This merchant is extremely sketchy buyer BEWARE. They double charge you for items when you use your credit card and do not try or care to fix. read more

Wonderful staff and interesting customers. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy and a homeless person came close to attacking me as I got into my uber outside the store. The most miraculous thing happened, the clerk (I don't know his name but he's an attractive redhead) came out and defended us and made sure we were ok as this crazy person was screaming at us and racist comments to the Uber driver. Despite this triggering a bit of trauma, I look back fondly at the experience. This is the bay area and people aren't compassionate like the store employee.. they just don't exist. But this very special person put himself at risk just to make sure a store patron was ok. So amazing! On the store: it is a bit smaller than expected and could use some more jewelry, but the items they had were truly special. There was a wonderful positive energy and it felt good just to be present. They had some beautiful stones and some books as well. I can't wait to return. read more

Lots of great finds hear, especially on the dried bulk herbs and endless list of Essential Oils choose from. They have just about everything for any spiritual needs including an array of candles, statues, books, jewelry, gems and stones, incenses and so much more. The staff are all mostly friendly. I've been coming here for over 10 years and never had a bad experience. All the staff are very knowledgeable on just about anything spiritual or at least related to the products and happy to answer questions when asked but usually people going in there know exactly what they want and looking for so usually just an hello upon walking in all that one would expect vs someone trying to make hard sales or sell ya things you don't need or want. read more

Spirituality, schmirituality. These folks are just about making a buck. When I tried to talk to them about local philanthropy (lending a hand to get access for prisoners to books on Wicca), they were totally uninterested and blew me off. read more

Had a tarot reading done with the gentlemen it was such a lovely experience! Highly recommend it. And for only 1$ per minute! Wow! They have a nice selection of herbs, resins, and incense. A good selection of candles and books too. I was hoping for more jewelry, crystals, pendulums and candle holders. They do have some! but just not many. I hope this business continues to grow and can offer additional items. The woman at the counter was also very knowledgeable when I listened to her assisting other patrons with questions. Quite a busy little shop! Will come back every time i'm in the area for sure read more

They *almost* always have everything I need **almost because sometimes they get so busy they get wiped out of certain things** For the most part the store is fully stocked with dried herbs, oils, candles, jewelry, statuary, Florida water, incense , crystals etc. Some botanicas in other towns will take photos of their shops and somehow make their shops look larger than they actually are or seem like they have more inventory than they do.... but Ancient Ways has what you need and things you never knew you needed. Hoodoo, Witchcraft, Whatever... Give them a visit for your magical needs Or if you just like to have candles & crystals for no apparent reason. Everyone that works there is very helpful and friendly. The prices there are extremely reasonable also. *****I needed to add on to my review due to the rude reviews below. I realize everyone has their own opinion and that's fine. People need to remember that this is an OCCULT or Religious supply store. Of course sometimes the staff may not be in the best of moods. Like myself they are also psychic, empathetic/empaths etc and they work with the public. If you're not smart enough to understand this, try googling it. They can absorb energy. Imagine working somewhere where people of all walks of life, all religions and problems or illnesses come in... you're around it all day , you can get drained. Sometimes you may be the one with an attitude or a chip on your shoulder walking in. Your attitude gets mirrored back to you. I know it's hard to hear. Oh well. Last, sometimes people walk in there or any other place with not the best of intentions or they want to do things and they don't know what they are doing or expect someone to give them a crash course (it doesn't work like this) so they get the feeling people don't want to help them when they are being unreasonable themselves. Yes, you are a customer. However this isn't CVS or Target. It's a religious/occult supply store...know what you're doing and have enough sense to realize that sometimes it's not easy to keep the energy all rosy when you work in places like that. Maybe next time ask in a non confrontational way if there is a problem or reason for the perceived attitude. Sometimes that's enough to draw someone's attention to what you assume is happening read more

Like this place, super affordable figurine candles, just not a huge selection of figurine colors and others but good for many staples. Ownership change was coming before my last visit months ago. Looking forward to revisiting! read more

Most OG candle/ crystal/ herb/ general bruja supply store in Oakland please come back after construction soon

This review is for tarot readings ONLY. My best friend and I thought it would be interesting to get tarot readings so one day 2 years ago, we did a random yelp search and ended up at Ancient Ways, not really knowing what to expect. Upon arrival, there was a good amount of foot traffic in the store - about 2-3 customers, but not crowded as the store is on the smaller side. We were greeted promptly, which was nice. We asked if we could get tarot readings and they told us that someone would be available in a few minutes. We meandered through the store and when my friend had an interest in some cards that were in a locked case, we were helped quickly. Within about 10 minutes, it was time for our tarot readings. We explained that we were a bit nervous and didn't know what to expect. The tarot reader put us both at ease and began our readings one at a time. We both got "overviews" which lasted between 15 - 20 minutes per person. Both of us were completely amazed at each other's readings. They were so on point and actually a lot of the things mentioned during the readings, were the same things that we had been discussing with each other over lunch right before we came for the readings. It was almost as if the cards were validating what had been on our minds. We felt so much better after the readings that every few months we kept saying to each other how we had to go back and do it again. Finally, the time came and we went a second time last weekend. Again, the same amazing experience with our readings. We couldn't stop talking about our readings for the rest of the day. It was such a fun and validating experience. We definitely want to go back in a few months! Both times we saw Marilee and we are definitely going back to see her!! read more

Ancient Ways is a legit magikal shop catering to the entire Oakland community and general East Bay community. Unlike Sacred Well, Ancient Ways has many magikal blends for popular spells, including Uncrossing powder (to put in a mojo bag or doll baby, making magikal oils from, sprinkle in front of your enemies front door etc), Come to me powder (and many other magikal blends); as well as colored candles for dressing, figurine candle for specific spellwork, magikal herbs (including the hard to find High and Low John the Conqueror root) and books galore. The only reason that Ancient Ways doesn't get 5 stars is because I was looking for a specific figurine for spellwork that they don't sell. How disappointing. If you are a Rootworker, Witch or Pagan, Ancient Ways should be on your short list of metaphysical shops to check out. read more

This place is great! I always find what I'm looking for, they have a great selection of candles and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you ancient ways for being an Oakland staple. read more

How "blessed" was I to find a stand-up pagan depot in my immediate neighborhood upon moving to the East Bay! In the land of "Spiritual" groups and bookstores, it's very easy to find a generically "new age" store, but I find that most of the stops here are generally catered to wealthy Western "Buddhists" and are often set up more like a boutique than an actual purveyor of tools and goods. Ancient ways is one of the few spiritual stores around that does not focus on Eastern Philosophy/Religion and actually caters to more pagan folk and magic users. It has the basic candles, stones, figurines and tools for any sort of rite or ritual, and, beyond that, the people running the store are knowledgeable and very willing to help you...and willing to dress a candle for you! Even for dabblers, it's a fun stop-- right by the BART with other great stores and restaurants nearby. Credit cards accepted. Making a trip here from somewhere a little further out is still worth it for everything else in the neighborhood. A store, staff and location full of positive feelings--not a snobbish boutique by any means! Every time I stop in here to stock up on tools and "pagan supplies," there is always a different type of person shopping there with me- old, young, this or that color, rich, poor. One common belief among almost all existing systems is a connection between all things- Ancient Ways is a great place to connect! read more

Neat store! I fully appreciated their emphasis on candles for candle magic and there was a basket of pin buttons in which I found a perfect sentiment to bring to an impromptu party invite! Thanks for being there! I was starved for some woo-woo appreciation and found some kindred spirit there....thank you! read more

I agree with some reviews that this store is inconsistent. Staff is sometimes friendly, sometimes not. Product has sometimes expired its shelf-life - i.e. incense with no smell!! Its close to my house, so occasionally I'll drop in for a last minute ritual need or an unusual, silly card for someone who will appreciate it. Overall, I think they could bring some new energy to the place regarding what they sell. That said, I do feel heartened by the fact that they are providing a service to people who want guidance and connection to Spirit. I appreciate its unique presence in this society where malls and chain stores are pervasive. read more

I loooove this shop! Truly magical and prices that are bewitchingly good (lol. See what I did there.) A great place that will instantly feel at home, thanks to the heart warming environment and down to earth staff. Are there other metaphysical shops in California? Certainly. But they aren't ancient way :D read more

This store is Hit & Miss. I enjoy the products, but the staff and customer service not so much always. The power behind the products is the energy and your belief...not the store staff or even the products themselves per se. Once, one of the female clerks (the younger one) gave me the wrong information on a candle and then told me they were out of something, but I later found it in the store. Twice, two of my dressed candles BURST while lit. On my next visit i told the clerk what happened and he was less than enthused. Michael is very knowledgeable and helpful, but the rest of the folks might as well be Lucky's Supermarket employees. No difference. read more

I live in Stockton, and we have a store just as big as Ancient Ways, but there is something about Ancient Ways with it's old feel. There are books & cards, a few magik kits, jewelry, candles (they can also dress [bless] your candle(s), a nice variety of herbs and incenses, a wonderful array of oils. The staff is great, very helpful. I've even placed an order over the phone and it was shipped in a very timely manner. It never amazes me, I say I'm running in for one thing and 30 minutes later and $35-$50 later, I walk out with a big smile. It's my favorite store. read more

Amazing selection my Search is over I've found a shop that has it all.. Nice arrangement of stone, oils, candles, herbs and so much more. If you need it I'm sure ancient ways will have what you are looking for.. read more

"This is an old, dusty, and unfriendly shop." - another reviewer nailed my thoughts exactly. We were the only customers in the store and no one ever said hello or offered to help with anything. Never even made eye contact once. I don't know... I don't even know what to say about this store. Maybe it's not for me, but I definitely got some opposing vibes. read more

I've been shopping here for years. They stock a little bit of everything and have an excellent selection of herbs and oils. They blend their own oils using homemade formulas instead of selling Anna Riva. They also blend their own curry powder and it is really tasty. I only use their curry powder. They do tend to run out of items and sometimes it takes forever to get more in stock. They buy from a lot of local artists and companies so sometimes it's hard to keep things in stock. It's really annoying when they're out of stock on the candles I need. The shop can get crowded, so avoid weekends and lunch hour if at all possible. read more

After reading the other reviews on here, I can't help but laugh. Apparently this is a love it or hate it, type of place.. I am one of the Love Its! The staff is super friendly and knowlegeable. I have always been greeted like a long lost friend. I went in because I found them online when I was looking for Spiritual Candles. I love the little trinkets and things they sell. If you are into the Occult, whether good or bad, this is the place for you. You can't beat the tarot readings which are cheap and accurate. They have a bunch of books on a variety of things and if you are new to all of this stuff, they explain things very nicely without pushing their beliefs on people. They have oils, herbs, candles, stones, etc...and I think they are reasonably priced. It is easy to find off of the freeway and usually there is plenty of street parking...If you get there before 6, then bring change because it is metered parking. I always leave this place feeling more peaceful than when I come in. I say Come On Down and Give it a Shot! read more

The first time I discovered this place I thought I was going to stumble upon a D&D tournament in the back. Then I spent time to really look around. On the surface this place is great for the light-hearted dabbler and hidden in the rare crevices are a few usable items for the lifer. I do wish they had a larger selection of scrying items and larger crystals. I have bought 2 of my favorite crystal balls here, and found a few books very useful, they also have a nice pendant selection. I do enjoy their blend of occult with ancient egypt. I have spent most of my money here purchasing gifts for others, candles, medicine bags, oils and crystals. read more

I really enjoy coming to this shop. Every time I've stopped in, the staff have been welcoming and very well versed in exactly what things can and cannot be used for. I feel confident in shopping here and getting what I need and not being sold anything extra so they can make a buck. I've had great service from Don, but all the staff here are friendly. Though the store might look rather small, they do have a good selection. They have a fair selection of books and some are used so they are priced as such. They have a large array of oils and herbs. They don't have as many candles as I'd like and they often sell out of a certain type, so buy it while you can. They tend to sell out of certain types of oils and herbs, too so just a head's up. I came on my birthday to get a reading and some candles, and they didn't have the candle I wanted or a reader. I've also been here three weeks in a row looking to get readings (palm and tarot), and even though I came here in the posted hours they have readers available, there wasn't someone here to give me one. This is rather discouraging, so I'll probably skip it for now. Their prices are on the low to fair side. I come back often because of this. They have a little bit of everything you're looking for. read more

The ancient ways offer a great variety of candles and oils at a cheaper price.and They dress the candles for free too.They carry some traditional wiccan items which are hard to find anywhere else like sheep parchment ,bat hearts etc.They offer readings as well. I was impressed by their tarot readings but rune readings did not give any clarity.DON is the best guy to have readings with.Marilee is a great reader as well.DON is the best cashier and Mike is a very helpful person,they both do their best to answer all the questions of curious shoppers with great respect and politeness.I have seen DON helping people to suggest things for people to buy for their problems as if it was his very own problem.Thus a good karma comes from employees. read more

I love this place. I've had two tarot card readings at Ancient Ways and I found them both very helpful, interesting, and insightful. And the price seems very reasonable. The staff is cool, nice, and knowledgeable. I'm not sure what this type of merchandise is called. I guess I would categorize the shop as selling "occult" items or "spiritual" items. In any case, they have a nice selection. Mainly I go here for the tarot card readings. I don't see any need to go into San Fran to spend a lot of money. The tarot card readers at Ancient Ways are excellent and they charge approximately a dollar per minute. read more

What a pleasant place!!! Instantly from the moment I walked into this very easy to find location with easy parking, I felt great energy! The workers were extremely knowledgeable and even more friendly! One of the clerks, was probably an owner because her knowledge was superb! She helped me and answered every question I had. A great selection of books and herbs...actually, possibly the best selection of herbs and oils I have ever seen! An absolute must visit and check out!!! read more

Went here with my friend the other day. The staff were all very friendly and informative, which I appreciated. They have a great selection of herbs as well as books! Nothing seemed overpriced and I appreciated that. I will definitely be returning :) read more

These guys are the best... They give great readings and have all you need to create magic in your life. True Oakland treasure

I always called Ancient Ways "Walgreens". It is just your friendly neighborhood corner occult shop! They usually have every I need. Great service and they are knowledgeable. :) read more

Great little authentic classic neighborhood occult store. One of the only good ones left around. Has all candles colors for any occasions. That can be dressed. Extensive book collection. On many occult subjects. Beautiful pendants. Multiple dried herbs sold by weight. Also does tarot readings. Has a wonderful mystical vibe. read more

I love the good energy at this place ,everyone is helpful and friendly . I had a reading and it was spot on , very convenient hours and location. I only wish the candle selection was bigger (7days candles only) Still they get 5 stars for the nice vibes plus absolutely no up selling here. read more

Rarely do I write reviews, but ancient ways had a nice, inexpensive selection of oils and incense that I was looking for. I got a tarot card reading, $1 a minute, which was pretty accurate, considering I did not tell him a word about myself. The other guy who was not performing the reading was extremely helpful, honest, and friendly. Very cute shop with a nice selection of items that are pretty inexpensive. Will definitely come back again. Definitely a great experience!! read more

I went in to Ancient Ways for the first time today searching for a particular tarot deck & some healing candles. They were welcoming & helped me find just the right tool which they then lovingly blessed for me. They even told me where to buy items that they didn't have in stock. This store has a lovely vibe & a fabulous selection of books, candles, stones & tarot decks. The only one thing I would mention is that the neighborhood is a little sketchy. Lock your car. read more

The workers were very knowledgeable and helpful in finding the perfect essentials for my alter. They taught me about certain oils, herbs, etc. These people are kind and patient. I will definitely be a frequent customer here! read more

A Very interesting little shop... I have been frequenting it for years.. if You need Candles or Insence.. Essential Oils.. Crystals... Metaphysical Books... Herbs... This is Your little Nook... Very good Vibe Here.... The Staff is very helpful... read more

I came here on a fluke, my old place I used to get rocks and candles from moved away. But I'm glad I did it's a small space, but they use it well. They have an assortment of books,figurines, oils, jewelry,talisman and herbs. They have a very large selection of oils and herbs, and also makes suggestions on uses and meanings. They also have tarot reading s here. I will get one in the future. I'm kind of glad my old place moved to far away, because I would have never google for a new place! Pros: knowledgeable people work here! Every one is nice with easy going spirits. Cons: I wish I had more money..... read more

The best pagan store ever, plus the only one in the bay area. All the other ones kind of faded away over the years, but Ancient Ways is still here and hopefully for many more. BB! read more

This is a great store if you are a practicing neo-pagan of most traditions as far as I can tell. Great selection of rituals tools, candles, and especially incense! You can get all kinds of loose incense for use with charcoal. This is much less of a "new age" fun/gifts type of store and much more of a practical source for needed implements. Although, they will dress your candles for you with oils and glitter, which is definitely fun. I love it! Parking is fairly easy to find within a block, go down the side streets! read more

I came in the other day to get a couple gemstones and the guy who waited on me was very friendly and knowledgeable about stones. I came away with a citrine and a moonstone. He also told me the best way to cleanse my stones. Credit cards OK but with a minimum purchase of $10 They're just across the street from MacArthur BART station, so its super convenient to get to if you're traveling by BART. read more

An excellent place if you know what you're looking for. It's a tiny little place, but the staff is friendly and very informed and helpful. If you're from San Francisco, take BART to the East Bay MacArthur station and walk to Ancient Ways. However...just remember to lock your car doors if you visit in the evening...it's not the best neighborhood. Not the WORST...but not the best. Enjoy! read more