Wrong!
With a little imagination and creativity, pagan supplies can be bought anywhere. I have always said that Walmart and Dollar Tree are the biggest pagan suppliers I know. Here is an article, in part, that I wrote for Associated Content. to read it in its entirety click the link following the article.
DEPARTMENT STORES
Department stores are a wealth of pagan supplies if a consumer knows where to look. Virtually every department has something to offer. Don't forget to check out dollar stores which are basically mini-department stores and guaranteed only $1.00 for items!
Crafts: Check out the crafts section for rocks, sand, incense and candle holders, pot pourri and pots, beads made of natural materials, and many other wonderful items that can be incorporated into pagan or metaphysical supplies. Be careful with pot pourri and use as directed, pot pourri mixes in the stores are non-edible. Also, essential oils and pot pourri or fragrance lamp oils are not the same thing. Fragrance and potpourri oils CANNOT be used as essential oils. They can be used for aromatherapy but should never be ingested or used on the skin or in a bath. I have also seen dream-catcher kits in the crafts section. Clay can also be purchased and a practitioner can make their own pendants, amulets, and other such supplies. Most clay products are hardened with baking and can be painted. Muslin bags can also be purchased and used for charm bags, to hold herbs for an herbal bath, or to hold general supplies.
The home décor section is great for purchasing candles and accessories, art work and mirrors (used in spells or scrying), lava lamps or lamps with a "new-age" feel such as the lamps with dolphins, flowers and other such fantastical light displays. There are also usually a lot of items depicting fairies. Usually fountains can be purchased as well, which add a decorative touch and honor the Water element. In one store I found a "Zen Fountain" that had a Zen Garden, water fountain, and place holder for a candle-three elements in one, four if you consider the smoke from the candle as representing air.
Check out the kitchen supplies. For those practicing a path of Kitchen Witchery (which deals with the hearth and the home) many supplies can be purchased within the kitchen department. A wooden spoon can become a wand, knives are athames (letter-openers also make great athames), containers to hold supplies, cups as chalices, etc.
Nutrition or Pharmacy: it sounds odd, but yes, the pharmacy section (specifically where homeopathic or natural items are sold) can also provide supplies to the pagan practitioner. I frequently purchase Tea Tree Oil which is a medicinal oil and therefore readily available in the pharmacy department and is a 100% essential oil. Witch Hazel can also be purchased, which is great for minor cuts and scrapes and can be used for a few different health/injury related mixes. Plus, it just sounds like something a pagan practitioner should have in their home. Epsom salts can also be purchased and these are great to represent Earth (salt is a mineral and therefore of the earth) and can be used for creating bath salts with magickal intent.
Groceries: Go shopping in the grocery department. Chances are you need milk and eggs anyway, so check out the fresh or dried herbs and spices. Dried herbs from a jar can work just as well and are guaranteed edible, as well as maintaining freshness. Canisters of salt can be purchased for usually under $1.00 and is great for making protective circles, use for cleansing, in bath salt mixes, and placed in a dish on an altar to represent Earth. For purists, bottled water can be purchased. There is usually a plethora of herbal teas as well. Olive oil or a light vegetable oil works great as anointing oils or for a base in making your own essential oils. Powdered milk is also a great component in bath mixes.
Sewing: The sewing department is great for those who wish to add a little craft work to their practices. Needles and thread can be purchased for use in Witch Bottles (there is a thread charm involving snippets of thread being placed into a bottle and it hung in the highest point of a house. The threads capture the negativity and keep it from coming into the home). Material can be bought and become robes, altar cloths, or charm bags. For those who are not "sewing inclined" (like me) Stitch Witchery is another item that sounds like it belongs in a pagan home. It is a heat-activated "tape" that can be used for adhering fabrics together. While it won't work for making large-scale pieces, it works great to hem a piece of material for an altar cloth.
Garden: Obviously, the garden section is the perfect place for those whom practice hedge witchery. Flowers, herbs and seeds can all be purchased and so can pots and soil. Many times there are lawn décor items like Witch Balls, and logs or tree stumps with a face (the Green Man). Wind chimes are perfect for honoring the Air Element and the sound is appealing to fae folk and deities. There are often bird houses or toad houses that a practitioner can put up in their yard to draw in wildlife.
Pet Supplies: While there aren't many supplies to be gained through the Pet Department there are a few. As with the Garden Department a practitioner could purchase bird or toad houses in order to draw in wildlife. Birdseed can also be purchased at a fair price. Birdseed can be used as a form of divination or for an offering to a God or Goddess. It can also be a symbol representing "harvest" on an altar if a practitioner is uncomfortable using actual food and "wasting it." And, of course, pets can be purchased. Pets can be animal familiars or just make a home feel more spiritual. At at pet store I once bought a little tiki man to place in an aquarium, but used it to set over cone incense and the smoke billowed out his eyes and mouth. The ceramic dishes for lizard food are great for candle holder or to hold sage sticks.
Seasonal: of course, Halloween is the best time to purchase pagan supplies. Cauldrons, brooms, black candles and many other wonderful items can be purchased. Christmas is also a superb time for purchasing pagan supplies. Evergreen décor, candles and stars can all be bought at this time. Glass ornaments also make great mini-witch balls and the clear glass ornaments can be purchased and filled with items with a similar purpose of Witch Bottles or Charm Bags. Costumes can also be purchased for those wishing to dress up for gatherings or rituals. The most popular costumes for these purposes are medieval or plain robes and capes. At Christmas time I purchased a star that is made of twigs and has a tuft of evergreen and a pine cone on each point of the star. It is a perfect representation of Yule (a pagan sabbat).
Stationery: Bound and blank journals can be bought in the stationery department. They come either lined or unlined, some are solid color covers and some have designs. Either way, they are excellent for becoming a "Book of Shadows"-a journal for recording pagan events, topics, thoughts, spells, rituals and information. Letter openers can also be purchased and used as an athame (ritual knife, used in symbolism only). For use as an athame, oftentimes a letter opener is the perfect touch. They are decorative and not very sharp. Athames are usually used for symbolism only and not practical use. My first Book of Shadows was purchased at a book store and my 2nd one was purchased at a department store. The 2nd one is fake leather and just a solid color (maroon). Using a silver permanent marker I drew a pentacle symbol on the cover.
Even the clothing department is great for pagan supplies. If a practitioner wants to wear something befitting color magick, plain t-shirts in the colors needed representation can be purchased for under $10.00. There are often t-shirts with fairies, dragons, yin-yang or chinese characters to be found in department stores. There are also bandanas that cost anywhere from .99 cent to 2.99. Bandanas are great for tying up charms, herbs or other spell ingredients. They can be tied in knots for Knot Magick. They can also be used to tie around a Tarot Deck when travelling and then used as a cloth to place the Tarot cards on when doing a reading. They also make great altar clothes for home or travel. Large purses and bags can also be purchased in or near the clothing department and these can be used to carry supplies when travelling.
FLEA MARKETS/2nd HAND STORES
It's amazing what people will get rid of. Going to 2nd hand stores and flea markets is a favorite past time of mine anyway, and I have known people who have found cauldrons, books, and décor that represent the pagan or metaphysical lifestyle. Purchases are also made at prices cheaper than ordering online or from specialty stores. I bought a copper cauldron at a 2nd hand store for .25 cents. Polished up, it is a beautiful addition to my cauldron collection. A black salsa bowl purchased from a dollar store is also another cauldron. It is black and dimpled like cast iron (its plastic) but has 4 legs instead of the traditional 3 legs. However, it looks and acts like a cauldron.
BOOKSTORES
Most bookstores have a New Age section and/or a religion section. Sometimes there are even sections for the Metaphysical or Supernatural. Books are great for information, research and study. Bound and blank journals can also be purchased from most bookstores as well as ribbon bookmarkers. Ribbon bookmarkers are a long piece of ribbon bejeweled with beads or crystals. In a pinch, these can become a pendulum. Otherwise, they are just beautiful to use as a bookmarker for a Book of Shadows or a published book.
I even have seen little "kits" that are for sale in bookstores. I have purchased a mini Tarot deck, a Kitchen Witch figure, and a Zen Garden (comes complete with sand, rocks and rake) and a mini fountain (comes with everything but water) all for under $10.00. I plan to go back to get the Voo Doo doll, Bonsai Tree, and the mini Buddah. The kits are compact, and come with all the items needed. They are perfect for office space, a small altar or for a person who has an altar "hidden" such as in a closet or dresser drawer.
Article at AC
My Profile at AC
Department stores are a wealth of pagan supplies if a consumer knows where to look. Virtually every department has something to offer. Don't forget to check out dollar stores which are basically mini-department stores and guaranteed only $1.00 for items!
Crafts: Check out the crafts section for rocks, sand, incense and candle holders, pot pourri and pots, beads made of natural materials, and many other wonderful items that can be incorporated into pagan or metaphysical supplies. Be careful with pot pourri and use as directed, pot pourri mixes in the stores are non-edible. Also, essential oils and pot pourri or fragrance lamp oils are not the same thing. Fragrance and potpourri oils CANNOT be used as essential oils. They can be used for aromatherapy but should never be ingested or used on the skin or in a bath. I have also seen dream-catcher kits in the crafts section. Clay can also be purchased and a practitioner can make their own pendants, amulets, and other such supplies. Most clay products are hardened with baking and can be painted. Muslin bags can also be purchased and used for charm bags, to hold herbs for an herbal bath, or to hold general supplies.
The home décor section is great for purchasing candles and accessories, art work and mirrors (used in spells or scrying), lava lamps or lamps with a "new-age" feel such as the lamps with dolphins, flowers and other such fantastical light displays. There are also usually a lot of items depicting fairies. Usually fountains can be purchased as well, which add a decorative touch and honor the Water element. In one store I found a "Zen Fountain" that had a Zen Garden, water fountain, and place holder for a candle-three elements in one, four if you consider the smoke from the candle as representing air.
Check out the kitchen supplies. For those practicing a path of Kitchen Witchery (which deals with the hearth and the home) many supplies can be purchased within the kitchen department. A wooden spoon can become a wand, knives are athames (letter-openers also make great athames), containers to hold supplies, cups as chalices, etc.
Nutrition or Pharmacy: it sounds odd, but yes, the pharmacy section (specifically where homeopathic or natural items are sold) can also provide supplies to the pagan practitioner. I frequently purchase Tea Tree Oil which is a medicinal oil and therefore readily available in the pharmacy department and is a 100% essential oil. Witch Hazel can also be purchased, which is great for minor cuts and scrapes and can be used for a few different health/injury related mixes. Plus, it just sounds like something a pagan practitioner should have in their home. Epsom salts can also be purchased and these are great to represent Earth (salt is a mineral and therefore of the earth) and can be used for creating bath salts with magickal intent.
Groceries: Go shopping in the grocery department. Chances are you need milk and eggs anyway, so check out the fresh or dried herbs and spices. Dried herbs from a jar can work just as well and are guaranteed edible, as well as maintaining freshness. Canisters of salt can be purchased for usually under $1.00 and is great for making protective circles, use for cleansing, in bath salt mixes, and placed in a dish on an altar to represent Earth. For purists, bottled water can be purchased. There is usually a plethora of herbal teas as well. Olive oil or a light vegetable oil works great as anointing oils or for a base in making your own essential oils. Powdered milk is also a great component in bath mixes.
Sewing: The sewing department is great for those who wish to add a little craft work to their practices. Needles and thread can be purchased for use in Witch Bottles (there is a thread charm involving snippets of thread being placed into a bottle and it hung in the highest point of a house. The threads capture the negativity and keep it from coming into the home). Material can be bought and become robes, altar cloths, or charm bags. For those who are not "sewing inclined" (like me) Stitch Witchery is another item that sounds like it belongs in a pagan home. It is a heat-activated "tape" that can be used for adhering fabrics together. While it won't work for making large-scale pieces, it works great to hem a piece of material for an altar cloth.
Garden: Obviously, the garden section is the perfect place for those whom practice hedge witchery. Flowers, herbs and seeds can all be purchased and so can pots and soil. Many times there are lawn décor items like Witch Balls, and logs or tree stumps with a face (the Green Man). Wind chimes are perfect for honoring the Air Element and the sound is appealing to fae folk and deities. There are often bird houses or toad houses that a practitioner can put up in their yard to draw in wildlife.
Pet Supplies: While there aren't many supplies to be gained through the Pet Department there are a few. As with the Garden Department a practitioner could purchase bird or toad houses in order to draw in wildlife. Birdseed can also be purchased at a fair price. Birdseed can be used as a form of divination or for an offering to a God or Goddess. It can also be a symbol representing "harvest" on an altar if a practitioner is uncomfortable using actual food and "wasting it." And, of course, pets can be purchased. Pets can be animal familiars or just make a home feel more spiritual. At at pet store I once bought a little tiki man to place in an aquarium, but used it to set over cone incense and the smoke billowed out his eyes and mouth. The ceramic dishes for lizard food are great for candle holder or to hold sage sticks.
Seasonal: of course, Halloween is the best time to purchase pagan supplies. Cauldrons, brooms, black candles and many other wonderful items can be purchased. Christmas is also a superb time for purchasing pagan supplies. Evergreen décor, candles and stars can all be bought at this time. Glass ornaments also make great mini-witch balls and the clear glass ornaments can be purchased and filled with items with a similar purpose of Witch Bottles or Charm Bags. Costumes can also be purchased for those wishing to dress up for gatherings or rituals. The most popular costumes for these purposes are medieval or plain robes and capes. At Christmas time I purchased a star that is made of twigs and has a tuft of evergreen and a pine cone on each point of the star. It is a perfect representation of Yule (a pagan sabbat).
Stationery: Bound and blank journals can be bought in the stationery department. They come either lined or unlined, some are solid color covers and some have designs. Either way, they are excellent for becoming a "Book of Shadows"-a journal for recording pagan events, topics, thoughts, spells, rituals and information. Letter openers can also be purchased and used as an athame (ritual knife, used in symbolism only). For use as an athame, oftentimes a letter opener is the perfect touch. They are decorative and not very sharp. Athames are usually used for symbolism only and not practical use. My first Book of Shadows was purchased at a book store and my 2nd one was purchased at a department store. The 2nd one is fake leather and just a solid color (maroon). Using a silver permanent marker I drew a pentacle symbol on the cover.
Even the clothing department is great for pagan supplies. If a practitioner wants to wear something befitting color magick, plain t-shirts in the colors needed representation can be purchased for under $10.00. There are often t-shirts with fairies, dragons, yin-yang or chinese characters to be found in department stores. There are also bandanas that cost anywhere from .99 cent to 2.99. Bandanas are great for tying up charms, herbs or other spell ingredients. They can be tied in knots for Knot Magick. They can also be used to tie around a Tarot Deck when travelling and then used as a cloth to place the Tarot cards on when doing a reading. They also make great altar clothes for home or travel. Large purses and bags can also be purchased in or near the clothing department and these can be used to carry supplies when travelling.
FLEA MARKETS/2nd HAND STORES
It's amazing what people will get rid of. Going to 2nd hand stores and flea markets is a favorite past time of mine anyway, and I have known people who have found cauldrons, books, and décor that represent the pagan or metaphysical lifestyle. Purchases are also made at prices cheaper than ordering online or from specialty stores. I bought a copper cauldron at a 2nd hand store for .25 cents. Polished up, it is a beautiful addition to my cauldron collection. A black salsa bowl purchased from a dollar store is also another cauldron. It is black and dimpled like cast iron (its plastic) but has 4 legs instead of the traditional 3 legs. However, it looks and acts like a cauldron.
BOOKSTORES
Most bookstores have a New Age section and/or a religion section. Sometimes there are even sections for the Metaphysical or Supernatural. Books are great for information, research and study. Bound and blank journals can also be purchased from most bookstores as well as ribbon bookmarkers. Ribbon bookmarkers are a long piece of ribbon bejeweled with beads or crystals. In a pinch, these can become a pendulum. Otherwise, they are just beautiful to use as a bookmarker for a Book of Shadows or a published book.
I even have seen little "kits" that are for sale in bookstores. I have purchased a mini Tarot deck, a Kitchen Witch figure, and a Zen Garden (comes complete with sand, rocks and rake) and a mini fountain (comes with everything but water) all for under $10.00. I plan to go back to get the Voo Doo doll, Bonsai Tree, and the mini Buddah. The kits are compact, and come with all the items needed. They are perfect for office space, a small altar or for a person who has an altar "hidden" such as in a closet or dresser drawer.
Article at AC
My Profile at AC
