Pagan Store Burned Down
The Herald in Washington reports on a Pagan shop that was “suspiciously” burned down two weeks ago (just before Halloween) in downtown Everett. The store “Moonflower Magicks” was the center for the Pagan community in Everett, and the owner suspects foul play.
“When a fire two weeks ago closed the purple gilded New Age shop at the corner of Colby Avenue and California Street, word of the loss shot through the communities that called it home. “It’s pretty much a hub of the neo-pagan community,” said Willow Moon, an Italian witch and Wiccan high priestess from Everett. “It’s been a big loss.” The arched ceiling is charred black. Temperatures up to 900 degrees melted the shop’s light fixtures. Investigators said the cause of the fire has not been determined. Shop owner Jana “Moonflower” Benson, 63, said she suspects arson.”
From the article is sounds like Benson was the victim of arson, she even received a gloating phone-call after the fire.
“Critics occasionally hurled slurs like “devil store” at Benson. The fire claimed a piece of her livelihood, as well as a treasured picture of Jesus bought in a hashish shop in Nepal. She got a call after the fire, and a person said “see what you get hanging a picture of Jesus in your store,” she said.”
But despite this seeming hate-crime, Benson is putting a positive spin on the event. She claims the vast amount of incense burnt in the fire “smudged” (cleansed) the entire town and she is going to be holding a “phoenix” sale to help raise funds. Thanks to insurance, the store will be re-opening, but it seems a chilling reminder that there are some people out there who can’t stand the thought of our existence.
3 responses so far
As a Christian i am heartbroken that someone would be so full of malice in their soul to commit such a malicious act. I pray for peace to abide and for those who would commit this act to recant their dark ways. Fear not the good men do in the name of evil but fear the evil men do in the name of good.
Sad and chilling indeed, if it was arson. But Pagans are resiliant and I am inspired by Moonflower’s positive energy. May they indeed rise again,like the Phoenix, along with many many more shops like them. My small but sincere donation is on its way to Moonflower.
We feel badly for you and your shop because we know that you have put a lot of your heart and soul into the shop itself and it is disheartening to have something like this happen. Your desire to continue and rebuild after this happening gives us inspiration to continue persueing the opening of our shop. Blessed Be, The Raven’s Nest owners and operators, Raven and Willow Rose.