Coven SF - FAQ

About the spells

What is a spell?

A spell means different things to different witches. The spells we sell here are intention with teeth—words and action to focus on what you actually want. Each one is written for a specific situation, and we offer them in three forms: a digital spellbook (the writing, online, flippable, yours forever), a printed spellbook (the writing, on paper, in a saddle-stitched booklet), or a printed spellbook with extras (the booklet plus a crystal obelisk, a ritual candle and cast-iron holder, bespoke matches, a mini raven, and a pouch to hold it).

What is a kit?

A kit is three or four spells gathered around a theme: New motherhood, grief, burning it down, surviving the wait. Same components as the individual spells, but with additional ritual objects, bundled in a custom-made box, and priced as a set.

Do I have to believe in magic for this to work?

No. Magic is what we call it when we focus our attention on what we want and follow through. The spell isn't the candle; the spell is your mindset. It's what you do after you light it. Belief helps. Action helps more.

Are these for real witches, or just for fun?

Both. The work is real even if the framing is playful. Some of our customers have practiced much of their lives. Others bought their first spell on a whim. Coven welcomes both. Also, you might be a witch without even realizing it. There's more of us out there than most people expect.

What if I do the spell wrong?

You won't. The booklet is a guide, not a recipe. The intention matters more than the order of operations. If the candle burns down before you finish the words, the spell still happened.

What's actually in a spell?

Depends on which form. A digital spellbook is the full spellbook in a flippable, digital form on up to three different devices. A printed spellbook is the booklet alone—the writing, on paper, saddle-stitched. A printed spellbook with extras adds a 3-inch crystal obelisk, a ritual candle, a cast-iron candle holder, bespoke matches, a mini resin raven, and a black velvet drawstring pouch—packed in a custom black box. Stones vary by spell: some come with smoky quartz, some with clear quartz.

Can I reuse the kit after I've cast the spell?

The candle burns down. The booklet stays. The crystal is yours forever—you can use it for other rituals, carry it, set it on a shelf. Most people keep the booklet on their nightstand long after the candle is gone.

Can I do a hex or a curse on someone? Is that ethical?

Yes, and yes. We sell hex and curse spells because some situations call for them—a court that took your rights, an ex who earned it, Trump. Cursing the powerful or the harmful is not the same as cursing the innocent. We trust you to know the difference. The spells are written with that distinction in mind. And none of them are intended to inflict great devastation or personal injury, more so just understanding and acknowledgment of the harm caused.

I'm in a hard moment—grief, infertility, illness. Will the spell work?

The spell isn't a fix and we don't promise outcomes. What it offers is a small, considered act in a moment that can feel overwhelming. We very much believe that intention creates magic, and miracles (both big and small) do happen. We've written the spells and kits with care for these specific kinds of difficult, but they aren't substitutes for medical care or therapy.

Are you affiliated with any religion?

No way. Coven is its own thing—drawn from witchcraft traditions and the golden rule. Written entirely by humans, and sold as works of entertainment.

Digital spellbook

What's a digital spellbook?

An online spell-page you cast at your own pace. Same words and intention as the printed booklet, but the ritual happens in your browser, with a real-time burning candle on screen.

How do I access it after buying?

You'll get a private link in your confirmation email. It's yours—your name is on the page.

Why is my name on the page?

Every digital spellbook is personalized to the person who bought it. A small thing that makes the casting feel like yours, not a copy.

Can I share the link?

You can open it on up to 3 devices. Beyond that, it locks. If you want the spell cast widely, the printed booklet is the better object.

What's the candle on the page?

A real-time burning candle that runs for 2 hours—the length of a ritual candle. When it burns down, the spell is cast. The page stays yours after; you can return to it anytime.

What does "witches casting" mean?

A live count of other people casting at the same time. You're never the only one.

Does my access expire?

No. The page is yours forever. The candle only burns once per casting, but the writing stays.

What if I lose my link?

Email hello@covensf.com and we'll resend it.

About the products

Who writes the spells?

Sara Steinberg and a curated circle of other writers craft every spell. We hope to have spell collaborations with even bigger feminist and occult icons going forward.

Where are the spells made?

Each spell is written and designed in San Francisco. Printed by Fong Brothers in Brisbane (just a few miles south of SF), and assembled back in San Francisco. They're very much made in the Bay.

Where do the crystals come from?

The crystal supply chain is mostly a mess. For now, our obelisks are natural quartz and labradorite, cut into 3-inch towers, bought direct from a supplier in Taiwan. We're hoping to go to the Tucson Gem Show this year and meet more local suppliers.

Are the candles made by you?

From a US ritual goods wholesaler in California. Aside from the Vespers candle, our chime and tea light candles are plain paraffin, unscented candles.

Do you do custom spells?

Yes. We take a limited number of custom commissions each season—for weddings, big life moments, or specific situations no off-the-shelf spell quite fits. Email hello@covensf.com to ask.

Do you sell wholesale?

Eventually, but not yet. If you run a shop and want to be on the list when wholesale opens, email hello@covensf.com.

Gifting

Can I send a spell as a gift?

Yes. At checkout, choose "send as a gift" and tell us who it's for. Printed spellbooks and kits ship directly to the recipient with no pricing or invoice in the package. Digital spellbooks deliver straight to the recipient's inbox.

How does gifting a digital spellbook work?

You enter the recipient's name and email at checkout. They receive a private link the moment you order, and the spell-page is personalized to them. If you'd rather it stay personalized to you, leave the recipient name blank.

Can I include a note?

Yes—there's a field at checkout for a short message. For printed orders, it's tucked into the package. For digital orders, the note appears in the delivery email.

Can the recipient return or exchange it?

All sales are final, including gifts. If it arrives damaged, email orders@covensf.com and we'll figure it out together.

Shipping and returns

Where do you ship?

Within the US and to Canada. Digital spellbooks deliver instantly to your email, anywhere. International shipping for printed goods isn't available yet—email us at orders@covensf.com if you'd like to be notified when it opens up.

How long does shipping take?

Orders ship within 3–5 business days. Domestic delivery typically takes another 3–5 days after that. Canada: Plan for 1–3 weeks depending on customs.

How do I track my order?

You'll get a tracking number by email once your order ships. Domestic tracking updates frequently; international tracking can go quiet for stretches while a package is in customs—that's normal.

Can I return a spell or kit?

All sales are final. If something arrives damaged or broken, email orders@covensf.com and we'll figure it out together. Full Returns policy is here.

What if my order arrives damaged?

Email orders@covensf.com and we'll figure it out together.

About the brand

Is Coven a real shop in San Francisco?

Yes. We don't have a storefront yet, but hopefully we'll get one someday. For now, Coven SF lives online and in pop-ups around the city. We're working furiously on a spellbook vending machine that we plan to plant in Haight-Ashbury. Sign up for the newsletter for forthcoming details.

Who is Coven for?

The witch-curious. The skeptics. The girls, the gays, the hopeful, and the haunted. People who don't believe in magic but believe in intention. People who already practice and want something well-made. Anyone who's fed up with this shit.

What's Coven's lineage?

Our witchcraft traditions come from primarily Western feminist writers—Pam, Starhawk, Margot (plus many non-witchy authors who are still very magical)—as well as our own gut. Light a candle, cast a spell, mean it. That's it.

Do you draw on closed practices?

No. We don't draw on hoodoo, brujería, Lucumí, Vodou, curanderismo, or Indigenous practices. Those are closed traditions, and not ours to borrow.

How can I support Coven?

Buy a spell. Tell a friend. Tag us on Instagram (@thecovensf). Suggest a spell we should make next—there's a form on the homepage.

Still have questions?

Email hello@covensf.com.