"The SKY is falling! The SKY is falling!"
Why is it that the Pagan community only seems to respond, to react, instead of act? When outside forces push, we push back. That's great, there is only so much 'turn the other cheek' anyone can stand. However, why can we not create a united front (even if just from the outside) to begin with?
When certain members of the Circle of Moms started defaming Wiccans and Pagans as a part of "their" contest, we jumped in with both feet and our brooms. Of the top 25 Blogs, almost half were Wiccan and Pagan.
When the Sacred Paths Center was featured on The Wild Hunt as being in danger of closing pagans (most from out of area!) jumped in and donated over nine thousand dollars!
I'm really proud of the things that we can do when pushed to it. My question is, why do we have to let outsiders PUSH us to anything? Why can't we just BE there to begin with?
We need our brick and mortar stores for more than just supplies! We network there, occasionally you find a store that has room for Ritual, classes, and teachers! You can talk about rituals, Gods and the like and (usually) not be treated like a crazy person. We need our brick and mortar stores for exchanges of ideas, and tips, conversations that never would have happened in a random passing coffee shop or chain book store. The insane conversations that happen spontaneously in a Witchy shop can (and have) filled books! You can't put a price on the things you learn, and the people you meet shopping in your local store.
We are wrapped up in our computer worlds (I include myself in this) too often. Sure you could save fifty cents by buying that incense online, rather than visiting your local store, but when everyone starts going to the online retailers and chain bookstores, to the detriment of your local store, why are we surprised when our local store goes belly up?
While shopping in Borders on Friday, I heard a soon to be unemployed clerk remark, "If half of these people had been here before today, we wouldn't be in this situation." He's right. We're so wrapped up in our own worlds and our own lives to think beyond the end of our noses sometimes. We're human, it happens.
So how do we help? Our own communal petty rivalries seem to do more detriment to local shops than anything else. How about we start by agreeing that no matter who else shops at your store, if they have things you use, go there! Price comparison is going to happen, but remember, the big brightly lit place with all that open space, is going to have more overhead than the dusty closet down the street. If you prefer the big bright store, shop there. Vote with your money.
How many ads have you seen for "online occult retailers" that simply stock everything in the Azure Green catalog? Lots, I'm betting. If you're lucky enough to have a 'real' store in your neighborhood, consider getting involved. Ask the owner if they're interested in having a book discussion group meet there, or if you feel qualified, suggest something else! Bringing in people will bring in business. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
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Now I'm certainly not 'hating' on online retailers. For those of us outside major metropolitan areas, sometimes the only way you're going to find your materials (that you can't make yourself) is to shop online. May I suggest if there is something that you can't live without, you check for handmade items instead? Etsy has more witchy items than you might expect, and it beats the pages of cheap crap you see listed on Ebay under "Wicca Gothic Gypsy Fairy Witch Spell" you have to wade through to find something amazing.
So what am I saying? Get out there! Browse your local pages on The Witches Voice, check for Yahoo! Groups and Meetups to find new people, new stores and new venues! If you can't find one? Start one! Start a mailing list, a blog or even a meetup group. You'll be surprised at the number of people you'll meet and you can grow a local community for yourself and other local people. Most importantly, don't give up. Maybe only one or two people will come to the first book club night, or tarot group, but if you stick with it and are dedicated, maybe you can build something that everyone can enjoy.
For a thought provoking discussion on the topic, check out My Pagan World and her blog on the subject!
10 comments:
I think the sad truth is that most Pagans are lazy and cheap. :( There are many worthwhile endeavors that are struggling to provide something to the Pagan community, and only continuing on through sheer will.
I've lamented this for so long - why can't Pagans just BE there, as you put it.
Don't get me started on their egos. ;)
I don't think it's that most Pagans are lazy and cheap. I think most PEOPLE strive to be as economical as possible. Just like magick, we take the path of the least resistance. It's in our nature.
You do make a good point, though, Amy. The reactionary nature of people can be very annoying. If we were to apply it to Pagans, then I suppose we should ask ourselves how we can continue moving forward with technology and behavioral trends, while still maintaining our Pagan communities - not to mention maintaining the quality of products. It sounds like a case of us having to help the online business environment evolve to fit our needs a bit better.
Nice site by the way. You have a gift for writing and getting people thinking. And me thinking - which in this heat its been hard to do. :P
Wendy I agree with a lot of what you say. I'd like to see the best in people, but a lot of people are just lazy. They'll circle a failing store like carrion and feast on the carcass of the dying brick and mortar and six months later lament, "How did this happen, I MISS XYZ" but won't lift a finger to keep it from happening in the first place.
Blue Faerie, Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on my post and your kind words!
Please feel free to stop by again and look around!
Have a great day!
Love it Amy! I have to add that I am not only a brick and mortar shop owner (struggling - sad but true) but I also am one of those who has an online shop offering most everything under the Azuregreen sun, but we do so at discounted prices. This was to offer a way for local people to get access to even more product - and have the option to choose in-store pickup. It also was created with the budget conscious pagan in mind. Strangely - and through no amount of monumental effort on my part, along with the efforts of great people such as Kallan Kennedy to pass the word along - the online site gets very little interest.
That's what is so confusing to me. People want to shop online and save? or they want to shop at their little brick and mortar shops? I'm not seeing a trend either way here. :/
I totally agree. Though I think it's that most people tend to react rather than act, bouncing from situation to situation kind of aimlessly. And Pagans are people, too. We'd like to think of ourselves as better than that, but we're just as self-centered and lazy as any other group of humans, despite our claims that we Get Stuff Done through magick because we believe in Personal Responsibility.
Here's something irritating I've noticed about us: we like to chirp about Personal Responsibility and karma and "What Thee Sendforth Comes Back To Thee", and somehow that alleviates us from getting involved with other people. Anything we don't personally directly control is seen as "beyond our control" and is therefore out of our hands, so we don't need to bother with it. After all, it's their karma, and somehow Divine Justice will be delivered, regardless of what we do individually. No raindrop wants to believe it's responsible for the flood.
I find that attitude a very Christian one, with a shiny little pentacle stamped on it. "Karma" and the "Rule of Three" are just used as Pagan code-words for the hand of God smiting those who deserve it. He's keeping an eye on things for us and throwing lightning bolts at the a-holes while we go about our business bumbling about in our self-absorbed little worlds. We are therefore alleviated from actually holding anyone responsible for anything, or, in the end, monitoring how our own behavior affects others.
The funny thing is, I don't know what to do about it other than call people out and rant, and pick up after myself.
Just like e-readers will not "do it" for everyone, walking into a metaphysical shop and experiencing the fragrance, energy, and visual stimuli is its own reward. The irony is that when we DO make the effort to "GO", we forget it was a "chore" once we're there. Indeed, we wonder why we don't "GO" more often.
~ Diane
Sadly, most of what is sold in my local "brick and mortar" shops is the same old junk as what's in the online shops - but at inflated prices. Classes are the same "Wicca 101" classes that they've been doing for years. When you go in, if you aren't there to pay for an overpriced tarot reading, and just want to purchase a few (overpriced) stones or herbs, you're treated rudely. It's hard to support something like that.
I'd rather spend my limited cash (I'm not lazy or cheap, just middle class with kids and bills) on original items at a place like Etsy or buy the supplies to make my own things. I think that's probably much the same for many Pagans in this economy.
Thank you everyone for contributing to the discussion!!
If I had the time to do more things I would attempt to start a pagan business association of some kind, encouraging pagans to shop each other's stores (online and off) and support each other's financial endeavors. Maybe some day.
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