Reno has quite a community of magic-minded people and businesses. There are a handful of metaphysical shops that cater to the weird, witchy or otherwise whimsical souls in this town—including Three Moons Trading Company, which opened in Midtown last October. In the months since, the store has established itself the community, offering a variety of goods including books, in-store made candles, rocks, incense and jewelry—and business has been booming.
Owned and operated by couple Christa and Wraiven Donaldson, Three Moons manifested out of the ether, as fortune would have it. During some divination sessions (think tarot cards or rune stones), Christa and Wraiven jokingly asked if they should open a metaphysical store—and each time, the answer was an emphatic yes.
But opening a business is a meticulous process. They first had to research what owning and operating a metaphysical shop entails. Much of it rides on where the shop is located, and every place is a little different. The couple also had to figure out what they wanted to offer to the community. Basics like books and tarot cards were a given, and they also placed great value in education. They polled the community, asking what people would be looking for in a metaphysical store.
“We had it planned for about a year before we opened,” said Christa. “And then once we actually opened, we found out that the community is a lot bigger than just our tiny little pagan community.”
Their community is, as Wraiven explained, “for lack of a better term, the ‘outcasts’ or the ‘weird people.’ And I put that in quotes, because I don’t consider us weird or outcasts, but that’s what society might deem us as.”
The owners found that not just “witchy” people, but those from all walks of life, were coming in for various needs, whether it be a book, incense or just a safe space to hang out.
“We’ve had people come in just because, ‘I’ve had a really bad day; I’m going to come sit in here,’” Wraiven said. “Please do! Get your energy aligned however you need to, to make yourself feel better.”
Said Christa: “We’re not just a retail shop. Honestly, on your first time in, I don’t even have any intention of you coming in and buying anything. Take in the space. Read the energy. You’ll come to love this place.”
Three Moons offers workshops open to all—for example, classes about the sabbats, the cardinal pagan holidays.
“We also do a ‘Magic and Meet,’ because we want to have more community come in,” Wraiven said. “So just come in; let’s meet, talk about magic, maybe do a little magic.”
Three Moons works in tandem with Circles of the High Sierras Temple, an interfaith pagan temple and spiritual community located next door to the shop. Together, these organizations teach people about the basics of magic.
“There is no right or wrong with magic,” Christa said. “Always follow your intuition. But it’s a way to give you a focal point if you need one.”
Participants can learn about circle casting, cleansing rituals, the elements and other basics that give people a good entry point into the world of magic. The shop also offers children’s workshops, campouts, pantheon-related rituals and crafting circles.
Three Moons works with Our Center to advocate for LGBTQ+ causes, and the owners have donated goods and sponsorships to arts groups like Good Luck Macbeth Theatre (where, full disclosure, I serve on the board of directors) and Silver State Storytellers. They’ve also partnered on events with neighboring Polo Lounge.
“We’re trying to get more out there. There’s only so much time, but we’re trying to make sure we’re helping the community as much as possible,” Wraiven said.
Christa added: “I just want everyone to know that whether you’re a witch or not, you’re always safe at Three Moons and at Circles of the High Sierras Temple. There is no judgment here.”
Three Moons Trading Company and Circles of the High Sierras Temple are both located at 1515 S. Virginia St., in Reno, in the South Virginia Plaza. Upcoming events include “Three Moons Baneful Magick Course III: Curses and Casting Correctly” from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 6. Admission is $20, with multi-class discounts. For additional event information, visit Three Moons Trading Company on Facebook or at threemoonstrading.com.
Three Moons Trading Company and Circles of the High Sierras Temple are both located at 1515 S. Virginia St., in Reno, in the South Virginia Plaza. Upcoming events include “Three Moons Baneful Magick Course III: Curses and Casting Correctly” from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 6. Admission is $20, with multi-class discounts. For additional event information, visit Three Moons Trading Company on Facebook or at threemoonstrading.com.
