Bringing Out The Goddess Within

Growing up, many young girls love to play house. But Virginia Bannon loved to play shopkeeper and as she grew into adulthood her bucket list always included the desire to own a shop of her own where women could feel empowered.

Enter – her daydream brought into fruition on South Main Street in Sayville.  

“Everyone comes (into this world) through the women,” said Bannon of her spiritually oriented store. “We’re entitle to have some extra dimension of some joy and magic in our daily lives.”   

That mantra is reflected throughout the space, which is filled with one-of-a-kind items from essential oils and homemade perfumes to artwork, books, jewelry, collectable birthstone Barbie’s, fairy statues and other figurines depicting Goddesses from various cultures.  

“We wanted a bright, sparkling feminine space instead of one that’s very occult,” said Jessamina Lanzilotta, the owner’s daughter and instructor for the Goddess Experience workout class, taught in a studio toward the back of the shop. “We wanted a place that is accessible to all women.”  

From the moment guests step through the door, their noses are greeted with calming scents that drift up from behind the counter and through the air.

According to Bannon, each scent has a different purpose. Lavender is calming and helpful for someone who is upset or tired. Orange blossom has a way of making someone feel beautiful and uplifting and can be used to help someone who has undergone a trauma. Jasmine is an aphrodisiac while Ravensara is famous for killing flu germs and peppermint is soothing for a stomach or head ache. 

“Basically it’s about empowerment for women and making them feel really good,” said Bannon about her store.       

The shop also offers astrology reports that take patrons much further into their horoscopes then the blurbs filed in newspapers or accessible via smart phone application. The store offers couples reports as well as newborn baby reports. “You get this little handbook on a brand new baby that you don’t know too much about,” said Lanzilotta, who found them helpful after the birth of her own children. 

The store has also offered various classes including Goddess yoga, a monthly red-tent day retreat and the Goddess Experience class, which combines expression, movement and healing through various exercises. Class offerings are subject to change throughout the year.

“We are a spiritually oriented store,” said Bannon, who doesn’t consider herself any different from her customers. “I’m every women, but we could all use a little sanctuary.”