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OCTOBER 2, 2003 at 10:52 PM
Posted by GRAE
Source: Laurel Leader via Wizard News
Sterling Gallagher owns the Crystal Fox
, a thriving New Age store located in Laurel, Maryland, where an estimated 1,000 Wiccans live. But it's not only "pagans," whom Gallagher defines as people who worship multiple gods, who have contributed to his store's success:
"More than half of our customers are non-pagan," Gallagher said.
Gallagher acknowledges a connection between popular culture and paganism. His store, a cornucopia of all things New Age, would fit seamlessly into the wizard world of a Harry Potter book. Oils, herbs and incense; crystals and tarot cards; brightly painted dragon statues; Celtic and Egyptian goddesses; crystal balls and sphinxes; books on witchcraft, New Age and magic; pastel-painted angels and pixies; witches' datebooks and calendars - the store is a candybox overflowing with consumer goodies.
The Harry Potter phenomenon has brought customers to his store, he noted. "More adults than children come in under the Harry Potter influence," he said.
"Dragons are also popular," he said. "It's the whole fantasy aspect. ... Once you enter into fantasy you have a much broader market."
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Professor
Points: 1068
Penumbra says:
Of course we adults go for HP it rocks! And we love the adult aspects of the book.. and of course the non-adult ones.
Posted Oct 2, 2003 at 11:28 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 61
Usachan says:
ooooo... that store sounds cool... :) there are no stores like that where I live ....sigh....
Posted Oct 2, 2003 at 11:53 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1705
DarkerBella. says:
I am pretty much obsessed with the Wiccan religoin so...Cool!!!!Thats all I have to say...The book sounds interesting...
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 12:13 AM EST
Supreme Mugwump
Points: 2893
S.P.E.W. fan says:
Following wiccans is too out there for be. I like the magical and mystical world to be fantasy.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 12:31 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1826
snapelupinfan says:
I don't know much about wiccans I must admit. But I always liked fantasy stuff therefore I guess I would have a look. Might be interesting.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 3:36 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 393
HermioneLovesRon says:
I agree with S.P.E.W. fan...I just like the fantasy aspect...my family is Irish and Scottish(AND Cherokee), so my mother and I enjoy celtic legend and the like, but I don't dive too deep into that stuff. I like Harry, but I am still a Christian.
~Stephanie
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 5:08 AM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Okay, not to offend anyone - but linking HP with anything Wiccan (or as Gallagher says 'pagan') is something of a turn-of for me. Spells, witches and wizards in a fantastic book series is one thing. Spells witches and wizards in real life is a completely different story! While I am appreciative of anything that does well due to the HP phenomenon, I am almost reticent to speak favourably of anything dealing with the worship of multiple gods/icons.
Like HermioneLovesRon, I have a celtic background and am proud to display the usual trappings of such, but I am a Christian, just as I believe in the books, so are the characters - who celebrate Christmas and Easter (two HUGE Christian holidays)
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 7:13 AM EST
Witch
Points: 645
trezmcgonagall says:
Yikes! I wish they would be more specific about what Harry Potter people are buying. If it is mostly dragon and pixie statues, okay, but if the little kids are buying wicca stuff, I am sure that those right-wing ultra-conservatives would have a field day. Fantasy is fun, but it is disrespectful for Wiccans to make light of thier religion just as it is disrespectful to make light of more established ones.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 7:15 AM EST
Witch
Points: 917
Slytherin_Punk says:
Sounds like an awesome store, i see harry potter gettting even more popular in the near future.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 7:43 AM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
Maybe the Cutting Edge is right...Harry Potter is putting children under the influence of mind control, not just so that they are Potter fans, but to have them convert to Wicca.
Maybe the books are conditioning people to be demon-possessed. Good thing I can draw a land between fantasy and reality. Angels of the devil, go away!
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 10:44 AM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2874
Chogiiiirl says:
I also have a problem bring Harry Potter out of the fantasy aspect, and likening it to wiccan, or pagan, worshipings. As a Christian, I find nothing wrong with the fantasy and magic of JK's work.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 11:42 AM EST
Witch
Points: 684
Malakite says:
First off, I think it's great for the guy's business, obviously.
Secondly, if people become curious about "magic, magik, etc." then it's a good thing they are buying books about it and looking at it. It will clear up some misconceptions as to what Wicca really is.
As for my personal beliefs, I have seen some strange things, but I am Christian, and do not practice them.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 12:14 PM EST
Witch
Points: 574
Tonks007 says:
No doubt Adults will go for the books my mom was saying all this stuff about how its got great things in it like good bad latin and french and stuff.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 2:01 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 323
fang says:
well finally something near where I live, I can get to Laurel in half an hour so I will have to stop by and see the wiccas, I'm not totally sure how close modern witchcraft and Potterism is but it will be fun to find out....fang
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 3:14 PM EST
Supreme Mugwump
Points: 2893
S.P.E.W. fan says:
Just to state again: IF people like Wiccan stuff and witchcraft as an actual practice-whatever, they've got a right to do what they want to do. But by explictly (or implicitly) linking real witchcraft with Harry Potter is the whole reason we have a Crazy Christian coalition calling for JKR head and claiming that she's an evil influene on the youth of today. Let's keep the two separated! As a children's librarian, I have to defend Harry Potter to parents in a religous community that it isn't going to introduce them to bad things. JKR doens't link her fantasy world with real life stuff(except in the creative license) and I don't think fans should either.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 5:56 PM EST
Witch
Points: 742
TigerEyez says:
Sorry, but being Catholic, that's totally against my religion to be involved with anything like that. Not to offend any1 (please don't be, im just voicing my opinion) I think that linking Harry Potter to any sort of real life magic is not good. That's probably what causes book burnings and the like.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 5:57 PM EST
Student
Points: 233
danfan89 says:
Very cool. I used to think I had semi-wiccaphobia, but it's the just the potential of not knowing what it was that scared me. I wouldn't buy any of that stuff but it would be fun to window shop!
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 6:28 PM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
Hehe...I've learned a lot about Wicca by looking at the first link, but I, though gaining more of a knowledge of their belief system, am not tempted to become a Wiccan, and I'll gladly remain Lutheran. Of course what this man is doing is exactly why many Christians do not like Potter: They think, as Wiccans linking their religion to Potter, that Potter himself is Wicca. Luckily my pastor read the first Harry Potter book and he said as long you keep your sanity, being able to distinguish between fantasy and reality, and believe Potter is fiction, not real, he's fine to read. The spells in Potter are not real, but Latin-based, and though mythological references are in there that does not mean Potter is "evil". The same applies to Christians reading about other religions and legends; as long as they still believe in the Triune God, everything is fine.
While there are references to ancient cultures throughout Potter, there are also several subtle Biblical references, such as Lily Potter dying for her son, a message of self-sacrifice. Harry's parents thrice defied Voldemort, just as Peter thrice denied his discipleship in Jesus. I believe JKR's overuse of twelve is also similar to the Twelve Disciples. In the first book Harry was in the hospital for three days before awakening, like Jesus was between Good Friday and Easter.
And to Wiccas out there: If you were thinking J.K. Rowling is one of you, that is rather unfortunate as I know that she is a member of the Church of Scotland. J.K. Rowling is a Christian.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 8:38 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1153
tokixjam says:
I totally agree with your pastor.
Are you saying the bible references are good or bad or are you just pointing them out?
I think it's just stupid how people think just because Harry Potter has spells and whatnot, it's evil and related to wicca. The magic and all spices it up! Who would wanna read about "Harry Potter and the Big Exams"?? If you think about it, if you take all the magic away, it would just be a story about a kid whose parents died, he lives with his mean aunt, uncle, and cousin, and his only escape is...boarding school?
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 10:16 PM EST
Witch
Points: 917
Slytherin_Punk says:
Hp is the perfect thing to blow up sales. The whole fantasy thing is awesome.
Posted Oct 3, 2003 at 11:17 PM EST
Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
coolio, but I don't know why people are anti-wiccan and even more cofused why theirs New Age it just for "pagans" as they said whatever.... and why does it matter if J.K.'s christian or wiccan or whatever anyway
Posted Oct 4, 2003 at 12:11 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 483
thegodwatcher says:
That's cool. I live near Laurel so now I'll have to find this place and buy some stuff. Rather good advertising I might say. Tom
Posted Oct 4, 2003 at 10:45 AM EST
Head House Elf
Points: 2755
Dobby says:
This store sounds really neat! Maybe sometime I'm up North I could find this place and visit!
Posted Oct 4, 2003 at 6:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
Hm, don't know much about Wiccas or pagans, guess there aren't many in Germany...
I still don't like HP constantly being mixed up with religion. I love it as a fantasy book, and sometimes I dream about a world where this magic is real... but everytime I cry "accio" or "alohomora", nothing happens... ;-)
Posted Oct 5, 2003 at 11:01 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1645
morgana witch says:
That sounds really cool. I wish there were stores like that where I live. I sent the article to my friend, because she wants to be Wiccan when she's older. She's not a Harry Potter fan though, she hates reading. She likes the movies though. I can't believe she won't read the books! Who can resist them? Anyway, that was a really cool article.
Posted Oct 5, 2003 at 2:08 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
The store...sounds interesting. Actually, i think it's really cool. About the religion thing i'm with pastor and tokixjam. Is so sad when people say or think (whatever) that HP is evil just because he is a "wizard"...come one!
Posted Oct 5, 2003 at 4:18 PM EST
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