We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jhalana Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jhalana below.
Alright, Jhalana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
When I was fresh out of high school, I auditioned for Macbeth at Joe Jefferson Playhouse. There, I met my friend Abbey, who introduced me to tarot and spirituality. Her deep knowledge sparked my interest, and I began practicing divination. This became a significant part of my life over the next couple of years.
During a particularly difficult period that i refer to as my “dark night of the soul” , I was working at a direct marketing company selling AT&T products. Despite a quick promotion to corporate trainer, I was miserable—underpaid, undervalued, and unable to support the new family my husband and I hoped to build. At this job, I met my friend ,Logan, who introduced me to African Spirituality. Both unhappy with our jobs, we eventually quit and dabbled in nannying, baking, and yard sales.
Logan suggested starting a spiritual bath business, and we were thrilled. We gathered materials from local apothecaries and thrift stores, planning to name our business New Beginnings. However, life intervened, and Logan had to move back to her hometown.
I couldn’t shake the need to pursue what we had started, so with Logan’s blessing, I continued learning about spiritual baths. I found myself drawn more to herbal tea blends, inspired by their healing qualities and my mom’s tradition of drinking herbal teas. As i entertained the idea more, I noticed there was now a rise in spirituality and holistic wellness but not many people in my area pursuing career paths related to such endeavors.
After many “Will she, Won’t she’s” I, quite impulsively, bought an herbal tea business course, an LLC, and $400 worth of herbs—though i find it humorous now, in hindsight, I probably should have learned more before buying in bulk. I didn’t know if it was going to work but I needed to try and I was committed to going all in.
Despite my initial excitement and support from my loving husband, friends and family. I struggled to make progress. The stress of time, resources, and lack of exposure made me doubt myself. I was on the verge of dissolving my LLC when my boyfriend stepped in with unwavering support. Together, we participated in a market that opened my eyes to a plethora of much needed insight from customer interactions and product knowledge to appropriate pricing. It gave me the confidence I needed to continue putting action behind the dream.
Since then, we’ve been expanding our knowledge in indigenous medicine making, holistic healing, and creative expression through art, singing bowls, and dance. We’ve been growing the business, participating in markets, being featured in publications and YouTube channels, and donating teas to nonprofits. I now confidently offer spiritual consultations and custom tea blends for various needs including inflammation, sleep aid and whole body detoxification.
Everything is extremely promising, and I’m thrilled to share my passion and knowledge with my community. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received and am excited about the future. In short, the idea to create a spiritual wellness and relaxation company stemmed from meeting inspiring people, having an open mind, faith in myself and receiving unwavering support from my loved ones. I’m committed to expanding my business, no matter the challenges.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Jhalana, named after my mother Lalenia, but some people call me Lana for short or “Lotus” when I perform. I’m a versatile performer with experience in indie, pop, R&B, and gospel, and I love theatrics, poetry, and classical opera. I also own an herbal tea and wellness business named Lotus Serene LLC, where I offer various herbal tea blends, herbal tea baths, relaxation products, and accessories like herbal cocktail infusion kits, artisan goat milk soaps, and loose leaf herb satchels.
Additionally, I provide services such as party hosting, keynote speaking, consultations, and tarot readings. My journey began with a desire to heal, support, and uplift myself and those around me, leading me to immerse myself in learning about tea and holistic modalities. I help clients relax and satisfy their palates with delicious tea flavors while addressing ailments like digestion issues, lung detoxification, inflammation, muscle pain, headaches, sore throats, and women’s health.
I now offer spiritual consultations, life coaching, and intuitive empathetic listening services. What sets me apart is my use of organic ingredients, the love and intention in everything I create, and our mission to promote self-love, self-care, and personal empowerment.
I’m very proud of how far I’ve come, evolving from knowing little about spirituality or herbalism to confidently recommending products and giving advice. Ultimately, I want clients to associate “Lotus Serene” with “EXPANSION,” as my goal is to heal, encourage, and educate the masses, one cup at a time.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Getting up close and personal has been highly effective for growing my customer base. People want to see, feel, and taste the product. It helps when you’re highly knowledgeable about a particular tea blend or herb or willing to learn more to assist your customer better. The cool thing about herbalism is the vast variety of herbs, each with unique properties waiting to be rediscovered. When a customer comes to me with an issue like migraines or muscle pain, it provides an opportunity to connect with them, understand their needs, and deepen my relationship with the herbs and nature. This process not only helps me serve my customers better but also fosters a connection with the earth that sustains us.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
One thing that I’ve come to learn and love is the idea that life is ever-changing. One of the best things a person can do is familiarize themselves with change—learn to allow it, welcome it, and accept it with open arms. So, you ask me if there has ever been a time in my life where I’ve had to pivot? Yes, every day. Every couple of months. This is why you see me in spaces like the theater, the art scene, the herbalism community, and event planning. I feel at home with all these titles because when the time arose, and I thought, “I think I like painting more than singing now. I think I like herbalism more right now, and that’s a bit scary,” I embraced it. I didn’t let it stop me from pursuing these other passions that make me happy—these extensions of myself in creative and spiritual spaces.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lotusserene.com
- Instagram: @lana.lotus.serene
- Facebook: Personal: Jhalana Jones Business: Lotus Serene LLC
- Other: Tik Tok: lotus.serene
Image Credits
Joshua Hopper
Jhalana Jones