Yule is the time of year when we find ourselves shopping, whether we want to or not. Suffering through countless Muzak versions of "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Jingle Bells" is not my idea of a good time, but as anyone who knows me will attest, I am a champion shopper. As such, I offer my consideration of some of the pagan- and witchcraft-oriented stores in the greater Seattle area.
Let's see - what do I expect when I go shopping? First of all, I prefer the shop owners to have a clue about what they are selling and to know something about witchcraft. Whether they share my philosophy doesn't matter, but they should be generally knowledgeable. It is very discomfiting to go into a store and have to look through books that are all jumbled up under the same heading, whether they are about witchcraft, Satanism, or Goddess worship. Ick!
I personally favor a warm, friendly, comfortable place, with salespeople who are approachable and helpful but not pushy. I want some acknowledgment that I exist and that the sales clerk is in the same reality as I am, but please do not run me over with enthusiasm, either. As for the shop itself, I like beauty, cleanliness, organization and value, although for me price is seldom the deciding factor. I'm the type of person that when I want something, I get it!
I want a large selection of merchandise to choose from, including several different brands of oils and incense. Hand-crafted items are great, and I really like purchasing something made by someone I know to be in the Craft. If I could have everything I wanted in a shop, it would also include a place to sit and browse or visit with the owner, and parking close by (free is good!).
What do I dislike? I really abhor New Age junk - stuff like mass-made crystal pendants, faux amber, overpriced "chakra candles" and "white light crap": stuff like channeling books and videos. Yuck!
I also don't care for a dirty store, and items that have not sold should be moved out every once in a while. Nothing is worse than picking up an item to look more closely and having to blow the dust off to read the price.
What follows is my subjective analysis of these stores and my recommendations. These are based on decor, selection, access and parking, help, value and the "vibes" of the store. All telephone numbers listed are in the (206) area code unless noted otherwise.
Astrology Et Al
4518 University Way NE, Seattle, 633-4907
This a specialty store, but it has been open for quite a long time and has incorporated lots of different products into its line. This store's atmosphere depends on who's working. I have had an enjoyable time with the men who work there, but the owner was quite rude when I tried to return an item that broke as soon as I took it home. It was not terribly expensive, but on the other hand, I was only asking for a replacement. The owner wanted a receipt that I believe I did not receive in the first place.
I dislike sounding negative, though; this store does have a lot to offer, and I guess if you are looking for date books, or astrology-related stuff, this is the place to go. They also carry books, jewelry, incense, cards, gift items and more. Parking is sometimes difficult, and the prices are only okay, but if you're in the neighborhood, check them out.
Chrysalis Books
25838 104th SE, Kent, 859-1351
This store is really out of my way, but very convenient if you happen to live in Kent or Auburn, and even Federal Way and Renton are fairly close.
I like a lot about Chrysalis. They have a great selection of books and other products, and they are now including more Craft items than was the case a while back. But the store is located in a strip mall next to an Albertson's supermarket, and it is in Kent, so it can't get too witchy.
The store is nicely decorated, and I like its feel, and the people are helpful without being pushy. The store has good quality merchandise, with a nice selection of gift items, and the prices aren't bad. It shares a free parking lot with Albertson's and several other shops.
If you're in the area, stop by Crysalis and say hi to Maxine and Darlene, the mother-daughter owner team.
Eco-Elements
1530 First Ave., Seattle, 467-7745
My apologies, but downtown is not my favorite place to shop, ever. This store is on First Avenue, which means it is generally on my list as being hard to access, with no convenient parking.
Eco-Elements is worth the trouble, though, with a great selection of products and helpful staff. They also have events from time to time, and the store has hosted some really great stuff. It is Goddess-oriented and a bit New Agey, but in a good way. Another plus is that Eco-Elements supports charitable causes with part of their profits. The store has gobs of new merchandise in for the holidays, so stop by and say hi to D.J.
Edge of the Circle Books
701 E. Pike St., Seattle, PAN-1999
I am glad to see the direction of Edge of the Circle beginning to shift. There for a while, it was looking like nothing more than a hangout place for Goth/slacker OTO wannabes. I have been around long enough to see it go from being the Shamanic Convergence, a warm, friendly, down-home sort of place, to being almost ostracized by the Craft community because of the "vibes" and the preponderance of batcavers who hang there. I think that the new restaurant next door will aid in the shift.
Lately, I have found little at EOC in the way of products that I wanted to purchase; I can't say that about most of the stores. Usually I go in to the shops to drop off papers and end up spending more than enough to pay for their next ads!
EOC does have a good selection of obscure books, and a few other things worthy of mention, such as a good selection of Santeria supplies. It also looks like recently the shop has been beginning to add to its inventory, so there may be more good things soon. I wish I could say more positive things about the Edge, because I personally think shops like it are a valuable resource for the community. I hope that the direction will continue to shift toward a more positive and inclusive energy, so that we all feel comfortable there, whether we dye our hair black or not.
Five Corners
608 Columbia St. SW, Olympia, (360) 352-4349
I have not visited this store and have to go on what others have had to say, including my significant other, Wolfie, who really likes it. The store, at least, focuses on witchcraft and paganism, as opposed to New Age white light; the owners James and Daniela tend toward a Norse bent. They have one of the best selections of Tarot cards around, with at least 50 different decks in stock and around 40 on display. They are fun, friendly people and go out of their way to help "newbies" as well as people they personally know.
The shop is small but airy, neat and orderly. It has a decent supply of books and a good selection of jewelry, magickal tools and supplies. Stop by when you are in Olympia, or use it as an excuse for a day trip.
Magickal Gardaen
Everett Mall, 1402 Everett Mall Way, Everett, 355-8694
This is another space crowded with all manner of products. It began as a bead store and has branched out recently into more pagan-oriented items. The shop now features a good selection of Tarot cards, as well as books and jewelry. There are some hard-to-find stones and spheres, and amber if that is your thing. (I am a certified, card-carrying amber slut!) This shop is charming in a slightly cluttered way.
My only criticism of Magickal Gardaen is that I have found things displayed there not labeled with a price. I find this disconcerting, as I feel that the price may fluctuate dependent on some invisible criteria. John, one of the owners, says that this has changed and that he has now priced everything. If so, great!
John and Kate are friendly and willing to explain the products if need be. They are beginning to offer classes and readings, and the Gardaen may well become the place to go in the North End. To find the shop, go into the Everett Mall's Sears wing and follow your nose.
Mandala Books
918 NE 64th St., Seattle, 527-2979
Mandala is a small bookstore located, as one of the owners, Jan, says, "in the heart of the white light ghetto," the Roosevelt district. It features incense, statuary, audio, a great selection of videotapes, a small amount of jewelry, some candles and some gift items.
It is a fairly friendly place, depending on the day. I have at different times had a warm welcome, a rousing discussion, a cold stare and the cold shoulder in this establishment. The vibes, if a bit standoffish at times, are of Western magick and paganism combined with Eastern religions.
Parking is usually easy here, and of course it's fairly convenient to anywhere in Seattle proper.
Always clean and well-organized, with pretty good prices, the shop also has great fun altars to such deities as Elvis and Bill the Cat. If asked, the owners will give good guidance as to the quality of new books. I recommend Mandala, and it has a great selection of statuary, knives and swords for Yule.
Mighty Aphrodite
Wallingford Center, 1815 N. 45th St., Seattle, 634-0423
This is a charming little shop inside Wallingford Center. Wallingford Center itself is a fun place with a great garden store, where I buy ladybugs in the summer. The selection of Mighty Aphrodite's merchandise is concentrated mostly on rare and fine-quality incenses and bath products. I found my favorite soap there, so I bought five or six bars!
I guess the only criticism I can make of Mighty Aphrodite is that the male partner makes it very obvious that he is neither pagan nor particularly approves of pagans. He did warm up a bit after my fifth visit or so, and the owner, Victoria, is sweet. Take a look for fine and unusual gifts.
Odyssey Books
321 Main St., Edmonds, 672-9064
I like Odyssey, and while it is a bit New Agey for me, it has a nice selection, including lots of pagan- and witch-oriented stuff. The store specializes in books, but it has a lot to offer, loads of jewelry, rocks, incense, tapes, gift items, Tarot decks and even a good selection of pentagrams, although you have to look to find them.
The shop is clean and nicely laid out. The help is sometimes friendly, sometimes a little cool. Odyssey is worth the drive for some unique and beautiful things. Also, Haragano is presenting her "Wheel of the Year" lectures here, and they are great! Check the calendar for more information about the lectures.
Orion at Twilight
2934B Colby Ave., Everett, 303-8624
Well, what can I say about this store? It's New Age-, Society for Creative Anachronism- and gay-oriented, with a smidgen of pagan thrown in. I don't think these people really know much about the Craft or paganism. After discovering that they based their rune interpretations on Ralph Blum, I pretty much made up my mind that they were mostly fluff. The products represent the fluff: lots of New Age stuff, including channeling videos, crystals, cheap jewelry, some junk with a few nice things mixed in. Your typical SCA or con fare.
It's a small shop, and the owners travel around to all the SCA events and pagan festivals and take things with them. I have had several customer service problems with them and probably won't be purchasing anything from them in the future. I don't count it worth the drive to Everett; if you are already there, stop by and let me know what you think.
Pendragons
310 Wells Ave. S., Renton, 271-9909
What a great new pagan shop! Don, the owner, is a warm and happy guy, and the store is creatively decorated in "medieval" trappings and clouds. There is a place to sit and visit and usually coffee and munchies, which are a nice touch. Don also does rune readings, if you ask him nicely!
I love the selection of products; every time I stop to deliver papers, Don has added something new. Pendragons has lots of nice books, some jewelry, swords, knives, candles, incense, robes, you name it! The store's clean, organized, friendly and has decent prices; I recommend it. It's also sponsoring events and circles; look in the calendar for listings.
It's a really nice store. I hope they are successful in Renton. Take a drive out there, and say hi!
Stargazer
12727 NE 20th, Bellevue, 885-7289
Stargazer is a New Age shop par excellence. There are classes and events on numerous New Age topics. There are dozens of products, including lots of crystals from around the world - including places that are strip-mined for them. There are lots of Native-style crafts (not necessarily genuine Indian crafts), lots of channeling videos, books, jewelry. It is glitzy, pretty, shiny stuff without much substance. The help tend to be snobby; I apparently don't wear the right designer clothes. However, I have on occasion found a treasure here, when I have been able to see past all the sparkle.
Stargazer has free parking, and the store is right off Highway 520. It's okay if you like this sort of thing, but it's not my cup of tea.
Tenzing Momo
Pike Place Market, 93 Pike, Seattle, 623-9837
If all of the stores could have the feeling of Tenzing Momo, they would be great! I love this place! Jeffrey and Eric, the owners, are both sweethearts who go out of their way for you. Leon has long been a fixture at Tenzing, and he is most qualified to advise on a variety of subjects. Leon's excellent Wortcunning incense is available there, and Thundercloud does readings with his Smoking Mirror deck.
The selection of herbs obtainable at Tenzing has only been rivaled by my previous store, the Cauldron - the store has several hundred herbs! And they are fresh! I love the natural remedies, the incense selection, the resins that you can't find elsewhere and sweet grass, mmmmm!
Tenzing is in the Pike Place Market, so parking can be a headache if you don't know Squat (goddess of parking), but it's a wonderful afternoon's jaunt to have lunch at the market, shop for fresh flowers and vegetables and buy herbs and incense at Tenzing. If you haven't been there, don't wait another day! Take a left at the pig, go up the ramp behind DeLaurentis' and follow the signs!
Widdershins Books
312 Champion St., Bellingham, 671-3550
I have not been to Widdershins Books yet, but with that name, they have to be good! Several people in my coven have visited, and they reported back that they really liked it and that it has a pleasant selection of goods and really delightful salespeople. Bellingham is quite far out of my way, but I do plan to visit Widdershins and its owner Nora sometime in the foreseeable future. You should, too!
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