We stopped at the store I hadn't heard of first, Radiance. I loved it! The store has two levels and big windows all along the front, so it's very bright and cheerful inside! The clerk immediately called out a hello to us and made us feel welcome. The whole place smells deliciously witchy thanks to the incense, and they were playing Loreena McKennitt!
The first level had bookshelves with books, divination decks, cards, Himalayan salt lamps, and a few other cool knick-knacks.....like homemade herb pipes inspired by LOTR! [Yes, I regret buying one.] There was also a lovely vintage couch piled with cushions & a low table with local magazines.
I picked up the Joie de Vivre tarot deck and said 'Hey, I've always wanted this deck!' and my mother said 'I guess you'd better buy it!' I also picked up more candles on the first level, and admired all of the lovely cards. I wish I had a reason to buy some!
The second level had lots of display cases & a few more shelves. This level housed crystals, figurines, CDs, books, decks, incense, jewelry, and probably a few more items I'm forgetting. There were also sun-catchers and dreamcatchers hanging from the ceiling. One of the shelves had a children's section which I loved! I wanted to get my niece a deck but decided against it in the end.
The clerk invited us to open any of the cases to take a closer look at the jewelry. There was also one section where you can pick up crystal beads to make your own bracelet [!], and information on the many readings they offer.
I picked up lots of fun, fabulously priced goodies. I also let my niece pick out a purple crackle quartz. [She collects crackle quartz]. At the till, the clerk welcomed me to Radiance and signed me up for their 'points' program. 3 points for every buck spent!
Here are the lovelies I purchased....
My beloved Joie di Vivre deck! Shout-out to my mom for convincing me to finally buy it. It is such a beautiful deck.
Palo Santo wood! I've heard lots of good things about these little guys, and I was excited to find them at Radiance for only $2. I got one for myself & one for a possible swap on Sisters.
Crystals! [Sorry for the terrible pic =( ] I'm pretty bummed that I didn't find a piece of kunzite that called to me, but I got lots of other pretties =) Atlantasite, celestite, malachite, and clinozoisite!
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Next we headed to Elemental. My last visit here wasn't the greatest, but their FB page said they were selling the Datebook & Calendar at a discount so I decided to stop by. It's a very dark shop, with curtains cloaking the windows. It's quite spacious inside, with a few tables in the middle and shelves & tables lining the walls. The crystals & incense are right in front of the store, whilst the divination decks, jewelry, and most of the herbs are behind the till.
The two clerks [I believe one was the owner] were stationed behind the till when we walked in, carrying on a conversation with two people standing in front of the till. The conversation revolved around Iceland & racism, and at one point they started talking about Métis people....and let me tell you, as a Métis woman, it made me very uncomfortable.
I quickly found what I was looking for. The Datebook & Calendar were indeed on sale...10% off their marked up price. I paid five bucks over what their cover price is even with the discount, grr. [Most places, for example, have the Datebook marked from cover price $14.99 down to $10.99 right now. It was $20.95 at Elemental.]
I also picked up candles, incense, resin and a few crystals I don't have. Then we sidled closer & closer to the till, waiting for someone to notice us so they could ring us through. Eventually, I got close enough to the till that the other people drifted away, and I was able to purchase. No points or perks at this place, although they did give me several of their business cards.
My super expensive Datebook & Calendar. I love this year's illustations in the Calendar! I love 'em every year, of course, but I just really like them this year =)
I also bought several candles. I have a few of these little guys from swaps and my own hauls....but I don't have a candle holder for them! I think I'll put that on my witchy wishlist =)
I always visit Chapters for the 'New Age' section, and the same sales clerk always offers me assistance. You may have heard a few funny stories about him in the past. This time, my niece Boo had picked up a spell book and was carrying it around. I heard the clerk approach Boo and ask 'Is that a good book you have there? Maybe you should show it to your mom.' Boo said 'I want to but my mom's not here!' and I called out 'I'm the auntie!' He came around the corner, saw me sitting in front of the New Age section with piles of witchy books around me, and then said to Boo, 'Oh, I guess that is a good book!' Ha ha!
He noticed I was looking at a book about Norse magick so he handed me another book on the subject and then said 'I don't know much about this....' I thanked him and he left. Then he came back with a stool and a kids' magazine for Boo to read whilst I browsed! He's very sweet, but it's funny how he thinks I'm always in the wrong section or something =)
The book I really wanted to buy, 'DIY Magic', wasn't in the store =( But of course I found some great books anyway!
As usual, I picked up the latest book in the Llewellyn's Sabbats Essentials~ this time it's Imbolc, coming up in a week!
I picked up this beautiful Goddess oracle in the clearance section as well. I really regret not grabbing another one. I think Fenny would've liked it!
For those of you who don't know, the Sweep series is how I got into witchcraft all those years ago! My mother bought 'Reckoning', book 13, for me. Five years ago I started collecting the books again in any way I could. Now I'm collecting them in these handy little three-book omnibuses. I think I have the last half of them. I found this one [Volume II] for only $3.99!
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That concludes my witchy shopping trip! Shout-out to my mom for driving me to these witchy stores, and to my sis for taking seven hours to get a tattoo which allowed us to shop =D
Blessings,
Faula
P.S
Check out Pagan Goods & Services Exchange, an international Pagan-based exchange group to swap goods & services of a metaphysical nature.
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