We were lucky to catch up with Jenn Millard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenn, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As a teenager, I struggled with depression, undiagnosed ADHD, and dyslexia. Mental illness wasn’t as commonly discussed as it is today, and my form of dyslexia wasn’t easy to diagnose, so I struggled with exhaustion, hopelessness, and disconnect for years. My family was great and supported me in every way they knew how, but the feeling of being ‘lost’ persisted for decades.

It wasn’t until I discovered art and spirituality that things started to shift. I had always loved writing, but as someone with undiagnosed ADHD, the long-term process of novel writing wasn’t feasible (for me). I turned to journal writing and sketching, which helped immensely, but I was still struggling with finding the ‘why’ and purpose in my life.

I began exploring different religions and beliefs, trying to find something that resonated with my soul. I found comfort in many different aspects of religion, and as I made my way through life, spirituality and artistic expression continued to be the tools that grounded me.

Now, as a business owner, I use my knowledge and experience in different spiritual endeavors to enhance my art. I make pieces that speak to me in the hopes they may speak to someone else, too. My mission to enhance people’s spiritual journeys, not matter what path they’re on, is reflected in all my work, and my biggest hope is to help bring peace and clarity to people’s lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Mystical Zodiac offers a wide range of handcrafted metaphysical home décor pieces and accessories crafted from high quality wood and acrylic materials. We create each item with a positive mindset and the intent to help our customers on their spiritual journeys, wherever their paths lead them.

I have always been fascinated by the spiritual world and the power of crystals, elements, and symbols and have studied the many facets of Pagan and Wicca beliefs, Nordic history, astrology, and other metaphysical tools.

As my daughter became increasingly interested in the metaphysical aspect of the world and began her own spiritual journey, I felt led to share my knowledge by creating these powerful items to help others on their spiritual paths.

My daughter and I have been creating handmade metaphysical items with the goal of connecting people with the divine and helping them undercover, explore, and learn to use their inner strength. We believe everyone has the ability to tap into their own spiritual power and use it to create the life they want, and our handmade items are designed to help people do just that.

We take great pride in our work and strive to create items that are meaningful, useful, and most importantly, powerful. We enjoy creating items that make a difference in people’s lives, and while the majority of our items are handcrafted, there are also raw stones, crystal items, jewelry pieces, and divination-type stones available on a rotating basis. Be assured, however, that everything we offer is selected and packaged with the same positive energy.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My son was born at 33 weeks and spent weeks in the NICU. I had always worked traditional out-of-the-home jobs, but as my son’s health issues became more pressing, it was obvious to my husband and I that we would need something that offered more flexibility. My job was great and did what they could to assist us, but once our son was diagnosed with autism and a bilateral hearing loss that necessitated hearing aids on top of his other physical issues, the need to be my own boss became obvious. I had no experience running a business, so it was quite a challenge figuring out where to even start!

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Our parent company began as a homeschool project to teach our kids (son and daughter) about business (taxes, marketing, profits and losses, etc.). We used our son’s 3D printer for our creations, which was a great lesson in design, computer, and patience! Once our school project was complete, we talked about how much fun we had working together and decided to keep going as a legal, recognized small business to see just what we could accomplish!

I did months of research to figure out what machinery we should add; it was important that we ALL all stay active in the process, so that was the main criteria when searching. After gathering our ideas, we did pros and cons lists and decided on a laser cutter. A few more months of research followed to decide on which laser we wanted, what upgrades we needed, and how we were going to market ourselves. From those decisions, our company was born!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mysticalzodiacshop.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mystical.zodiac.shop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mystical.Zodiac.Home.Decor/
• Other: https://www.smallshopdiscovery.com/woodworkers/mystical-zodiac