Connections

Since moving to Staunton two years ago, we have met so many amazing folks and have made so many wonderful connections with the community. Some of our connections include:

• our partnership with non-profit cat rescue group Cat’s Cradle for kitty petting zoos and adoption events 
• local health and wellness practitioners (such as Anne Buzzelli of BuzzNutrition and Brittney Johnson of Top of the Mountain Healing) who use our community room for healthy living classes 
• partnerships with other local retailers, such as our World Fair Trade celebration with Cranberry’s and The Sacred Circle 
• the many talented local musicians whom we sponsored during last year's Fourth Friday Night Vibe 
• and many, many others not mentioned here but just as important. 

We’re thrilled, too, that we've maintained so many connections to our friends and patrons who supported us in our former location in Alexandria, VA, and continue to support us, making that lovely scenic trek from DC to Staunton and being pleasantly surprised at all that Staunton has to offer. 

For those of you who have been long-time supporters of Harmony Moon, you know building community is part of our vital work. Community is important in so many ways, connecting people from diverse backgrounds who might not otherwise have met and pooling resources and talents to create a shared vision for the future. 

Our community is one in which people care how their goods and products are made, expecting that anyone who does a fair day’s work should see a fair wage for that work. We care about the earth and want to walk gently on it. And we care about challenging ourselves to be the best that we can be – whether that’s eating healthier, exercising or meditating more, or simply sharing our life experiences with others. 

To join and help us grow our community, please connect with us on Meetup: Harmonious Living Center 

and on Facebook: Harmony Moon 

And please share this newsletter with your friends and others whom you think might want to be part of our community too. 

According to Malcolm Gladwell, tipping points for change can happen in the most unlikeliest of places. Who knows? That could be us and our community of harmonious lifestylers! 

“In the end, Tipping Points are a reaffirmation of the potential for change and the power of intelligent action. Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push—in just the right place—it can be tipped.”

― Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Blessings

After a rather tumultuous 2012, our move to Staunton – with all its trepidations, hopes, and fears - turned out to be a wonderful blessing. We have met some amazing and talented people here, and made many new friends. With the help of both friends and strangers alike we were able to grow and expand the shop and community center in ways we had never imagined before. And there are even more good things on the horizon for the coming year.

We’re grateful, too, for the continuing support of our Northern Virginia/Maryland/DC and Beyond clientele. It is so heartwarming to know that you have not forgotten us. So many of you made the trip to Staunton to check out our new space and were surprised and delighted with the old-fashioned charm and hospitality of our new hometown. Staunton has a vibrant arts and culture scene and also is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Check out all the wonderful events, happenings, and things to do at: VisitStaunton.com

Our biggest blessing is you, our wonderful and loyal customers. We are honored and humbled that you have continued to support us through seventeen years of transformations. And you've brought your friends, family, and visitors to see us and share in our little "oasis of serenity," expanding our community of fellow travelers to the 4 corners of the world.

Thank you.

Peace & Many Blessings to You in the New Year,
Sally & Scooter

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Dear Loyal Patrons & Friends,

I am sorry to have remained incommunicado for so long. As most of you know, we have been in a great state of transition for several months now. It's been said that nothing is permanent but change and we are certainly proving the truth in the maxim.

As you recall, last year we first lost our Great and Glorious Landlord, Mr. Robert Dreifus, who passed away in January. He was a great supporter of small businesses in general and of Mindful Hands and myself in particular.

Then in November, with the advent of a new landlord, we lost our lease at the lower King St. location in Alexandria, VA where we have been since 1996.

After an exhaustive but fruitless search for affordable space anywhere in Old Town, we expanded our search to include the entire Northern Virginia area. Then we tried select DC neighborhoods. Then Maryland. It became more than apparent to us that, lacking the financial resources that we had even 10 years ago before the great recession, that we simply could not afford to be in the greater DC/Northern Virginia area any longer.

So we started looking for more affordable places to re-locate the shop. And we kept hearing the name of one small town from many different people - friends, acquaintances, workshop leaders, and loyal patrons of the shop - all of whom did not want to see Mindful Hands close its doors forever, the only other option available to us.

That town was Staunton, located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, just 2.5 hours from DC. Staunton had just been named by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 20 best small towns in America. The town has also won accolades from Travel + Leisure magazine, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, and many other publications and organizations.

With a strong commitment to the arts and historic preservation, Staunton boasts of such cultural icons as the only reproduction in the world of Shakespeare's Blackfriars Playhouse, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, and the Heifetz International Music Institute. Its revitalized historic downtown boasts more than a hundred little shops, art galleries, and antique stores, including three independent bookstores and two independent movie theaters.

Staunton also has a strong commitment to local farmers and the local food movement, as well as many green initiatives. After visiting here several times, I decided that the time was right to start anew and that Staunton was where I wanted to do that.

We ended up in a commercial building that, although lacking somewhat in the historic charm that imbued our lower King Street home, is still large enough so we can continue to offer the classes, workshops, special events, and meditation groups that we were known for in Alexandria.

We opened in our new space in mid-May. With new beginnings and a new location, we thought a new name, more reflective of our mission, was in order.  So we changed the name of the shop from Mindful Hands to Harmony Moon.  We hope you like it.

Gary Goodwin, of The Inner Arts Center, will be joining us the second Saturdays of every month for his Mind-Body Wellness and Stuck Creative workgroups. We will be adding other groups and classes in the very near future. Look for both some old favorites as well as new groups. We also have started working with Cat's Cradle, a local cat rescue group, for monthly adoption events again.

Our new location and contact information is:
* Harmony Moon
* 13 S. New Street
* Staunton, VA 24401
* (540) 885-1368

Please come visit us, we would love to see you!