FRIDAY FIVE
Have you been feeling some type of way lately? It’s Cancer season; there was a full moon this week; and Mercury is in retrograde. That’s a lot of moodiness to go around lately.
If this is sounding too out there for you, then you haven’t lived in the Bay Area long enough. Astrology and mysticism are as mainstream here as barbecues and live music are in Austin. Crystal fairs are the new farmers’ markets. So if you’re in need of some energetic support to carry you through, you might want to look for a new crystal. We’ve already covered the best apothecaries for Bay Area witches, but if you’re more of a crystal enthusiast, we recommend the following spots.
1. The Raven’s Wing Magical Co.
What would Grand Avenue be without a little mysticism to protect Lake Merritt? This quaint shop is a regular stop for Oakland’s pagans, polytheists, witches, Wiccans — and crystal enthusiasts. The Raven’s Wing Magical Co. is known to stock harder-to-find crystals and stones, such as kunzite, lithium, and chrysoprase, in addition to traditional ones, such as amethysts. They have a good selection of crystal pendulums too. Another great perk: they host regular astrology and wellness events that are all donation based. So if you want to take your crystal practice to the next level or find more ways to elevate your spiritual practice, this is a good place at which to start.
536 Grand Avenue (Grand Lake, Oakland) | theravenswingmagicalco.com
2. Twisted Thistle Apothecary
Owned by the same owners of the Haight Street post, Oakland’s Twisted Thistle Apothecary is located on Piedmont Avenue and offers customers everything from house-made herbal blends to essential oils to crystals. Its crystal selection includes Black Tourmaline, which can help remove negative energy from a person or space, and desert rose, which can help one overcome phobias and boost self-confidence. Twisted Thistle is great because of its knowledgeable staff too. Most of them have a background in herbalism and will know how to help you overcome your next challenge in a holistic way.
4156 Piedmont Avenue (Piedmont, Oakland) | twistedthistleapothecary.com
3. SAGRADA Sacred Arts
SAGRADA is a mystical store with a quintessential Temescal vibe—endearingly grungy yet adorable. It’s a store you’d expect to come across in Sebastopol. Owned by wife-husband duo Mary and Carlo Busby, SAGRADA has been providing Oakland with crystals since 1994. The store has dubbed itself a “crystal heaven” on its website, as it offers customers a wide selection of tumbled stones and gemstones. From zoisite (to renew your commitment to a higher purpose) to rose quartz (to help you attract love), this store has every crystal you need.
4926 Telegraph Avenue (Temescal) | sagrada.com
4. Stone Room
When looking for the right crystal, you can’t go wrong in a place called Stone Room. This Berkeley joint is exactly what you’d expect: stones in a room. It’s like Stonehenge but in the East Bay. On Yelp, customers have described this crystal store as the “Apple of crystal shops” and “the most enchanting crystal shop in the universe.” In other words, this place is the real deal. Since this shop doesn’t have a website, it’s best to just go check out the inventory yourself, which ranges from pocket-size crystals for $5 to massive crystals for $11,000.
1564 Solano Avenue (Albany) |yelp.com
5. The Happy Heart
Located on Piedmont Avenue, Happy Heart has been offering all kinds of mineral, quartz, and jade pieces in Oakland for 12 years. According to its website, the larger collections of minerals and crystals are hand-picked from around the world by the owners for their “high, energetic qualities.” The owners, Irene and George, are very knowledgeable and are usually available for personal consultations around how one’s energy will vibe with a certain stone. They also offer fêng shui services with crystals for your home. Only in the Bay Area can you find such a gem.
3812 Piedmont Avenue (Piedmont) | thehappyheart.net
