5 New Age and metaphysical shops at the Jersey Shore to help you embark into the unknown

Many think of witches as the classic Halloween stereotype: green skin, pointy hat, flies on a broom and their best friend is a black cat.

While their best friend may be a cat, many people may not know that "witches" are healers, energy workers and practitioners of the metaphysical.

Check out these five metaphysical and mystical stores around the Jersey Shore to help embark upon your journey into the unknown.

Cauldron & The Cupboard, Point Pleasant

Cauldron & The Cupboard in Point Pleasant is owned by Angela White and her sister, Cinzia Moran. White was inspired to open the store when she got a vision, while consulting Tarot cards, that she and her sister would open a shop focused on the craft they grew up with.

Their mother Sandra, otherwise known as “Strega Nona,” was born in Tuscany to a long family lineage of Italian “witches.” 

Marissa Corrente, staff member of Cauldron & The Cupboard, said their abilities were inherited.

“Their ability to connect with the transcendental is embedded in their souls, passed down from generation to generation,” Corrente said.

She went on to explain that many witches are more than just classic scary-movie tropes.

“The reality is, witches, despite popular media’s stereotypes, take the shape of everyday, some concealing their craft while others are more than open in expressing the lifestyle,” she said.

Along with readings, including tarot, psychic, candle reading and more, the shop also carries various essential metaphysical goods, like gems, healing candles, essential oils, jewelry and more. They also offer natural handmade soap, books, personalized spells and other products to elevate your mystical journey.

“From crosses to crystals and herbs to holy water, this shop reassures those who walk through the door that The Cauldron & the Cupboard is a place of peace,” said Corrente. “The Cauldron and the Cupboard’s enchanting energy is rooted from the three "wyrd" women who dedicate their lives to sharing their gifts with open arms to the people of the community.” (Wyrd, an Old English term meant to describe fate or destiny, is often now only used in metaphysical vocabulary. "Wyrd women" are seen as foretellers of destiny, a gift that, according to White, is passed down through blood from ancestral witch to witch.)

Go: 638 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant; 732-714-6521, enchantedones.com.

Charmed in Company, Waretown

While you can find classic metaphysical and mystical goods at Charmed in Company in Waretown, this mom and daughter shop also provides services, like tarot card and palm readings, as well as workshops that teach interested practitioners how to conduct their own energy-work or "magick."

Kasandra (mother) and Victoria (daughter) Chasmar have run Charmed in Company for 20 years, having opened the shop in 1991. Using scents, herbs, crystals and more, the mother/daughter duo help send those in need on their own metaphysical paths of self-healing.

"We utilize natural energies — those found in scents through aromatherapy, gem energy, color energy, herbs — and incorporate them into your life to improve aspects of it," said Victoria. "No matter what you're looking for, we have a natural energy tool to help guide you."

Victoria provided an example: Those experiencing intense stress may turn to a crystal fix, such as lithium quartz. But if they don't want to carry their tool, they can wear a relaxing blend of essential oils to help calm them.

Kasandra specializes in readings, and while they used to offer tea leaf and crystal readings, they had cut back due to COVID. They offer new and limited capacity (6 to 8 participants) workshops regularly, including classes on healing, chakras — even a Tree Magic class, which teaches students about the energy found in different trees and how to work with those energies in different aspects of life.

Go: 529 Route 9, Waretown; 609-693-3311, charmedincompany.com.

Earth Spirit New Age Center, Red Bank

Earth Spirit New Age Center in Red Bank has been the place to go for metaphysical goods for the last 30 years. While it was formerly owned and operated by Joycelyn Midose and her son Christopher, he is now the primary owner following his mother’s retirement.

Visitors will find metaphysical necessities, like crystals, oils and more here, but they can also receive various forms of readings, including Tarot and Astrology, which Christopher specializes in.

Although they used to do more workshops and community outreach, it has slowed down with COVID. Even so, Christopher encourages those interested to come in for guidance.

“We have a pretty good knowledge of all the different branches of spirituality at this point,” said Christopher. “Everything we have here helps craft your path moving forward. People come in and can find all the items they need, and we have a lot of resources for those who want to delve further.”

Although they have a large selection of mystical goods, Christopher assured that everything they work with is positive.

“We try to always work in the light — there’s a lot of other places that will delve into the dark side of magical workings but we don’t do that,” he said. “Everything we have is to manifest positive things in your life.”

Christopher explained while they would not carry love potions meant to control another, they do have products that will enhance your own “personal magnetism” and encourage self empowerment. 

“The whole idea is to boost yourself to heal from within, and that brings healing from without,” he said.

Acknowledging his field is primarily practiced by women, he said he wants to provide a safe space for women to explore the metaphysical and encourage self empowerment, but he’s also eager to see the stigma associated with men practicing the metaphysical lifting.

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“Women sometimes have an easier time exploring their psychic side than men do because a lot of men have been trained to not look at that side of themselves, to not look at your emotions or feelings because that stuff is ‘superfluous,’ ” said Christopher.

“That dynamic now is changing with young people," he said. "More than a third of our younger clientele are men. I think it’s much more accepted around young people now.”

Go: 25 Monmouth St., Red Bank; 732-842-3855, earthspiritnewage.com.

Paranormal Books & Curiosities, Asbury Park

While Kathy Kelly, owner of Paranormal Books & Curiosities and The Paranormal Museum in Asbury Park, focuses primarily on the paranormal, in recent years, she has delved deeper into the realm of the unknown by featuring metaphysical goods in her store.

"There's a natural blurring of the lines between paranormal and metaphysical because generally speaking, one part of the paranormal [focuses] on the survival of personality after death or ghosts," said Kelly. "You're talking about spirit, and when you're talking about the metaphysical, or communicating with people who've passed, you're also talking about spirit."

While the store carries ghost hunting equipment, tons of paranormal books and even a museum of haunted artifacts, including the famous Singing Couch (where those who sit on it can faintly hear a woman singing gospel), the shop also carries metaphysical products such as Tarot cards, which Kelly thinks are a great tool in self discovery. 

"This year people are hugely interested in [Tarot cards] and they're using them for self-exploration, which is really cool," she said. "Tarot cards are a great way to start getting in-tune with yourself."

Kelly, recognizing the stigma and social barrier between the two realms of study, said that the metaphysical and paranormal are not so different.

"They're opposite sides of the same coin and maybe not even opposites," she said. "To me they go hand in hand, and any argument or issue people have with that is purely semantics or a fear of being judged."

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Kelly wishes for Paranormal Books & Curiosities to be a safe place, free of judgment, that brings all those who are intrigued by the unknown together.

"We are not dogmatic in anyway, and we are completely open to all questions. Our approach has always been that way," said Kelly. "You can pursue any kind of interest in the paranormal, metaphysical or new age studies here without judgment."

She also considers herself a skeptical believer of all, but takes what she studies seriously.

"We take the subject matter seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously," she said. "We're not hardcore believers of anything. We're students of everything."

Go: 621 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park; 732-455-3188, paranormalbooksnj.com.

Tina's This & That, Toms River

Tina's This & That in Toms River is family-run ... or rather, coven-run by Tina Aurilia and her three daughters, Samantha Powell, Amber Demeola and Emily Aurilia. 

Tina started out selling "witchy wares" at a local flea market, and later fulfilled her dream of opening up her own brick and mortar with the help of her daughters.

“We are a family owned and operated witch shop — creating a welcoming space," said Tina. "Fly on over, take a step inside, and feel the 'magick' within our shop and yourself.”

The shop also invites metaphysical, "magick" and energy workers to their shop regularly, such as mediums and tarot card readers. The shop used to offer workshops but COVID halted that. They hope to offer them again soon when the time is right, to promote customer safety.

Go: 1749 Hooper Ave., Suite 16 in Anchorage Plaza, Toms River; 732-506-3384, tinasthisandthat.weebly.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca recently joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.