So as you may or may not know, I LOVE to go on road trips. There is not much I like better than jumping in the car with a map, a suitcase and my Harry Potter books on tape and hitting the asphalt. *ok, maybe I do enjoy doing it a bit more in foreign countries where they drive on the wrong side of the road, but my opportunities to do that are fairly limited!* As you probably do know if you've scrolled down far enough on this blog, is that I recently got a new car, which has already had some adventures, but not nearly what it will experience in the next couple of years.
Taking these two things into account, I've decided to give myself a challenge. I want to drive through at least a little of all the 48 states (except Texas...really have NO desire to go to Texas, although maybe my opinion will soften when it's the last of the 48 states). I've already driven through several states, since it was bought in one state and driven through 7 others to get back to my house. However, I think I will add something else to the challenge. I want to not only drive into each state at least once, I also want to visit at least one Witchy shop in each of those states. And I plan to share my journey with you.
Since I've started this challenge not only with the idea of driving through a part of each state, but also going to one shop-per-state, the other states I've been to so far don't count. I have started up a little map for myself, which will probably be kept in the car, that is from a coloring book so I can color in the states as I visit them. I will NOT be going so far as to get one of those vinyl maps put on the back of my car. I think that would be going a bit too far for the Dragon. But I will keep my map, and my camera close by so I can see how far I've gone on my challenge. There will be LOTS of states visited next month. I'll probably head out to my own local witchy shop tomorrow to get a jump on this challenge!
So here's my question to you...what state do YOU live in, and should I happen to be in your state, what's the best Witchy shop YOU know of. Where should I go? Where should I absolutely NOT miss??
(Upon reflection, the visit-a-witchy-shop-in-every-state thing may be virtually impossible in Mississippi, South Dakota and North Dakota. I may have to get creative with what constitutes a 'witchy' shop!)
We have yet to find one in MS, but we go to Books, Beans and Candles in Birmingham, AL (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-Beans-and-Candles-MS/56719987204). Its small and I don't feel the need to beat them over the head with PPE as they are always very friendly. Hayden says the coffee is excellent, and I love the fact it is in an old victorian house. If you find one in MS let us know!
ReplyDeleteGrand Rapids Michigan is where I live! There is a fantastic shop called Spirit Dreams, there is another one about 20 miles north of us (in Rockford) called Open mind....not so good. We have a great presidential museum along with an awesome public museum!
ReplyDeleteSue...I'll let you know if I find one in Mississippi. According to Google Maps, my search for "metaphysical shop" and for "occult shop" got me a grand total of nothing in MS. I may have to see if I can find a decent rock shop, or maybe just a town with a witchy name to visit there. (Or maybe I'll just drive over the state line and back again and say to hell with the witchy shop!) I'll keep you posted!
ReplyDeleteVelma-In Tacoma, Washington I would say the one store you absolutely can't miss out on is Crescent Moon Gifts. It has the best collection of figurines and decor you have ever seen. Owned by the lovely Angela and her husband, this store is a must see for every witch traveling through our lovely area. So many little odds n' ends to peruse, artwork, books, stones, and more. I spend hours looking in this store and still find something new every time.
ReplyDeleteWashington may give you some tough decisions if you're only picking one (which would be silly). I live in downtown Seattle and my favourite place is Tenzing Momo, an apothecary that has been in the heart of Pike Place Market for decades. Their herb selection is amazing. I keep a price list at home and once went in for some maidenhair. It wasn't on the shelf and the clerk was unfamiliar with it. I said, 'But it's on your list.' So he did some digging and sure enough, it was stashed away under the counter. Kinda felt a little magical. It's a tiny little shop, but they have lost of incenses and tinctures and such, the occasional tarot reader, and a few cases full of witchy lovelies that I really wish I could buy. But it's the wall full of herbs that keep me coming back. (and I love that it's *just* ambiguous enough that I can proudly show my support for the shop while remaining in the closet.)
ReplyDeleteThen there is a store on 1st ave. across the street from Pike Place called Eco Elements. Again, it's a teeny shop, but they do have some beautiful things. If you're just walking by you'd never guess it was a witchy shop, but most of the books and gifts in the back are pagan.
Then up the street in the neighbouthood known as Capitol Hill is Edge of the Circle books - a truly witchy shop. (In fact, if you visit the website you'll be greeted by a rant against "metaphysical" stores. The owner doesn't mess around with that fluff.) I don't go there much so I can't remember what all they have, but they have a room downstairs where folks have meetings and such. I went there for a series of classes called 'Skiing the Magical Bunny Slopes' presented by the non-denominational pagan church, OLOTEAS.
Finally, there is a store that I have yet to visit (but really want to find out about) in north Seattle called East-West Bookshop. I have heard lots of people rave about it. But they are more metaphysical type people that I hear raving, so it may just be a metaphysical shop and not a very witchy one.
But if you come out all this way, you have to go to the Market; it's just the thing to do. So you may as well put Tenzing Momo on your list. ^__^
I'm in Utah, only just learning about Paganism, found your blog... I think we have some witchy shops but I don't feel comfortable in them... yet. :) But here in Utah, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anything but the LDS temple anyway. =P
ReplyDeleteYou just have to go to Southern Utah if you come, visit Arches National Park, Zions, Goblin Valley, and the other amazing natural areas. They are gorgeous.
Should you find yourself in the LA/OC area, I can list a few off the top of my head:
ReplyDeletePanpipes (supposedly the oldest witchy shop in America)http://www.panpipes.com/info.htm
Cauldron Kitty http://www.cauldronkitty.com/
Eye of the Cat http://www.eyeofthecat.net/
Points of Light http://www.pointsoflight.com/
and the one closest to me, Crystal Cave http://www.crystal-cave.com/
also have a look here for more in CA: http://www.witchvox.com/vn/sh/usca_sh.html
Hope that helps!:)
Oh, Dear Velma, If you should find yourself anywhere near Lake Havasu City, Arizona, I would very much love to meet you. The closest thing we have to a Witchy shop is a lovely little store that specializes in alternative religions. She carries quite a few little items, and the owners are wonderful people. The store is called Crystal Moon. THis town also boasts the Worlds largest antique ever sold, AKA the London Bridge. It's a beautiful town, but being a huge fan of yours, I know you would be better off coming here in the winter months when it isn't 120 degrees. Hope to see you soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm in beautiful Doylestown PA part of the Philly 'burbs. Doylestown itself is beautiful and you can get some serious good eats (local grown ingredients go into the fancy pizzas over at Jules, nice variety of soups over at the PA Soup and Seafood Company) as well as visit some neat historical sites (the Mercer Museum, the Moravian Tile Works). But if you want witchy, aim a bit more north to New Hope PA where there's a really neat eclectic artsy environment that's very witch friendly - lots of fun kitschy art and a sprinkling of metaphysical stores. I suggest hitting Mystical Tymes. They're my favorite witchy shop up that way.
ReplyDeleteDude. If you come to Arkansas, I am majorly sorry. One would have to search online for the shops since they open and close randomly. I would recommend Eureka Springs: It is a semi-oasis of gay, pagan, rocker, witchy, hippy, everything-not-Southern, and everything-one-would-not-expect-in-Arkansas. As a Southern Californian, it is the closest thing to an accepting town in Arkansas, in my opinion. I would recommend not going to Fayetteville. There are many nice people there. However, I have always gotten the vibe of pretension with the deluded view of living in a big city. Dora, Arkansas (Exit 1 on the I-40) has a health-food store, Squashblossom, which sells tons of herbs. It is pretty awesome, and the clerks are really cool. One woman saw a list which I had and simply said "Someone must be having a class." It was so cool!
ReplyDeleteHmm, there are quite a few in Virginia, which is quite surprising. None in DC, so don't bother going there (it's not a state and you don't want to drive in it, anyway).
ReplyDeleteIn northern Virginia:
Esoterica (Sterling): http://www.esotericanova.com
-Two mins from my house, wave to the west if you go there!)
Terra Christa (Vienna): http://www.terrachrista.com/
Sticks and Stones (Fairfax): http://sticksandstonescircle.com/
Sacred Circle (Alexandria): http://www.sacredcirclebooks.com/
Crystalis (Herndon): http://www.crystalis.com/
In southern Virginia:
(Hampton Roads is the final landing place of Edgar Cayce, so they're all about him down there)
Mystic Moon (Norfolk): http://www.mysticmoonevents.com/
The Magickal Attic (Newport News):
http://themagickalattic.com/index2.html
The Mystical Attic (Virginia Beach):
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mystical-Attic/76582762435?sk=wall
ARE Shop (Virginia Beach):
-Has a shop and a bad-ass metaphysical library! I KNOW, eeep!
http://www.edgarcayce.org/
Heritage Store (Virginia Beach):
-A health food store/cafe with a huge metaphysical bookstore/shop.
http://heritagestore.com/
My friend used to work at Seven Rays Bookstore in Syracuse, NY. By her descriptions of it, it at least was pretty awesome at the time.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my fiance, New Hope wasn't as impressive as often hyped. I would recommend Moonbeams Metaphysical in Selinsgrove, PA, but they might be closing and have stopped getting new inventory for the time being. Unless they're bought, they'll be going away. They were good, but very Wicca-centic (which I think has been the nail in their coffin, they didn't diversify to get other people in there). I think there's one in Reading, PA that I've been told is pretty good, but I never made it out that way.
BellaDonna Saberhagen
Well, if you change your mind about Texas (ha, I don't even want to ask why you wouldn't want to come. My Texan spirit is too easily bruised), you should go down to Galveston and visit The Witchery (http://witcheryonline.com/)!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure whether or not it is up to date, but witchvox states these four shops are in Mississippi...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.witchvox.com/vn/sh/usms_sh.html
I don't live in Mississippi, but I thought I would try to help in your challenge. ^_^
Thanks for all the suggestions! You are all awesome! Part of my dilemma is that Witchvox is becoming a less and less useful place to find info like this, and I am so grateful to you all for the suggestions! The only one mentioned so far that I've been to is Esoterica in Virginia, but I would like to go back...it's a pretty cool store from what I remember. I have also ordered online from Cauldron Kitty, but never been there (yet). I promise I'll keep you all posted...I'm thinking of putting up reviews here when I go to shops. If you have any more ideas, let me know! I'm keeping a list of places to go!
ReplyDelete-V
Now I am no expert in witchy shops but places to visit.... As a West Coast gal here is what I can suggest...
ReplyDelete1) Red Woods in northern CA
2) Cater Lake in OR (actually if you did southern Oregon there is a nice drive over to the coast!)
3) Mt St Helens!!! In Washington, Also the Ginko Petrified forest
4) coeur d'alene ID is BEAUTIFUL!
5) I loved the Tabacco root mountains in Montana
and Yellowstone was beautiful as well
When you hit the west coast let me know! I also love road tripping and have been all over the NW! Ooooo the Ho rainforest in WA is also amazing!
P.S. I highly recommend driving the AlCan (Alaska Canada Hwy) it is one damn awesome drive! WHEN you do it pick up a copy of the milepost its amazing and written and updated every year for the AlCan! :) Then you would have 49! Problem with getting 50 is you have to put your car on a boat! ;)
ReplyDeleteVelma, FYI, Esoterica has moved in the past year, so it's not in that cool old building anymore. It's in a boring shopping center now. But they have loads of stuff still! Of all of them, you must visit the ARE in Virginia Beach for their metaphysical library. I could probably stay in there until I died of old age.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever come to Oklahoma City a great shop is Nature's Treasures at 6223 SE 15th St. It's a little small but packed wall to wall with books and all kinds of goodies. She also has an aura camera. Another shop that has been around forever is Raven Feathers in Norman. Of course then you can also see the OU campus home of the Sooners! Woohoo! Plus you could see me which is just an added bonus. ;o)
ReplyDeleteNot going to ask why you won't be coming to my beloved Lone Star State either, but I'll second The Witchery on Galveston Island, and add The Magick Cauldron in Houston as an extra stop off.
ReplyDeleteAnother FYI, Velma....Esoterica in Virginia just announced that it is closing, possibly by this Wednesday. So, don't bother coming to Sterling!
ReplyDeleteAnother shop to add to your Orange County, CA leg of your trip is The Gift Goddess, in San Juan Capistrano. It's a lovely little witchy shop that absolutely should not be missed! Best of luck on your trip, and safe travels!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up from a fellow OC resident Drinara! I had no idea that shop existed...must check it out!
ReplyDeleteHi Velma! I know you're already off on the first leg of your journey, but if you make it up to the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, I highly recommend the unassuming shop Present Moment - it is a bountiful haven for books, has a lovely wall of a hundred herbs in glass jars, and it is right next door to a cafe called Butter with the best scones in town. Also Magus Books, the Enchanted Rock Garden, and Eye of Horus (in its new location next to the Smitten Kitten! *g*) Good luck on your trek, and looking forward to updates! I'd be happy to treat you to tea or some other hospitality if you're in town.
ReplyDeleteHello, such a sweet spirit you are! I was looking for the podcast, and ended up here, which is just as delightful! How I adore roads trips as well...and since someone stole my car a few years ago, I have been brooming it. Easy to do in the city where I used to live, not so easy out here in the country of Virginia. But, VA is soooo beautiful, what else is there to do but walk? No super high test witchy shops around here, but, if you ever are in this neck of the woods, you could try out Elementally Magick with is on Williamson road, inside Happy's Flea Market and cross from the "smoke" shop! I haven't been over there, but if you do come, let me know and I'll hop on my broom and meet you over there. She specialized in herbs and herb products. Some stones I here. But this part of the country is sublimely beautiful in the fall, and if you get to Williamsburg, you're bound to see lots of ghosts! take care!
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