Business Spotlight: Lotus + Sage Holistics
April 2, 2025
Lauren McComber holds a degree in social work and spent about 15 years as a journalist in and around Kahnawà:ke before pursuing further education in social work for two years. Shortly after that, she started her own business, Lotus & Sage Holistics, operating for the past eight years. Initially, Lauren began her Reiki practice from home. “I set up my Reiki bed and everything I use in my living room,” she explains. “There was a cubby that separated the entrance from the living area, and I had my products displayed there. That was all my business at the start.”
Lauren’s journey led her to become a client of Tewatohnhi’saktha, where she found the support and resources she needed to build her business. Lotus & Sage was born from Lauren’s own personal healing journey. She recalls, “I started seeing Amy Mitchell, who held a workshop about connecting to spirit guides and doing soul retrievals. From there, I attended sweat lodges and began practicing Reiki.” Lauren was also inspired to create a wellness center for women.
The name “Lotus & Sage” holds deep meaning for Lauren. “The lotus flower grows through the mud to reach enlightenment, which symbolizes how we must navigate the darkness to reach the light,” she explains. “Sage represents the clearing away of negativity and healing.” For her, the business reflects a balance of light and dark, and the healing process is about embracing and working through the darkness. Lauren’s passion for Eastern philosophy, particularly figures like Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle, influenced her approach, blending these teachings with traditional healing methods she learned through sweat lodges and soul retrievals. This unique combination of Eastern and traditional medicine fueled her interest in essential oils, which she initially doubted but later embraced after a powerful experience with lavender oil. “I hated the smell of lavender until I used it one night because I couldn’t sleep. It worked so well that I was sold,” she shares. Her curiosity led her to experiment with essential oils and create products that have helped build her business.
Today, Lauren wears many hats at Lotus & Sage. She’s the owner and manager, offering Reiki, reflexology, and tarot readings, while also organizing various workshops, including yoga, herbal classes, and sound meditations. In addition to this, she handles social media, marketing, inventory, and accounting, making sure everything runs smoothly. One of the biggest challenges Lauren faced was getting her shop up and running, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Just as I was getting my groove, COVID hit and everything shut down,” she recalls. “We had to pivot quickly, and it felt like trying to build a sandcastle with waves crashing in. But if a business can survive COVID, it can survive anything.” It took time to rebuild after the pandemic, but Lotus & Sage persevered. Lauren offers advice to new small business owners: “Be prepared to work long hours, put yourself out there on social media and at markets, and always prioritize customer service. Listen to feedback, don’t take criticism personally, and let it help your business grow. Most importantly, be passionate and believe in what you’re doing.”
Lauren highly recommends Tewatohnhi’saktha’s marketing program for small businesses. “It’s one of the best programs out there. The Skills Link and KSSEP programs have allowed me to hire staff and receive crucial funding, like marketing and professional services support. This helped with everything from labels and graphic design to Facebook ads,” Lauren says. “I’m so grateful for the resources and support I’ve received through Tewatohnhi’saktha. My current BSO is Kristy Kennedy, but I’ve also worked with Marissa Leblanc and Tammy Delaronde who was my first BSO. Tewatohnhi’saktha has so many tools for small businesses, and I highly recommend it.”
For more information on Business Services, please contact Tewatohnhi’saktha at (450) 638-4280.