Working magic in D.C. usually means getting a reservation at Maydan before 10 p.m. But there are other kinds of sorcery at work in the District: Tarot cards are read, charms are cast, spirits are summoned, and moon parties are thrown. Witchcraft, the belief in and practice of magic, is thriving in D.C. Just ask Teighe Thorsen, the founder of CityWitches, a non-denominational community of spell-casting, potion-making, nature-loving witches who blend magic, modern psychology, and personal development to make magic accessible to District-dwellers.
What better time than Halloween to channel your inner witch and practice some magic? Thorsen chimed in with her own witch tips on resources, shops, and spaces that will help even the most novice of witches find their power.
Shops
The Chakra Room is the occult destination of Georgetown, boasting a wide variety of crystals, handmade wands, witchy jewelry, and candles. Be sure to call Mrs. White, the proprietor, to make sure she’s in the store before making the trek.
Resist the urge to twirl like Belle the first time she saw the Beast’s library when you walk into S&A Beads, lest you knock over all the dishes of beads, crystals, and pendants from all over the world. A veritable candy store for the DIY witch, S&A is right outside of the Takoma Metro station. Most importantly, the kind folks behind the counter seemingly never tire of being asked, “What’s THIS ONE for?” by crystal-clutching clientele.
The Sacred Circle in Alexandria, VA and The Crystal Fox in Laurel, MD are also known for their wide variety of wares, knowledgeable staff, and robust calendars of witchy events.
WITCH TIP: “For actual magical tools, I don’t tend to like to buy from metaphysical stores just because I feel like a lot of them carry the same things, so I would recommend antique stores too. Just know what you’re looking for beforehand and make sure you clean your item well both literally and energetically.”
Books
If you ask your neighborhood book store for the witchcraft aisle, you’ll most likely find yourself in front of the Harry Potter series. While this is not necessarily a bad place to end up, if you want to educate yourself on the history and practices of witchcraft, find the “Spirituality” section at Politics and Prose or check out the surprisingly long list of witchcraft-related books in the D.C. Public Library system.
You may have to call on a spirit guide to lead you through the stacks at Capitol Hill Books, but you’ll definitely find titles even Amazon can’t procure. Pass the “Whales” shelf on your right, bear left at the “Wacko Stacko” into the second room, and squat down to peruse the “Weird Section.”
WITCH TIP: “In terms of reading material, about a decade ago I discovered physicist Peter Carroll’s Liber Null & Psychonaut: An Introduction to Chaos Magic and I really liked his theory on how magic works. It’s sort of an exercise in removing dogma from practical magic–it combines concepts in modern psychology and math with magic. I also really like the book Hands On Chaos Magic by Andrieh Vitimus as a beginner’s guide to magic theory.”
Community
Find other curious, open-minded individuals through MeetUp.com. You’ll find witchy book clubs, moon parties, and Tarot card hangouts like the one CityWitches hosts at The Raven Grille in Mt. Pleasant on Wednesday’s at 7pm. While most of their community occurs online via Instagram and Facebook, check their website for IRL events and excursions.
For those interested in Wicca, pan-Pagan organization The Firefly House hosts meetups open to the public and organizes covens for witches seeking a family-like bond with fellow practitioners.
WITCH TIP: “Obviously I’m biased towards the CityWitches community. I also highly recommend the Firefly group. They’re rad, their leadership is knowledgeable and inviting, and they are probably the most active group that practices witchcraft right now in the D.C. area. It takes some hunting but community is discoverable. . . and if nothing fits, do what I did and make your own because there are probably other people searching for the same thing.”
Sacred Spaces
- Parks and Gardens
Witchcraft is all about connecting to nature, which can be a challenge for an urban witch without a car and a Swiffer instead of a broomstick. Thankfully D.C. is riddled with green spaces ideal for paying respect to Mother Nature. Rock Creek Park is home to trails and hikes of varying difficulty. It’s one of the only places in the District where the sound of flowing water means a creek and not a flooded crosswalk. For the indoor witch, the tropical room of the United States Botanical Garden is a balmy but adequate alternative. If you’re outdoorsy in the sense that you prefer to wander the grounds in a caftan like a grand old dame, Dumbarton Oaks Garden in Georgetown delivers.
- Stargazing
If you want to take a look at the stars and planets influencing your Sh!tty D.C. Horoscope, get a close-up view at the National Air and Space Museum’s Public Observatory. Once a month Rock Creek Park hosts a Saturday night stargazing were astronomers with telescopes help participants find constellations and rising planets. Get in tune with the phases of the moon to give your magic a little extra umph and know Mercury is in retrograde well before your Metro commute goes haywire.
- Structures
Put on something flowy and haunt Summerhouse on the grounds of the Capitol, the Spanish Steps in Dupont, or the National Capitol Columns at the National Arboretum. These locals are excellent for feeling dramatic, casting a circle, calling upon your patron goddess, or just enjoying a snack with your coven, these spooky spots will get you in the mood for magic.
WITCH TIP: “Find a space, even if it’s just a corner, that is your space to meditate, do magic, light candles, etc. It’s really important to have a sacred space that is just for that sole purpose. Part of the reason for this is actually psychological. It’s easier to get into an altered mental state, such as trance, when you’ve defined a pattern. And that pattern may be sitting on a cushion in in the corner of your room.”
