Entry No. 7 — the Des Moines file — filed under: witchy
Kays Spiritual Ways
A tiny owner-run metaphysical shop tucked at the corner of 5th & Euclid in Highland Park, created by Kayla Carre and stocked with crystals, candles, incense, tarot decks and jewelry. It runs a recurring 'Spiritual Social Hour,' so the vibe leans toward a neighborhood gathering spot rather than a slick storefront.
The story
Highland Park's historic commercial district near 6th and Euclid spent decades operating under the radar before small, hyper-local storefronts began reclaiming its brick corners. Tucked right at 5th and Euclid sits Kays Spiritual Ways, a tiny single-room metaphysical shop created and operated by Kayla Carre. You won't find slick corporate branding or sterile glass cases here—just crowded shelves stocked with tumbled crystals, ritual candles, incense, divination decks, and handmade jewelry.
What keeps the spot grounded is how Carre steers it away from being just another retail counter. The shop doubles as an informal neighborhood parlor, hosting recurring Spiritual Social Hours and community gatherings like crystal-and-plant swaps. It is less about polished sales pitches and more about giving North Des Moines a low-key room to trade tarot tips, gossip, and share space.
What it's like
Step inside to a single cozy room crammed wall-to-wall with books, crystals, and candles. Because Carre runs the entire operation solo, shop hours shift with the season and the lock can turn unexpectedly on short notice—you'll want to check their social channels or call before making the cross-town drive. If you manage to line your visit up with an evening Spiritual Social Hour or a weekend plant swap, expect a tight, chatty room where regulars linger near the door. Street parking is easy enough along Euclid Avenue.
The move: Wander the cramped shelves together pulling a tarot deck off the rack, pick out a shared candle or crystal pairing, and time your visit to a Spiritual Social Hour to mingle with the regulars.
📍 Before you go Kays sits in Highland Park, a historic, walkable business district in north Des Moines clustered around the 6th and Euclid commercial core — easy to fold a stop here into a slow afternoon browsing the strip's small shops and cafes. Expect a single cozy room, not a big-box browse: it's a one-person operation, so the door can be closed on short notice and hours shift with the season — check before making the trip. Social Hour dates float around on the shop's Facebook and Instagram, so peek there to line your visit up with one. Street parking runs along Euclid.
- 📍 Highland Park
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 501 Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
Hours: Roughly Wed-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4, Sun 10-2 per listings; call ahead
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Divine Times Vintage — Pair your metaphysical run with two floors of rotating vintage vendors right down the block in Highland Park.
- Highland Underground — Walk a tenth of a mile west to grab a 1970s-style drink in this basement speakeasy hidden beneath a former department store.
- Ancient Ways — Drive three miles south to Drake to compare Kayla's cozy room with Des Moines' long-running, multi-room mystery shop operating since 1997.
Good to know
Who owns and operates the shop?
Kays Spiritual Ways was created and is run solo by owner Kayla Carre.
What inventory can I expect to find?
The shelves hold tumbled crystals, spell candles, hand-blended incense, tarot and oracle decks, ritual supplies, and jewelry.
How do I find out when events like Spiritual Social Hours happen?
Event dates float month-to-month, so peek at the shop's Instagram (@kaysspiritualways) or Facebook page before visiting.
What are the shop's standard hours?
General hours run roughly Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., though calling ahead is recommended.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Yelp · Facebook · desmoinesregister.com · desmoinesgirl.com
last checked: 2026-06-06