Entry No. 9 — the San Francisco file — filed under: witchy
Ancient Ways
A self-described "complete metaphysical" shop in Oakland's Temescal district that has been selling "spells and service" for over three decades (Oakland North profiled its 25th anniversary in 2013). In-store tarot readers work alongside shelves of ritual herbs, candles, oils, stones, and pagan/Wiccan supplies.
The story
You smell Ancient Ways before you even hit the threshold at Telegraph Avenue and 41st Street—waves of incense drift straight out the front door and mingle with the Oakland street air. Operating in Temescal since the late 1980s, this self-described "complete metaphysical" shop has spent over three decades stocking "spells and service" for local practitioners, surviving waves of neighborhood turnover by sticking strictly to its trade.
Inside, the inventory leans practical over decorative. Wall-to-wall shelves hold glass jars of bulk ritual herbs, hand-poured candles, custom-blended oils, stones, and foundational Wiccan and pagan supplies. Rather than treating esoteric practice as a boutique trend, the shop functions as a working neighborhood institution where in-store tarot readers work alongside staff who actually know their botanical and ritual stock.
What it's like
Stepping inside means navigating narrow aisles packed with resin, glass vials, and heavy scent. The shop is cozy and quiet, meant for deliberate browsing rather than rushing through. If you're looking for a tarot reading, check in with the staff when you walk in, then take your time scanning the herbal jars and candle bins while you wait. Be sure to double-check their current shop hours online before taking BART or driving over.
The move: BART or drive to Temescal, get a joint tarot reading from a staff reader, then pick out ritual candles or herbs together for a shared home ritual.
- 📍 Temescal, Oakland
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 4075 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Chapel of the Chimes — Follow up an afternoon of occult supplies by wandering Julia Morgan's serene, labyrinthine indoor garden columbarium just a mile away.
- The Crucible — Trade herbal preparations and candle magic for industrial fire and raw metalworking down in West Oakland.
- Chabot Space & Science Center — Public Telescope Nights — Pivot from earthly divination tools to looking directly into the cosmos through historic telescopes up in the Oakland Hills.
Good to know
What specific supplies does the shop carry?
They stock bulk herbs, custom oils, ritual candles, stones, tarot decks, and a wide array of pagan and Wiccan supplies.
Can you get a tarot reading on-site?
Yes, in-store readers offer tarot readings directly inside the shop.
Where exactly is Ancient Ways located?
It sits at 4075 Telegraph Avenue (near 41st Street) in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: oaklandnorth.net · Yelp · Official site · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20