
Wannabe What Witch?
I recently went to Salem for the first time. My friends told me that Salem was an awesome place to be during Halloween due to the huge Witch trial history that the town had. They all went during Halloween, which meant that it was going to be extremely crowded. So I skipped going with them and decided to go on my own time. A few weeks ago, I did and I brought PC with me.
Salem is a very quiet and relaxing town. PC and I first went to the famous Salem Witch Museum that told a short but truthful history about Witch burnings and the history of Wicca. They compared the past history of Witches to the modern Wicca practices. They also explained about how people label the Witch as a green skinned ogre who eats children ( which is not true at all ). Witchcraft is a practice of magic and spiritual energy. There is a saying: " What you do to others comes back to you three times bigger." Basically, if you are a witch who likes to put curses on others, you will suffer three times more bad luck. If you do good magic, good karma will come back to you three times more. It can also happen even if you don't use magic, but just common actions. Be nice to people and good things will come to you. Do bad things...well...get ready for a spanking...It is a good lesson and rule to follow by.
After the Witch museums, PC and I just went walking along the old roads of Salem, looking at the old homes that still stood their ground since the mid 18 hundreds. They were used for tourist groups now. Then we went to the harbor and just walked around. Smelling the ocean from Salem is different than in Boston.
Almost on every corner, there was a Wicca and Spell shop that sold items and souvenirs based off magic and fairies. I couldn't help but go into each one and look around. Each store was different and sold different items. Knowing some knowledge about magic, I kind of knew which stores sold the real deal and others that sold phony stuff. There were a few stores that are owned by real Witches in Salem and sold a lot of herbs, spices, tarot cards, potions, pendants and even wands. You can get a good sense of "magic" in those places just by the atmosphere of the interior. However, some other places did not hold that feeling for me. There were some places that were only dedicated to those who want to wear Witch stuff just to look "cool and goth" There were nude fairies statues, sex toys, devil worshiping tables and items and vampire toys. Many magic shops even had signs that told customers that they had a tarot card reader in the shop who gives paid readings to anyone. There were a few places where the reader's tarot cards were out in the open. Anyone who reads tarot cards or uses them knows that it is best NOT to keep your cards in the open, uncovered and uncased or they will pick up negative energy from strangers around it. I never got my tarot card reading from anyone because I didn't want to dish out half a hundred dollars on a reading with a tainted deck.
PC really loves that kind of junk. She bought a lot of phony trinkets while I bought something for my alter. I asked her why she was spending so much money on "goth" toys. She didn't say anything to me. All she did was held up a packet of panties that she bought from one of the "red light" witch section. On the panties, it said "Insert Wand Here." She stuck out her tongue and continued to shop. That was her answer and I didn't ask it again. She never really practices Witchcraft with me. She believes in it, but doesn't follow it.
One of the well-known Witch's in Salem is Laurie Cabot. She owns a store in Salem and gives classes. Salem is only a 45-minute drive from Boston and I bet a shorter time on the commuter rail. I might go back some day when New England stops bringing in rain clouds. I will post on my journal the next date I plan to go. Anyone who wants to come with me or lives near Salem, lets hang out.
WannabeWhatWicth © 2009 Alex Cockburn
Salem is a very quiet and relaxing town. PC and I first went to the famous Salem Witch Museum that told a short but truthful history about Witch burnings and the history of Wicca. They compared the past history of Witches to the modern Wicca practices. They also explained about how people label the Witch as a green skinned ogre who eats children ( which is not true at all ). Witchcraft is a practice of magic and spiritual energy. There is a saying: " What you do to others comes back to you three times bigger." Basically, if you are a witch who likes to put curses on others, you will suffer three times more bad luck. If you do good magic, good karma will come back to you three times more. It can also happen even if you don't use magic, but just common actions. Be nice to people and good things will come to you. Do bad things...well...get ready for a spanking...It is a good lesson and rule to follow by.
After the Witch museums, PC and I just went walking along the old roads of Salem, looking at the old homes that still stood their ground since the mid 18 hundreds. They were used for tourist groups now. Then we went to the harbor and just walked around. Smelling the ocean from Salem is different than in Boston.
Almost on every corner, there was a Wicca and Spell shop that sold items and souvenirs based off magic and fairies. I couldn't help but go into each one and look around. Each store was different and sold different items. Knowing some knowledge about magic, I kind of knew which stores sold the real deal and others that sold phony stuff. There were a few stores that are owned by real Witches in Salem and sold a lot of herbs, spices, tarot cards, potions, pendants and even wands. You can get a good sense of "magic" in those places just by the atmosphere of the interior. However, some other places did not hold that feeling for me. There were some places that were only dedicated to those who want to wear Witch stuff just to look "cool and goth" There were nude fairies statues, sex toys, devil worshiping tables and items and vampire toys. Many magic shops even had signs that told customers that they had a tarot card reader in the shop who gives paid readings to anyone. There were a few places where the reader's tarot cards were out in the open. Anyone who reads tarot cards or uses them knows that it is best NOT to keep your cards in the open, uncovered and uncased or they will pick up negative energy from strangers around it. I never got my tarot card reading from anyone because I didn't want to dish out half a hundred dollars on a reading with a tainted deck.
PC really loves that kind of junk. She bought a lot of phony trinkets while I bought something for my alter. I asked her why she was spending so much money on "goth" toys. She didn't say anything to me. All she did was held up a packet of panties that she bought from one of the "red light" witch section. On the panties, it said "Insert Wand Here." She stuck out her tongue and continued to shop. That was her answer and I didn't ask it again. She never really practices Witchcraft with me. She believes in it, but doesn't follow it.
One of the well-known Witch's in Salem is Laurie Cabot. She owns a store in Salem and gives classes. Salem is only a 45-minute drive from Boston and I bet a shorter time on the commuter rail. I might go back some day when New England stops bringing in rain clouds. I will post on my journal the next date I plan to go. Anyone who wants to come with me or lives near Salem, lets hang out.
WannabeWhatWicth © 2009 Alex Cockburn
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I never knew you where into Witchcraft :P
Ive had a fascination with both the Wicca and Pagan religions for quite some time,and learned to read tarots when I was 14,out of pure curiosity,and I have to agree with you its so often that I see "readers" sitting next to the street, or at country fairs with a non concealed deck,in the open,reading the cards, while strangers gather around the "reading",it's annoying and sad ...
I go as far as actually keeping 2 decks,one I bought a bookstore its far more of a novelty set,with nice artwork and isnt very traditional, this deck Ill use to do readings for friends or people who want a reading just for "fun" there free to touch the deck or look at the "pretty" cards,but for my family or people I actually see that needs a reading I use a more traditional Rider-Waite tarot deck,that was given to me by my parents a few years back,its kept wrapped in silk and stored in a wooden box in my bed room,no one has ever handled them except me,and when its cut for readings.
Ive had a fascination with both the Wicca and Pagan religions for quite some time,and learned to read tarots when I was 14,out of pure curiosity,and I have to agree with you its so often that I see "readers" sitting next to the street, or at country fairs with a non concealed deck,in the open,reading the cards, while strangers gather around the "reading",it's annoying and sad ...
I go as far as actually keeping 2 decks,one I bought a bookstore its far more of a novelty set,with nice artwork and isnt very traditional, this deck Ill use to do readings for friends or people who want a reading just for "fun" there free to touch the deck or look at the "pretty" cards,but for my family or people I actually see that needs a reading I use a more traditional Rider-Waite tarot deck,that was given to me by my parents a few years back,its kept wrapped in silk and stored in a wooden box in my bed room,no one has ever handled them except me,and when its cut for readings.
There were no witch burnings at Salem. Convicted witches were hanged. Burnings were in Europe, mostly during the so-called Renaissance.
I had this occult/ufo/cryptozoology phase during high school. Checked-out most of the occult books in the school library at least twice and bought a few as well. I suppose I'm still interested, but now it's mostly to gather background info for writing and rpgs.
I had this occult/ufo/cryptozoology phase during high school. Checked-out most of the occult books in the school library at least twice and bought a few as well. I suppose I'm still interested, but now it's mostly to gather background info for writing and rpgs.
I have a bit of witch's blood in me from my mother's side, who were from Germany and a few neighboring countries.
I once bought a cheap tarot set from a old dime and nickel store just for fun and learned how to do light reads pretty fast. And I was startled to find that I could do some pretty accurate predictions. Once, I predicted one of my classmates would have a severe fall in respect and have a lot of bad luck. He didn't believe me at first...
In the following 6 months, he was framed for sexual assault, failed most of his tests, was repeatedly accused for things by his teachers that weren't true, and got hurt a few times. He moved to Maryland with his girlfriend, became a drug addict, and half of his friends have stopped contacting him at all.
Owch. x.x
On the other hand, I've predicted a lot of good things for many people. I noticed that my predictions usually come true between a month to a year after the predict.
I once bought a cheap tarot set from a old dime and nickel store just for fun and learned how to do light reads pretty fast. And I was startled to find that I could do some pretty accurate predictions. Once, I predicted one of my classmates would have a severe fall in respect and have a lot of bad luck. He didn't believe me at first...
In the following 6 months, he was framed for sexual assault, failed most of his tests, was repeatedly accused for things by his teachers that weren't true, and got hurt a few times. He moved to Maryland with his girlfriend, became a drug addict, and half of his friends have stopped contacting him at all.
Owch. x.x
On the other hand, I've predicted a lot of good things for many people. I noticed that my predictions usually come true between a month to a year after the predict.
Tarot cards give one of thousands of paths a person can take. There is always free will and they can always change the outcome of the reading. I have gave several readings to people and myself. They were all accurate on what they are feeling right now and what they are facing in their lives. Some dont really take the path the cards gave them. Some readings can be warnings, others can be helpful guides.
Tarot cards are fun but shouldn't be toys when you are bored. They are tools for spiritual guidence.
Tarot cards are fun but shouldn't be toys when you are bored. They are tools for spiritual guidence.
DON'T GO TO SALEM ON HALLOWEEN
I went one year... in costume.... my furry costume (its not a fursuit) some frat boys poured beer on my tail, barked at me, and called me horrible names. its crazily crowded, and yeah, mostly drunk teenagers.
It's MUCH better to do what you did, go during "off-season" during the day and browse the shops and take in the scenery.
I went one year... in costume.... my furry costume (its not a fursuit) some frat boys poured beer on my tail, barked at me, and called me horrible names. its crazily crowded, and yeah, mostly drunk teenagers.
It's MUCH better to do what you did, go during "off-season" during the day and browse the shops and take in the scenery.
I live very close to Salem. I went to college there, my brother lives there, and one of my best friends just moved there. I probably visit there at least once every other week, and it's one of my favorite places to walk around. It's fun to do one of the ghost tours that walk around town, but on a couple of them, I've known more about the stories than the people conducting the tours lol.
I enjoyed reading this! And thanks for posting the tip about tarot cards... now I'll know what to look for if I ever decide to get a reading.
BTW I think it's the supreme irony that the very town that persecuted supposed witches so much, has now become a haven for *real* witches. Who gets the last laugh now?
BTW I think it's the supreme irony that the very town that persecuted supposed witches so much, has now become a haven for *real* witches. Who gets the last laugh now?
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