If you are interested in exploring the world of Wicca or are already practicing the Wiccan faith, you may be looking for Wicca shops near you. These specialized stores cater to the needs of Wiccans and often offer a wide range of products, including books, tools, ritual items, and clothing. Wicca shops provide a gathering place for Wiccans to connect, learn, and share experiences. They are often staffed by knowledgeable individuals who can offer advice and guidance on different aspects of Wicca and its practices. When searching for Wicca shops near you, it is beneficial to do your research and read reviews to find a reputable store that aligns with your beliefs and needs. Some Wicca shops also offer online platforms, allowing you to explore their products and make purchases from the comfort of your own home.
Some Wicca shops also offer online platforms, allowing you to explore their products and make purchases from the comfort of your own home. In addition to selling Wiccan supplies, many shops also host workshops, classes, and events that allow Wiccans to expand their knowledge and connect with others in their community. These gatherings can provide spiritual growth and a sense of belonging for Wiccans of all levels of experience.
Kansas officials lift ban on a shop selling Wicca items. But questions about prison mail remain.
Two weeks ago, I brought you the story of how mail from an unconventional Topeka ministry and a shop associated with it had been censored at Kansas prisons. Now, the ban on correspondence from the business — the Enchanted Willow on Southwest Gage Boulevard — has been lifted by officials at the Kansas Department of Corrections.
In a letter to the shop, the KDOC said its correspondence appeared to have been “inadvertently” censored.
“After speaking with the Chaplain the censors were rescinded and the letters were delivered to the residents,” Corrections Manager Darcie Holthaus wrote Debra Jackson, an associate sales partner at the Enchanted Willow, which sells New Age and Wiccan supplies. “We apologize for the oversight by our staff and wish to ensure you that corrective measures have been taken. We appreciate hearing from you in regard to this matter and being given the opportunity to correct a grievance.”
The letter was dated Sept. 27 — the day after I contacted the KDOC about the censorship.
When asked recently to confirm the ban on the shop had been lifted, the KDOC had no comment other than to refer me to the short statement the department had issued in response to my original inquiry.
“The residents of Kansas Correctional Facilities have a Constitutional right to practice the religion of their choice,” Randall Bowman, executive director of public affairs, said in an email. “The (KDOC) makes every effort to support residents’ rights to practice their religion. The safety and security steps implemented by the KDOC regarding this organization do not infringe upon that right.”
My interest in the prison censorship was sparked by an email to the Reflector from Robert Miller, a Wiccan who runs a prison ministry associated with Moonshadow Coven in Topeka. Miller is also a part-owner of the Enchanted Willow. In an interview, Miller told me that he considered the censorship an act of religious discrimination.
Despite having operated his ministry for 20 years and having corresponded with prisoners across the United States, this summer Miller began receiving notices from the Kansas Department of Corrections that his mail to its facilities was being censored. After protesting the ban, the KDOC told Miller he and his ministry were considered a “threat to institutional safety, order or security.”
While the ban on correspondence from the Enchanted Willow has been lifted, the censorship of Miller and Moonshadow Coven appears to remain in effect. The KDOC has declined to provide additional details or explain why Miller and his ministry were considered a threat to Kansas prisons.
I don’t know why the KDOC is so quick to censor prisoner mail and so slow in providing answers, but I suspect it has to do with officials attempting not to fall on the slippery slope of unequal treatment. How much easier it must be to ban a widely misunderstood religion like Wicca, a pagan earth-centered practice that has approximately zero influence in state politics, as opposed to an evangelical Christian ministry.
“I have not attempted (since) to write a letter to any of my friends in any facility,” Miller said. “I’m not sure if I should. I’m a little gun shy and doubt that my correspondence would get through.”
The Enchanted Willow store was open for business on SW Gage Boulevard in Topeka in September 2023. (Max McCoy for Kansas Reflector)
‘Unnecessarily restrictive’
Earlier this year, the KDOC adopted a statewide policy of scanning prison mail and giving the recipients the copy instead of the original. Kansas is one of more than a dozen states that have adopted mail scanning, and officials say it’s meant to prevent drugs from being sent to prisoners through the mail. Critics, however, say the practice eliminates a vital link for prisoners to friends and family outside.
“We’ve had general concerns about their entire mail process,” Esmie Tseng, communications director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, told me. “They copy the mail and sort of farm it out to be scanned into the system. So the prisoner who receives the mail actually just gets a copy. So you’re talking about in some cases private documents like a kid’s hand-drawn birthday card or some other kind of picture. That’s just unnecessarily restrictive.”
Tseng said the ACLU of Kansas was also concerned about prisoner access to religious and political material. While the organization was not involved in the Enchanted Willow or Moonshadow Coven cases, it had in the past communicated with the KDOC and had tried to work with the department to resolve these concerns.
“We’ve definitely had concerns about First Amendment rights,” Tseng said, “in terms of not only political content, but also religious content that prisoners haven’t been able to get. There doesn’t appear to be any real reason for the prisons to censor these materials.”
But, she said, the KDOC does appear to target literature from faiths other than Christianity.
“These are people who are clearly turning to something,” she said, “to develop themselves and rise above their circumstances and be something more than they were before, and KDOC policy is inhibiting that in a way that seems counterproductive to rehabilitating people.”
In Kansas, Tseng said, there was a “heavy-handed, restrictive approach” to incarceration that resulted in taking things away from people who have already had most things taken away.
“It’s deeply concerning that you have a state that is more than willing to lock up as many people as possible and to have some of the harshest criminal sentencing (guidelines) in the country,” she said. “But then, once you’re in prison, they’re directly trying to undermine any efforts that you’re making to improve yourself.”
Boxes made by Kansas prisoners are among the items on sale at the Enchanted Willow in Topeka. (Max McCoy for Kansas Reflector)
What’s in a name?
While the prisons have a legitimate interest in maintaining safe and secure facilities, that interest can be so poorly defined in internal policies and procedures that it invites First Amendment abuses. While it might not seem to matter much if a prisoner in Lansing or any other facility is denied access to a Wiccan ministry or the ability to purchase from a shop specializing in New Age merchandise, it’s central to the question of the role prisons play in our society. How we treat the incarcerated is a reflection of our own values, or at least the values of those who are elected to represent us.
Even the language we use to discuss the issue is fraught.
How do you refer to an incarcerated person? “Convict” is at the harsh end of the scale and carries with it B-movie stereotypes. Same with “felon.” As a journalist, I’ve used “inmate” frequently, but Tseng said the ACLU and other groups are urging more neutral language. She said she found “prisoner” accurate, but would prefer descriptions that refer to incarcerated people or individuals. The Marshall Project, a national nonprofit that reports on the criminal justice system, has asked reporters and editors to consider avoiding labels that dehumanize the incarcerated. The KDOC refers to its prisoners as “residents,” a term that Tseng said makes her want to roll her eyes.
“It’s just a cheap euphemism,” she said.
The disconnect between language and reality is just one of the barriers preventing meaningful communication between the KDOC and the public. Another is the department’s unwillingness to provide convincing evidence of the need to censor mail from Miller, who runs the Wicca prison ministry, and others. Prisoners and their families are being increasingly separated by policies that make telephone and electronic communication expensive. The move to mail scanning must seem a final indignity to the incarcerated and their families.
The draconian mail scanning and censorship policies in state prisons is a problem that every Kansan should be concerned about, because it’s being done in our name. Nelson Mandela said that nobody truly knows a nation until they’ve been locked inside its jails. Never mind what lawmakers might say about the good-hearted nature of Kansans, our collective conscience — or lack of it — is to be found in how we treat the incarcerated.
Those incarcerated in Kansas facilities are already bodily imprisoned by the state. Their minds shouldn’t be locked away as well.
Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
The disconnect between language and reality is just one of the barriers preventing meaningful communication between the KDOC and the public. Another is the department’s unwillingness to provide convincing evidence of the need to censor mail from Miller, who runs the Wicca prison ministry, and others. Prisoners and their families are being increasingly separated by policies that make telephone and electronic communication expensive. The move to mail scanning must seem a final indignity to the incarcerated and their families.
If you are just starting your journey into Wicca, visiting a Wicca shop near you can be a great way to connect with others who share your interests and gain access to resources that can support your practice. It is important to approach these stores with an open mind and respect for the beliefs and practices of others. In conclusion, if you are interested in Wicca and are looking for Wicca shops near you, there are many options available. These specialized stores cater to the needs of Wiccans and offer a wide range of products, resources, and community events. Exploring a Wicca shop near you can be a valuable experience for both new and experienced practitioners..
Reviews for "Find Everything You Need for Wiccan Rituals at These Nearby Stores"
1. Emily - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with the wicca shops near me. The selection was incredibly limited, and the prices were outrageous. I expected to find a wide range of herbs, crystals, and other tools, but everything seemed old and dusty. The staff was also unhelpful and seemed disinterested in assisting customers. Overall, I wouldn't recommend these shops to anyone looking for authentic and quality wicca supplies.
2. David - 2/5 stars - I went to several wicca shops near me hoping to find some unique and special items for my practice, but I was left feeling let down. The shops had a limited stock, and most of the items were mass-produced and lacked the energy I was looking for. The customer service was also lacking, with staff members seeming more interested in chatting amongst themselves than helping customers. It's a shame that these shops couldn't live up to my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - The wicca shops near me were a disappointment. The stores lacked a welcoming atmosphere and felt more like tourist traps than places for spiritual exploration. The prices were high for the quality of the products offered, and I found the staff to be unfriendly and unapproachable. I wouldn't bother visiting these shops again and will instead turn to online retailers for my wicca needs.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes when I visited the wicca shops near me, but I was disappointed by the lack of variety in their offerings. The shops seemed to cater to a mainstream audience rather than providing unique and specialized items for those practicing wicca. The staff was also not very knowledgeable when I asked questions about specific items, which was frustrating. Overall, I found the experience underwhelming and will look elsewhere for my wicca supplies.