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Started by: White Crow Sent: 22/01/2001 18:01 14 Replies
We've all been there, searching the 'mind body spirit' section of your local bookshop for yet another Wicca title, when you notice someone else is looking through the same books ... dare you say anything?

I was on a trip to Oxford on Saturday, when just that happened. A 17-year old red haired girl seemed to be looking at books, obviously looking for that first title, including some of those dodgy Beverly Hills 90210 type Witch books. I dared to interupt her, asked if she was looking for a Witchcraft book, and suggested a Cunningham as a good level headed beginning. I don't know if I scared the living daylights out of her! :)

All this has got me thinking ... you lot must have loads of humerous stories of happenings in the mind body spirit section ... I'd love to hear them!

Blessed Be,

White Crow

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From: Klur Sent: 22/01/2001 23:53 1 of 14
Hi White Crow, I dont know about you but generally the first time i find a new "mind n spirit" shop i always wonder what the shop keeper is going to be like... as i always end up having a long chat with them and then eventually end up being invited to some moot or other! As far as looking at the other customers.. they range from the giggling teenagers that want to find out the "good" stuff to one lady that i saw slicing open a sealed A. Crowley book... as they usually are! I usually know what i am going in there to buy... but everyone likes a browse... and once i was in this wonderful shop in Manchester ... as i was browsing i noticed that the bloke next to me was picking up everything that i had been flicking through just as i put it down. I didnt say anything as i thought at first that maybe it was a coincidence... but eventually my curiosity got the better of me and i asked him if he couldnt decide what to buy as i had narrowed my purchases down to 6 which happened to be similar choices as himself... yes im terrible with books! Anyway to cut a long story short neither of us could afford to get all the books we wanted, so i bought 3 and he bought the other 3 and swopped addresses to exchange them at a later date which we did. I only ever met him twice, when we first met in the shop and then when we swopped books! This all happened years ago when i was a student... but just over a year ago he got in touch and we exchanged emails for a while... hes actually living in America now... and apparently can afford all the books he wants...we've lost touch again now but when 3 very well read books arrived at my door... all i could do was smile. (and if you are out there Cal... send me your address so i can return yours!)

From: White Crow Sent: 23/01/2001 21:14 2 of 14
I would love a dedicated Witch shop near me in Farnborough ... typically, when I was a none-Wicca Christian in Keighley there was one just down the road. [ I remember being just too curious and buying rune sticks conviced I could be going to hell! :) ]

Unfortunately, the only shops near me which have Wicca books are the big book houses like Ottakers who cater for all sorts! Every time I buy a new book from these places I'm prepared for some strange looks!!!

From: Klur Sent: 31/01/2001 22:48 3 of 14
Hi... well i guess im lucky as there are a couple near me, although ive ordered a few books form the local bookshop and the guy in there doesn't bat an eyelid!

From: Dionne Sent: 01/02/2001 12:56 4 of 14
Hiya!

There aren't any pagan shops near me either....there's the odd "freaky" shop that sell some wicca stuff...but not much...& none that sell loads of Wicca books.. (what would we do without Amazon?!)

There's a really nice pagan shop near where my blokey lives though....but that doesn't sell books either (at least I don't think it does)

I've never had a "mind,body & spirit" bookshop experience though....I'm not sure what I'd do if I saw someone nervously looking through wicca books....probably observe them nervously for a while & then talk to them....
...I suppose it's a bit worrying, thinking they might just be looking for a school project or something...then suddenly this wiccan pounces on them...& they scream "Aaaaaargh...she's a witch!!" in the middle of the shop...
Ok...maybe that's a bit unlikely!

But to be honest, all the book shops near me are pretty poor as far as wicca books go...so I usually get them from amazon anyway..

Love & light...

...D...

From: Aby Sent: 04/02/2001 13:49 5 of 14
This isn't so much a funny bookshop story as a freaky, unnerving one. I was on holiday in California, browsing the 'New Age' section of a bookshop in San Diego. I had a copy of Raven Grimassi's 'Italian Witchcraft' in my hand when an older woman who was looking at the astrology books caught sight of it. She started mumbling "Witches..... all evil.... damn devil worshippers..." before walking off. I was too stunned to say anything back and figured that it wouldn't do much good anyway. It really shook me up as nothing like that has ever happened to me whilst shopping for books in this country. Actually, the people in my local "kooky" shop are the exact opposite - friendly, helpful and not at all surprised when I go in asking if they can order me a Cunningham title.
In response to the first post though, I did once recommend 'A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner' to a girl who was trying to decide between two titles in my local Waterstones. She looked a bit embarrassed, then relieved and eventually bought it.
Aby -x-x-

From: Akasha Sent: 11/02/2001 00:47 6 of 14
i would like to take tis opportunity to apolgise to the poor girl who i think i scared in zodiac zones in bristol this week (i think it was wednesday)
i was browsing the wicccan books when she came in and started to browse too,(she was wearing a pentagram so i guessed she was a witch not just a curious person) she looked a little confused, and was making "not too sure" noises at her friend.
after a while of not saying anything, i plucked up the courage to ask her if there was anything she was particularly looking for and if i could help, at this point she looked at me like a rabbit in headlights and scampered off.
if you are out there and this was you, i would like to humbly apolgise for any trama induced by my actions!
Shortly afterwards i was engaged in an argument with the old lady who puts stuff in carrier bags( no i dont want a carrier bag for one small book, and thank you i have a catalogue, no honestly i dont like wasting plastic bags, thats why i carry a cloth shopping bag, no, no bag at all, yes i am sure, yes, all my friends have catalogues, save them for someone who doesnt, im absolutely positive, look it fits in my bag really well!! no i dont want a bloody catalogue, or a bag, for goddess sake ITS AGAINST MY RELIGEOUS BELIEFS WOMAN!!!!!!!!)
Am i being unreasonable?
frustratedly
kash

From: Dionne Sent: 12/02/2001 13:06 7 of 14
I think we need a doctor over here!!....a vet might suffice!

From: Mel Sent: 21/02/2001 16:09 8 of 14
i sometimes buy wicca typed books from aail order catalogue called mind, body & spirit, which is quite good, but they do have a limited selection.

our local library has a few paganism books, and everytime i go to get one stamped at the desk i get butterflies, that was until i opened one of them at home and found that the book had been stamped loads of time befor me, and that it must be out a lot.

i think the book was a vivianne crowley one.

mel

From: The Flame Haired Lovely Sent: 21/02/2001 19:51 9 of 14
We have a massive book store in Bournemouth called Boarders! It's about the size of a Debenhams, they have a massive occult section, and can order any book with an ISBN number. Most of the staff are from the early 20's age group and don't even think twice about it when I ask for books to be ordered! Where as my local "new age shop" has a very small selection and usually sends it customers to Boarders anyway.

Scott

From: Katrina Sent: 21/02/2001 22:37 10 of 14
What's the address of this wonderful shop, Scott? I live in Weymouth, and as you can imagine, if you know Weymouth, there's very little in the way of pagan books here!
Katrina

From: madferrit Sent: 22/02/2001 00:13 11 of 14

Borders is a great shop - I've found heaps of books in there, great magazine section too and the staff are always really helpful. They have stores (that I know of, there maybe more) in the following places:

Brighton, London (Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road), Leeds, York, Cheshire, Bournemouth, Glasgow. Find them at http://www.borders.com

My local shop (Pentagram in Wakefield) have a section for secondhand books too, which I found particularly useful as I wasn't sure what to buy first. They are now fully online - they're in the Pagan Shop section of this site: http://www.pentagram-uk.com (& on that note I'm off for a browse... )

~shades~

From: The Flame Haired Lovely Sent: 22/02/2001 21:14 12 of 14
Hi there Katrina
Borders is right in the Square, nest to where Burtons used to be. If you want to we can meet up and I'll show you where it is!

Scott

From: Katrina Sent: 22/02/2001 21:22 13 of 14
Hi Scott! I'd love to meet up some time and see the shop - but probably won't be able to make it until the Easter holidays. Am really, really busy every weekend at the moment. Hope that's OK - thanks!
Katrina

From: The Flame Haired Lovely Sent: 22/02/2001 21:51 14 of 14
yeh no probs at all! just let us know when, and bring tons of cash!!!!!