| rev:text
| - . I'm still not elite, even after visiting the Goddess.
I'm not into this kind of thing, never have been, and never will be. I went here out of curiosity---just to see what was in this shop that's been here forever. (It seems.) Being totally foreign to me, I did feel a little wary as I was about to enter this "zone of the unknown". (My words, but maybe theirs, too.) Why on earth was I even walking in this direction---along this strip mall sidewalk in suburbia--- towards their shop? What would I find? Boldly, like a missionary about to enter strange unknown territory, I opened the door.
On walking in, I wasn't struck by a bolt of lightening, and didn't feel an invisible hand--or wing--pulling me back, but heard a friendly greeting from a smiling man behind the counter. Of course, I smiled, too, and said hello back. After looking over crystals and various Buddha figures inside a big display case, I moved along to the left where there was a table with a variety of small earth-toned items in the shape of soap bars, wrapped in clear cellophane. Packets of herbs or dried roots, maybe? Potion essentials like the ones used by the three weird sisters in Macbeth? Hay, straw, feathers, maybe shreds of cloth or other material used for some rites I was unfamiliar with? Phew. Homemade baked goods. uh
...maybe not...moved on without reading the printed ingredients.
Countless objects related to divination, gods, goddesses, angels, eastern religions, and the occult---even wicca (witchcraft) paraphernalia. A decorative two foot long, thick wooden club (of sorts) with shaggy bark (or what looked like bark) dangling loosely from half of it and secured with twine, was hanging from a display. It was a device apparently known to witches---but not to me---and looked a bit intimidating. KEEP THAT SCARY THING AWAY FROM ME! Books, incense, skulls, oils, candles, amulets, jewelry, statues, chakra (?), hamsa (?), bags of sparkling dust to ward off evil, wall plaques---probably anything one might need for these spirit-world practices. I'll stick to Christianity. (But I do understand the interest in, and respect ones have, for the holy Buddha and his teachings.) If you're one, or have a Buddhist friend, you'll have lots of different statues to choose from.
There were also dozens of shallow trays each containing small colorful polished stones in specific types. Some very shiny, pretty. Several were familiar to me as ones used in jewelry, but none that I looked at had holes or were cut for setting into findings. I was about to ask what they were used for, but stopped myself. They might not be used this way at all---maybe just kept in pockets or handbags for good luck---but the last thing I wanted to hear was that they were used in curses or hexes. n-o-o-o-o!
Moving on through the well-lit shop, a little corner in the rear was partitioned off, the curtain pulled slightly to the side. With a table and chairs, it was for readings. Another curtained area had what may have been something like a massage table, for use in "Integrated Energy Therapy". Lovey, the "healer", was especially nice in a kind, soft-spoken way, offering (without my asking, but I didn't mind at all) a brief explanation of what she does and what it's supposed to accomplish. Sweet-seeming, I'll bet she's a real pro at generating intense relaxation or even hypnotism.
Except for Lovey---who approached me as I was about to leave---the greeting man and another woman (unusually cool towards me) left me on my own to look through their shop. I didn't make a purchase, but I'd suspect that most everyone who comes here does, and doesn't need help finding anything---they know exactly what they want, and head right for it. Much like everyone's familiarity with their local Giant Eagle, doing just fine unassisted. Again, this is all foreign to me, but I've got this sense that The Goddess is a serious business with a serious purpose---they're not just "playing around". It's like other neighborhood supply stores, only not for hardware, but for other-worldly ware. The real deal---no Harry Potter fantasy stuff---it's probably a 5 star for avid followers, but I'll give it 4 for the interesting merchandise most of which is likely harmless to non-believers, and the smiling staff, too, who also appeared harmless.
~
Well, I'm safely at home. That visit was two days ago. So far, so good, as the saying goes. (That's not some ancient "spell" chant, is it? I hope not.) And even though I left the shop empty-handed, I haven't discovered any warts, and I haven't sprouted leathery or feathery growths.
Tomorrow I plan to visit PetSmart. Suddenly, I've developed an interest in amphibians and reptiles. Probably because of those rocks I just bought from The Rock Pile that I'm using in my garden. Never had one, but I think a cute little toad would be fun hopping through the house under and over furniture. hehe.
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