UPDATE AS OF 2/2022:

hello, as you can probably tell, this funding isn’t taking off! That’s okay though! All funding is going directly to keeping my shop open and alive. I made this funding back in November and I had a lot more hope for my business. As of now, not so much but I still have so much ambition and drive. I won’t give up just yet so if you’re open to donating, please do! :) thank you ♥️

UDATED:

OVERVIEW

The Aura Noor Café is North Carolinas new hang out spot for crystal lovers, spiritualists, and experience seekers. The Café features crystal inspired seltzers, teas and steamers, providing a spot for sober night-lifers and cafe goers. Our gift shop provides an array of handmade crystal jewelry, plant-dyed attire and printed merch. Whether you are into astrology, crystals, tarot or just looking for a place to lounge and drink (non-alcoholic of course!) Aura Noor Café is the place for you. 

GOODIES WE SELL:

• Drinks named after crystals that actually resemble crystals.
• Parfaits made in house named after the popular Tarot.
• Packaged snacks for on the go consumers.
• Crystal, Tarot, Aura & Astrology jewelry, clothing and prints.
• Plant-dyed scarves, totes, masks, and more.
• Soaps, oils, candles, incense and more.

EXPERIENCES WE PROVIDE:

• Cafe
• Nightlife 
• Shopping
• Lounging w/spiritual books, games & cards
• Family friendly environment
• Judgement-free space for people of all backgrounds to come, drink, learn and explore.

MISSION

Aura Noor Cafés mission is in the name! Everything the café sells and provides is to help enhance one's aura. In other words, lift your mood and brighten your day. Adorning yourself with gifts from the gift shop or drinking any one of Aura Noors beverages is sure to lift and lighten your spirits. Aura Noor Café is a safe place for people who are new to spirituality and would like to learn about auras, crystals, tarot and more. The family friendly environment encourages people of all ages to join in on North Carolinas new up and coming hangout spot. The café weekend late night hours offer a childfree space for non-alcoholic adults and teens to enjoy.

What is Aura Noor?

Aura Noor is a business founded by Sumaiyah Noor to materialize and track her own spiritual journey. Every month she creates a collection of jewelry and scarves with her own spirituality in mind to help uplift other women during their own spiritual journey. Sumaiyah believes there is beauty in everything and she hopes to show others that there is beauty in their own path despite the trials and tribulations they may face. Aura Noor creates spiritual adornments with your aura in mind. This means that everything we create here at Aura Noor is to amplify or protect your energy. 

What does the name “Aura Noor” mean?

An aura is the energy that surrounds your physical body. It comes in many colors. Think of it like a Forcefield of colorful light but you, yourself radiate it! Noor is Sumaiyah’s middle name and it means “light” or “illumination”. 

What’s the story?

Hello! It’s me, Sumaiyah. I started my business back in November 2020 but if you’re wondering what pushed me to begin, I’m here to talk about it! Some of you may know that I used to sell paintings and artwork under the name Freckledhijabi. Well I ended that business in winter 2019 and I never really talked about why. I had fallen into undiagnosed (at the time) depression and I slowly stopped creating. I slowly lost the passion for painting and I had no idea why. I wanted to learn to love art again but without the pressure of having to make a living out of it. I started feeling better but I didn’t paint as often as I hoped. Once the pandemic hit and isolation became the new normal, things didn’t get better. I think a lot of people can relate to this but with being alone so often, I started considering my inner world. My thoughts to myself that I often ignored such as "am I really happy where I am" and "have I grown the way I wanted to" became much louder. I think that when the isolation hit everyone, it was a bit of a wake up call for some people.

With these thoughts getting louder, I began to tend to them. When a person embarks on a new spiritual journey, that isolation they may have felt before becomes more apparent. This of course happened to me. Being raised muslim and suddenly being interested in things like crystals and astrology just doesn't fit with any religious household. I started creating my own crystal jewelry as a creative outlet and I fell in love with the craft. I gave them to my mother and sister as gifts and they loved them too! Soon I was getting told that I should sell my jewelry and I was so hesitant in doing so. I loved this craft and I didn't want it to become another form of stress for me. 

There was a very important turning point around June 2020 that made me decide to create Aura Noor. A childhood friend of mine and I had a Face Time call. We spoke about our interests in making businesses for our crafts. She wanted to create a holistic apothecary brand as she loved to make oils and tinctures. I mentioned my love of crystals and spirituality and she basically told me to go for it. This little push of motivation made me feel certain that it was the right path for me.

In November 2020, I finally opened my online shop and things were going great. I was keeping myself occupied with creating and I had a lot of fun with it. In February I moved after separating from my partner. This was a new chapter for me but I was ready to welcome it with open arms. After this newfound freedom, I began exploring new things and different parts of myself that were previously taboo or simply neglected. Something as simple as tending to my skin/body care to developing an interest in tarot became the new normal for me. I am someone who likes to bounce around new interests and hobbies and I honored that. With Aura Noor, I allowed myself to stay excited. I didn’t just create what would make me money. If one month, I really wanted to make coasters, then I would. If I decided I wasn’t in the mood to create fairy wing earrings, I didn’t. This helped me to keep my products and ideas fresh. I stayed inspired. Until I didn’t.

 In June, I was diagnosed with seasonal depression but what’s really interesting is I feel sad in the summer. Since then, Aura Noor has been slow. I picked up a job at a local coffee shop and that's when I realized I had a love for creating drinks! Now we are here! Raising money to help make this Cafe real!

Some things I hope to use this crowdfunding money for is:

-Branding and packaging

-International shipping

-New inventory and supplies (silk veils, crystals, prints, etc)

-Secure a physical shop!(security deposit +first month rent)

If I happen to surpass my goal of $10k:

-We can start building out Aura Noor Cafe.

At $5k we will release the menu!

My end goal before opening the cafe is $50,000

This $10k is to help Aura Noor get on our feet!

Thank you for all the support.