Tucked away on the second floor of historic Derby Square, The Sea Wych Salem isn’t just another metaphysical shop in a city famous for witchcraft—it’s something distinctly different. Step inside and the first thing you notice isn’t the display cases or the merchandise. It’s the scent: earthy, salty, layered like the ocean itself. Then comes the feeling: an unexpected calm, a sense of peace that seems out of place in the middle of bustling downtown Salem.
This is exactly what founder Phe Needham intended when she opened The Sea Wych—not a shop focused on aesthetics or Instagram-perfect displays, but a genuine spiritual space where the philosophy “if you take, you give” isn’t just a saying on the wall, but the foundation of every interaction with the natural world.
When the Ocean Calls in Unexpected Ways
Phe’s journey to opening Salem’s only shop dedicated to sea and water witchcraft took a surprising path. With a background in emergency management—about as far from retail witchcraft as you can imagine—Phe spent years as a solitary sea witch unable to find the tools, resources, or sense of community that matched her spiritual practice, even in Salem, Massachusetts.
“I wanted to create a space to make it easy for sea and water witches to find the tools and teachings of their chosen craft and path,” Phe explains. What began as The Sea Wych online shop, serving a scattered community of sea witches searching for specialized supplies, evolved into the longtime dream: a physical storefront in the heart of historic Salem.
That dream became reality when The Sea Wych opened its doors at 1 Derby Square, bringing over 20 years of sea witchcraft expertise to a city famous for its witch history but surprisingly lacking in ocean-focused magical practice. For a coastal city with such deep maritime roots—Salem’s wealth and identity were built on seafaring trade—the absence of a dedicated sea witchcraft shop was a gap Phe felt called to fill.
More Than a Shop: A Philosophy of Balance
Walk into The Sea Wych and you immediately sense this isn’t about selling products—it’s about sharing a practice, building relationships with natural elements, and fostering community among those drawn to water magic. Visitors consistently comment on the peaceful atmosphere, the sense that they’ve stumbled into something authentic in a tourist destination that can sometimes feel performative.
“It’s not about aesthetics or perfection—it’s about listening,” Phe says of her approach to sea witchcraft. “Truly listening to the ocean, to the unseen, to yourself. And it’s about balance. If you take, you give. If you’re seeking peace, you have to be willing to brave the storm.”
That mindset shapes everything at The Sea Wych. Shells are foraged respectfully from local Massachusetts beaches. Products are ethically sourced from small businesses and practitioners who ensure no harm is done when gathering materials. Witch bottles and spell kits are crafted during appropriate moon phases and tides, working with—not against—the ocean’s natural rhythms. Future plans include donating a portion of monthly proceeds to oceanic and waterway conservation efforts, embodying the reciprocity central to sea witchcraft.
Handcrafted Magic: Where Intention Meets the Tide
Every product at The Sea Wych is personally curated or crafted by Phe, bringing that 20+ years of experience to each item. The shop’s spell kits—available in beautiful mango wood boxes or elegant organza bags—include everything a practitioner needs: appropriate shells, crystals, candles, salts, herbs, abalone, sea glass, and detailed instructions. Each kit addresses specific intentions: protection, abundance, love, clarity, peace.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Phe creates custom spell kits tailored to individual needs—a service that’s become increasingly popular as word spreads about The Sea Wych’s personalized approach to magical practice.
The signature witch bottles exemplify the shop’s commitment to magical timing and natural rhythms. Each bottle is crafted during the moon phase and tide appropriate for its specific intention, harnessing the ocean’s energy at its peak. These aren’t mass-produced decorative items; they’re functional magical tools created with deep understanding of sea witchcraft principles.
The Sea Wych also transforms large surf clam shells foraged from local beaches into stunning works of art—one-of-a-kind pieces perfect for altars, meditation spaces, or coastal-inspired home decor. Each shell piece celebrates the beauty of Salem’s shores while honoring the ocean that provided it.
Experience the Magic: Workshops & Readings
While the handcrafted products draw many visitors, it’s the experiential offerings that create lasting memories and deepen understanding of sea witchcraft. The shop’s drop-in spell jar bar requires no appointment—guests can walk in during regular hours and create their own small sea spell bottle using crystal chips, herbs, seaweed, shells, and other ocean-blessed ingredients. The tactile, creative process offers both accessibility for beginners and meaningful practice for experienced witches.
The sea witch ball workshops represent The Sea Wych at its best: intimate (limited to small groups), educational, and deeply personal. These 1.5-2 hour sessions combine history, meditation, and hands-on magic in a way that resonates emotionally while teaching practical skills.
Each workshop begins with the history and lore of witch balls—protective talismans with roots in maritime traditions. Phe then guides participants through color theory, herb use, and the symbolism of ocean elements in sea witchcraft. A guided meditation helps each person connect with their intention before crafting their witch ball layer by layer, infused with ocean energy and personal power.
Participants leave with a one-of-a-kind witch ball they’ve created themselves, plus a 10% discount on in-store purchases. More importantly, they leave with deeper understanding of how to work with ocean magic and the confidence to continue practicing on their own. As one workshop attendee shared: “It was fun and peaceful… I made an amazing new friend!”—highlighting the community-building aspect that’s central to The Sea Wych’s mission.
The shop also offers tarot and oracle readings with a focus on sea, water, and elemental energy—15, 30, or 45-minute sessions available in-person or virtually. The 45-minute spiritual consultations include not just a reading but also a personalized item or custom spell created specifically for the client, infused with ocean magic. It’s guidance that goes beyond divination into tangible spiritual support.
Finding Community in the Current
There’s a growing interest in sea witchcraft as practitioners seek deeper connection with specific elements and natural forces rather than generalized magical practice. For those drawn to water—whether they live on the coast or far inland—The Sea Wych offers both resources and community that can be surprisingly difficult to find.
Phe’s welcoming approach makes the practice accessible to newcomers while offering the depth and authenticity experienced sea witches seek. The shop doesn’t gatekeep or create artificial barriers to entry; instead, it invites genuine curiosity and respects where each person is on their spiritual journey.
“Even far from the coast, you can carry a little bit of the sea with you,” Phe reminds visitors. Through thoughtfully crafted tools, education, and community connection, The Sea Wych helps practitioners maintain that relationship with ocean energy regardless of geography.
The shop’s commitment to education extends beyond workshops. Phe regularly shares content on social media (@seawychsalem on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok), offering insights into sea witchcraft practices, seasonal magic, and the deeper philosophy behind working with ocean energy. This isn’t performative social media presence—it’s genuine teaching and community building in digital spaces.
A Salem Shop That Honors the Sea
Salem’s identity as “Witch City” draws millions of visitors annually, but the city’s maritime history often gets overlooked in favor of the 1692 witch trials narrative. The Sea Wych subtly honors both aspects of Salem’s heritage—embracing the city’s openness to witchcraft and magical practices while reconnecting that practice to the ocean that shaped Salem’s growth and prosperity.
Located at 1 Derby Square—named for merchant Elias Hasket Derby, one of America’s first millionaires who made his fortune in maritime trade—The Sea Wych sits in a historically significant location. The shop’s presence here feels both intentional and natural, a modern expression of Salem’s ongoing evolution as a community that honors its past while creating something new.
Visit The Sea Wych This Holiday Season
The Sea Wych Salem welcomes visitors Thursday through Saturday (11am-6pm) and Sunday and Monday (12pm-5pm), closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The shop is located on the second floor of 1 Derby Square in downtown Salem, easily accessible from anywhere in the city center.
Whether you’re an experienced sea witch seeking specialized tools, someone curious about ocean-based spiritual practices, or simply looking for unique handcrafted gifts this holiday season, The Sea Wych offers an experience you won’t find elsewhere in Salem—or anywhere else.
Call ahead at (508) 319-1885 to book workshops or readings during your visit. Can’t make it to Salem? Shop online at theseawych.com with free shipping on orders over $50, or connect via social media to join The Sea Wych community from wherever you are.
The Sea Wych Salem
1 Derby Square, Suite 4 (2nd Floor)
Salem, MA 01970
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