Editor’s Note: I tend to use my coffee breaks to scan through The New York Times, and came across this article by Cintra Wilson on the rise of New Age practices like astrology, tarot and witchcraft, with a particular focus on the latter. Hope you enjoy it. –RA
HANDFULS of articles have been written since the economic downturn on how, during such times of anxiety, business booms for psychics, astrologists and card readers.
Enchantments, the witchcraft store in the East Village, recently moved down the street from where it had been a landmark since 1982. Last year, my friend Nancy bought me one of its customized Solar Blast candles for my birthday. After lighting it, a flurry of life-altering changes suddenly occurred — which was, at least, an amusing coincidence. I developed a more absorbing curiosity when Nancy gave me a second Solar Blast this year, and this one, too, seemed to be a cosmic throw-switch, releasing yet another mother lode of life-changing events.
“Years ago, I had been dumped by my boyfriend and was out of my mind,” Nancy told me as we waited at a cafe for Enchantments to open (a bit later than the posted store hours). “This chick walked up to me at a party and told me she was �drawn’ to my �grief mask.’ ”
I chortled.
“I was in that place where you’ll insinuate yourself on anyone, so I told her my story,” Nancy continued. “She told me that I had to go to Enchantments.
“I said, вЂ?Wait … aren’t they, like, Wiccan?’ And she said, вЂ?Do you want your boyfriend back, or what?’