We were lucky to catch up with Loki And Robin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Loki and Robin, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
For both of us here at The Trickster’s Apothecary, Loki and Robin, purpose comes from authenticity. As queer and pagan individuals, we were actively discouraged from pursuing our truth, in ways large and small. We made a deliberate choice to chase what spoke to the core of our hearts, whether or not it was the choice others would make for us. Nothing lights a fire in the heart like chasing your passions. We know there are many other people like us, who value what we value and care about the things we do. With our shop, we’re able to provide a place for people to be who they truly are and explore the interests others may have discouraged them from pursuing, all without judgment. We hope to provide for others the space we needed in the past.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Loki (he/him) and Robin (he/they) own and operate two businesses: The Trickster’s Apothecary and Nonnu & Lola’s Home Bakery, located at 812 SW 4th St, Corvallis OR. The Trickster’s Apothecary is an international vintage store and metaphysical shop. Our space is designed to feel like a home, as if you’re in your grandmother’s house, but can take home all your favorite trinkets. We have vintage goods from across the world, hoping that no matter what culture feels like home, you’ll be able to find that nostalgic joy in our shop. We offer handmade goods like jewelry, crafted by ourselves and local artists, as giving back to our community however we are able is crucial to us. As a metaphysical shop, we strive to have the tools needed for every form of spiritual practice, all offered without judgment. It’s important that people have a place to find what will bring them spiritual peace, and have access to the tools to continue engaging with those practices. Whatever we can’t find in vintage, we aim to hand-make, so our community never goes without what they need.
Nonnu & Lola’s Home Bakery operates out of the same premises. Named after Robin’s grandfather and Loki’s grandmother, our business honors our family traditions and our relatives who have worked in bakeries and restaurants before us. We offer home-baked goods from the cultures we grew up with: Filipino, Japanese, Sicilian, Italian, and American treats are always offered here. We hope that our goods can bring a bit of nostalgic joy to anyone who tastes them, whether they’re trying new treats or being reunited with old favorites.
Our business is queer owned and operated, providing a much needed safe space for our community to be themselves. We aim to uplift our entire community as much as we are able.
In the near future, we hope to open a reading library on premises, allowing folks to explore different spiritual traditions, learn about queer history, access queer literature, and learn more about the world around them. We also hope to soon host events, including tea parties and a Queer Spiritual Seekers Club, to give the community new places and ways to gather and make connections. It’s an honor to serve our community, and we hope to be able to do so for many years to come!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If we can give any advice to folks early on in their journey, it would be to develop the following skills: open communication, respectful boundary setting, and authenticity.
Open communication is key in almost any relationship, professional or personal. Sometimes, people may be reluctant to speak their truth, in fear of how it may be received. In our experience, this is a disservice to both parties. Though it’s difficult, telling people the truth helps everyone be on the same page, especially when navigating conflict. People can’t fix a problem they don’t know about, and none of us are mind readers. Open communication is a form of advocating, not just for yourself, but for maintaining any relationship you value.
By the same token, respectful boundary setting is essential. We are all responsible for taking care of ourselves; no one else can truly do this for us. We all have the responsibility to set the boundaries we need to feel healthy and safe. However, it isn’t necessary to do this with aggression or hostility. People may have many reasons for taking an action that crossed a boundary, and though explanations are never excuses, we can hold compassion for others while still advocating for our needs to be respected. Learning how to kindly say, “I’m not okay with what happened, we need to make a change,” can make a massive difference in relationships of all kinds.
Living authentically is one of the hardest and most essential things an individual can do. There are so many different ways of being in this world that any given path will lead to judgment by those on the endless amount of other paths. Yet, if we’re to know peace of mind and heart, or even true joy, we have to make the brave decision to be true to ourselves. In doing so, it’s possible to find the other people called to your path, who treasure the things you do. However, it’s almost impossible to find these people if you’re hiding from who you truly want to be. Take a chance on yourself and your happiness; it’s worth the risk.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Our ideal client is someone who wants to find their truth, but doesn’t know where to begin. When we began our spiritual journey, we had no one to turn to with the tough questions. We spent years delving down different paths to find the best fit for us. Along the way, we gathered a wealth of knowledge, not just in spiritual practices, but in how to move through the world in a healthy way. Many, many folks are looking for the same. There is peace of the heart to be found in discovering a worldview that clicks for us, that helps us understand the world we live in and our part in it. There is peace of mind to be found in figuring out how to move through this world without doing unnecessary harm, while also not allowing others to harm us freely, whether or not they intend to. We hope to share our hard-earned wisdom, so others will not have to invest the same amount of time we did to find the paths that work for them. We’re here for your hardest and weirdest questions, just as much as we are here to be a safe place for people to be their true selves freely.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trickstersapothecary.com
- Instagram: @trickstersapoth @nonnuandlolas
Image Credits
Photos taken by Jason Larock or Loki & Robin
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
