Entry No. 21 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: witchy
Avalon Visions Center for Creative Spirituality
A vintage Soquel building housing psychic and tarot readings, aura photography with chakra analysis, an ion foot spa, and a "Beam Ray Light" healing rig, plus a retail floor of candles, stained glass, and crystals — and, tucked in back, a "Community Cupboard" running on a give-what-you-can, take-what-you-need basis.
The story
Avalon Visions didn't start in this vintage, squeaky-floored wooden building on Porter Street. For years, it operated out of Capitola Village, drawing beach tourists in for quick tarot reads between ice cream cones and sunbathing. But in 2017, the shop decamped to downtown Soquel specifically to trade tourist walk-ins for space: a bigger footprint to host full-length psychic readings, specialized energy rigs, and a broader metaphysical inventory.
Step past the retail floor's standard lineup of stained glass, candles, and oracle decks, and the offerings get distinctly specific. Alongside reader tables offering back-to-back tarot and psychic sessions, the back rooms feature an aura photography setup complete with chakra analysis printouts, an ionic foot bath spa, and a "Beam Ray Light" machine—a modern iteration of light-and-frequency healing technology inspired by Royal Rife's 1930s generator designs. It's a surreal mix of antique Santa Cruz occultism and vintage bio-frequency gear.
Perhaps the most telling detail about the space isn't paid at all. Tucked near the back, Avalon Visions runs a "Community Cupboard" operating entirely on a give-what-you-can, take-what-you-need basis. It sits right alongside the crystal displays and reading alcoves, anchoring the shop as much in neighborhood mutual aid as in esoteric practice.
What it's like
The atmosphere feels more like a cozy, lived-in community parlor than a polished modern boutique. You'll enter through a front room dense with glittering gemstones, incense smoke, and hanging stained glass, before being guided back to private alcoves for readings or energy treatments. The staff is famously unpretentious and easygoing, though parking along Porter Street can be tight on weekends—grab a spot on a nearby side street if the main strip is full.
The move: Book back-to-back tarot or psychic readings for the two of you, then browse the shop's oracle decks and stained glass while you wait — it moved from touristy Capitola Village to this bigger Soquel space in 2017 specifically to expand the readings side.
- 📍 Soquel
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2815 Porter St, Soquel, CA 95073
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Land of Medicine Buddha — Double down on Soquel's spiritual geography by heading two miles up into the redwood hills to walk the prayer-wheel trails at this 108-acre Buddhist sanctuary.
- Rispin Mansion Community Park — Head just under a mile down the road to Capitola to explore the park grounds of a 1920s real-estate showroom turned abandoned convent.
- Middleof (The Puppetry Institute) — Pair your esoteric reading with a walk through a surreal, 5,000-square-foot walk-through puppet realm built inside a former mall anchor store.
Good to know
Where is Avalon Visions located and why did it move?
It is located at 2815 Porter St in Soquel. It relocated from Capitola Village in 2017 to secure a larger building that could accommodate expanded reading rooms and healing services.
What services beyond tarot readings are offered?
In addition to psychic and tarot consultations, Avalon Visions offers aura photography with detailed chakra reports, ionic foot detoxification baths, and sessions with a Beam Ray frequency light rig.
What is the Community Cupboard?
It is a free-access panty located inside the shop running on a 'take what you need, give what you can' honor system for basic food and supplies.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp
last checked: 2026-07-20