The healing powers of tea and divination at Clair-i-tea

Running a small business in Edmonton can be difficult. However, with passion, support, and hard work, these hardships can be worth it in the end.

Claire-i-tea is a psychic tea room that opened on August 20, 2019. The tea room offers many services such as tea leaf, astrology, and palmistry readings. It was started by Kris Dutchak, who wanted to find a way to give back to her community. 

After a failed attempt to help another business owner with her tea shop, Dutchak decided to start her own tea room. To her surprise, she garnered a lot of support from her community. She describes the creation of Claire-i-tea as a divine flow or an evolution. 

“I never looked for readers, they all came to me,” Dutchak explained. “I never looked for healers, they just all came to me. [Claire-i-tea] was just supposed to be a little shop, and then it just grew and grew and grew.”

Though many Edmontonians are familiar with the Russian Tea Room, Dutchak believes that Claire-i-tea offers an entirely different experience. 

“The purpose behind the shop is that people feel safe coming here. This is a safe space for them, and there’s many people out there starting to be lonely, disconnected,” she said. “[Claire-i-tea] is a space of healing, whereas the Russian Tea Room just [offers] readings.” 

Claire-i-tea tries to provide a healing environment by hosting a plethora of workshops and events. Many are recurring, such as the Gathering of Spirit nights, where participants can receive messages from loved ones who have crossed over. On December 16, Claire-i-tea is starting a six part workshop entitled Healing a Kitsune Heart, which teaches it’s participants on how to create a healthy relationship with community service. 

In addition, the tea room hosts Edmonton’s first iPyramid. It is a large pyramid that uses light, sound, and vibration therapy to balance your energy. It is meant to help with relaxation, can be used to soothe mental trauma, and aid in meditation. The iPyramid can also be used to charge crystals and realign your chakras. Reiki sessions can also be done inside the pyramid.

According to Dutchak, Claire-i-tea provides a community for those who believe in spirituality and alternative healing. 

“A lot of people that are coming here are seeing things, which normal people in society don’t see. They don’t feel safe talking about it, but this is a space where they can talk about it,” she said. 

Running a psychic tea room has its challenges. Dutchak faces criticism from those who do not share the same beliefs on alternative healing. 

“Some people are very closed off to [psychic ability],” she explained. “As well as, some people think that it’s just the medical profession, psychologists, that can heal. But real healing comes from within.”

“With every type of modality from doctors, to teachers, to psychics, there are good and there are bad. But something that we pride ourselves in  here is integrity. We try to respect those that come here for healing.”