The Witchery — Attraction in Galveston

This used to be a place we loved to go to, today ended that love. We came into the store, myself, my husband, our 8 year old daughter, and our 9 year old niece. Both girls were very excited to go to the store. Both girls wanted to spend some of their trip money there. Let me just state that again, THEIR trip MONEY. Age aside, they intended to be consumers and spend THEIR MONEY there. From previous trips to the store, my husband and I always take turns. One of us shops while the other remains with the child/ren, then swap. We did the same today, I shopped while my husband stayed with the girls. Now, this has been a rough year for me, my mother passed on my birthday and today I specifically sought out items to guide me and heal me. Translation, I spent a good 35/40 minutes shopping. My husband let the girls pick the items they were purchasing. They did not pick up everything in the store, they did not rifle through the books, they did not move the candles, they did not pick up statues not encased. They simply picked the color candles they wanted and placed them into the basket. They picked the printed canvas they wanted and put it right in the basket. This was no different from previous trips. When I was ready to switch with my husband, I found them by the stones. They had already placed the stores they wanted in the basket. They were so HAPPY to show me their stones, and I asked them questions about the ones they picked. Stones are one of my favorites, so I starting telling them what certain stones were used for/as. They were interested in obsidian when I told them one of its properties is protection. They began searching for the perfect obsidian for them. I’m a firm believer that you cannot just have someone else pick your stone. It was at that time the owner sauntered over, picked up - off the ground - the metal sign stating children were not to touch anything, and very firmly put it back down while looking at me saying, “I’m just going to move this sign so it’s read better by parents.” I was completely caught off guard because in all of the times we’d even been in there before the owner was never abrasive, rude, or displayed such a negative aurora. I told him that what they touched they put in the basket, that they were spending their own money. His reply “I don’t want them touching anything at all,” this was said while his face was the most condescending I’ve seen in my life to date. My husband saw my demeanor change and came over. I asked him if during the time I was shopping and he had the girls, if the owner said anything to them or looked disgusted with them. He answered no. I asked if the girls picked their own candles, stones, and printed canvases or if he did. He said no, I let them pick what they wanted. I told him the interaction with the owner and he said he was done looking if I wanted to go through my items again to be sure I wanted each item. I grabbed out all of my items and told him I wouldn’t be able to purchase anything from this store with such hostility and negativity in the atmosphere. I put each item back in its correct location. We didn’t take the girls joy of being consumers and making their purchase away. They still got their items, but at the last second I had my husband use our money instead. I couldn’t in good conscience let them spend their travel money in that atmosphere. After the transaction I informed the ladies at the check out that I have never felt that uncomfortable in there before today. They did apologize I felt that way. I then said the owner was very rude. They responded, well it’s a hard rule children cannot touch anything. I informed her that the items they touched they put in the basket and were purchased and that nothing was said until I was with them at the stones taking over for my husband who had let them pick their stones. The response “well he was in the back and didn’t see that.” Someone please tell me, how a man who hates children so much, didn’t see them until I TOOK OVER WATCHING THEM?!?! So, CHILDREN & MOTHERS are most certainly not welcome...

Great store, awful tarot reader.

Firstly, The Witchery is beautifully stocked! Books abound on any magickal subject you can list, as well as tomes on new age philosophies. Beautiful jewelry, devotional statuettes, and altar tools. I think I stared down the tarot cabinet for a good minute; it contained a wide variety of unique decks! Whatever you need for your spiritual practice, you are likely to find here.

However, you won't find a good tarot reading. I don't consider myself professional, but I have read tarot for others many times and have always received positive feedback. That said, I seldom read for myself. Being emotionally invested in my own life, I often fret over whether my personal readings are as impartial as they should be. So I thought I'd consult a professional!

It was a cold reading. And I should have known when I passed the tarot reader's nook whilst she was reading for a mother with her child, and I heard her began to fixate on the woman's nurturing nature. When it was my turn in the booth, I was prepared with questions I was seeking guidance through, and she stumbled and sputtered until she asked me my birthday, consulted something under the table, and then starred yammering about stereotypes attributed to my sun sign. She asked if I'd lost anyone lately, a question not at all related to my request, and then started to 'speak' for a lost loved one.

The reading ended with her letting me know I'm fat.

It's been about a year since I visited The Witchery, and maybe they host a different tarot reader now! But regardless of who is pulling cards, I still very much enjoyed my purchases. I burned my last stick of Song of India temple incense this week, and it smelled just as gorgeous as the day I got it.

Stop by! But beware of...

Drove 3 hours with the intention of spending a little money and purchasing some crystals and gem jewelry from The Witchery. I also brought my eleven year old son since he was looking for a particular book and wanted to see if perhaps they carried it. Immediently upon entering, I was impressed with their selection. Extensive collection of books, crystals and alter pieces! My son quickly found two books he wanted to buy but before he could even walk over to me to show me, the man (owner?) began yelling at him not to touch things and put them down. I told him he wanted to buy them and even gave my son a little "be careful, be respectful" speech for the mans sake. My son went ahead and bought the books to save the trouble and then went back to browsing. He had his own money to spend. We hadn't even been in the store a full five minutes, the sweet young lady clerk was being very kind and showing me the rings I was interested in purchasing when the man started hollaring at my son again, this time yelling about a candle my son picked up. My son looked at him and began to say "I want to buy--" before he could finish the man was yelling "PUT IT DOWN!" And even made the offhand comment to the other worker "I will whoop kids" and I just got so upset I left without purchasing anything. 😔Honestly, I was very upset because there were plenty of things we wanted to buy but I wouldn't dare buy something that costs that much from someone who treats his customers so rudely. Damn shame cause it's really a great store. Thank you to the young lady who tried her best to be kind and informative...had I not been so offended I would have stayed longer and purchased that ring you suggested. It...