Witchcraft and EVill
Happy Halloween! It’s a time for tricks and treats and taking to the Village streets for mischief and mayhem, fun and fright, and a parade on 6th Ave. starting at around 7pm. Though tonight’s paranormal procession will signal the end of the Halloween season, that doesn’t mean the Village will be without the supernatural until next October. In fact, one block in the East Village might even be able to provide you with the tools you need to go from the Village to the otherworldly…
The Village is a magical place, and even a place where a practitioner of the mystic arts can satisfy their cult and coven needs. On the south side of East 9th Street, between 1st Avenue and Avenue A, there are a few stores and shelters that any starting sorcerer can peruse to find what they need to help open their minds, their spirit, and their home.
Almost immediately off of 1st Avenue is Flower Power Herbs & Roots Inc. With their wide selection of herbs, oils, roots, leaves, and other botanicals, this is the place to look for the ingredients for brews, potions, and other tinctures. Now the question is: where can I learn how to utilize them in my practice?
Further down 9th Street is Enchantments, New York City’s oldest occult store. Opened in 1982, Enchantments “…carries a diverse range of products for different magical traditions and spiritual paths. We welcome everyone, from the novice to the advanced practitioner.” Now that you have the tools and the resources and are well on your way to becoming a knowledgeable practitioner, isn’t it time to find yourself a familiar?
Traditionally witch familiars were cats, and right next to Enchantments is Ollie’s Place, the East Village’s cat rescue. As discussed in a previous blog post, Ollie’s Place is an all-volunteer run, no-kill cat shelter. Not only would you be adopting your very own feline familiar, but also helping to support NYC rescue cats in the process.
But want to know something truly EVill? The East Village Independent Merchants Association has released their own EVill Card providing East Village residents with exclusive access to discounts from participating merchants and businesses. If you have any questions on how to obtain a card, or if you are an East Village merchant and want to join the association, please check the EVMA’s website or feel free to email them
The businesses we mentioned are also independently owned and wonderful staples of the Village community. If you would like to nominate any for a Business of the Month, just click here to fill out a brief form. Thank you!