Please Help Save a Unique Independent Liverpool Emporium

Hello! I’m Cat de Leon, the creator and proprietor of As Above So Below Emporium in Liverpool and this is **WHY I NEED YOUR HELP**

I need help to keep the shop alive while the particulars of the location get sorted (Please read "A BriefHistory" below for details). To that end I am looking for funds to:

• Improve and enhance marketing and my social media presence

• Pay a shop assistant (freelance/self-employed) from September to January so that I may have flexibility to do off site tarot parties, hen parties, perform pagan weddings/handfasting, do lectures and healings, and have flexible time to make candles, soaps, etc.

• Pay accountancy fees

My shop is a unique, service-oriented boutique that specialises in Tarot readings, reiki healing, bespoke spell work, classes, workshops, lectures, and art exhibitions. Far from the stereotypical “New Age” shop, As Above has been carefully designed and curated as a complete sensory experience. Upon entering, one is greeted by exotic scents, a uniquely seductive décor, original artwork, and an engaging playlist.

We do not turn anyone away. All are welcome, whether they are seasoned practitioners, scholars, seekers, or just curious. The goal is to educate, enlighten, heal, support, and even entertain.

I do not engage in, nor enable anything that is malevolent or manipulative. All work is based on healing, empowering and discovering the Self. I have worked so hard to create this uniquely original space and I really want to see it not just survive, but prosper and flourish.

What we do

As Above So Below has a deep connection to classical history and mythology. It is stocked with:

• An eclectic selection of books covering the mysteries of Ancient Greece, Egypt, The Druids, The Celts and The Norse, as well as a vast array of books on philosophy and esoterica from the Golden Dawn to the Gnostics

• Magic wands, altar supplies, and jewellery inspired by the ancients, designed by me, and crafted by local artists

• Original artwork – from canvasses on the walls to the merchandise scattered about the shop, including T-shirts, tote bags, and more

• Hand-made candles, soaps, oils, and incenses

• Standard and bespoke spell kits. While I do not perform spell work for others, I supply them with the tools and knowledge they need to take responsibility for their own actions.

• A variety of unique tarot decks

From the beginning, I have been supporting the local art/creative community and enriching the community at large by:

• Hosting author talks and book signings

• Giving local visual artists a space to exhibit their work, and hosting an opening event

• Collaborating with local artisans to create unique product lines based on historic artefacts

• Partnering with local independent businesses to host events that combine food, drink, and music with lectures on mythology and history.

• Hosting workshops, classes, and lectures

A brief history

After the Covid-19 pandemic, I had the opportunity to rent a space that appeared to be perfect- in a shopping arcade called Cavern Walks on Mathew Street in Liverpool. The Cavern Club was where the Beatles performed 293 times before becoming world famous. My shop actually sits directly above the original Cavern stage, hence the inspiration for the name. In its heyday, Cavern Walks was, in different incarnations, the go-to shopping destination. At one time it was the stomping ground for post punk bands and their fans; at another, a collection of high-end boutiques. Sadly, the centre was neglected, and many of the shops closed.

In 2023, plans were put forward to revitalise the space, rebranding it as an “alternative” shopping mall, with quirky independent shops, pop-up stalls, and a boutique hotel situated upstairs. It seemed to me that this would be a perfect fit for me with much possibility to grow. Therefore, I invested all my money to completely redo the space and make it my own, But construction delays and other difficulties forced me to wait for months to open. As I watched my personal funds dwindle, I felt I had to open on Halloween of 2023, even though I was obscured by construction, none of the other vacant spaces had been filled, there was no marketing or publicity regarding a relaunch, resulting in virtually no footfall.

Despite these setbacks, I have managed to attract business through my fledgling social media skills, Google listing, word of mouth, and now, return clients not only from Liverpool and Merseyside, but even Yorkshire, and as far away as Wales. I have gained and maintained a 5-star rating on Google, and have an excellent reputation within the community. While the shop is what I envisioned, the future of Cavern Walks seems to be up in the air.

As Above So Below has come to mean so much to me, to the community, and to people of Merseyside, UK and beyond. Since I opened the doors in October of 2023, many have come to see it as a place of enlightenment, support, creativity, and healing. For some it has become their go-to safe space, and for others it is a place to learn, collaborate, and share.

My plan for 2025 is to continue to expand on what I’m doing and add

• Community outreach to young people and seniors

• Healing work and classes for NHS and private care home staff

• Further collaboration with the music and visual arts community to boost the profile of Liverpool as a relevant and current avatar of the Arts, not just the birthplace of the Beatles

• To share the mystical history that envelops the region

I am hoping that in these challenging times, the idea of supporting a space created for freedom of speech, freedom of expression, education, enlightenment, and self-care resonates with you. I believe in my shop, and the initial concept of the location was enough to have invested everything I have in it…not just time and money but heart, soul, and moral conviction. I am a single woman from a working class background, completely self-reliant, no partner, no children, mature in years (most of my peers are retired/retiring) looking to succeed so that I may leave a mark, an everlasting influence…so that I can rest knowing that I did something good.

Thank you so much…