Meet Loretta Scott | Proprietress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Loretta Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Loretta, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Why did I decide to create this business?

After retiring from a 30 year teaching career, I needed something to do. So why not combine all my crazy passions into a business?

As a practicing Buddhist, I’ve always had a keen interest in spirituality and enlightenment. I meditate, make mala necklaces, and learn about different spiritual practices. My great-uncle Roy McAndrews owned a circus: The Cole Brothers Circus. I’ve always loved the circus, freakshows, carnival acts, and oddities. It’s in my blood. I’m also a rock hound. In another life I would’ve been a miner or geologist. I’m fascinated by rocks and crystals. I love a good dig!

You can take the girl out of the circus, but you can’t take the circus out of the girl. This business is my spiritual circus. To me it’s not simply a crystal store. It’s a spectacle. An extravaganza. A celebration of all things spiritual, mystical, artistic.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I live by the saying “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.”

My dream of The Prism and Pendulum is BIG. HUGE. SCARY. I hope to bring a tiny bit of the circus spirit and community to my little corner of the world.

My vision for this business is to create a COMMUNITY. A safe, welcoming, tolerant space for everyone to gather, to learn, and to celebrate. A place where people of different beliefs, spiritualities, and backgrounds can discuss and learn from each other. We can disagree, but with respect and compassion. We can learn from each other and share our unique knowledge, skills and gifts. We can come together to celebrate in a positive way.

How did I get here?

I had a big dream. I did some affirmation and manifestation work to put my ideas out into the universe. I was wholly unprepared for how quickly the universe responded. My dream started to morph into a reality much faster than I was ready for. For example, the commercial space became available months prior to what I had planned. So I had to take a huge risk and a giant leap of faith. I am still teaching high school until the end of this semester. I had thought it would take months to be able to find a space to lease. The business was established and the basics were in place. But I wasn’t at all planning on starting it NOW on such a large scale as a storefront on Grand Ave. in Historic Downtown Escondido. I never shy away from a challenge, so in we went!

Was it challenging?

Absolutely. In all aspects. We had to put up our own money to get into the space, to purchase the inventory, to do the marketing, etc. We were no different from so many other small business owners just starting out. We didn’t qualify for any grants, loans, or other financial assistance. So we took about $7500 from my pending retirement account and did it ourselves. The storefront had sat empty since pre-pandemic and it was not the aesthetic I had envisioned. Yet, we couldn’t afford to hire anyone. So Jason, myself, and my 23 year-old artist daughter, Zoe, spent three weeks in the shop putting in long hours to turn it into what I imagined. I had a very clear picture of what I wanted the shop to look and feel like. Zoe stepped in, used her artistic ability and her training (she graduated from UCLA with a degree in Costume and Scenic Design) to make my image come to life.

Another challenge I faced was the fact that I am still teaching high school. It’s been difficult to be in two places at once, and to devote enough energy to both. I don’t do anything halfway. It’s all or nothing for me. So the challenge really was how to keep me from burning out while burning the candle at both ends.

This leads to answering the question: What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

To ask for help. To give up control. To allow others to step in and work with me to achieve my dream. I’m a huge control freak who does not ask for help. Rather, people generally have to rescue me when I’ve gotten in way over my head. With the business, I have learned that it’s ok to ask for help. It’s ok to give up some of that control and allow others inside.

When I started to do this, a beautiful thing happened. The community I dreamed of began to materialize. People came into the shop one by one, and I learned about their gifts and abilities. They all offered to help. They all shared my vision of a spiritual and artistic community. Pretty soon, there was this group of seven women who all have brought their special skills, knowledge, and support to me and to the shop. We now have regular classes, workshops, and events lead by these amazing women. They offer their services form our shop to the greater community (such as tarot reading, reiki healing, sound healing, astrology, meditation, somatic breathwork). With them I have been able to grow the business from a small crystal shop into a metaphysical store, an art gallery, and even add a healing room. We have held Art Receptions, Spiritual Fairs, and many classes and workshops. They have introduced people to so many different ideas, practices, and they have helped people truly heal themselves. They have turned my dream of a community into a reality.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would keep it local! Our entire day would be spent in Historic Downtown Escondido on Grand Ave.

First, we would eat breakfast at A Delight of France. So many tasty things to choose from there! For sure we’d have some macarons. Then we’d walk across the street to shop at CoLab Crafts and pick out a fun souvenir by a local artist or craftsperson. I’d probably purchase some earrings and artwork. We’d head right next door to the Escondido Antique Mall, where we’d spend at least an hour perusing all the wonderful antiques. When we finished, we would simply continuing walking down Grand Ave. We’d easily fill the day (and likely the night) shopping and eating.

Just a few of my family’s favorite spots to eat are: Esco Gelato, Cute Cakes, Burger Bench, and H Brothers. The shops we’d definitely stop in would be: Helen’s Bookmark (wonderful used bookstore), Daydream, Urban Barn. In between shopping we’d most likely stop at The Kettle on Grand for coffee.

We’d also tour the various art galleries. If it was the second Saturday of the month, we could hit them all and most likely catch the opening receptions for new exhibits. It’d be like a pub crawl, but for art! In between the galleries, we’d stop at Dr. Boocharts for some hard kombucha and a game or two.

As we walked, I’d point out all the murals on the sides of buildings that have been painted by our local artists. I’d be sure to show the newest one on the side of our building!

Grand Ave. really does have it all: great food, art galleries, fun shops, and plenty of places to hang out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The person I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to is my husband, Jason Scott. When I came up with this hair-brained idea and asked Jason if I could start my own business, he said to go for it as long as we don’t lose our house. Jason has always been 100% supportive of my big, crazy dreams. When I cannot figure out how to practically make those dreams work, he steps in and figures it out. When I get frustrated because I cannot figure out how to continue on the path, he steps in and lovingly guides me. For someone who is not into the rocks, the crystals, the spirituality, he has jumped in the deep-end with both feet. He has done everything to help me manifest this dream from financial support to demo of the physical space to working the shop. Jason has become more than a silent partner in this business; he has become the backbone of it.

Another person who deserves recognition is Stefan Austermuhle, the owner of Gemrock Peru International. Stefan has mentored me along the way since the very beginning. He is responsible for my desire to ethically source the crystals and rocks we sell. He has educated, advised, explained, and listened to me. Stefan’s mine and company has also supplied much of the product we sell.

Website: https://www.theprismandpendulum.com

Instagram: @theprismandpendulum

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