Meet Hanna Lafko | Small Business Owner & Eclectic Witchcraft Practioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanna Lafko and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My shop started as a fleeting thought during summer of 2020. I’ve been practicing varying kinds of witchcraft since I was 13. During the beginning of lockdown I joined TikTok (like so many people) and saw that witchcraft and spirituality was taking off. However I was dealing with an illness and couldn’t practice my craft like I had in years prior, and I found had quite a few friends who were also dealing with their disabilities and chronic illnesses during that time as well. We were all feeling vulnerable in a world where we felt like we weren’t a priority during a global health crisis. Along with dealing with the idea that we were outsiders already, the spiritual and witchcraft communities were alienating us.

There has always been some discourse in the New Age Spiritualism community that if a person relies on medication or can’t dedicate a certain amount of time or space to their craft that they’re not “truly” a practitioner. I knew that idea was so wrong, but I found some friends were really struggling to ignore that discourse and continue to explore how spirituality fit into their lives.

So in December of 2020, with the help of a friend experienced in marketing, I started launching my social media pages and Sick Witch Altar Kits was born. I launched January 1, 2021 on Instagram and the shop exploded. I went from painting custom Altar Kits, which are small tins that have a little bit of everything that the everyday practitioner or witch would need to do their spell work.

Since the beginning of Sick Witch Altar Kits, it’s been my goal to make magick accessible to any and everyone. I always talk about the shop as though it’s a team, and while I have an incredible ambassador team who have become dear friends and help me promote the business on social media, it’s really just me running the shop from my living room (with occasional help from family or my partner). I’ve never wanted to take credit or be recognized separately, partly because I don’t know how to handle any kind of recognition, but also partly because I always thought that it wasn’t that big or grand of a business. However, since launching I’ve realized that a lot of metaphysical shops aren’t accommodating to allergies or the needs of the person shopping.

My goal this whole time has been to be the bridge between the disabled & chronic illness communities and the witchcraft & spiritual communities, I just don’t want to be the only one. I hope to inspire others to make sure that they’re thinking about the persons using their products instead of only focusing on making the sale.
The topic witchcraft and disabilities have been such taboo subjects for so long. I want to make sure that the conversations are not only being had, but more importantly, that they are being heard and accepted in all social circles. I know that we have a long way to go when it comes to making these topics commonplace and fully accepted, but I feel like people are becoming more aware of both issues and now is the time to start the work to be more accepting of everyone.

I know it sounds like there was so much thought that went into starting Sick Witch Altar Kits, but really, it all comes down to the thought that magick and spiritualism should be accessible to everyone who wants to participate, and I will continue to make them accessible as long as I’m able.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve never been one to be in the spotlight. Growing up I tried everything I could. I wasn’t coordinated (or motivated) enough to continue with dance or gymnastics classes. I was part of a county music conservatory for a stretch of my teens. But I never really found a place in the arts until I found Theatre in high school. I was so sure that I was meant to be an actor but after auditioning for both the school play and musical, being onstage was simply not meant to be. However, I found stage crew and production management, and I flourished. I continued to participate in all of my high school productions and continued into college, and eventually interned and worked at a Performing Arts Center for a brief period.

Theatre has always felt like home, but I quickly found myself working retail for a number of years. Most people say that they couldn’t stand to work in retail, I am not one of them. I love retail and meeting and interacting with a number of people. After moving states, and feeling unhappy in my career, I found a local theatre that opened its doors to me on a whim.

Instantly I was rejuvenated and it felt good, but I quickly realized that it wasn’t going to pay the bills. So I found a shop in the local downtown district that taught me better management, design, and how to run a small business (without needing a degree). Between both jobs I was surrounded with kind and supportive friends and co-workers who influenced my art and creativity.
I began suffering from severe health issues and sadly I had to leave all my jobs behind. I wound up bedbound and rarely left home, until my chronic illnesses started to calm down. Unfortunately my health got better just as everything began closing in March of 2020. I tried everything to inspire myself, and I reconnected with nature. I watched as the business I worked for, became an online only store. I watched as the theatre company got – creative – in how they continued to provide the community some form of live art.
It was those influences that helped me believe that, if these wildly different businesses and professions, could survive and thrive in the middle of a lockdown, then so could I.
I communicated with my old boss so much in the early days and weeks of my shop launch. I always felt like I was doing everything wrong, and she continuously assured me that that feeling would never go away, but that I was in fact, making the correct business moves.
It’s never been easy. Retail is hard, Theatre is hard. Starting a business during a global pandemic… well that felt impossible. A year and a half later it still feels like a dream (and maybe sometimes when I’m struggling it feels like a mistake), but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Sharing my art with everyone who shops with me is a magick in itself. You go to the theatre to escape for a time. You go to a store to wander and shop. You come to Sick Witch for a spiritual need and community, and that’s what I want to provide. If I’m not making someone feel welcomed into the accessible witchcraft community, I’m doing something wrong.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fayetteville, North Carolina is a melting pot of backgrounds, especially being part of an enormous military community, which means that you have a lot to choose from.

Yes we have a local mall, and all the big name stores here in town. But to truly experience Fayetteville, you need to find yourself in our Downtown District.

Downtown Fayetteville has a variety of small businesses that you could spend days exploring.

Stop in at Pressed – a retail space that carries crystals and metaphysical tools, as well as tops designed in house. They also support other local and small businesses by carrying a variety of goods in store.
Head down the street to Garnet Skull which is another metaphysical shop who also carry a variety of oddities. If you stop in make sure to make your way into the way back of the shop to see the darker side of things, and schedule a reading with their in-house tarot reader Medici Wisdom.

While you’re here, don’t forget to stop in at Winterbloom, – our local Tea Room, that also offers a variety of loose leaf tea, hot and iced teas to go, or if you’re 21 and up order one of their delicious Tea Cocktails.

If you have the time, why not do a Brewery Crawl. Downtown Fayetteville currently houses: Gaston Brewing Company, Bright Light Brewing Co., and Huske Hardware. More are on the way, but walking or taking our Downtown Trolley really makes it a full experience.

Another experience sure to be found is at a performance from any of our live theatres. From the Cape Fear Regional Theatre who produce and stage a selection of plays and musicals every year. To our homegrown Sweet Tea Shakespeare Company, who can be found at multiple performance locations in the area; and no they don’t only do Shakespeare, but check to see if they’re staging a Lit Series Production. Shakespeare, Music, and Booze, is always a fun combination. One thing is for sure, Fayetteville doesn’t lack live art.

Speaking of live art, Fayetteville, NC is home to the Spring and Fall Dogwood Festivals which bring in performers from a variety of musical genres, as well as hosts vendors, street performers, and even food trucks.

If you’re planning a trip to Fayetteville in June, make sure to check out our Pride Festival. From live performances and LGBTQ+ vendors, Pride is always a fun time for the whole family.

If shopping and breweries aren’t really your thing, be sure to check out all of our walking and hiking trails. Fayetteville boasts of 28 trails with a combined distance of 124 miles.

Honestly I could go on about the amazing shops and restaurants in the area, but it’s always more fun to explore and discover your new favorite haunts on your own.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Since starting Sick Witch, I’ve had an incredible ambassador team. They’re made up of different practitioners, beginners and experienced. They’ve kept me motivated, humble, and in some instances – sane. One of the team is a small business owner in her own right, two are authors, one is bee-keeper, and one is a tarot reader who also works as a peer support specialist. They are all amazing at what they do and I’d be lost without them. Another small business that has had a hand in my success is Garnet Skull. They’re a Metaphysical & Oddities shop locally, and they were the first brick & mortar shop to take a chance on me, and have really helped my business take off. The owners, Nik & Cheyenne, and their family and friends instantly made me feel at home.

Everyone has supported and kept me going in hard times and hyped me up in good times. I’m also extremely blessed to have my mom who has supported me (and allowed me to take up half of our living room) and a partner who always reminds me that I’m successful and I’m sharing my magick with others. Life hasn’t been easy since starting Sick, Witch, but the thing I haven’t lacked the whole time -love.

Website: https://sickwitchaltarkits.square.site/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sickwitch_altarkits/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakeYourCraftWithYou/