Alana Almonte is a familiar face at art festivals, known for her mixed-media pieces that often combine paintings embellished with shells, driftwood, and rope. She sources much of the ephemera used in her work locally on the shores of Rhode Island and also off Sanibel and Captiva Islands in Florida, places that hold special ties to her life with her husband and their two young daughters. Now Almonte’s handiwork can be found at her newly opened Anchored Soul in Wickford.
Inside a cheery little white cottage, Almonte brings a revived sense of community and purpose, along with art, jewelry, clothing, books, plants, and crystals to the second iteration of her concept, originally in Pawtuxet Village. “Wickford has a beautiful, calming energy that immediately resonated with me,” she explains. “The village is rich in history and surrounded by water, which has always been a source of grounding inspiration for me.”
Located a short drive from her home, Almonte reveals that she has a few “elves” foraging for her nearby. She often comes home to her Munroe Dairy porch box filled with shoreline finds that her neighbors and their children collected on nature walks. Her parents also join in the fun, decorating planters with seashell mosaics that line the shelves, and her brother built the bohemian-style wooden light fixture that adorns the ceiling of the store.
Not your typical gift shop, Almonte is a Reiki Master, the Japanese technique for stress reduction and healing. At the space she offers both tarot and angel/oracle card readings, meditation classes, and energy work. “After years of exploring various healing modalities, I discovered how combining mindfulness, creativity, and
intentional practices can offer profound shifts, and I simply want to share that with the world,” says the entrepreneur.
Doing everything with intention and purpose is a key component of Anchored Soul; from class offerings to inventory, everything is designed to inspire and uplift. “I created Anchored Soul because it grounds me to the depths of my being and has been nothing short of transformative to my life. I find so much joy and purpose in creating safe spaces for others to experience and discover the same sense of wholeness and renewal,” Almonte says.
Community is key for Almonte, and patrons will discover goods from other local artists, makers, authors, and jewelers for sale, along with her own. She also co-hosts social networking events via her Soulful Collective to empower women, and is collaborating on a candle line with Rhode Island-based Sacred Flame, choosing the scents and infusing them with Reiki. A membership is also offered at Anchored Soul, giving special access to options like meditation art classes, an online community platform, and VIP shopping experiences.
With warmer days ahead, Almonte is excited about opening the back patio for gatherings, pop-up events with other artists, and group classes. She finds herself moving towards a group environment for her energy work in Reiki, intention setting, and art workshops, creating a “bigger energy to hone in on,” she explains. Private group workshops for those who want to host friends for special gatherings or milestones are also an option. “Many of my clients enjoy surrounding themselves with a like-minded community and come to release stress, navigate life transitions, or deepen their spiritual growth within a trusted circle.” Learn more at AnchoredSoulRI.com.
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