Entry No. 2 — the New York City file — filed under: witchy
Flower Power Herbs & Roots
This tiny apothecary has been run since 1993 by resident green witch Lata Chettri-Kennedy, an herbalist and astrologer with three decades of practice who trained under figures like Susan Weed and Robin Rose Bennett. The shelves are packed wall-to-wall with loose herbs, custom tea blends, magical oils, elixirs and crystals meant for spellwork, incense and candle magic, not just tea. It is a working green-witchery store where staff will walk you through which root or oil suits your intention.
The story
Step into 406 East 9th Street and you leave the polished gentrification of the modern East Village at the curb. Resident green witch Lata Chettri-Kennedy opened Flower Power in 1993, bringing decades of practice and direct training under herbal heavyweights like Susun Weed and Robin Rose Bennett into a single, tightly packed storefront. She didn't build a sterile, minimalist wellness boutique; she built an old-school working apothecary for folk medicine and practical plant magic.
Every wall is stacked to the ceiling with glass jars containing dried barks, roots, leaves, custom teas, magical oils, and crystals meant for spellwork. Behind the counter, Chettri-Kennedy and her staff of herbalists and apprentices—lovingly known as the 'Flowerettes'—operate as active practitioners. You don't just pick up packaged goods here; you bring your intentions or ailments to the counter, and they pull raw ingredients directly off the shelves to weigh out tailored remedies.
What it's like
The moment you open the door, a wave of pungent mugwort, heavy incense, dried lavender, and rich earth hits you before your eyes even adapt to the dim lighting. Space inside is extremely tight—if six people are browsing at once, you will be dodging elbows between jar displays. Skip the crowded weekend rush and show up on a quiet weekday afternoon around 2 PM. Walk up to the counter, state clearly what you need or what you are trying to manifest, and let the herbalist pull, measure, and blend custom tea leaves or oils right in front of you.
The move: Describe an intention to the herbalist and have her blend a custom magical tea or oil for the two of you on the spot.
📍 Before you go Open noon to 7 pm daily; the store is small, so quiet weekday afternoons are best for a real conversation with the herbalist.
- 📍 East Village, Manhattan
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 406 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Enchantments — Walk three blocks over to NYC's oldest occult shop to compare Flower Power’s raw plant magic with custom hand-carved spell candles.
- Please Don't Tell (PDT) — Transition from botanical elixirs to craft cocktails by stepping through the phone booth at Crif Dogs just down the block.
- Jim Power's Mosaic Trail — Keep an eye on the street poles along East 9th Street on your way out to spot Jim Power’s iconic neighborhood mosaic tiles.
- Merchant's House Museum — Head south toward 4th Street to tour a preserved 1832 merchant family home for a double dose of old Manhattan history.
Good to know
Who runs Flower Power Herbs & Roots?
Herbalist and astrologer Lata Chettri-Kennedy opened the store in 1993 after studying under master herbalists like Susun Weed and Robin Rose Bennett.
Can I get a custom tea or oil blend made for me on the spot?
Yes. Describe your intention or physical ailment to the staff, and they will pull loose roots, herbs, or essential oils from their glass jars to mix a bespoke blend.
What products does the apothecary carry?
They stock hundreds of loose herbs and barks, custom tea mixes, medicinal elixirs, magical oils, spellwork crystals, incense, and ritual candles.
What are the hours and best time to go?
The shop is open daily from noon to 7 PM. Weekday afternoons are best if you want to have a real, unhurried consultation with the herbalist on duty.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · villagepreservation.org · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-23