With so many of us running out to buy a set of tarot cards or booking their next ayahuasca journey, it’s safe to say that the mystical world is trending.
It makes sense: People are craving more immersive experiences, especially in the travel space, and mysticism (“the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience such as intuition or insight, according to Merriam-Webster) is one way to delve into the deep.
From a “solstice immersion” with a resident astrologer to shops trading in the tools of the occult, here are five places to get a little mystical.
Star Charts, Sound Vibrations + Massage, Menlo Park
(Courtesy of @rosewoodsandhill)
Wellness and mysticism converge at the newly refreshed Asaya Spa at Rosewood Sand Hill in Palo Alto. One of its first offerings was a 90-minute Resonance Ritual massage treatment paired with a star-chart reading. The massage incorporates Tibetan sound bowls and chimes played over, around, and on top of your body, transferring the healing sound vibrations directly into you. Afterward, the resident astrologer finishes the session up with an individualized reading of your star chart. Both elements of this package are available to book à la carte at Asaya, along with private sound baths and tarot readings.
// 2825 Sand Hill Rd. (Menlo Park), rosewoodhotels.com
Crystal Healing + Magical Wine, Paso Robles
(Courtesy of @ulloacellars/@pasowine)
You will find something unexpected at Ulloa Cellars in Paso Robles Wine Country, where owner and winemaker Nancy Ulloa pairs crystals with her wine and dives deep into manifestation, mysticism, and magic. Ulloa employs her deep spirituality along with sound baths, affirmations, and crystal healing energy during the fermentation process and aging of her magical wines (and it’s not all BS—she also makes legit wine, just take a look at her press page). Although Ulloa recently went through some changes in her production licensing, which meant she had to temporarily close down the tasting room and online sales, keep an eye on her reopening on Instagram.
// 2915 Union Rd., Unit C (Paso Robles), ulloacellars.com
Shops for the Occult-Curious, San Francisco
(Courtesy of @theswordandrose)
San Francisco is no stranger to mysticism. In fact, it seems to welcome all those who are seeking a touch of the unknown with open arms (maybe that’s why we love it here?). The city is full of crystal shops, apothecaries, and other places to discover something deeper. Check out occult shop The Sword and Rose, open since 1985, which also serves as a place to get palm, tarot, astrological, and divinational readings. // 85 Carl St. (Cole Valley), theswordandrose.net
While Sword and Rose is a little bit hidden in a less-trafficked neighborhood, Paxton Gate is front and center in the hot zone of the Mission on Valencia Street. Accessible, welcoming, and packed full of the odd, this shop encompasses the entire natural world, both physical and metaphysical. It’s also family-friendly, with a whole “curiosities for kids” section. Check out their sister store in Portland next time you’re up in the PNW. // 824 Valencia St. (Mission), paxtongate.com
Pet Psychic + Full Moon Ceremonies, Marina
(Courtesy of Dream Then Go)
The 19-acre Sanctuary Beach Resort in the middle of the protected area of the Marina Dunes Preserve just south of Santa Cruz, offers the appeal of feeling very far from typical. The programming is too, with a major focus on seasonal and mindfulness experiences like the Burnout Recovery Journey, intuition-development workshops, aromatherapy, calligraphy, botanical art, solstice ceremonies, and soul card crafting.
For a truly unique experience, spend some time with Kristen White, a local spiritual guide and medium who offers monthly Soulfull Connection Pet Psychic Group Workshops and quarterly full moon ceremonies at one of the five fire cauldrons set along the beach at the edge of the property (check out the Hunter’s Full Moon Fire Ceremony on October 24th). Although she offers psychic readings for humans, White has been offering psychic channeled readings for pets for 17 years.
“Pets are multidimensional beings, just like humans, and they are living in our homes and interacting with us, but they are on a journey of their own,” says White. “It is my endeavor in these classes to help people understand their pets, and their specific needs, as well as learning how to ‘communicate’ with them in the most effective way.”
For a workshop on the ancient art of oracle and tarot card reading, join medium Jenn Hensley on October 25th.
// 3295 Dunes Dr. (Marina), thesanctuarybeachresort.com
Tarot Readings + Mindfulness, Mendocino
(Courtesy of Mendocino Grove)
Mendocino Grove, the scenic glampground just a couple of miles south of Mendocino village, unveiled its new Dome in May. Creeping through the woods to get there is like a special invitation to enter a separate, peaceful realm. Intended to be a space for mindfulness, they just started open sitting hours for self-guided reflection. A weekly gentle vinyasa flow yoga class incorporates sound bath elements, with a closing aromatherapy cranial adjustment and oracle cards to choose from upon leaving. You can also book full tarot readings in the space, all of which are led by Kati Bilsky, who came up from Esalen in Big Sur to serve as resident instructor here. Outside is the Mendocino woods and bubbling water sounds from the wood tank next door.
// 9601 Hwy 1 (Mendocino), mendocinogrove.com
