The 9 of Cups grew from many years of hands-on experience, curiosity, and heart-led creation.
I’m Leah Quinn, an herbalist for over 15 years and a designer for more than 20. My work began with a deep love for communication, creativity, and community, long before it took physical form as an apothecary.
In the early days of the internet, I was a radio host and content creator, launching one of the original online shows under the name Divaliscious, long before “podcasting” was a common term. I later worked as a writer and reporter, contributed to music and culture publications, hosted open mic and Dinner & Jam party events, and built platforms centered around storytelling, creativity, and connection.
That passion carried into blogging and digital publishing, where I created and maintained multiple blogs, including Ask Divaliscious, The Chef Maven, and The Lucky Zen Dog. Through food, home, and holistic living, these projects explored how creativity, intuition, and everyday rituals shape the way we live. The Lucky Zen Dog, a feng shui–inspired blog, would quietly become the first stepping stone toward what later evolved into Heart & Soul Apothecary.
Alongside this work, I supported local initiatives and education. I served the City of Peekskill, New York through its Business Development District as their newsletter editor, and worked as a website developer for Sarah Lawrence College. These experiences grounded my creative work in service, structure, and real-world impact.
For eight years, I ran Heart & Soul Apothecary as a brick-and-mortar retail shop in Beacon, New York, building it from the ground up with my own hands, formulations, and vision. The shop became a living classroom for herbalism, ritual, and creative living. It offered handcrafted remedies, teas, oils, and tools alongside community education and one-on-one guidance.
Running a physical apothecary deepened my understanding of what people truly seek: not perfection, but presence, care, and meaningful connection. When I later relocated to Vermont, I brought that same heart-centered foundation with me, allowing the business to evolve while honoring its roots.
It was here that my love of making things for others to create with, in their homes, rituals, and daily lives, truly took shape.
As time went on, my creative paths, herbalism, design, tarot, and the mystical arts, naturally intertwined. Rather than separating them, I allowed them to evolve together.
That evolution became The 9 of Cups.
When my original domain was claimed by another company, I chose growth instead of resistance. Tarot teaches us that endings are rarely endings at all. They are cyclical and often carry blessings in disguise.
The 9 of Cups, known as the wish card, symbolizes fulfillment, joy, and dreams realized. It is a perfect reflection of where this journey continues to unfold.
