A relatively slow news day today, but there were a few Pagan-related items I wanted to share with you. First, we have another “psychics doing well in the recession” story, this one starring an actual Witch!

For Barbara the Gray Witch, tarot cards are the tools of the trade, and she’s been using them for clients more often. She said, “For me, the more that they cry ‘the sky is falling, the economy is looking bad,’ the bigger my clientele.” She says business has tripled. The questions people ask Barbara aren’t about love anymore, as lately, it’s been about finances … So what’s in the cards? “I say the future is bright, but people have to stop whining about everything and panicking about everything,” she said. “It’s time to get your head out of the clouds, stop charging constantly and living out of your means.”

Barbara seems a bit more honest and pragmatic than some of the other professional psychics enjoying a mini-boom in this economy. Let’s just hope she’s right, and the future does turn out to be bright (I fear we might be beyond a bit of belt-tightening). If you want to know more about her, she has a MySpace page hawking her services.

Recently a UK paper reported on a Grantown Baptist church that has been receiving harassing notes (and the occasional dead animal). The local deacon (and the paper) described the notes as “pagan” and “heathen” in nature (partially due to the notes bearing the “all-seeing eye” symbol). This, in turn, has sparked an angry reaction from the local Pagan community.

“Pagans have criticised a Grantown church deacon for blaming them for a series of “attacks” culminating in an incident in which a dead animal was used to deliver a message. They insist that no-one with their beliefs would be guilty of such behaviour, and that deacon Bob Fishwick was out of line to make the claim. Some even go as far as to say that the bizarre attacks could be the work of a disgruntled Christian.”

The paper apparently sought an official comment from The Pagan Federation on the matter, but they were not able to reach anyone. At any rate, good on the local Pagans for not allowing these accusations to stand unanswered.

In a final note, last year I reported on a Pagan shop that survived Christian protests only to be done in by the local economy. Now the Daily Press and Argus reports that the owner has opened a new shop in a nearby town where the costs are cheaper.

“Mona Lindsay, like most people, only asks that you don’t prejudge her. If you’re interested, she’ll give you a peak into her world. Lindsay, a practicing Wiccan — a religion that follows the cycle of the moon and seasons and the sun rather than one central deity — is perhaps best known for running Wisdom of the Ages, a Howell store that closed last year, where she sold herbs, incense, crystals, oils and other items. She soon after opened Moon Magick, 4780 E. M-36 in Hamburg Township.”

Here’s hoping that Moon Magick is able to weather our economic troubles better than Wisdom of the Ages. As for the space that used to house Wisdome of the Ages, a neighboring hair salon has expanded into it.

That’s all I’ve got for now, have a great day!

Tags: Christianity, economics, Metaphysical Shops, Pagan Federation, psychics, UK, Witchcraft