If you're familiar with the term "dark academia" (think bookshelves, libraries, stormy nights, beveled windows, ivy-covered buildings, flickering candles), you know that loving books often comes with the vibe or aesthetic of practicing magic. Bibliophilia is practically a requirement to being an occultist. The smell of paper, the feel of pages flipping through fingers, and the weight of a hardcover in your lap can't be replicated or replaced by the experience of finding information on a screen (and yes, we see the irony: this is screen).
While we love curling up with an e-book here and there, the magic of discovering a book from an iconic bookstore is like nothing else. Shopping for witchy, occult reads from classic booksellers is not only important for keeping independent shops in business, it's also an important way to "find your people," and can be a crucial aspect of growing your magickal practice. Many a coven and magickal order met and socialized in stores listed below. You never know who you'll cross paths with: future friends, mentors, or coven members with whom to share cakes and ales.
Below are our favorite bookstores with occult selections and online shopping, which closes the geographical gap pretty nicely (until you can make an in-person pilgrimage).
Nestled in London's Bloomsbury neighborhood, Treadwell's Books has been the ultimate spot for procuring esoteric books in the United Kingdom since opening its doors in 2003. This atmospheric shop offers books on magick, spiritualism, and more. In addition to offering some contemporary reads, Treadwell's is also a top vendor for scripts from ancient Celts and old copies of European folklore. More than a book store, Treadwell's is an occult community hub, offering classes, tarot readings, lectures, and more. If you live in the UK and are looking for a coven, this is a good starting place.
A London staple for more than 130 years, Watkins Books is one of the world's oldest independent bookshops specializing in the esoteric and otherworldly, with rich history in the occult community. Now located in London's Cecil Court, Watkins was first opened by John M. Watkins on Charing Cross in 1897. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, it served as the meeting place for occultists and literary figures like Aleister Crowley and W.B. Yeats. Modern patrons will find one of the largest collections of spiritual and esoteric literature, everything from books on Eastern Philosophy to more contemporary reads focused on the mind-body-spirit connection.
The Atlantis Bookshop is tucked around the corner from the British Museum, a treasure trove of magickal objects in its own rite. Atlantis was opened in 1922 by Michael Houghton, and is currently under the management of a mother-daughter duo, thriving as both a modern hub for occult literature and London's oldest independent occult bookshop. Patrons enjoy a collection of new, antique, and rare books that can be shipped worldwide.
Weiser Antiquarian Books in Cape Neddick, Maine, is the oldest occult bookstore in the United States and specializes in books on Aleister Crowley. In addition to offering one of the best Crowley collections in the country, Weiser Antiquarian Books also specializes in books on mysticism, alternative spirituality, and Eastern religions, and has the distinction of being one of the world's top resources for rare and out-of-print books on the occult. At Weiser, patrons can browse a collection spanning nearly 7,000 books, manuscripts, and letters.
Splendor Solis Books specializes in new, used, and rare books on Market Street in Northampton, Massachusetts. Owned by a husband-and-wife duo, this go-to shop for books on spirituality, the occult, alchemy, esoterica, and more is one of the best places to pick up titles from independent occult publishers like Black Letter Press, Scarlet Imprint, Anathema Publishing, and Atramentous Press.
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This list focuses on London and the East Coast of the U.S. We look forward to growing this list and to focusing on different regions in future.
Inglenook Lit is an online literary magazine for magic enthusiasts and enchantment seekers
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