50 Years of Best of Philly: All Things Mystical
New Age healing has always been a vibe here in Philly. Here’s how it’s transformed from the ’70s to today.
BOP50: A mystical and metaphysical oasis, Garland of Letters opened two years before Best of Philly made its debut. / Photograph by Jeff Fusco
New Age healing has always been a vibe here in Philly. Here’s how it’s transformed from the ’70s to today.
BOP50 Timeline: The Evolution of All Things Mystical
1972
Metaphysical oasis Garland of Letters (pictured above) opens on 12th Street (and later moves to South Street), two years before our first Best of Philly awards. More than five decades (and a 2019 Best of Philly) later, the shop is still a go-to for New Age books, tarot decks, crystals and the like.
1974
“The Amazing Mr. Dee,” that year’s Best Astrologer, is well-known for his cosmic guidance and in-vogue horoscope parties.
1991
While there are New Age winners in 1981 (Daily Horoscope: WMMR’s Cosmic Muffin) and 1983 (Place to Meet a Witch Doctor: Harry’s Occult Shop), 1991’s Best Psychic is our favorite for its simple one-line description: “You know who you are.”
2019
Sound-bath meditation gains traction around the region, with practitioner Luna Maye easing you into the most blissful state with stress-relieving crystal bowls and her sultry singing voice. Vibrations, raised.
Aura photograph by Inner Light Aura; background image via Getty Images.
2022
Hot on the scene is aura photography, a way to see and understand the one-of-a-kind energy you give off. Leading the charge? Inner Light Aura and their psychedelic portraits.
2024
Photograph courtesy of Modrn Wellness
Best Holistic Hub: Modrn Wellness
With its bold, moody aesthetic, this spa feels like a secret sanctuary for the très chic. Modrn’s biggest flex is alternative services like a meditative chakra-balancing crystal bed, a lymphatic drainage facial paired with a BallancerPro body massage, shadow-work therapies designed to uncover repressed emotions, and stress-alleviating hypnosis. 1420 Walnut Street, suite 1212, Center City.
Published as “Best of Philly: The Evolution of … All Things Mystical” in the August 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
