The Journey of a Krystle Goddess: Long Road Back for Bay View Business Owner

In Milwaukee, Krystle Stagman, 35, owns a small metaphysical store on S. Kinnickinnic Avenue called Altered State of Mind. On the outside, a heavy glass door is set back under a shallow awning, a large window with a logo and above that a flat sign with the store name printed on it. Inside, guests enter a foyer filled with flyers, literature and oddities. The smell of white copal incense and sage penetrate their senses as they walk up a ramp into the main store. Light is reflected in every direction and bent into vibrant prisms from shelves full of crystals, gemstones and even ceremonial blades.

At the counter, Stagman stands surrounded by natural healing herbs, handmade jewelry and other metaphysical tools. She welcomes guests with a friendly voice and smile. Although right now her smile is covered by a pandemic mask, you can see it on the rest of her face. Here she sustains her mission to help people while providing metaphysical tools, literature, tarot card services, blessings, full-moon ceremonies and other spiritual guidance. However, her life was not always good vibes and crystals. She had to work through heroin addiction, homelessness and the criminal justice system before starting her spiritual journey.

Q-Nicholaus Wiberg: Tell me about the time you went to jail.

A-Krystle Stagman: With 32 counts of identity theft, I sat four days in booking without a shower, or really anything. Then I went to court and I sat probably three months that time. I would get out of jail and then I would go back a few times. Then I went to go live with my mom, and she ended up taking me to a homeless shelter. She couldn’t deal with me anymore because I kept getting high.

Q: Were you addicted?

A: I could not go 24 hours without using. Your body goes into so much shock. You feel like you are dying. The mental part of it is just as bad as the physical and it’s not just the drug itself, it’s the ritual of the drug.

Q: Was this experience a wake-up moment for you?

A: Most definitely! I think the wakeup moment was sitting in jail with withdrawals. Having those four days clean in jail and then standing in front of a judge. I did a lot of looking at myself, a lot of shadow work and looking at myself. This is not what I imagined my life being like.

Q: What do you wish other people knew about the criminal justice system?

A: It strips away your dignity. You can tell that the Correctional Officers and the cops have seen a lot. There is not a lot of empathy for someone that does crime. It definitely makes you grateful for small things. Like a nice blanket, a pillow, a hot shower and good food. They don’t turn off all the lights. So, there is constantly a light on. It makes you very grateful once you’re able to get out.

Q: Tell me about being introduced to sage by an Ojibwe woman.

A: She was young girl in her 20’s (Sonya). Her counselor was part Native American and knew different tribes in the area (Northern Wisconsin) that did sweat lodges and full-moon ceremonies. She got to go to this full-moon ceremony and sweat lodge. She came back from it just so ecstatic. She ended up bringing back sage, so she smudged (burning sage) all of us and I can just remember this huge release. I felt so clear afterwards. She spoke about giving tobacco to the earth. It’s like an offering because we took this sage, this medicine. So, we gave some tobacco to a tree and said a prayer and really thanked Mother Earth for cleansing us and giving us this sage. That’s how my spiritual journey started. It really opened my eyes to different beliefs and different cultures. 

Q: Tell me about living in a women’s sober living home.

A: I actually lived there (A.R.E. Homes) for three years after I went to treatment. It was a new sober living facility in Waukesha County. That’s where I got introduced to recovery coaching and became an assistant manager. My coach actually introduced me to crystals. She was a spiritual lady and knowledgeable in hypnotherapy and all these different healing modalities that I never heard of. That really helped a lot with my anxiety.

Q: You were meditating when you saw yourself owning a crystal store. What can you tell me about that vision?

A: I was meditating, and I saw myself having my own crystal store. I could see jewelry and all these different crystals. There was a meditative area where people could come in and meditate if they wanted to or come get services. When I came to, I was like, I need a crystal store like that. My name is Krystle! So, I kept dabbling with the idea. Could I really have my own crystal store?

Q: What was is like knowing you were going to open Altered State of Mind?

A: I was really excited. Things were finally falling into place for me. It was a huge risk, and my family was totally against it. I was standing alone with Kyle (Krystle’s fiancé). I know that this is what I am supposed to do. I had felt a little bit like I failed in the beginning because I could not answer some customer’s questions. I’ve always had social anxiety. So, talking to customers was way out of my element and now I am an owner and a boss. There was a lot of growing pains.

Q: You’re a recovery coach, peer support specialist and a suicide prevention coach. Why do you do these things?

A: I got my training in suicide prevention when I was at the sober living home because a lot of people that came in there were pretty suicidal. I became a recovery coach as well. I wanted to be able to help people that have addiction and really be able to meet them on their level and be open to what would work for their healing. These were different ways where I could really help people and use my personal experience. I just really like helping people and it fills me as well as it does someone else. It’s the one thing that makes me feel good about myself.

Q: Your store recently opened a healing center called the Sacred Sanctuary. Can you tell me about it?

A: We just had a little room back here that was for tarot card readings and sometimes Reiki. Now we are able to do full-moon rituals with sound baths. We’re able to have more space to do healing things and offer free services to the community. We’re trying to get in different teachers and healers and really try and get some things for the community. We have yoga now, full-moon rituals, shamanic healing and different ceremonies. We’re hoping to add as many different healing services that the people are asking for.

Q: At what point did you become the Krystle Goddess?

A: My fiancé created that name. It was probably this year. The name doesn’t mean that I am “the crystal goddess.” Notice it’s my personal spelling of my name. I am a goddess of myself, I embodied a goddess, I honor myself and I love myself. So, it doesn’t mean that I am the crystal goddess, I am my own goddess.