General FAQ
The old Enchantments was one block down 9th street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues. We’ve been at 424 East 9th between 1st and Avenue A for around 5 years.
It’s nice to have a day off. We chose Tuesdays because it was historically our slowest day and it used to conflict with the class schedules of our employees.
We are generally closed on New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. We usually close early on Memorial Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. We are open on Easter, Columbus Day and other holidays not previously mentioned.
Due to the custom nature of many of our products, we do not accept returns or exchanges. We are quite reasonable about correcting any mistakes made on our end.
No, we no longer have a paper catalog.
No, we are not exclusively Wiccan. While the store has its roots in this tradition, we don’t ascribe to any one specific religion. We serve a diverse range of spiritual paths.
No, we welcome novices.
We do not stock an extensive range of crystals. We do carry a selection of pendulums and handmade jewelry that incorporates crystals.
No, at this time we carry dried herbs only.
Absolutely! The East Village is an eclectic neighborhood, full of unique stores and great places to eat. See our links section for recommendations.
No, because we make up items on a custom basis we don’t take advance orders over the phone. We are also not authorized to take credit cards over the phone. If you would like to order in advance, you can either come in and prepay for your order, or order through our website and indicate in the notes that you would like in-store pickup. Please place online orders at least 2 days in advance.
No. We sell supplies for people to do their own work. We believe that everyone has it within them to create positive changes in their own life.
No, there is no formal group associated with Enchantments. We do occasionally hold public gatherings.
Careful consideration should go into finding a group to work with. We suggest that you look on the website witchvox.org.
We have also found truth in the old adage that when you are ready for a teacher, the teacher finds you.
We recommend reading as much as you can to gain an understanding of the subject before you begin to practice. True Magick by Amber K, Real Magic by Isaac Bonewits and Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham are good books to start with, to name a few. Books, however, are just a jumping off point or roadmap. They provide you with a technique for you to have an experience. At some point, you need to take it beyond the mere intellectual.
We also recommend learning protection magick first. As a beginner, it can be tempting to open yourself up to whatever is out there. It is crucial to be discerning and learn proper psychic self-defense and spiritual hygiene. A Practical Guide to Psychic Self-Defense by Denning and Phillips is a great book to read on this subject.
We also highly recommend a daily spiritual practice. This can take many forms, such as a ritual, meditation, breathing exercise, visualization, or prayer that you do every day. It can be as simple as taking 5 minutes to focus on your breathing and the sensations in your body. A consistent and regular practice over a period of time yields the most benefits.
Black magic is any magic intended to harm, control or manipulate another living being. There are myriad reasons for us to not engage in this, which include ethics and karmic repercussions. Ideally, spiritual practice leads you to wisdom, growth and personal evolution. Black magic takes you in the opposite direction. From what we have seen, it is extremely harmful to the practitioner and has a degenerative effect similar to that of drug abuse.
See above for the explanation of why we don’t do black magic.
Love is not control and control is not love.
If you feel the need to control a love interest, then it likely that there is something not right about the situation. In our experience, the desire to do controlling love spells arises from a place of emotional hurt. This can often cloud our better judgment.
If you are having issues regarding a relationship, we suggest doing a Love Uncrossing candle to remove blocks and provide clear answers about the situation.
Relationships inevitably bring up our deepest issues. We also highly recommend doing a Love Healing or Crystal Healing candle for healing on a deep emotional level.
Here are some reasons not to do love spells on a specific person:
- You cannot create love through magic, you can only create lust or obsession.
- Magic tends to work through the operator first, so it can make you even more interested in the person you would like to attract.
- Once you do such a spell toward someone, it can be difficult to get rid of that person if they don’t turn out to be what you thought they were.
Candles can be great tools for working through individual and relationship issues. Aside from this kind of magic, it best to let love matters take their natural course without trying to force anything.
Sometimes life circumstances such as grief, loss, trauma or unforeseen challenges can create a need for a helping hand. Everyone at Enchantments participates in some form of spiritual practice and can advise the public in such matters. We are not, however, licensed therapists. While magic can be a great aid in these situations, it is not a quick fix. In many circumstances, counseling with a good professional therapist is highly advisable.
We have found that spiritual work in conjunction with therapy can promote tremendous growth. To your healing and success!
Yes. We sometimes address very personal issues in our discussions with clients. We keep this information confidential.
We only allow photography in the store with our permission.
Yes, we have had numerous projects filmed at the store. We charge for location in accordance with standard rates for the area. If you are interested in using Enchantments as a location, please contact us via email.