Occult & metaphysical things to do in Des Moines
6 occult and metaphysical places in Des Moines, among them Kays Spiritual Ways, Ancient Ways and CUUPS Sacred Bridges (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans). Botanicas, tarot parlors, witch shops and ritual supply counters, treated as the working businesses they are rather than as a novelty. They spread across Highland Park, Drake, Des Moines, Ingersoll / The Avenues and 2 more areas, so two or three can make a whole afternoon. Every entry is hand-vetted against real sources — not scraped off a top-ten list or averaged out of crowd ratings.
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Kays Spiritual Ways
A tiny owner-run metaphysical shop tucked at the corner of 5th & Euclid in Highland Park, created by Kayla Carre and stocked with crystals, candles, incense, tarot decks and jewelry. It runs a recurring 'Spiritual Social Hour,' so the vibe leans toward a neighborhood gathering spot rather than a slick storefront.
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Ancient Ways
An eclectic 'ancient mysteries' shop on University Ave near Drake, open since 1997, packed with ethnic drums, books, music, herbs, incense, crystals, tarot and jewelry. Beyond the merch it hosts drum sessions and intuitive/metaphysical classes, giving it more of a longtime-community feel than a tourist boutique.
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CUUPS Sacred Bridges (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans)
An earth-centered Pagan worship group profiled by Drake University's Comparison Project, meeting for the full moon, the third Sunday of each month, and the eight Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year. Rituals are leaderless and rotate among volunteers, with magic worked through chanting, singing, dancing, candles and symbols under the principle 'it shall harm none.'
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Enchanted (Enchanted Mystical Boutique)
A family-owned New Age boutique on Ingersoll billed as home to 'Des Moines' only Tarot Salon,' where readings are done 'in the energy of healing and universal love.' Owner Anu has been reading tarot and teaching metaphysical classes for 30-plus years, alongside crystals, candles, herbs and one-of-a-kind gifts.
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In Spyrit Metaphysical (& Des Moines Paranormal)
A metaphysical supply shop co-owned and staffed by the founders of Des Moines Paranormal, an active spirit-removal and ghost-investigation crew. The crystals, herbs, and sage share shelf space with real paranormal-investigation gear and the people who use it.
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The Haunted Bookshop
Iowa's largest used bookshop, 40,000+ rare and out-of-print titles crammed floor-to-ceiling into an atmospheric 1847 Victorian mansion, complete with a dedicated Occult & Magic section and resident shop cats.
Occult & metaphysical things to do in Des Moines — FAQ
Which occult & metaphysical spots in Des Moines are the strangest?
Ranked by how strange they actually are: In Spyrit Metaphysical (& Des Moines Paranormal), The Haunted Bookshop and Kays Spiritual Ways. In Spyrit Metaphysical (& Des Moines Paranormal) — A metaphysical supply shop co-owned and staffed by the founders of Des Moines Paranormal, an active spirit-removal and ghost-investigation crew.
Where in Des Moines are they?
Across Highland Park, Drake, Des Moines, Ingersoll / The Avenues and Ames and 1 more. Each listing gives the neighborhood and address so you can cluster a couple into one outing.
Is this a good weird date in Des Moines?
That's what the list is built for. Every entry has a specific move rather than a vague recommendation — at In Spyrit Metaphysical (& Des Moines Paranormal), for instance: Pick out a crystal or herb bundle together, then corner co-owner Terri or Shawn to ask what they pulled off their most recent spirit-removal case.
How were these occult & metaphysical spots chosen?
An agentic research system digs for the genuinely obscure — the spots even locals miss — and every one is verified against real sources before it makes the list. We deliberately skip the landmarks already on every Des Moines guide.