The 11th House: Building Community Through Metaphysical Practice
In the heart of Tucson, Arizona, a magical transformation is taking place. The Ninth House shop, under the stewardship of new owners Robin and CB, has expanded to include a community space called The Eleventh House. This development represents more than just a physical expansion—it embodies a philosophy of inclusion, accessibility, and authentic spiritual practice in a world often clouded by misinformation.
The concept behind The Eleventh House draws from astrological symbolism. While the 9th House in astrology represents expanding consciousness and learning, the 11th House symbolizes community, gathering, and networking beyond immediate circles. This community space has become a sanctuary where people can safely learn, heal, grow, and connect with like-minded individuals. As CB explains, "We sort of realized that this element of the space was just as important as the shop part. Being a place where people can come to gather to learn, to share experiences, to heal and empower themselves was just as important as providing the tools and knowledge for whatever your practice is."
What makes The Eleventh House unique is its intentional lack of alignment with any single ideology or denomination. This approach creates an inclusive environment where practitioners from various lineages can explore their spiritual paths without judgment. The shop carefully curates products from diverse traditions, including pagan practices from Northern and Eastern Europe, traditions from West Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, and Afro-Caribbean lineages. This thoughtful curation extends to their programming, where they actively seek practitioners appropriately initiated into different lineages to facilitate authentic experiences.
Sound healing has emerged as a cornerstone of The Eleventh House's offerings. Both Robin and CB are sound healers who recognize sound as a universal component of spiritual practices across cultures. From chanting and drumming to using instruments like bells, rattles, and chimes, sound provides a powerful tool for connection that everyone can access. Robin emphasizes how sound can "agitate or activate energy," making it particularly effective for space clearing and ritual work. The accessibility of sound healing empowers individuals to take charge of their own practice—you can literally "snap and clap" for free, or invest in tools like hand pans, tuning forks, and Koshi chimes if desired.
The Eleventh House offers various programs to engage the community, including monthly Power Hours where participants can learn a skill in one hour. One of their most popular sessions teaches people how to use a pendulum beyond simple yes/no questions. These offerings are currently in-person but will soon expand to virtual platforms, making them accessible to a broader audience. Other regular events include tarot and astrology salons, sound baths, breathwork sessions, classes on dream interpretation, and a monthly ecstatic dance event that Robin describes as "powerful on a cellular energetic level" for releasing accumulated energy.
Beyond educational programming, The Eleventh House is introducing healing services, including Halo Therapy—a Himalayan salt therapy beneficial for lung conditions and inflammation. The therapy involves sitting in a booth infused with salt-infused air, which helps attract toxins and trigger detoxification. This integration of physiological and spiritual benefits characterizes many of their healing offerings.
The founders express deep concern about the proliferation of misinformation in metaphysical practices on social media. Fear-mongering and oversimplification have created confusion and unnecessary barriers for people interested in exploring spiritual practices. Robin shares her frustration: "Sometimes it really hurts when people come in and say, 'I'm really interested in it, but I've heard that evil things will come in.' The fear-mongering hurts me." Their mission includes combating this misinformation by providing trusted information and ethical standards around energy work.
As The Ninth House and The Eleventh House continue to evolve, Robin and CB envision expanding their virtual offerings to reach communities beyond Tucson. Their goal is to become trusted voices in the larger metaphysical community, providing high-quality, ethical information and services to counteract the misinformation so prevalent online. Through their Patreon grimoire subscription, which offers weekly spells and rituals designed to be affordable and accessible, they're already taking steps toward this vision.
The Eleventh House represents a new model for metaphysical community spaces—one that balances commerce with genuine community building, accessibility with authenticity, and tradition with innovation. As Robin powerfully states, "My sweet soul, you have power. You do not have to give away your abilities because someone on TikTok said that this was evil."
