awkward essentials

from The Comet Magazine - September 2022

by The Comet

the movie trailer dilemma

34 september 2022

THE COMET PAN’S GROTTO ART & MYSTICISM

In early 2018, downtown Wenatchee got a little more mystical with the opening of Pan’s Grotto. Owned by Donnie Johnson and Stephanie Bohart, the little shop of wonders features a variety of curios, books, art and just about anything you can imagine to help guide you through the metaphysical, including in-person readings and coaching. Since opening, Pan’s Grotto has been a staple of the First Friday art walks, hosting themed shows and exhibits of paintings, line art and sculpture. The Comet spoke to Johnson (who is also an incredible sculptor) about this unique and eclectic Wenatchee boutique.

Tell us a little about your history and your background in the arts.

Growing up with a mother who is an amazing artist, I was able to explore any and all facets of the arts that grabbed my attention. My educational background is in graphic design, 2D and 3D animation, and multimedia film from the Art Institute graduating in 2001. I have worked some freelance in my field off and on over the past 20 years. But my love is the fine arts. Out of all the mediums I work with, sculpting is my favorite. My first gallery showing was one of my sculptures in 1996 at the Washington State Capital Gallery and Museum.

Tell us about the inception of Pan’s Grotto - including the origin of the name and what you envisioned the shop to be.

So the origin of the name Pan’s Grotto came from my love of Greek Mythology. Pan was a God of nature watching over animals, shepherds and hunters alike. He was also a God of music (Arts), fertility and abundance. The Worship of Pan was always done in nature, mainly in grottoes and was more of a wild celebration, the word revelry describes the worship of Pan perfectly.

A grotto is a natural or man made cave that has been made to feel comforting and protective from the outside world. The name Pan in Greek means “All,” so the meaning of Pan’s Grotto to me is a safe place for all to celebrate their unique form of spirituality and creativity in the arts.

Here at Pan’s Grotto we carry a wide variety of metaphysical supplies. A wide variety of books with topics in the metaphysics, as well as tarot, and oracle cards and other forms of divination. a Reiki Master Teacher in 2009. This is a gift I have grown up with. As for being a healer and psychic, I feel everyone has the potential: some of us were just fortunate enough to have families that helped us develop it at young ages. As for the style of readings I do, I call them “Purely Energetic Readings” or “Oracle Card Readings,” which for the most part are energetic readings as well. My style is a very involved reading.

Just like the rest of my life, my Energy Work Practice is a touch different from most. I mix many traditions into my work. Using Crystal Therapy, Reiki, Some Shamanic Traditions, a few Eastern Traditions, and a few I have created along the way.

I do work with the Chakra System, as well as the body’s meridians, energetic pathways and junction points. I also do Cord Cuttings and DNA Activations, as well as Aura cleansing. Energy work helps to heal the soul and energetic field of the body.

What exactly is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy.” So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”

A treatment can feel like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. Reiki works with the premise that if your life force is flowing properly and is healthy than your life force can help the body to properly heal itself.

therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use it. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it. While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others.

You have been taking part in Wenatchee’s First Fridays for a few years now, tell us about your art shows?

As for the Art Walks we mostly theme each month with something that compliments the vibe of Pan’s Grotto. But sometimes we will do a theme just because it sounds intriguing. The monthly changing themes are 100% inspired by my days showing art at the RadarStation. We accept all art forms, from photography and digital prints to paintings and sculptures.

Pan’s Grotto is located at 3 N. Wenatchee Ave., Suite 2

First Friday Art Show Schedule

First Friday Hours Through December: 5 pm-7:30 pm

Sep:Anatomy. A dissection of the human form. Oct: Cryptids, Creatures, Urban Legends, and Myths. It’s spooky season, and what’s more bizarre than a cryptid in the woods or that local urban legend? Show us your scary side. Nov: “Off the Edge” Art that pushes the envelope. Social and political commentary welcome. Get outside your comfort zone for this one! Dec: Wenatchee’s Wonderfully Wacky

Superbly Silly Art Extravaganza (Inspiration; island of misfit toys, what the elves would make without supervision, light-hearted silliness.

Keep the silly in mind, no gruesome, ABSOLUTELY NO POLI-

TICS, HAVE FUN above all else.)

Social media links:

Website: PansGrotto.com Facebook: PansGrottoWa Instagram: PansGrotto

FIVE POEMS CALLED THE MOON

Thy beauty haunts me heart and soul, Oh thou fair Moon, so close and bright; Thy beauty makes me like the child That cries aloud to own thy light: The little child that lifts each arm To press thee to her bosom warm.

Though there are birds that sing this night With thy white beams across their throats, Let my deep silence speak for me More than for them their sweetest notes: Who worships thee till music fails, Is greater than thy nightingales. The Moon is like a big round cheese That shines above the garden trees, And like a cheese grows less each night, As though some one had had a bite.

The Mouse delights to nibble cheese, The Dog bites anything he sees- But how could they bite off the Moon Unless they went in a balloon? And Human People, when they eat They think it rude to bite their meat, By William Henry Davies They use a Knife or Fork or Spoon; Who is it then that bites the moon?

By Oliver Herford

She comes! again she comes, the bright-eyed moon! Under a ragged cloud I found her out, Clasping her own dark orb like hope in doubt! That ragged cloud hath waited her since noon, And he hath found and he will hide her soon! Come, all ye little winds that sit without, And blow the shining leaves her edge about, And hold her fast--ye have a pleasant tune! She will forget us in her walks at night Among the other worlds that are so fair! She will forget to look on our despair! She will forget to be so young and bright! Nay, gentle moon, thou hast the keys of light- I saw them hanging by thy girdle there!

By Geroge MacDonald

The moon was but a chin of gold A night or two ago, And now she turns her perfect face Upon the world below.

Her forehead is of amplest blond; Her cheek like beryl stone; Her eye unto the summer dew The likest I have known.

Her lips of amber never part; But what must be the smile Upon her friend she could bestow Were such her silver will!

And what a privilege to be But the remotest star! For certainly her way might pass Beside your twinkling door.

If the Moon had a hand I wonder would she Stretch it down unto me?

If she did, I would go To her glacier land, To her ice-covered strand. Her bonnet is the firmament, The universe her shoe, The stars the trinkets at her belt, Her dimities of blue.

I would run, I would fly, Were the cold ever so, And be warm in the snow.

O Moon of all Light, Sailing far, sailing high In the infinite sky. Do not come down to me, Lest I shriek in affright, Lest I die in the night Of your chill ecstasy

By Emily Dickinson