A local magical establishment can be a wonderful source of essential goods and services, while providing an important part of any spiritual lifestyle. These stores are thought of as places for Wiccans and occultists, as well as Pagans and of course the general public. All are welcome, and most people visiting a new age store can enjoy not just the products such a store offers for sale, but the mystical ambiance they provide.

Any store of this sort will sell various types of incense, but a smart shopper will object that they can find incense at their local head shop for lower prices. The difference is that the incenses sold at a magical supply shop will usually have been manipulated magically by experts at their craft. An incense or oil so manipulated will often then be purposed toward some magical end, such as gaining wealth.

More than just incense lie all the products that can't be found anywhere but in a new age shop. One of the most popular items is the tarot deck, which comes in ever more imaginative varieties, each one more sumptuously illustrated than the one before it. As with the incense, there is often a specific purpose to their aesthetic appeal, as it is part of connecting personally to the deck one chooses.

There are supplies ranging from athames to crystal balls. Most will have an abundance of statues of Goddesses and Gods, and these too might well have been charged with the deity's presence. There will likely be powders and potions, usually labeled according to each's intended effect.

These establishments are often the only meeting place available to those who share a common interest in magic, and it is important to them that they be supported despite the prices. It is generally true that shopping online offers a wider variety and a better price. While for some items price will be the predominant concern, most people who practice an alternative spirituality recognize the need to share their precious dollars in their own communities where it is feasible to do so.

A New Age shop will also feature services such as tarot card readings and other mediumistic practices for customers seeking insight into some problem. Often these will take place in a small room with a curtain that can be drawn for extra privacy. Services can include astrological services and even energy work, and may be provided either by the proprietor or by a contractor without any permanent relationship to the shop.

Not every such shop is owned by someone who is mystically inclined. Those that are might offer lessons in magic, provided by the owner after regular hours. They might even find that the store is home to an entire group, buying their books and robes off the shelves and thereby supporting their small community beyond whatever dues they might pay.

In all, these shops can be useful to visit whether one is looking for an answer, a new life, or just something to make the living room smell nice. The only reason not to visit is if one is afraid of magic. Otherwise, a magical supplies outlet might be well worth a half hour out of one's busy evening.