Checking in with... Karen Tate of Crystal Cave:

It may be tucked at the back of a nondescript shopping plaza, but once you step inside Crystal Cave, you’ll feel as if you’ve entered a magical realm. The metaphysical bookstore at 891 Baker St., which also offers incense, minerals, figurines and other spiritual items, opened in Orange in 1979 and moved to Costa Mesa 12 years ago. Co-founder Karen Tate spoke with the Daily Pilot about the origins of her business — and what role a spiritual shop plays in a recession.

What’s the meaning of your name, Crystal Cave?

Crystal Cave is named after a book written by Mary Stewart. The title of the book is “Crystal Cave.” It’s actually a trilogy. It’s a story of Merlin when he was being taught by his mentor. According to the book, they were in a cave, and back in the recesses of the cave, there was pocket mined with crystals, quartz crystals. As a boy, he was able to lie down there and transport himself to the past, present, different places. It was like having psychic abilities.

During the recession, do you find a lot of people coming in for spiritual items?

They do. We are down some like everybody else is, but people have sometimes a need, whether it be a book or an object that they feel will help them through something. And that actually goes on all the time, but I think in terms of the recession, there are probably a few more people who are seeking guidance.

How many religions or systems of belief do you cover?

We’re open to pretty much any. People are seeking in different ways, and we try to provide things to help them, no matter what their belief system. I wouldn’t know how to tell you how many.

Do you ever have nonbelievers come in to shop?

Very seldom. Very seldom.

It says on your website that you get items from all over the world. What’s the most exotic item you have in your store?

Well, we get stones, minerals, specimens from all over. Some of those can be rare. We have Tibetan singing bowls and bells, and they’re made out of at least seven different metals. They sing. If you run a wooden dowel around the rim, it sings. Sometimes you can do that with a crystal glass if you wet your finger. It’s a meditation tool.

Every time I come in your store, it always smells great. Where does that scent come from?

It’s a combination of all of the essential oils, the incense, the herbs. Some candles are scented. It’s just a combination of all those things. We usually don’t have anything burning in the store, but if I could have bottled that smell years ago, I’d probably be a millionaire. I’ve had so many people ask. And I can’t smell it anymore. It’s 30 years now that I’ve been breathing it.