Walk in to the storefront on West 44th Street off of Federal and you’ve entered a modern day witch’s house. Ritualcravt is complete with witchery classes, a library, a medicinal herb wall and all the necessaries such as dried crow’s feet and goat skulls (yes, you read that right).
Over the weekend, I made my way to Ritualcravt to have my tarot read by the “intuitive empath and believer of magic” Cooper Kaminsky. Kaminsky was an arty, gentle soul who wore beautiful silver rings on every finger and who spoke poetically and very carefully. After a fifteen minute reading and after Cooper seemed to know details of my life without my even telling him, I was convinced that modern day magic may be less of a myth than reality.
In the least, the shop is beyond interesting. A small chest hosts “bones and things.” Amidst saint candles rest fallen antlers and mossy branches. I could have spent a day just staring at all the fixtures and smelling the sage smudges.
The medicinal wall is also worth checking out for a few reasons. Ask any witch to make you a concoction for whatever ailment needs attention, and soon you’ll have a plump bag of yarrow, milk thistle, marshmallow and poplar for the price of $5. They also carry topical salves that help with anything from pain, to anxiety and sleeplessness. The best part? Their medicinal herbs and salves are all naturally derived and plant based.
After speaking with one of the witches present, I learned that the shop has been open for four years with both an online presence and a brick and mortar front. “It’s becoming a community within the larger community,” the witch said. “Everyone here gets along really well. It’s a pleasure to be a part of.” All the witches have spent years crafting their practice and studying the art, but her own practice was founded upon her Incan and Aztec heritage.
You might be wondering what witchcraft entails at this point. Apart from tarot and herbs, the practices at Ritualcravt remains rather secretive. For those who want to really dip their hands into all that Ritualcravt offers, check out their class calendar. They’ll soon be hosting a workshop which focuses on unlocking our empathic capabilities and energy reading skills. Other workshops hide under more dubious titles such as “Candle Magic” and “Shamanic Wisdom of the Winter.”
The witch I spoke with reassured me that anyone who’s interested is welcome to learn the craft. “We all share the divine within us,” she said. “Everyone has to discover what works well for them. Practices have to be developed.”
When I asked him what he thought people need to know about the shop, Kaminsky spoke passionately: “Ritualcravt is a safe space for everyone to empower themselves through magic. Whether it’s from the artistic or the spiritual, it’s all here.”
Visit Ritualcravt, and it’s likely you’ll get a healthy dose of modern day mysticism, and maybe you’ll witness a bit of magic too.
