Hello Everyone,
Ms. Q and I had quite a chat about purchasing things from
either an on line shop, through Esty, or from a brick and mortar store.
Ms. Q said “Sometimes it’s like trying a different baking
product, for example you’ve used Duncan Hines for years to bake something and
one day you go to the store and they’re all out of Duncan Hines but have
instead Best Foods, now both products are good, but each one responds
differently, the texture is different, the taste is different and although
good, to your family it’s not quite the same.
And yet someone who has used Best Foods for years goes to
their store and they’re out of Best Foods so they use Duncan Hines. Again both products are good but this one is
different and to that family it’s not quite the same.
My Granny use to say “To Each their own” meaning use that which works best for you.”
Ms. Q went further to explain this in more magickal terms “O.K. I’ve
used oils and such from Ancient Ways, and it works really good, for example, I
use a Banishing Oil they make and it works really good, but one day they were out, so I traveled to
Mystic Dream and got theirs and it worked too, but in a different way, the results
although gratifying surprised me as to how it worked.”
“I’ve also used War Water from Conjured Cardea and it has
"Pow", but someone gave me War Water from another
shop and it worked too but it took a little longer to be effective especially since it
was a situation that was not as difficult, even though I prayed over both of
them, and although I would prefer
Conjured Cardea, this other shop would do in a pinch, even if I have to
consider re-doing the spell work later on with the preferred product from the preferred
source.”
Ms. Q has discovered that even among those folks well known in the
magick and Hoodoo community that there is some feuds, as to which or whom is the better,
more knowledgeable practitioner, or who
stole what explanation from who, or this practitioner has “done me wrong don’t
trust him/her” and even in various
reviews there are different reactions to different Metaphysical shops, some
people have had great results and others only give it a one star rating for
whatever reason.
Ms. Q has found that by using a product she can give a
personal rating on the Shop but suggests that each individual find out for
themselves. A store keeper or anyone can be having
a bad day or the practitioner is ill or having an illness or crisis in their family that is not helping
them to function and cannot give quality customer service. Ms. Q says that what people forget is that practitioners are human too. Illness, family situations, and other crisis can affect them. But the one thing she dis-likes is one's ego getting in the way and putting blinders on. She has seen that first hand and it does no one any good.
Large companies like Indio Products and Wisdom Products do
not have such a problem, but the smaller independent ones will, it can’t be
helped.
This is a very short list of those proprietors of
Metaphysical and Hoodoo Products that Ms. Q has purchased and used. Other practitioners may different in their
opinions which is their right, but Ms. Q is only going by her personal
experience with these and other shops.
They are listed in no particular order:
Conjured Cardea
Sarah is the sole proprietor and operator of Conjured
Cardea, which she created in 2008, and offers an array of hand made products,
Ms. Q has been happy with her service and products and gives an excellent
recommendation. Sarah has started doing
specialty items as well including candles.
About overseas shipping Ms. Q suggests that
you e-mail Sarah.
Ancient Ways
Herb Shop
4075 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 653-3244
Hours: · 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Ancient Ways is the sponsor of ThurgiCon and PantheaCon in
the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s been in
business for many, many years, and Ms. Q has always had excellent service and recommendations
by the Staff and the Owner and has found them to be very friendly and helpful. Glenn Turner, the Proprietor of Ancient Ways store, is also the PantheaCon Ringmaster, and the Sponsor of TheurgiCon and is a long time, very knowledgeable, gifted person in the local Metaphysical community.
In terms of
doing overseas shipment Ms. Q is not sure they can do that and suggests that
you e-mail them.
The Mystic Dream
1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone:(925) 933-2342
Hours: · 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
The Shop first opened their doors in 1989 with a simple
vision: to create a space for healing and spiritual exploration. Since 2007 the store has been under the
leadership of Chas Bogan and Storm Faerywol.
A very lovely shop in Walnut Creek, they offer classes and special
metaphysical events in their store.
Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, like Ancient Ways and Conjured Cardea they make their own products. E-mail
in regards to overseas shipping.
Lucky Hoodoo Products
Lucky Hoodoo Products Inc.
803 S. Lincoln Dr.
Hancock, MI 49930
(800) 482-4419
contact@luckyhoodoo.com
Owned and operated by Miss Alice with assistance from Frank
Papa Doc. Family members of both Miss Alice and the Papa Doc were spiritual
workers and regular shoppers at all the small candles shops and hoodoo stores
in the area (near south side of Chicago) throughout the 30’s 40’s and 50’s. A
tradition that was passed onto them and been a part of their lives ever since. Between the two of them they have amassed over 50 years of experience.
Ms. Q has purchased some of their products by mail order and
has been happy with the results. E-mail
in regards to overseas shipping
Lucky Mojo Curio
Company
6632 Covey Rd.
Forestville, California
95436
707-887-1521
This shop imports and distributes folkloric magical, occult,
herbal, and spiritual supplies from
Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East for those who work in Hindu, Buddhist,
Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish
religious and magical traditions. Ms Q understands that they sell retail and
wholesale and has seen Lucky Mojo products in some metaphysical shops both
brick and mortar as well as on-line.
Owned by Catherine Yronwode it appears to be an on-line presence
since 1998 although she may have opened her shop in 1993. In 2002 she published a new book, “Hoodoo
Herb and Root Magic: a materia magica of African-American conjure” Ms. Q agrees with most of what Ms. Yronwode written,
in comparing it with what was told to Ms. Q by her Grandmother’s friends as
well as working with her Grandmother’s group.
Ms Q says the other books written by Ms. Yronwode are also good to add
to one’s personal Library. Ms. Yronwode has done extensive research into this subject.
In terms of customer service most recently it seems to be “hit
or miss” possibly due to some illness, Ms. Q recommends calling first, doing
overseas shipping is unknown.
Indio Products
2750 So Alameda St
Los Angeles, CA 90058 -
Phone: (323) 778-2233
Email: sales@indioproducts.com
To order: 1-800-944-1414
Indio Products ships worldwide and many, many Botanica’s and
metaphysical shops carry their candles, they also offer the Anna Riva products,
the 7 Sisters of New Orleans products, and possibly some Black Hawk
Products. Ms. Q has been able to receive
large candle shipments from them during the days when she was setting lights
for family and friends.
Some of Ms. Q's practitioner friends are loyal Anna Riva and 7 Sisters of New Orleans users and have not been disappointed with the Indio Products.
Indio does Whole sale and in buying whole sale in regards to
international shipping read their page first to be aware of their terms.
Wisdom Products
5333 E. Slauson Ave
Suite B
Commerce, CA 90040
Customer Service hours
8 a.m. to 4 p.m Pacific Standard Time
Phone 323-726-2100
Fax-323-726-1102
Wisdom Products also ships worldwide and carry many of the
same products as Indio in some cases they carry some products that Indio doesn’t,
they also offer a Retail Catalog, and some of Ms. Q’s friends have purchased
Wisdom Products and have been happy with their service. Again read their pages in regards to
shipping.
~~~~~~~~~
This is just a short list based upon Ms. Q's experience with these shops, both on line and at their brick and mortar stores. In time this list will expand, just check the Links section.
If you are an individual practitioner doing the work for yourself and your friends this will be of some help. If you are planning on expanding your Spiritual Services or are frequently setting lights for family and friends, then setting up a whole sale account with Indio and Wisdom Products may be a good thing to do.
In time you the reader will find other sources for different things, or you will on your own begin making your own oils and incense and such. But Ms. Q always says "take baby steps, just a little at a time and learn, learn, learn, read and learn and don't be afraid to ask questions on how something works. It's how one learns."
I will be adding these links to the Recommended Metaphysical Shops List on the side bar of this blog and we hope by New Years Ms. Q will be able to get back to writing her blog herself.
And in Ms. Q's words "Blessings to All of You"
