a retail space.”

She wanted a location in Easton because there hadn’t been a new age metaphysical shop in the area for quite a while, and Hummer felt that Easton was ready for one. After renovating a 1,000 square foot space that used to house a coffee shop, Hummer opened The Loving Piece in July 2015.

Hummer’s passion lies with the healing power of crystals, and she carries a vast array of crystals and stones. This past January, she attended the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, where she networked with hundreds of vendors and found unique inventory for The Loving Piece. Hummer advises customers how each crystal, whether it’s amethyst and aventurine, or quartz or selenite, each has its own healing power.

In effort to make The Loving Piece a one-stop shop for the metaphysical realm, Hummer also carries organic clothing, incense, sage sticks, singing bowls and Himalayan salt lamps, the latter of which Hummer says have become extremely popular as people seek natural alternatives for relief from migraines, asthma and stress. She also carries natural body care items made by local Nature & Company Organics. Ashley Johnson of Little Deer Reiki Healing Oils makes items such as essential oils infused with herbs, crystals and the healing power of reiki. “They are truly are magical, and anybody who has ever purchased one has later raved about how truly healing these items are,” Hummer says.

Hummer also hosts workshops and classes led by psychic mediums, including an intuitive development class led by Susan Farley; a healing touch workshop taught by Sam Reda, Intuitive Healing, taught by Dustin Parent. Hummer does a class on crystals and how to smudge one’s self and space with sage sticks. There is a reiki share on the last Sunday of each month.

Hummer observes that people are looking more to themselves, rather than looking to the outside, for emotional and spiritual wellness. “The Loving Piece provides the tools to help them get there,” she says. “The healing is from within, and I’m here to help guide them.”

When Hummer first opened, she wasn’t sure how the journey would go. “I opened on a wing and a prayer, and faith in the universe that this was exactly where I was supposed to be. My goal was to last six months,” she laughs. As she approaches her third anniversary, she says she has evolved as the store has evolved.

“I constantly listen to people as they’re shopping, and if there are products they are looking for and don’t see, I’ll do my best to bring them in. It’s a lot of trial and error, but I have trust in what I’m doing. The universe has put me in this situation and has created this space, and I’ve been more successful than I had anticipated. As a bartender, I really had a foot in both the wine and spirits world and in this spiritual world. It’s been over a year since I bartended, so the shop truly is taking care of me all the way around.”

Hummer is a member of the Easton Business Association, and she participates in community events such as the Easton Garlic Fest and the Clam Jam Festival. She’s excited by the gifts the universe has given her so far, and she’s enthusiastic to see where the future leads.

“One of my favorite things is to actually see the transformation in the people that have crossed over the threshold of this shop,” she enthuses. “I look at The Loving Piece as a springboard for people as they begin their spiritual journeys.”

The Loving Piece is located at 7 N. Third St., Easton. For more information, call 484-206-8140 or visit TheLovingPiece.com. See ad this page.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.